Pensioners' welfare association.

I am busy today with the free medical camp of our welfare association  (Retired employees' welfare association, BSNL). A hall i.e Niranjan Sadan (Ground floor) at Bijoygarh, Jadavpur has been hired where the interested members and their relatives (guests also are allowed) would come for free checks-up (Blood sugar, Blood Pr., Arthritis, Doctor's advice and ECG). Prescriptions would be given by Drs.
DESUN hospital  (Kasba) which is an empanelled hospital for BSNL retired and current employees and their families, is  co-operating and all arrangements have been made.
I attended the freee med. camp and have come home back now.
Some of our memebers could not come as there had been heavy shower in some localities in and around Kol. Fortunately, it did not rain in our own loclity and  also  in & around  Niranjan Sadan .
I am stopping here tonight for want of time.

Our day-to-day life

In the tea-stall where we sit regularly and have cups of tea and  discuss everything under and beyond the sun, life has become strangely calm & serene   now-a-days............ no more hot discussions of the olden days in respect of politics, football or cinema......... no storm over cups of tea any more , apparently because of the fact that many of us have attained the status of senior citizens and the graphs of cinema, football or politics in the state or rather the country,   are all moving downward. Discussions are, therefore all  rather low-key, &  the price of tea has in the meantime, gone up.

Delhi news:       There is little respite to the woes of the residents as it rained heavily there and streets are already waterlogged & normal life has been stalled. I wonder whether this may be an after-effect of the earthquake.
Sonia Gandhi has returned to the capital city after treatment & surgery in USA. Reports say that some more time will be reqd. before she takes over the reins of her party. People will like to see her hale & hearty &  dynamic as before.

Football:     Federation cup has just begun.  Mohameddan Sporting played versus Ar Hima & beat the latter 1-0. Scorer:  Stanley.  I hope East Bengal  plays well in this tournament, though a common belief is there that if East Bengal wins this cup, they wont win any further trophy during the  year.


Price Index:   Fish is still costly but, there is a definite downslide in the prices of vegetables.... though the index of the price of  the vegetables is resting at a certain point & is not likely to go any lower further.
Flowers  (loose) and garlands, bouquets and sticks are  v v high on price and  this may be due to excessive rain in the areas where flowers are produced.

Delhi trembling.

Nature rubbed salt to Delhi's wound..........no, not so. An earthquake of medium intensity (4.2) jolted Delhi yesterday night at 11.28 P.M with  its epicentre in  Sonepat (Haryana)  ......no casualties reported........tremor felt in  Delhi and satellite towns viz  Ghaziabad, Noida etc. Thank God .....after the blast .......it really might have been a bad bad body blow to the residents of the capital city, had it measured higher. However, panic seized the city & people ran helter & skelter. However, the tremor lasted for 10 secs. & the intensity of  tremor was medium.
Weather in Kol. :  Max temp;  32 degree  Cel.  Min. 27 deg C. Rainfall: Nil
Benguluru News:     Monidip  (Mou's husband....Mou is my niece living in Bengaluru) is this moment flying to Bengaluru from Mumbai. He has just returned from London (Dt. 8th Septr., time 1745 hrs IST, when I am writing this). Mou and her mother  Rama (Sister to me) talked to me just sometime before and infmd me that Khuki & Bachchu  (Sister & bro.-in-law to Babu  (brother to me) ) had been to Mou's new house  (Apptt.) in Bengaluru, may be 2 days before and had dinner with Chandi, Rama & Mou and they enjoyed thoroughly. Menu: Rice, Chicken, two different sabjis etc. Interestingly, Chandi (Rama's husband) cooked the chicken, Mou cooked a sabji of Alu-capsicum probably and  Rama made a different sabji.,  I don't wonder how Chandi learnt the art of cooking. I always knew that one who loves to eat can learn the art of cooking also.
I also learnt fm Rama that Khuki  & Bachchu admired the dishes very much.  Chandi .........you have done wonders.   

Napolean said so.....

In GBS's  (George Bernard Shaw), play (drama),  Napoleon, the French General, told another character to bring some Red ink for signing papers, whereupon the said character (An old man) said that no red ink was avlble., whereas some Red wine was there....would the same serve the General's purpose??  napoleon was taken aback... No, by all means..... red wine is absolutely essential for our soldiers..... he said, but I see that yr wife is a quarrelsome woman who is useless. Go , cut her into two pieces and bring the blood , for signing papers. 

The old man..... I know Blood is cheaper than wine.
This is pure satire. Shaw hated war to the core. In India today, at 10.14 A.M, a blast occurred in  Delhi  (High  Court area)   and  11 lives lost then & there...... about 50 injured. The death toll may rise.
I walked in the morning in Wireless Park....... I met Mr. Ganesh Das; Dada, Bou-di and myself met his daughter and son-in-law i.e  Jayati and Ramu, as I wrote already in my previous blogs. I have already met Mr. Ganesh Das a no. of times and I have also gone to his house and met his wife who is ailing, but mentally alert and strong. It is likely that all 3 of us will go to their house soon. By the way, their house is just near-by.
Broadband here in India , Kol. is really disturbing & I am retiring on account of the same, tonight.

Return of bluebird

Hi everybody. Now that I am trying to stage, sort of a comeback in this realm, after we returned to India, from USA. I am also side by side, lookingl for one or two pleas, for not writing blogs so long.  However, among the causes there are (1) Jetlag (2) virus in computer  (3) slow boroadband here in India, Cal. & (4) my own lackadaisical nature for which I feel really really sorry.
I would like to kickstart my strings of blog once again........... readers tolerating.
Yesterday night Google paid tribute to Freddie 'Queen'  Mercury..... a  Parsi-British  singer with  an animated Doodle to mark the 65th birth anniv of the lead singer of the famous band 'Queen' of the 1980 s. Freddie died in 1991 when he was just 45.
Today evening we saw Live Tv broadcast  of the FIFA-sanctioned exhibition football match at Dhaka, Bangabandhu Stadium between  Argentina & Nigeria. Arg. won 3--1.    2 Goals scored by Sergei Higuen.... courtesy superstar  Lio Messi.... the 2nd goal  reminded people of Maradona's famous goal against Eng. in "86 ..... Maradona in a solo run dribbled past 4 to 5 Eng. players & scored.  Today also Messi dodged past 4 to 5 players chasing  him (Messi) hot in the heel  & pushing the ball towards goal.... the GK (goalkeeper) of Nigeria stretched  his  hand  and Higuen who was rushing,  got the ball loose & finished  gratefully. The audience & the TV-viewers had their moments of ecstasy and the rich & the VIP spectators who bought Tkts @ Rs 5000/- & even more, got their  money's worth.
 West Beng. (Renamed Paschimbanga)  had two airports so long. But, now the Coochbehar airport has re-opened after a  long time & so  now we have 3 airports in  W.B i.e Paschimbanga. South  Bengal & North Bengal are now well-connected by air & businessmen in Coochbehar are happy.
Vishwakarma Puja is in the offing.... it will be held on 18th september........normally it happens on 17th September. This is a prelude to Durga Puja. The durga Puja pandals are under construction in many places .... Theme Pujas  will vie with each other & the Puja committee officials are however tight-lipped as to what may be their theme this year. Many are, however, free and frank and we already know the theme of many Pujas.
 Saradiya literature or literature on the eve of the festival of  Durga Puja is a part of Kolkata's culture and many Saradiya (festive) numbers are already out in the market containing writings of eminent novelists, poets and essayists & the hawkers in the News-stand are doing brisk business.
 No more hot and humid days..... we are having some amount of rainfall from time to time  ....... the sky is cloudy and the days are cool. The air has traces of moisture in it.
Puja marketing is about to pick up. Stock of  Sarees, Ladies & Gents' garments plus children's wears is still
puller again, as in the earlier years.........Digha, Puri which are nearer destinations, seem to be full as far as hotels & guest houses r concerned.




