Hariprabha Mullick visited Japan in 1915 – her account, translated #longreads

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Translated by Madhurima Mukherjee, in Sahitya

Hariprabha Mullick (Takeda) (1890—1972) was born in Dhaka. She was probably the
first Bengali lady to have married a Japanese man. Her husband, Uemon Takeda, had
come to Dhaka as a migrant labour in a soap factory. The account of her visit to Japan,
Bangamohilar Japan Jatra (A Bengali Lady’s Journey toJapan) (1915) was the first
account of a Bengali lady’s visit to Japan, though it is common knowledge that
Rabindranath Thakur (1861-1941) was the first to travel to Japan from Bengal in 1915.
A series of letters published as Japan Jatri (Traveller to Japan) in 1919 was the first
travel account of Japan by a Bengali. Hariprabha did not travelto Japan once; the
Takedas made a second trip in 1924, and a third in 1941, on the eve of the Second World
War. When Hariprabha reached Japan in1941, Rashbehari Bose and Subhash Chandra
Bose were present in Japan. She met them and at the request of Bose acted as a war
correspondent on behalf of the Azad Hind Fauz.

Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar’s story, “Scions” in NER #longreads

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Another stork-chick  fell  into  the  cemented  part  of  our  backyard,  writhed  and  wriggled  in  agony  for  a  few  seconds,  and  died;  and  Jhi  hollered  in  anger.

‘Baahu!  Where  are  you?  See, your  favourite  mango  tree has  taken  another  life.  It  needs  a  sacrifice  everyday!’

 

Imran Hussain’s story, “The Journey” translated by Mitali Goswami, in NER #longreads

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The little station of Bahbari sprang to life as soon as the red-hued train steamed in noisily. Its shrill whistle mingled with the call of vendors and the chaotic rush of daily passengers excitedly making their way towards the train. Behind Simal, Phulbanu and other firewood sellers, Rabeya rushed to enter the third-class compartment. Balanced precariously on her head were four bundles of firewood.

As the women entered the bogey the rest of the passengers set up a hue and cry.

‘Go elsewhere.’

‘Don’t let these dirty women come in here,’ some of the passengers shouted.‘

Kottayam to get ‘mural city’ tag

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KOTTAYAM: After being called the land of lakes, letters and latex, Kottayam is set to get one more tag of being a mural city. Chief minister Oommen Chandy will declare it as a mural city on Saturday.

The move will boost the tourism in the region, which includes development of backwater destination Kumarakom. Currently, painters from across the world are engaged in painting murals in different parts of the city like the district collectorate, library and places of worship.

According to Akademi chairman K A Francis, the giant mural to be painted on Pushpagiri Church in Thellakom will be the icing on the cake as far as the project is concerned. “Artists from around the world, numbering to over 300, will complete the work within a day. The painting will depict Noah’s Ark,” he said.

The keeper of the history of Cheranallore Swaroopam.

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C. Raman Kartha is the keeper of the history of the Cheranallore Swaroopam. To him falls the title of ‘Cheranallore Kartha,’ the patriarch of the ancient Swaroopam. Raman Kartha, who will turn 90 this July, is the head of the family that once ruled large parts of Ernakulam.

His ancestor Kunju Kartha has become part of the legends of the State through his skill as a magician. Kunju Kartha’s exploits are featured in Aitihya mala, a compendium of myths and legends of Kerala. The Cheranallore Karthas are also key figures in the history of Kochi. Several landmarks in the northern part of the city were set up with the consent of the Karthas. “The famous church at Varapuzha was built on land granted by the Cheranallore Karthas,” says Raman Kartha. The Karthas also set up the Chittoor Sri Krishna Temple.

S.N. Lekshmanan’s extraordinary personal library – rare colonial documents

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On a narrow lane off Melaoorani Vaikkal Street in Karaikudi is a nondescript but astonishing private library that represents a treasure trove of ancient manuscripts, photos, books and other material of great archival value.

S.N. Lekshmanan is a 57-year-old bibliophile with a collection of nearly 70,000 old books, historic photos and rare manuscripts.

His huge collection comprises 200-year-old books on classical Tamil, music, medicine and art. There are also letters, pamphlets and handbills going back to the days of the Indian National Army (INA) in the early 1940s.

There are portraits of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose and V.M. Letchumanan Chettiyar, Chairman of the Indian Independence League (IIL), along with his colleagues.

Awards for reporting on mental health – Pervez Majeed Lone, Hamza Alungal

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The first edition of awards for print media instituted by the Schizophrenia Research Foundation (Scarf) and the Press Institute of India brought together journalists from Kashmir, Kerala and New Delhi on Tuesday.

Two journalists from regional media and three from the English language press were recognised for excellence in mental health reporting. The awards included citation and cash. Director of Scarf, R. Thara, said there were 25 entries from across the country.

When Srinagar-based correspondent Pervez Majeed Lone wrote about the mental health of women in Kashmir for Sahara Times , he found that ‘a holistic, scientific method’ of treatment was lacking. “In the 25-year war, many mothers have lost their sons. I am glad that Scarf took up an apolitical issue like mental health,” Pervez said after receiving the second prize in the English language print category for his article.