Bhook ka Bhoot

This story explains the pathetic state of all Bengalis.

They are totally dominated by their wives at home, so all they can do is get out of the house and discuss important matters such as Viet Nam (in the 1970s), Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Chechnya and of course now Iraq. That they are equally uninfluential in these matters as they are at home seems completely lost on the poor fools.

Now, if only somebody would tell us an equally good story about the Biharis!

Dear Sharmaji
You have a knack of translating beautifully.
I have enjoyed all your translated stories and read with them great relish.
Reading your stories is a great pleasure of life.
Keep it up.

bye Vivek

DebsharmaSahib..... I am thankful for translating this little story and it gave me joy. Translation is not easy job as same line can be constructed by different ways and your writing appears very organic with the story content. It is credit to you as you had done earlier for two other stories also. Wonder they were from same author. The original writer has clear command and keen observation of life of a bengalis of that time. The stories beautifully brings out cultural life of bengalis of that era and clearly has Bengali ethos. ( I am sure you know how Punjabis are different , People have differt reactions and it appears women are more respected in Bengal ethos than Punjab central, wonder is only part of well to do classes or same reverence and respect is observed in all strats of Bengalis?)). Earlier two stories had a drama but the skill of auther is to observe even soft drama in undramatic events and look at it nonchallantly and its joy to look at life. Art is easy thing to look at but very very difficult to master.I request you for more translations from masters of short story tellers.
You had written about your experience in Gulf while working hope you can write about observations about your visits here to Karachi , lahore etc .
You recent article about IIT was interesting. I convey respects for being student from IIT college of India. From your article it apperas very hardworking place so product is good as basic material is good. Now I must state some gentleman from NED gives bad impression but NED is very best engg education place from here.
I was wondering how specially admitted disadvantaged students do or how foreign students fare?
Are girls are also in IIT ? If so what was sex ratio when you were in IIT college and year if you can state, and what is present sex ratio in IITs some others can state and what is preference of female students in branches of engg. I have seen some excellent papers published in areas of mathematics from IIT Professors. Wonder they have MSc in maths or just only technology areas.
Good night.

Sometimes we just dont realise the sort of influence we have on others!

I didn`t think any one else used an ICMIC cooker. I`m related, like most other Baidyas to the family of the man who invented it, and my grandmother used to love it, but I could never stand it. It produces the most flavourless food ever, or wait, maybe that was just my grandmother!

Looks like the pseudo-``intellectual`` bongs have finally developed some iota of common sense and humanity. They have banned the hand rickshaws where people pull people around like beasts of burden. For years the bongs would write poetry and sing rabindra sangeet while people would be running around barefeet pulling other people and dying of TB.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Farewell_rickshaw/articleshow/712304.cms

I am surprised the communists did not raise a big fuss over this. After all they have a vested interest in maintaining poverty. Maybe Hu Jintao on his visit to India whispered something in their ears.

So people eat when they feel hungry. What is the big deal in this story?