 
      

Good bye Boston.

Good bye Boston.... we are flying India back today evening. We will reach Kolkata on 17th August at 11-10  P.M.
Weather report ....... it is cloudy here and rainfall is likely even. Kolkata's weather is worse..... I gather that it rained there last few days & weather will not improve soon.
While leaving this city, I am carrying good memories and good feelings. So far, the sources of my knowledge in r/o USA and this city had been a few books, Atlas, the experience of  my seniors in Merchant Navy, the literature of  the famous poets and writers of USA like Edgar Allan Poe, Nathniel Hawthorne, Washington Arvin,  Herman Melville,  Stephane Crane, Howard Fast, Pearl S. Buck, William Faulkner ,  Ernest Hemingway, Robert  Frost and many others ------their poetry and writings, Hollywood films ......their Actors and Directors.......the history books of American Independence and the Civil war........the writings of Swami Vivekananda and  his disciples ....the books on Swamiji....his life & experience in USA.......in Boston; but, at least now  I  have been able to gather some practical knowledge about the same country and the city of Boston, though meagre....  it  enriched my outlook and knowledge. So, thanks to all and good bye.
Time & tide, they say, wait for none......... still  if   I have time, may be a few pages more would be added to my book of such practical knowledge.

The penultimate day in Boston.

Today (15th August here) is our penultimate day of staying in Boston, USA. We are therefore packing up & weighing the luggages.
Weather here:---- It is still raining here from yesterday.  As per weather forecast, it won't be fair weather tomorrow even. In Kol., as we gather reports...... there had been much rainfall since last few days & the weather is not yet clear.
As regards our stay here in Boston....... I must say that the stay had been v v good in all respects. Yash & Runi looked into everything we might be needing and  we enjoyed our trips to various places thoroughly,  e.g  trips to New York, The Thousand Island Park,  Acadia National Park, Maine, Rye & Hampton beach and  several other places........along with them. The weathergods were kind to us  &  while travelling, we  experienced  but little or no  rainfall.
In Boston, we went to shopping centers and market places and  saw tit-bits of  business, marketing. The MBTA & the  Subway trains are wonderful in Boston----- we also had  a  Bus ride  (Up & down) once & liked the same.
The places of interest here like the  Museum of Science, the Natural History Museum, The  Boston  Public  Library  and  the Brookline Public Library (A branch), the Boston Common, the Prudential  Tower, the Hancock tower and  the  Harvard University bldgs. inclusive of  Harvard Medical School &  Dana- Farber Cancer Instt., the MIT bldgs. etc. ----- they  all provided us change of vision & mind.
Abou khana-pina...... though Indian vegetables and fish also were avlble. here, and Bou-di was never tired of cooking dishes........still, we tasted some other dishes also which provided us some diversion of culinary taste.
The city of  Boston itself is a nice city with a rich  & cultural heritage of its own and  epitomises freedom of speech and  thinking,   and also,  side by side, unfolds  in itself,  to become  a great  seat of  education and research,  day by day.
Anyway, we are now bound for home and  watching the Nature outside as it is raining more or less heavily.

Independence day, remembering India, Kolkata.

Yesterday night Dada, Bou-di & myself went to see the working places of  Yash and Runi i.e Harvard  Medical School, New Research Building & Dana- Farber Cancer Institute respectively, located in Longwood area.
Previously, we saw these buildings from outside; but, now we got the opportunity of seeing the same from within also. Our car was parked in the basement parking area & we were then elevated to Yash's place of work in Harvard Medical  School, New  Research Bldg........ we saw Yash's  lab......his desk & his other areas of work.......he gave us a  plain  description of  his job........ full of complexities though, still we listened to him all the while  &  tried to grasp his motto of research  aided by the wonderful facilities the  Harvard university  had to offer, to a   Postdoc  researcher.
We met  a few other researchers also there who were cordial and  polite enough to greet us & we reciprocated.   I was simply baffled  by  guessing the vastness of  the research that  might be going here for  years together,  in the development of medical science & the researchers' contribution to humanity.
The bldg. inside  & outside were simply marvellous.......... the  high glass walls of the building which reflected the  blue of the sky in the daytime & looked wonderful in the night also----------- it was kind of  an engineering wonder--------- many snapshots were taken by  the trio of  Yash, Runi & Dada.
Next, we moved to Dana- Farber Cancer Instt. where Runi works, as a Postdoc researcher;  we saw  her lab, her areas  of work, the conference room & a few other parts of the Hospital.  I liked her spirit of  work, punctuality & devotion to work. Next we saw the old  Cancer Hospital bldg. I shd add here that Runi's lab is not far from  Yash's lab.
I was sorry to remember that hospitals in our country did not always mean health & hygiene, as it shd be ideally........while here, people get healing touches & care also  & are never low in spirit to come to the hospital for treatment and recovery.
We also saw Brigham & Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital & Beth Israel  Deconess  Medical  Center ............all these are known names to me by now.

Today is 14th  August & a  Sunday &  Indian Independence day  is, therefore being celebrated here today at Storrow drive,  in a Park by the side of the  Charles River.
All of us decided to go there and see some of the celebrations there in the afternoon  & accordingly we went there inspite of the fact that it was raining here from the morning.........almost.   The flag hoisting  ceremony  and the celebrations started from 9 A.M  & a lot of people.......Indians mostly.......... were there,  I learnt later that many volunteers were there from 9 A.M & helped organise the function braving the rain. Among the guests was Victor Banerjee ----- a well-known filmstar of Kolkata who was known in USA also,  bec. of  the David Lynn Film  'A passage to India' in which he starred. I also learnt that Bengali songs were sung in the 1st part of the celebrations which we missed.
We saw and listened to Kawwali performances, Bhangra dances with Punjabi songs plus Marathi songs etc.-----the rain almost stopped and gradually stopped totally. The crowd enjoyed thoroughly the performances and the youth present there danced to their favourite tunes a no. of times. The crowd was quite big when we joined there. A no. of  food-stalls was there and we had Pani Poories, known as Phuchkas in Kolkata. Runi and Yash met some of their friends there. Among them a few were even known to Dada & Boudi. I would mention here the names of   Prashant & Akashi who came to our house earlier. Also I would like to mention here the names of Shovan and his wife (name I don't know) who were friends of  Yash/Runi  in Madurai. Forest Rangers were in charge of the Park where the celebration was going and they were seen present all throughout in the Park-area.. Also, Police were present in order to maintain the traffic & contain things, if necessary. The whole function was organised by the  IAGB i.e the India  Association of Greater Boston. I came to know that it is the 50th yr. of  celebration by them and they were committed to organising a year-long process of celebrations and  arranging of  medical camps plus Yoga camps, as a mark of their 50th year. We received souvenirs which contained  Proclamation by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, urging citizens of the Commonwealth  to take cognizance of this event & participate fittingly in its observance. Freedom of  speech & freedom of  cultural activities .........that was how  I  felt in reading the said souvenir & witnessing the part of the celebrations plus being a part of the same.
We came home at about 9 P.M.  Dada, myself, Yash and Runi .........played cards for some time before dinner. Yash and Runi had already eaten Dosa, chat etc. in the stalls mentioned herein earlier & they did not eat anything more.

