365 days Writing Prompt: Four Stars

Write a review of your life—– or the life of someone close to you— as if it were a movie or a book.

I  will write about someone who was very close to me. He was born in a village in Bangladesh, the name of the village is ‘Aburkandi’, how they chose the name is something I don’t know.

From very early in life he was a brilliant student, he didn’t have to pay tuition fees in school, he received a scholarship for all of his education.

He moved to a small town to continue his education, luckily his half brother lived there, so he lived with him until he finished his undergraduate degree.

After completing his degree he went to Calcutta( now Kolkata)to look for a job, he was offered a job at the post office, a few months later his services were borrowed by the ministry of defense for two months. His performance impressed the authorities, who decided to keep him.

He moved to Delhi where he went up the ladder of success and soon was promoted to the Assistant Secretary of defense.

His sister-in-law was impressed by his performance and felt her sister should be married to him. At first the parents declined their argument was they didn’t want two daughters to be married in the same family. Undaunted the sister-in -law kept pushing the marriage proposal until the parents gave in to her demand.

Soon after the young man was married to his sister-in-law’s sister.

While working the young man studied law, he felt it would be helpful in his job and it did.

He was interested in learning languages,besides Arabic, he learned Urdu and Persian. Since English was the medium of instruction he learned to speak the language fluently.

He had a number of children, he was always interested to see his children well-educated. His eldest son turned out to be a disappointment, he was one of those parents who didn’t like to force his children to do what they did not want to do.

He loved his children and always did what was best for them.

He fell severely ill, at the age of forty-seven he died, leaving behind his wife and  children.

: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/365-days-writi…mpt-four-stars/

 

365 days Writing Prompt: Tourist trap

What’s your dream tourist destination— either a place you’ve seen and loved, or a place you’d love to visit? What about it speaks to you?

My dream tourist destination would be to visit the places where our famous poet and philosopher grew up and wrote his amazing poetry and song lyrics.

The country is India and the place is Kolkata, a city of millions where life is difficult for most citizens, hunger homelessness and continuous hardship make the poor wonder, “Is this the reason we were born here to suffer and live day to day life in sheer agony?”

Tagore’s poems and Sarat Chandra’s novels are the reason I’d like to visit this particular city, how they felt when they witnessed the plight of the majority of citizens, and wrote their amazing poems and stories to tell those suffering humanity, ” I feel your pain!”

When we think of traveling we usually think of wonderful sights to see, delectable foods,gorgeous clothes to buy and spend time in a place which feels like a paradise on earth.

There’s nothing wrong with it, we are allowed to enjoy ourselves after a hard months of work. We all think differently and do as we please.

When I read the prompt this morning, it made me think, where would I go if I had a chance, Tagore’s song: “Oh my homeland you have given me so much.” It was easy to make up my mind where I’d like to go. I’ve posted this for all to see, how simple life is.

: https://sabethville.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/365-days-writi…t-tourist-trap

DP Daily Prompt: Something So Strong

My best friend Mini was born and raised in Kolkata. She completed her undergraduate degree from kolkata university. Her parents sent her to Dhaka,Bangladesh for further studies. She took admission in Dhaka university to study M.A in History. She dropped a year because she felt she was not ready to do her exam. She registered again hoping to do better.

Fresh from completing my under graduate degree I registered in Dhaka university to study History. This is where I met her. She came from a wealthy family, which is why I kept my distance. I had a preconceived notion that rich young people are too conceited to make friends with ones who are not as wealthy as them. I kept that firm belief and was not eager to extend my hand in friendship.

I was in my own world studying, going to the library taking notes, coming back in the residence to read my notes. Mini never showed any enthusiasm to study. She was my classmate,I was happy to leave it at that.

One day out of the blue moon she asked me if she could go to the library with me. I agreed ,she came along with me, I did what I always do, took out some of the books to read and write my notes. I opened one of my books, she stopped me in the middle,she said she had something to discuss with me.

I was curious, I stopped and asked her to go ahead. The words that came out of her mouth surprised me. She said she and my other classmate were talking about me, she said, “Why is this girl so proud, who does she think she is?”

In reply I said,”What made you think I am conceited?”

She came to this conclusion because I hardly spoke. “I am always  quiet in the middle of strangers, I am shy and most of the time I have nothing to say.”

I don’t know if this information about me was enough for her to know I am quiet if I don’t know a person.

As the days and months were passing by we talked more to each other and became friends. She finally told me why she chose to stay in the residence.

She fell in love with a Prof.in the university, her older sister was not supportive, mainly because the guy was not trustworthy. Mini moved out of her sister’s house to the residence so she could see the Prof. Here she was uncomfortable knowing some of the girls open other students’ mail. She asked me if that were the case. I had no idea I hardly got any mail except when my brother sent me my tuition fees.

Mini was concerned, I asked her was there anyone she knew where her mail would come could be delivered, she said she had a friend whose younger sister was a student in the university. It worked out fine.

Mini became my best friend, she took me to her sisters’ homes, her family knew me and liked me. I went to study B.ed., in a different university, while I was away her relationship with the  Prof. ended. She was miserable for a while.

She found a very nice man, whom she  married. I attended her wedding. She was very helpful to me she always sent her driver to pick me up if I needed to go somewhere.

Although we do not write to each other, we continue to be good friends. Yes our friendship is solid,we understand each other and will stay that way no matter how far away we live from each other!

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2014/03/13/prompt-something-so-strong/

‘O River’

River Whale (Photo credit: goingslo)

English: The transliteration of “bengali” in Bengali language. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

O River is a Bengali song.The singer is Hemant Kumar from Kolkata. I thought of translating into English because of its lyrics and the singer’s depth and passion,while singing it.I have listened multiple times and did not get tired. Here is my translation,I have added my thought to give a clear picture of the mood.

        ‘O River’

I only want to ask you,

Tell me where is your country?

Is there no end to your flow?

O River

You don’t have anything to hold you back,

Is this why you have no home?

One moment I see you flowing slowly,

And the next moment you are flowing swiftly.

Tell me O River where is your country?

Is there no end to your flowing?

With your flow you break a bank, and then you build another.

Someone who has no bank to break or build,

What do you do for it?

You are falsely thinking I am a stranger,

But I want to be a friend and I like to know,

Do you have no time to spare?

I would like to know your happy and sad moments.

Tell me ,O River where are you from?

Is there no end to your movement?

The river of life is our journey which we agree to take. Every living thing also goes through this journey. All of us are here for a purpose we are expected to learn,things to teach,much to learn and more to give. The choice we have is learning to navigate and understand the current of the river we find ourselves in.Sometimes the waters are cool and clear ,sometimes they are not.Despite the problems we might face, we have to be ready and work out the problems that face us,so that we can make our journey effortless and enjoyable!