A BONG MIND AT WORK
No excuses for not having posted so long. No doubt that it has been an extremely hectic last week and a half but more than that it has been a lack of creative inspiration that led to no new posts. Then suddenly a few days back I came across this article, which set me thinking about the fact that I am one of those rare, pampered, sheltered species called the "Great Bong"!!
One phrase every Bengali worth his sweater has grown up with is 'thanda lege jabey'. It is the ultimate warning of impending doom, an unadulterated form of existentialist advice. Thanda lege jabey. Thou shalt 'catch the cold'.
'Catching the cold' comes easy to Bengalis. It's a skill that's acquired almost immediately after birth. Watch a Bengali baby and you would know. Wrapped in layers of warm clothing even if the sun is boiling the mercury, the baby learns quickly that his chances of survival in a Bengali household depend on how tightly he can wrap himself in cotton, linen and wool. Bengalis have almost romanticised warm clothing, so much so that Bengali art has found eloquent expression in a form of quilt-stitchwork called kantha.
I'm sure wool-shearers even in faraway Australia say a silent prayer to Bengalis before the shearing season (if there's any such season). I'm also sure the very thought of Bengalis sends a chill down the spine of many a sheep.
In winter, the quintessential Bengali's outfit puts the polar bear to shame.
Packaged in at least seven layers of clothing and the head snugly packed inside the queerest headgear, the monkey cap, he takes the chill head on. Easy lies the head that wears the monkey cap. With a pom-pom at the top, it's not just a fashion statement; it's a complete fashion paragraph!!
For a race that is perpetually running scared of cold weather, Bengalis have a surprising affinity for hill stations too.
I remember strolling down the Walk of Fame in Hollywood on a pleasant May evening. My eyes scanned the glittering stars on the asphalt - each an ode to a Hollywood heavyweight. Suddenly, my ears caught the unmistakable Doomsday warning - 'thanda lege jabey'. I stood transfixed. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is probably the last place one would like to get caught 'catching the cold'. I turned around. There was this Bengali family braving the American chill. The young brat of the family was adamant that he didn't want any more clothing but mom wouldn't have any of it - "sweater porey nao, thanda lege jabey." I need not translate that. Mom won, and the family - sweaters et al - posed for a photograph.
Even leaving aside the "thanda lege jabe", think for once about the average middle class born kid in Kolkata; born into doting parents who think and firmly believe in the phrase "Amar chele (or meye) is the best". Remember the ad "Tumi jokhon choto chile tomakeo khaiyechi" (When you were young, you too had it) on good old DD ... yet to see one that typifies the bengali household love and warmth more!!
I am in no position to comment on the good or the bad effects of all this mollycoddling on the growing up child. There are too much statistical variations to prove either arguement. Suffice to say that the average Bong child enjoys a much more pampered, well groomed and sheltered existence during his/her childhood. The only problem is sometimes this extends to ridiculously longer periods of time, a case in point being one of my father's colleagues, whose dad used to bring him to office and take him home!!
Of course things are changing nowadays; the age old custom of 100 odd relatives fanning out in search of a 'jamai' or a 'bou' for the "kid" is fast disappearing, as is the wonderful playgroup of kids that was such a common sight in a joint family. But the warmth remains, the love remains and the bonds still remain just as strong!! In an age when you are judged by how cool or uncool you are, the warmth that the kakus, jethus and mashimas exude can melt icebergs. I, for one, wouldn't trade that warmth for any amount of cool!!
I guess, probably, the warmth of the heart is best preserved in shawls, pullovers and cardigans.
No excuses for not having posted so long. No doubt that it has been an extremely hectic last week and a half but more than that it has been a lack of creative inspiration that led to no new posts. Then suddenly a few days back I came across this article, which set me thinking about the fact that I am one of those rare, pampered, sheltered species called the "Great Bong"!!
One phrase every Bengali worth his sweater has grown up with is 'thanda lege jabey'. It is the ultimate warning of impending doom, an unadulterated form of existentialist advice. Thanda lege jabey. Thou shalt 'catch the cold'.