The tacts of a cat

 I am somewhat troubled by virus problems in the laptop.
Today, Yash had to go to his lab.  Rest of us went to  1. Target  (Watertown mall) &  2. Marshall  (Arsenal mall)  to avail ourselves of the tax-free offer  (Sales tax) on 13th-14th August.
A few purchases were made in these two shopping malls.
I blogged about a cat in my yesterday's writing, my readers may remember.  The cat fled, so to say & we did not know where it might go. Anyway, it was amazing when the same cat returned and mewed at our door a number of times yesterday night.  This time she had a tag around the neck:----Name:    Isabelle.  Address:  I am not mentioning......  a near-by addss.
Initially, we could not guess wherefrom this mewing of a cat was being heard; but, were alarmed really when there was a sort of  knocking on our door........ the cat was using her body & legs in trying to push the door open. It was really really amazing. Here  there  was a cat which had a few tacts as to how to enter into a house that is closed.
On opening of the door, she came in and  seemed to know the house. She even lied in the floor for some time and was quite comfortable there.
Dada commented......." The cat is not ungrateful. She has come to pay us a  return visit".
Anyhow, the cat was thereafter called outside & playfully, she vanished behind our house.

It is about 6 P.M now and  we may go out, situation permitting.

A cat in & out ........may be out & in also.

Yesterday night Yash found a homeless cat.........apparently out of  its own house, we don't know whether it belonged to our neighbourhood or not. Yash was sorry for its condition  ..... no food, no home, none to look after.......... he talked to Runi  & brought it home.  Food was served to the cat...after initial hesitation, he or she ...whatever it was........devoured all that was given. Runi & Yash rang up the society for animal shelter who advised them to look in the neighbourhood next morning. Runi remembered that she saw an appeal in the near-by Beaconsfield MBTA Stn. about a lost cat. Though it was 11 P.M, they went there & understood that this cat was not the same as that one...I mean the one about which the appeal was made.
Hence, they came home back & decided to contact the society again in the morning. The cat was a very quiet one & mewed only once and moved about in the house of ours,  from one place to another, trying to understand the situation perhaps. After some restlessness , the cat sleeped without any further  complication in the house.
In the morning, however, it showed no signs of hunger or thirst and Yash took it outdoor,  for some 20 mins. or so.
When locked in our house again, the cat at first had some breakfast; but, later became quite restless to get out. It went to the windows  as well as the entrance door several times indicating, by mewing repeatedly,  that it did not like being in the house. Its restlessness compelled Yash and Runi to take a decision to let it go.
Hence, it was in our house and out  by now. Reportedly  (reporter.... Runi), the cat, on being set free,  ran in a direction apparently quite familiar to it & was out of sight in the twinkling of an eye.  May be  that  it was out from  its  own house  & also it  may be that the cat is in its house by now. End of the episode with the fleeing of the cat.
In our lunch, a new item was added.....i.e fried rice prepared by Runi. Other items like rice, daal, sabji, alur dam , tomator chutney were prepared by  Bou-di, as usual.    Runi rose to heights and succeded in cooking this item ........Bou-di was at her very best & we ate the meal heartily.
In the afternoon we all went to Russo's shopping center for buying vegetbles etc. and next went to the Wholesale Club of  BJ's.   In the end, we all went to Patel's for the same purpose...........that  is  the shopping center run by  an Indian ownership  & the same broadly  caters to the  demands  of  Indian customers.  About these  markets I have already written in many of my earlier blogs.

Royal Bengal where we ate.

   ROYAL  BENGAL.......Believe it or not------ that was Royal  Bengal which did not eat.......instead, we ate there  for our lunch.
I heard of the Indian eaterie earlier  from Runi, Yash, Debasree and her father also  & the  latter i.e  Debasree's father insisted us to eat there at least once. He seemingly held high opinion of  its Indian and specially Bengali dishes. Runi & Yash also went there sometime before & tasted some of the  dishes........they also liked its North Indian &  Beng. Khana. Naturally, I was influenced  by the general agreement of opinion  & wanted to go there once for tasting Bengali Khana.
Today,   Runi planned  (with Yash of course) to go to Royal Bengal which is in the Cambridge area........for lunch. So, after breakfast, all of us moved  to Massachusetts Ave., where the eaterie is located .......via a C-line train & next, a red-line train.
It is managed by a Bengalee lady  (I am not sure whether she has some other relatives there to lend her support in running the business or not)......... we  listened to Bengali songs within and also found photographs of  Royal Bengal Tigers decorating the interior of the shop. In short, the atmosphere was sort of friendly to Indians and more so to Bengalees. However, the menu was somewhat cosmopolitan, and North Indian dishes plus Sea-food also were there in the same.
Dada, Bou-di and myself  had for lunch :---  Rice (Bhat), Chholar daal  (slightly misti) with green chilli, Mochar ghanto with shrimp (chingri), Sorshe-illish  (hilsha fish with mustard).
It was real  good khana &  dada  ate more than his usual quota .
Yash & Runi preferred buffet which had chicken Tikka, Nan, Fulgobi, mitahi etc.
The  lady owner of  Royal Bengal was naturally curious to know how much  we all relished  her dishes & we atonce approved   the same---- much to her liking. . She later talked to us for quite some time. She collected  minimum information about us & told about herself also at the same time. We bought 2 Misti Masala Pan also from her.
We learnt that khana was  served by this shop for various occasions &  were glad to see her doing some business, though not on a very large-scale, here in Boston.
Out in the street, Yash told us to walk in a different direction that led us to the  MIT (Massachusetts Instt. of Technology) bldgs. Many snapshots were taken. Next we crossed the Charles River bridge on foot........it would be a  very good memory indeed................the sailboats moving in the river, the motor boats anchored mostly, only one of them was seen to move in the river, the skyline of Cambridge on one side of the river & the same of  Boston on the other...........the fresh air of the River added to our energy & we walked rather briskly to reach the  Haynes station of the MBTA, wherefrom we availed ourselves of a  Green-line train bound for  Cleveland circle, our destination, however being  Dean Rd. Stn.

Cricinfo.com

  MS Dhoni was sort of bewildered with so many questions  (As Deep Dasgupta commented) e.g whether Virendra Sehbag is fit to play or not; whether he shd open or not; who shd replace  Harbhajan Singh and many other questions.
  Anyhow, I was interested  to know what happens in case Viru is in the team,  ( reference:  currently happening 3rd Test between India & Eng. at Birmingham) & it was still more interesting to see India batting first, as  the England Test captain  Andrew Strauss won the toss at Birmingham  (Edgbaston)
& chose to field.
  Now , Yash gave me a jolt when he told that Virendra  Sehwag got the  Golden Duck i.e he was out first ball to  Stuart Broad. The live broadcast came thru Cricinfo.com  in the Internet.
  Thus began our day.  However, Runi had already gone to her work and Yash was home. Dada & myself saw the cricket match (3rd Test) live  in Yash's PC, equipped with the new LED monitor. This display unit was quite big & effected fine resolution of picture........I already wrote about this one.
Next I was out in the street for my daily  walking exercise. It was about 11-10 A.M  & I was walking along Beacons Road
in the direction of  Coolidge Corner, when after some time I was alerted  by the very loud sirens of the Police cars, 2 in no, moving at a very high speed.  I crossed footpath with a view to walking  upto  Dean Rd. Stn.,  and  again saw a 3rd Police vehicle running very fast  in the same direction & alarming everybody   all the while.   What is all this about?........  I thought ....... what circumstances can  disturb the peace & tranquility of  our nice locality?? However, this did not bother me much & I kept the  thoughts  to myself only.
Later,  I  learnt that an incident of shooting occured  in Brighton in a housing for the elderly lower income group  of people as well  disabled persons and  the gunman was arrested eventually.
I  hope this is a rare happening & I  also hope this would not  create much wave in our life-styles.
After lunch, I found Runi e-mailing me to tell that she was taking  P/Os of all my blogs. Later, she gave me a present of  the same ........ almost in the form of a booklet........ a very good gift indeed.
Yash prepared a  chat in the evening............  I appreciate what is called   ' haatjash'  of  Yash. The word is a Bengali word & means the art of one's hand in preparing something or curing a disease, in a broader sense.
.

