MellowDrama

Durga Puja is here. This is that time of the year about which you would not understand anything important unless you are here in Bengal observing the people. Yes, there is Durga Ma's arrival and strict vegetarian code in the kitchens all over but what is more is how the atmosphere of the place changes, the joyful vibe as life looks on at something new that brews up in those 9 days of merry making and mingling. Having said this for Pujos, I think it is probably true for all the other festivals that are celebrated around the world. You will probably agree with me when I say that no one is supposed to be alone on or for a festival. So the primary role of a festival is that of a social activity. Seeing how Durga Puja is celebrated in Kolkata for the past five years I have realised that a subtle purpose behind this particular festival was to treat it as a good time to find a date, a partner or if you are a die-hard romantic, love. Let me give you an idea about how Durga Puja play...

Chitrika Bhargava’s  Letters to Me and You  is a collection of poems dealing with the intricacies of love and loss. Though the love poems do make up the larger part of this book, there are a few letters here as well. The poems, like I said deal with love, loss and everything in between, the four letters (more like short notes) are written to different people from different stages in the author’s life (I presume)- an old love, a forever love, to a younger self by an older, wiser self. They send out a strong message in self-love, acceptance and moving on.  Though the themes are nothing new here- love, longing, desperation, hope and discovery of self- I think what Ms Bhargava does achieve with her book is a gradual maturity in her subject as well as its execution as the book progresses. The poems are divided into four sections- Ever mine, Remnants of Yo u, Me and You .  They all take a start from their respective titles, for example, I personally fo...