'Catching the cold' comes easy to Bengalis. It's a skill that's acquired almost immediately after birth. Watch a Bengali baby and you would know. Wrapped in layers of warm clothing even if the sun is boiling the mercury, the baby learns quickly that his chances of survival in a Bengali household depend on how tightly he can wrap himself in cotton, linen and wool. Bengalis have almost romanticised warm clothing, so much so that Bengali art has found eloquent expression in a form of quilt-stitchwork called kantha.
I'm sure wool-shearers even in faraway Australia say a silent prayer to Bengalis before the shearing season (if there's any such season). I'm also sure the very thought of Bengalis sends a chill down the spine of many a sheep.
In winter, the quintessential Bengali's outfit puts the polar bear to shame.
Packaged in at least seven layers of clothing and the head snugly packed inside the queerest headgear, the monkey cap, he takes the chill head on. Easy lies the head that wears the monkey cap. With a pom-pom at the top, it's not just a fashion statement; it's a complete fashion paragraph!!
For a race that is perpetually running scared of cold weather, Bengalis have a surprising affinity for hill stations too.
I remember strolling down the Walk of Fame in Hollywood on a pleasant May evening. My eyes scanned the glittering stars on the asphalt - each an ode to a Hollywood heavyweight. Suddenly, my ears caught the unmistakable Doomsday warning - 'thanda lege jabey'. I stood transfixed. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is probably the last place one would like to get caught 'catching the cold'. I turned around. There was this Bengali family braving the American chill. The young brat of the family was adamant that he didn't want any more clothing but mom wouldn't have any of it - "sweater porey nao, thanda lege jabey." I need not translate that. Mom won, and the family - sweaters et al - posed for a photograph.
Even leaving aside the "thanda lege jabe", think for once about the average middle class born kid in Kolkata; born into doting parents who think and firmly believe in the phrase "Amar chele (or meye) is the best". Remember the ad "Tumi jokhon choto chile tomakeo khaiyechi" (When you were young, you too had it) on good old DD ... yet to see one that typifies the bengali household love and warmth more!!
I am in no position to comment on the good or the bad effects of all this mollycoddling on the growing up child. There are too much statistical variations to prove either arguement. Suffice to say that the average Bong child enjoys a much more pampered, well groomed and sheltered existence during his/her childhood. The only problem is sometimes this extends to ridiculously longer periods of time, a case in point being one of my father's colleagues, whose dad used to bring him to office and take him home!!
Of course things are changing nowadays; the age old custom of 100 odd relatives fanning out in search of a 'jamai' or a 'bou' for the "kid" is fast disappearing, as is the wonderful playgroup of kids that was such a common sight in a joint family. But the warmth remains, the love remains and the bonds still remain just as strong!! In an age when you are judged by how cool or uncool you are, the warmth that the kakus, jethus and mashimas exude can melt icebergs. I, for one, wouldn't trade that warmth for any amount of cool!!
I guess, probably, the warmth of the heart is best preserved in shawls, pullovers and cardigans.
posted by Souvik at 7:51 AM
8 Comments:
Too much article barha...ekebaare shotti kotha likhechish.
I always wondered why 'we' did not try skateboarding when we were kids. It’s very easy to make and should be comparatively cheaper than playing games like badminton. Then I realized even if I wanted, would my mother let me? But I don't feel very sorry on my lost opportunity when I think of the 'warmth' I rceived 'preserved in shawls, pullovers and cardigans.'
Well said.
khub bhalo post.
oi article ta kar?
fundu post...really worth the wait dude...
@bg & poddu: even i was stunned a bit to realize how true this is.
@panchu: correct.
@dd: chinbi na. ays-er ek kakimar.
@sandy: thnx & congrats.
So true....another typical situation would be the 'sandesh' and teh 'Daabh jal' during exam times!!!
well u pretty much summed it up perfectly.....for us bengalis growing up amidst all of this strangely enough is a lot of fun.....
@ george - it is ... it is!! thnx for dropping by ... hope to see u again!!
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