We are about to pack up.

One more week is in hand & we are about to pack up.  Today, there was a forecast for rain & so it happened .   Day's  temp. = 70 deg. F  = 21deg C.    Tomorrow, there may be isolated thunderstorms, as per weather forecast.
Runi had been to the lab & came home in the evening. Yash received a  home  delivery of a LED monitor for his Computer. It  was working perfectly, when tested, & the display was large & beautiful.  He also went to his lab &  came home early.
We are now weighing our suitcases. We are set to pack up.
From friends & relatives plus from Newspapers (Bengali), I came to know that there had been much rainfall in Kolkata for the last four days. The harrowing  experience of  a Chakra Rail  (the Circular Rlys.) commuters remaining stuck up for hrs. together, bec. of  waterlogging caught my attention. I saw photos in r/o the same. Now.....I learn that the  Chakra Rlys. authority have decided  not to run the Rlys. in the event of a heavy downpour.  I also learn that the rain has stopped, at least for the time being, in Kol.
The 22nd day of the  Beng. month Sravana i.e Baishe Shraban  which marks the day on which Rabindranath
( Rabi Thakur)  passed away has elapsed  already............I read the news in the Bengali newspapers.

Runi leads us to places.

It rained during the previous night & also, it rained  today occasionally. There was a  notice in the Condominium where we are staying that a Fire alarm testing & drill would happen between 11 A.M to 2 P.M. So, Runi suggested that we shd  go to Brookline Public Library, Coolidge corner branch  during that period of time so as to avoid the sirens which are loud and ear-splitting  even. Plus, one must be out in the open whenever the sirens are screaming, regardless of where one is at that point of time...... & this might  be telling upon us.
Runi had to go the lab; but, Yash agreed to stay with us & lead us to the said Public library.
So, brkfast over, all of us proceeded to Pleasant street near Coolidge Corner where the library is. There is a big collection of  books there to cater to the demands of the reader & we chose books of  our own interest.
Bou-di got a cooking book titled Bengali cooking by  Chitrita  Banerjee which held clues to  a variety of Bengali cuisines  vis a vis their origins i.e whether the particular recipe originated from East Bengal or west Bengal........... how the khichri  (hotch-potch) is associated with the monsoon ........ the  Hilsha fish of Padma, the same fish  of the river  Ganges................ the question of superiority  of the one over the other.............. the delicay of the Lau-chingri  for the Non-vegetarian   Bengalees or the veg. Lau ghanto for the stricter vegeterian persons & many other Bengale recipes......... I had a chance to have a look in the book & that's how I came to know about the contents of the book, at a glance.  Later, I learnt that Runi Knows about this book already & may be that she suggested the book for Bou-di to read & borrow.
I, somewhat blindly grasped a book on alternative medicine & became acquinted with the outlines of treatments like hypnotherapy, tai-chi and   Reiki, of course  (I know Reiki already) plus, homeopathy, ayurvedic, hath yog etc.Next, I read a book by Robert  M. Fegelson titled  Downtown---its rise & fall  1880--1950. This book dealt with the aspect of urbanisation of downtown Boston......... then & now.........
the Boston subways.... the tall, more than just tall and the skyscraper buildings in the downtown area.............. how they blocked the views of an onlooker,  how they  dwarfed the landmark buildings like the Trinity Church which were earlier held in high esteem on account of their architectural  grandeur.............. the  downtowns in the other cities like New York etc............their evolution with the passage of time..........it was nice reading. I also read  (partly,  of course) another book by William Ury........ I found dada  & Yash absorbed in their  own  books...........Bou-di sitting at a distant table with her cooking book about which I already referred  herein.
Then suddenly we heard  thundering of the clouds & it was raining outside................. after the rain stopped, it was about 1-20 P.M & we walked  out of the Library. our next destination was..........Trader's Joe, a big shop in Coolidge corner, (I understand that Runi guided Yash to get us there & pass more time and also get a few items for the dinner). Yash purchased a few items from here   (I guessed that he would grill lamb which was bought yesterday at Hanover, NH  and prepare  Berger also)   &  we reached home at 2-o-clock. We could not know whether or not the fire drill happened ...........anyhow, the lunch was soon ready for us:----
Bhat (Chawal), daal, Palak (Palang) saag with alu, Gati kachur tarkari, achar (pickles) and lemon.  Simply wonderful.
Runi came in the evening  & I was led by her to go to an outlet of the KFC  (Kentucky fried chicken) in  Allston which is near-by, in the car. I tasted some fried chicken ----Runi also did the same; but, she ate less, as Yash would grill the meat and prepare Berger also. By the way, I have given up eating mutton altogether &   that's why Runi wanted me to eat the KFC items. Also, I earlier talked to her about eating there or bringing home the fried chickens. The KFC fries were certainly  v v good to eat & Runi brought home a pack of the same , especially for me, for dinner. later, I ate the fried chicken-pieces to full satisfaction.
 Yash was now busy  grilling the meat and also went to prepare the Bergers. He seemed to know the art of grilling &  Runi also said to me that Yash cooks seldom; but, he is unbeatable when he cooks. It was corroborated by the fact that Dada went to the extent of over-eating, as was apparent.
Because  of  the KFC chickens.... I had to cut short my dinner tonight. Only 2 tablespoonfuls of rice  & some daal  & a little bit of palak saag............... I was now busy looking for  my  Pudin Hara (liquid)  ;, but, Runi suggested me to drink  Thums up  & I did  the same.

Jayati & Ramu pay us a hearty send-off.

Today, it is 7th Aug. & a Sunday. Jayati & Ramu with whom we interacted earlier at least twice & who live in Acton, came to our house, with their only son Suvam, for Tea & breakfast practically; but, as it rained heavily fm the previous night & the rain continued in the morning also, they came somewhat late  i. e  before 12-o-clock perhaps,  & attended to  what can be  termed a brunch. Menu: -----   Luchi, Alu-paraatha, alur tarkari, achar  (pickles), tomato chutney, payash.  To the menu was added   Chicken  Sik kebab (With S. African spices) plus Chicken Berger, both grilled by Ramu. The last item was invariably Ice cream. All these tasted v v good.
They sort of paid us a send-off & Ramu gifted  dada a best-seller book by  Nathaniel Philbrick  titled Mayflower. Many of the Indian readers are acquinted with the same, I suppose.
They had an invitation to attend, perhaps near Lexington  &  their stay here did not last long. Yet, we discussed many things in the short span of time  and they left us  at about 2-o-clock.
If everything goes ok, Jayati may go to  Tollygunge, Kudghat area soon,  in order to meet her parents . It may be remembered that her parents live in a house  near  our house. Hopefully, we will meet her there or in our house by that time. Ramu and his son may also  go there in some other month, as per feasibility of time &  a few other factors.
The incessant rain has marred the spirit of the day to some extent of course and we are stuck to our room and perhaps, wont make any movement outside.
Let's see.

Dartmouth College, New Hampshire.

   Yesterday, as  planned earlier,  we all started for New Hampshire in the morning, at about 7-30 A.M. Runi driving all the way from Brighton, Boston   to  New Hampshire with Yash assisting her with the GPS. New Hampshire offers a wonderful view of  trees standing tall in both sides of the National highway No 93 , wild flowers which blossomed on the road-side, the mountain ranges & the valleys, the picturesque houses visible when one draws near Lebanon, a city of the state of NH. The state of NH has a rich heritage......... its motto is......... Live free or die.n
Runi & Yash lived  there  in a house in Lebanon, while studying in  the College of  Dartmouth, for their Ph.D degree.
Our car moved there & we were glad to see the said house, presently under occupation of someone else.
After spending sometime there, we now moved towards Hanover along the same route which Yash and Runi used for many years to go to the college............ Runi & Yash  naturally seemed to be very much  nostalgic.
We saw the College area.......   bldgs. for  different departments...............Physics, Chemistry and many other streams  and Life Science of course . Runi & Yash studied in Bio-technology.  Runi's guide in Dartmouth College Thomas  Jack  responded to her  phone call and was soon available to show us  the new bldg. of  Life Science where the entire department had recently been shifted. The bldg. was still under construction; but,  Thomas Jack  was friendly to all of us.......he also knows  Yash............he  (Thomas  Jack)
spent much of his time in showing us the new building, his  new Office, Auditorium,  the Mechanical room, Electrical room , Conference room, Laboratory, and also the  Green house which is still under construction plus many other important rooms & allied rooms. He chatted with Runi &  Yash also on many aspects.
It was really generous of  him to give us so much of  his valuable time. Dada and Yash took many snapshots here. By the way, we saw boards there in this bldg. of  Life Sc.,  which tell of the works of  (a) Anwesha Nag  ( Runi)  &   (2) Yashodhan Chinchore  (Yash).
That was satisfying for all of us ,for sure.
Next we took leave of  the Professor &  walked thru the college towards the Golf Course which was near-by. While going there, we saw their (Runi and Yash's) medical care center and also saw the Pscychology deptt.'s bldg. Sorry, I have forgot to mention that while entering the college area we saw an All-faith temple where Hindus also are entitled to perform  their  Pujas and rituals.
Players were seen  there in the golf course playing golf with caddies & the smaller vehicles for movement after hitting the golf ball, along the course.
There was a pond near-by.....Gold fish could be seen therein  (Yash showed me the same) ....also a  mother tortoise & its offspring  (Also shown by Yash) was seen. Yash  used his cameras here (he brought  with him two of his cameras ) for much time &  was seen moving from one pl. to another by the side of the pond, selecting advantageous points & also selecting his shots.............he was sort of absorbed in his hobby & had to be called  a few times for joining the rest of the team
Now we moved  to a co-op store & Runi bought a few things. They (Runi & Yash) showed us places reminiscent of their stay in Hanover  viz. Runi's house, Yash's stay, the place associated with the famous poet Robert Frost  (Can't I remember the famous lines..."  The woods are lovely,  dark and deep;  but,  I have promises to keep and miles to go,  before  I sleep"........... I may be excused, in case  I misquote).
Yash  had  memories of  his own & his nostalgia was quite visible when he showed the playgrounds of  his college ........he used to play cricket in some of the same......... he also showed  us a soccer stadium, tennis court and the Ice hockey stadium plus other sports facilities, many of them under Dartmouth college governance.
Next, we had our brunch at  Loui's restaurant at downtown  Hanover..............prior to that, Runi & Yash did some shopping from Dartmouth Co-operative store, while I  remained sitting in a road-side  bench observing the township which was abuzz with people .....many of them being parents & guardians of  students seeking admission in the college,  (It  was a campus  visit) ..... they also had the option to stay out,  however, in the event of any dissatisfaction arising in their mind.  Anyhow, the central place of this town was quite busy & my time did not hang heavy.    Runi & Yash eventually completed their shopping & came out of the store. Dada & bou-di  had, in the meantime, become tired  & joined me in the meditation, on the  bench. By the way, Runi & Yash bought Sweaters , whereupon  the letters  DARTMOUTH COLLEGE were printed......... I think, it was their privilege.
Next we all entered Loui's restaurant for our  lunch which had alsways been a favourite with Yash & Runi. People were  queing up for food here.........apparently, it was a nice pl. for khana & it proved to be so.  The menu was good & I had omlette & bread with fruits. Others chose their own dishes.
We had some more hrs. in hand to go around in Hanover  & go shopping fm place to place such as Lindt's,  Dollar Tree   (All items @ $1) , Walmart and  Co-Op store.  We bought things to fulfilment .......... one high point of this shopping was  that  no tax was to be charged here in NH.      Wonderful...... it  gave us all immense pleasure & we  shopped till we dropped .............not actually; but,  allegorically so.
Now was the time to say....... . .Goodbye Hanover.........  it was  about 7-30 P.M.......... the pilgrim's progress, especially for Runi & Yash  was over..............&  it was the  beginning of the journey back to the din & bustle of the much more busy city of Boston.
In Boston we found ourselves taking rest at home........... the clock struck 10 P.M  & Bou-di was busy soon laying dinner on the table.

Papai infmd me yesterday night that Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will play in a FIFA official International  exhibition match in Yubabharati Krirangan i.e Salt lake stadium, Kolkata on 2nd september. The two teams to participate are Argentina and Venezuela. Prior to this, the concerned authorities are going all-out for a face-lift of the   Salt lake stadium. According to Papai,  tkts may be @  Rs 1000/-, but, it is to be confirmed.   Tkts will be avlble. from Mohammedan  Sporting ground.  This is great news for me. After returning to Kolkata,  I would like to have all the details of the match.
Today, in the morning  I went with Dada to  the  Citizens Bank  where he had some work.... next we did some shopping at Whole Foods Market and came home back. Yash was home today & we spent some of our time with him, whereas Runi was in the lab. She e-mailed me that all of us would go to  Russo's  & also to the BJ's, at about 6 P.M, when she would come home back
Actually, she returned somewhat earlier.... at about 5-35 P.M & all of us was driven to the said two shopping centers for our daily requirements as well as some other  purposes also.
Plan for tomorrow:.........  We are all set to  go to New Hampshire. This is the place where Runi and Yash lived, studied and  where the College of Dartmouth is ,  and  wherefrom both of them  obtained  their Ph.D degrees. The journey  begins in the morning  & in a car it may take about 2 hrs. or so to reach the  said college in NH.
Back to football mania................   East Bengal Club of Kol. celebrated their 92nd year of  establishment & side by side felicitated  a few ex-players of the club.

Amitava, Satarupa & Mr. Debjit Biswas

 Runi left for her lab early assuring  Bou-di that she would come home early to assist her for welcoming the guests and arranging for the dinner also. The guests were Amitava and Satarupa as well as Mr. Debjit Biswas who works in Runi's lab.
Yash was busy with his presentation work and left home sometime after  Runi. 
After lunch, we slept for some hrs. & woke up to evening tea. Runi  was true to her words & came home early & immdtely. started organising everything for the incoming guests.
Amitava & Satarupa came sometime after 7-30 P.M & Mr. Biswas came after 8-o-clock. Amitava and his wife Satarupa live in  Quincy & about them  I  have already written in  an earlier blog.
Debjit Biswas is a 78-yr-old gentleman who is still wkg. & is of active habits. He hails from Chittagong and  he studied in Calcutta (Not Kolkata of today),  Presidency College, then in Delhi. He is here in Boston for the last 40 yrs. or so.  He lives in Newton which is not far from here. His wife passed away long before & his son as well as his daughter  also live either in Boston or somewhere near-by.
Debjit Biswas was energetic enough to  bring with him a good quantity of salman fish prepared with mustard. He talked with us on various subjects like Presidency college now being upgraded to a University status, his life-style here in Boston, his work.........some discussions centered around Kolkata also..... he told us that he goes to Kolkata occasionally & stays in his elder sister's house in Salt Lake AE Block.
Amitava plays cricket and naturally we all talked about cricket also.  Satarupa grouped with Bou-di & Runi and they talked among themselves while everybody waited for Yash to come & join.
When  I  told Mr. Biswas about our joining the Gurupurnima festival in  Ramakrishna  Mission, Boston........ he  ( Mr. Biswas) remembered that there is Ananda Ashram also established by  Swami Paramananda of the Ramakrishna order in  Cohasset, MA & he told us about Mataji Gayatri  Devi also. He wished to guide us there if possible & as it was not feasible, he wished to take us there next time.
Yash came home late ... at about 8-45  P.M........Yash & his colleagues had an occasion to celebrate bec. one of them had had an article published in the Science journal Nature & that was an achievement in every sense.  That caused him the delay .
In dinner we had  Chawal  (Bhat), fried rice, daal, bandha kofir  (cabbage)  tarkari, begun bhaja, lamb curry, salman with mustard, tomato chutney and water melon (as a desert).
 Everything tasted good. Debjit  Biswas was quite successful in preparing the fish. Everyone liked that. Bou-di, however, did not eat salman fish. I avoided Lamb curry.
It was 9-45  P.M & Mr. Biswas took leave. He hoped to meet us next time here.  Amitava  & Satarupa  also took their leave from us, hoping to meet some other time. We also invited them to go to our house in India, Kolkata.
Everyone has become aware of the fact that  our stay in Boston is now limited for a few days more.

Keeping indoors

It would have been better if dada or bou-di would have written the blog and not me. As  I  did not not move at all from the house, save my walking exercise for the day and whereas dada and boudi went for a train journey via  D-line train from Beaconsfield stn to the last stn i.e Riverside. They say that no river is visible fm the station area.....it seemed to them to be a countryside. They saw a Golf Course also there. They went for this trip at about 3-30 P.M & returned at about 5-30 P.M.    Yash  came home today much before time, bec. he has a presentation work to do. When Dada told him that there is no river there , Yash let us know that a river is near-by & there is a big reservoir there for water-supply.
After lunch, I  was going thru pages of the fiction  titled  Intution  by Allegra Goodman........a book which deals with research works conducted in a lab, by postdoctoral students.....their ethics, lack of ethics sometimes... all set in Boston & Cambridge areas, already somewhat familiar to us.... sometimes by the names only and sometimes by our visits to the said places.
In the evening, Runi brought some items for cooking fm Trader's Joe in Coolidge Corner and  she along with Yash prepared sort of toasts with bread & mushroom, in an electrical grill machine.  It was ok.
Bou-di is averse to mushroom and stuck to plain type toasts.
I already know that Mr. Biswas who works with Runi in the lab is due to come to our house tomorrow evening.  Welcome Sri Biswas.

Happy birthday Weather Forecast

From Internet I came to know that today  (2nd August) is the 150th birthday of   Weather Forecast.  On 1st August, 1861, the Times newspaper published the first ever weather forecast. It was  put together by Admiral Robert Fitzroy who led the meteorological deptt. then.
Happy birthday........weather forecast.
I rang up my friend at Kolkata ..... Mihir the previous night.......... who infmd me that they were passing thru hot & humid days. My friend  Dilip's son (Papai) already e-mailed me of the same. Mihir also told me that there had been sufficient rainfall there; but, the gruelling heat remained.
Today morning, I read in Anandabazar patrika of kolkata, India that there had been a power failure of serious nature and the city was plunged into darkness, the previous night.
Here we also are passing thru hot days..........however, in the evening, thunderclouds roared and we recd. some amount  of rainfall......... to mark the 150th anniversary of   Weather forecast perhaps.
As regards ourselves....... we enjoyed complete rest & remained home all the while.

Television

Yesterday evening, Prashant and his wife Akashi came to our house, as scheduled. Prashant was a room-mate of  Yash in MKU, Madurai........Runi was also there in this university & Dada and Bou-di remembered meeting Prashant there once.
Akashi is very much free & sociable and all of them had much to talk about.
Next, the dinner was laid on the table. Menu:----- Plain rice, fried rice, daal, begun bhaja  (Akashi liked the same very much), Lamb curry & Chicken curry plus chutney (Tomato), cucumbers and lemons.
I avoided  the lamb dish & ate all the rest to heart's content.

Today it is 1st August & we have more or less 2 weeks left here to stay. Runi/Yash's TV is ok now & is working............ we have now a new option in hand to spend time. The TV will give us news updates and recreations also.
The said TV was not working so long for want of a new appliance which was reqd. & they (Yash/Runi) just got the same yesterday.
I will write more tomorrow perhaps &  I am stopping here .

P.S:------ I shd add   a few  lines at least about Brooklyne Public library, Coolidge Corner Branch where dada, Bou-di and myself went some days back. It is  located  near-by........i.e near Coolidge Corner, in Pleasant Street.
It is a v V good Library with a large collection of books ranging from  Fictions, Mystery thrillers, Sci Fi books, Science books , Poetry books, Biographies.   Free reading facility is there. Plus, one can be a member, if one can fulfil certain requirements......... that's all.   Runi learnt of this & later became a member.    Dada brought a few books home.  While in the library on the 1st day of our visit there, I was reading a few pages from two of the biographical books  of  the famous hollywood actress (Now-a-days called actor)   Shirley Mcleine.
She has written more books in this biography series. However, we had to go home  & my free reading came to an abrupt end therefore.

Prudential Tower, Boston

On 30th July evening, Runi, Yash and the 3 of us--- all went to Prudential tower, which is the 2nd tallest bldg. (The tallest one is Hancock tower) in Boston to have a 360 degree top-view of the city of Boston.
After purchasing tkts., we were lifted to the 50th floor, thru an elevator, where the Skywalk observatory enclosed desk is there for all the viewers. The observation is further guided by audio-visual hand-held gadgets and also aided by  simple electronically operated boards plus a lot of writings to help the viewer enrich his storehouse of  knowledge.
The obsrevatory is almost dome-shaped with windows to have views therefrom.  The Hancock tower, Boston common, Boston public garden, Boston public library, The Trinity church, Copley Square, the nearby Colonnade Hotel, The CITGO signs  (visible fm here) , the Christian Science Church,  the  Charles river, Red line trains, Boston Symphony hall,  Beth  Israel medical center, the Boston harbor and the far-away islands, the Back Bay plus the range of mountains, at a great distance & visible  on the  horizon, the JFK  Presidential library & Museum overlooking the Back Bay, the Science Museum...........  it was a feast of the eyes to see them  from  such an altitude. The roads down below with cars moving seamlessly, the redline trains moving  from time to time, the river with  boats floating as evident from the white  of the sails and the range of mountains on the horizon plus the airplanes flying from and landing at the Logan airport, the flight of the  airplanes in the sky & the back Bay.......... it was  really really a stunning view.
There was a telescope also there  as a facility.
We entered the gift-shop and saw  some of the items. No purchase was made however. 
Next, we entered a mini-hall where a 10 to  15 min. show of  the famous places of Boston was shown on screen.
Children who were with their parents & guardians were beaming with joy  & were  running from one place to another.
People clicked their cameras endlessly. Dada, Runi and Yash also took snapshots at their freewill.
We waited  for nightfall,  bec. it would be great to see lights & Neon signs on,  plus car lights through the streets. Actually it happened so &  wow....... it was  now dazzling all around. Naturally,  people rushed to the windows to have this spectacular view of the city of  Boston with its River and the  Back Bay, the Airport and the streets plus  the residential quarters as well as the  commercial  hub............. all in flying colors & light.  Yash showed us the Neon sign of the Gillette Shaving Headquarters, visible from here & actually at a considerable distance from here.
Next we came down to the retail component of the Prudential tower and found a few shops & restaurants such as Ann Taylors, Sephora, Vineyard Vines etc.
Also, there is an office component of this tower which holds many important Offices also.

Today, it is 31 July & a sunday. Runi's as well as Yash's  friend  Prashant and his wife Akashi are due to come to our house in the evening. So, Runi rises early &  is off to Coolidge Corner for marketing, I presume, in her car. The weather is good and we have no other agenda, but to take rest. I have to go to my routine walking exercise. Maybe I would look into Indian newspapers for updates and also the latest updates of the world news. Bou-di is busy in the kitchen.
I am closing my blog here.

virus vs blog

No blog was written, on 28th---29th July,  bec. of  computer virus & cleaning of the same by Yash  mainly   & partially by Runi also.......however, nothing to write about besides khana-pina aur ghumna (daily walking exercise).

Today is 30th..... it is 12-30 P.M now, as I am writing this blog. Dada & Runi have gone to Macy's for certain
changes/returns/new purchases..... may be they will return home at abou 2 P.M. Yash is home. He will go to the Lab. Me & Bou-di are also home.

Just another day?

Today is just another day. Runi & Yash left for their labs together in the morning. Dada's computer is not working...... Yash will look into the problem when he returns and is sure to fix the same. So, dada is reading  books as long as he can. Bou-di is busy cooking. Today's menu:--  Biulir (Kalai) daal, alu-olkopir tarkari, lau dhane pata diye, Katla fish curry, achar (pickles) and dahi.
Before that, I had some walk at about 10 A.M, for about 35 mins. first towards Cleveland Cir. and back and towards Tappan St. next and back.
I saw a laurel & Hardy video in computer and took my bath. Runi mailed & suggested that we shd go to a library near Coolidge corner.
Lunch over, we had some sleep, but failed to go to the library, bec. it was almost 6-o-clock in the evening when we were ready. So, the idea of going there was dropped.
Runi came home after 6-30 P.M. Yash will come late.

Back home

25th-26th July passed on, after our tour to Niagara falls & TI Park. 25th July was a rest day for the 3 of us, as none of us moved anywhere. Bou-di was busy with her activities in the kitchen. I was busy with the computer........writing a blog about the tour and  also e-mailing to friends and relatives plus replying to 1 or 2 mails received. Yash and Dada had a lot to talk  about among themselves in r/o different topics.
Photo albums  (Photos of our different trips) had been ordered online by Runi and the delivery was made.
Everybody looked into the same, refreshing memories thereby. 
In the evening, a few phone calls were made to India.  I recd. a call fm Himadri who wanted to know about all of us.
Next day i.e today  (26th July), we went to  Russo's in Watertown  (Border of Watertown & Waltham) with Runi.... she driving the car  .... Yash was in his lab. a lot of vegetables and saag purchased. The salad bar was tempting; but, on second thought, I refrained fm eating anything........ I  had sort of  a stomach upset yesterday & had been feeling ok today. So, I dropped the idea.
We also went to Patel's thereafter & purchased a few items there.
I forgot to mention that today it rained here in Boston..........the gruelling heat is gone  & the weather is pleasant.

To Niagara falls

23rd  July to 24th July.... we chose those 2 days for our trip to Niagara falls by a Bus, fm Boston & back there, at the end of the tour.
So, our journey began in the early morning of 23rd, when we boarded the tour bus.  It  was a motley  crowd  of Europeans, Indians (in a large no.), chinese & ors. Everyone of the passengers seemed to be in the best of his or her spirits........ everyone had just one agenda  in common  i.e to see & enjoy the spectacular & powerful waterfalls on the river  Niagara, known as  Niagara falls.
The journey was peaceful thoroughly so far....... things falling in places  i.e  limited stoppage of the bus for the passengers  to have breakfast and tea, words from the lady announcer on microphone, giving description of the places to pass through and the places to come next..... all from time to time.......to keep the passengers  alert & awake.... to give them relief against the long  and strenuous bus-ride plus play of  a comic action movie  in the Tv sets within----------- it was sort of a smooth journey. Even it drizzled for some time to provide us some respite against the weather which was hot & humid outside.  However, it was immaterial on account of the fact that the Bus had its own AC system.
Then, out of the blue, the AC of the bus failed. People murmured and then resented. As the temperature was rising ouside and inside also, passengers burst into feats of anger. The lady conductor tried in vain to appease a  section of the angry crowd, when the driver brought the bus to a sudden halt and we were advised to have a break and khana (for lunch), while he (the driver) tried to restore the faulty system.

Wastage of time & nothing else------------ the driver told us that while we reach  & enjoy the Niagara tour, he will, in the meanwhile, have the system rectified.  No other option.
So, we bore with the situation or rather had to bear with it, and the bus was driven on & on.

Finally, the goal was achieved and  it was near the waterfalls where everybody got down.
A movie show awaited us..... name:  Maid of the mist. It deals with  a legend which depicts the spirit of a native girl who lived near the great waterfalls of the Niagara and  was bold enough to break free from  the bondage of marriage to a wise as well as  respectable man, much older than her & respond to the call of  the nature & eventually  die in the waterfalls, as she, after disregarding her own community's decision, could scarcely live in her own village. So,she remained an unmarried girl and died and acquired the immortality of being acclaimed as the maid of the mist.... ........ people say that her spirit lives in the mist of the Niagara waterfalls & some even go to the extent of seeing her there, in the midst of the water-particles or the mist rising high.
Next, we  went down the gorge, by an elevator, of course, & enjoyed  a boat trip, on the river. The waterfalls have two sections i.e the American side and the more renowned and attractive  horse-shoe waterfalls of the Canadian side where the water really falls from a much greater height than the American side. Plus, in  this Canadian side, the waterfalls  are  more voluminous & consequently more powerful. By the way......... hydro-electricity  is derived easily and on a very large scale fm the Niagara falls in USA and Canada.
How shall I describe Niagara waterfalls? It is spectacular  & sort of a treasure in one's memory. So, cameras clicked,  clicked and clicked. People enjoyed the great natural phenomenon from a close range, between the waters of the river  Niagara in US side as well as the Canada side. One has to wrap up in a plastic raincoat one's head & body, as far as possible; but, still one can not get rid of being wet and sometimes drenched even.
Up again, we had  a view of the Niagara and Runi, Yash & dada ventured to go upstairs to get a closer look..... of course from quite far.  They were really drenched when they returned and joined us.

Next, we had our dinner at an open-air eaterie  (India restaurant) which was basically a mobile van with a water supply and a power line connected there within, and an Indian Tri-color flag flying atop to attract probable visitors from the sub-continent.  Dada and myself chose to have Veg Biriyani whereas Yash, Runi & Boudi opted for some other dishes, according to their own choice. We had our dinner sitting on chairs and the dishes were put on the table.... everything in the open area near the mobile restaurant.
The Bus driver had meanwhile restored the AC and  took all the passengers to the Goat island,  which divides the river-water into 2 sections--- one in US side & the 2nd one in Canadian side. It is the top view of the waterfalls & we saw lights of different colors being focused  on the Niagara waterfalls creating a rainbow which was a feast of the eyes. Should I call this as Niagara by night?  The tour operator perhaps said so, earlier.

From this point, the bus drove all of us to a hotel for night-stay viz Comfort inn, quite comfartable really. We were too tired bec. of the strains &  did go to bed without a second thought.
In the morning,  I prepared myself for the brkfast & had the same downstairs, along with Runi and Bou-di. Runi fetched me some good brkfast, in a hurry. Bou-di was also having brkfast , while Dada was still not there with us. However, as the bus was ready to go, Runi and  Yash carried brkfasts for 3 plus also more for all.
A  2 and 1/2 hr. drive fm this hotel, brought us to the famous Thousand island Park, which is an archipelago of more than 1700 islands between US & Canada waters. Each island is a separate entity with cottages and residents  (not all of them),  migratory birds and trees on it. Some have birds and trees only to live and grow.... some are smaller ones with just a single tree and sometimes migratory waterfowls living on the same.
The TI Park is already known to us, the Indians,  for Swami Vivekananda's historic trip there, upon an invitation from Miss Mary Dutcher, an artist and owner of a cottage in an island,  in this TI Park, in the June of 1893. I learnt fm Google search that Swami Nikhilananda mostly, as well as some other monks of the Ramakrishna order and also many other admirers of  Swami Vivekananda restored the cottage of   Swamiji to a modern-day condition, after sincere research, spending of money and  dedication ----though the said cottage where  Swamiji  once lived for a few weeks and held classes also, remained in an obsucrity for more than 50 yrs., after his departure.
I could not know which  one  is the island where Swami Vivekananda  once set his feet upon.
Our tour operator had arranged for us a boat which ferried through the waters of the TI Park & we saw a lovely sight of so many islands at a distance... some with inhabitants and cottages and trees and also sometimes we saw birds on the trees. Some of the islands were , however, uninhabitated, but, trees were there as a sign of life. This boat cruise would be a lasting memory for all of us.
From here, the bus started for  the return journey to Boston; but, after travelling some distance, all of us heard loud noises of the engine and  the driver  gradually sidelined the bus. The lady announcer had earlier been much scolded for the failure of the AC . That upset her and she was , at that time, moved to tears. Now, came the final blow for her.... yet she announced that there had been a break down  and the bus won't go any further.
We waited. The driver tried hard with  all his experience, knowledge as well as his available handy set of tools.  But, no........ the engine did not roar and it seemed to be a lost case. The driver-conductor contacted with another bus coming from behind. Their driver came and  checked and gave his valuable opinion------ you have to wait till we come back here again, after some time i.e after we drop our passengers on board to a hotel. Thereafter, we will come here again and pick all of you up and  take you to a place of rest. The process may take  about one hour or so.
That was agreed to , but what about our own bus? Was it going to re-start?
Yes----- you would have rest & food/tea/coffee at that pl. for about 3 hrs. and then this bus would  be ok and re-start.
In the meantime, everybody got down and was was  either standing or sitting in the open space  down the road.  A police officer came in his patrolling car and took stock of the situation.
People found time to interact among themselves now. Yash, while introducing me to an Indian origin passenger, said....... He is kaku to me... he loves to blog  everyday. Maybe he will write a lot about this happening i.e  the AC failure & specially the break down of the bus.
 The young co-passenger remarked----- a few pics. of the bus standing on the road-side & all of the passengers sitting or standing behind, shd be attached .
Yes---I agreed  ----- perhaps I would allot just 2-3 lines for Niagara and many lines for this episode.
The rescue Bus came and loaded all the passengers and started for the Oasis place...so to say. While going, the conductor/announcer (Of the new bus)  tried to boost up our sinking morale....... Break downs are rare in USA, but, such things can happen in reality.  I remember....he went on saying.......  the incident of a bus brk down, while I was in China, many yrs. back  (he was a chinese).... we were stranded in a forest-like place and in the midst of a heavy political situation, as a war was going on at that time, between China and another country (He named, but somehow I failed to listen to).
In short, he tried to be bold enough to console us and face the situation in good humour. In fact, we all had already been doing so,  in the absence of any other option.
The place of rest was a  Mcdonald's  food joint........ here we attempted to get some food & coffee; but, adverse circumstances for us  came full circle,  when their ( Mcdonald's) coffee machines failed. However,  good news  are on the other side of the coin,  so far showing bad news &  we got reports that our main Bus had  been  set right  & was approaching. In a hurry, Runi and Yash procured some food & drink  for  the night & also took some food in packets, for the journey.
The rest  was good news really------- the bus came in about 10 mins. and we all boarded  (save for a handful of passengers  who already went to their own  destinations thru separate arrangements) the same.  Now,   did that matter at all in the night, when after covering quite some distance towards Boston, the light & AC again failed?  The lady conductor was desparate enough to declare :---  We have a 2nd bus behind us. Those who want to avail, can avail that one. AC & light are on in our next bus. Will  any of you go??
One or two hands were raised , in utter frustration perhaps ------ hoping against hope. Then as it was realised that Boston was only about one hour or so away, better senses prevailed upon everybody, and none went to argue with her.
Came Boston at about  11-45 P.M & the lady was now generous enough to smile and declare----- there are Taxis here in the Taxi stand. Please get a taxi & go home..... Our company is paying for you.
So------ all is well that ends well & when we had two taxis (fare paid by the travel agency) heading for Brighton, where we live, the driver of the taxi in which I was there, along with Yash, asked Yash a question.... what is this fuss all about?
Yash explained the situation & the taxi driver wisely remarked.......... break downs do happen, but most of the travel companies shrug off  their responsibility. You are lucky enough to be compensated  by this Co., I think.
We were at one with him.  Both the taxis had reached the destination. 
It was an eventful tour of course, but, at the end of the day or night, whatever it was.... we began liking the whole affair from a different angle.

Quincy re-visited

   Dada has a toothache & Runi has already made an appointment with the Doctor,  in Aspen Dental, in Quincy. She used to go to Aspen  Dental in New Hampshire & is satisfied with their services.

  So, after breakfast, we proceeded to Quincy. This is our 2nd trip to the subarban town  (we earlier went there to meet Amitava & family).

  Aspen  Dental is in Newport Ave., Quincy & we reached there at about 11 A.M. The receiptionist there welcomed us and gave forms for filling in.  Dada filled the same in...... Runi helping him in doing so, and we waited till Dada was called in.
  Boudi and myself waited  near the reception, while Runi & Dada went to the Doctor's.

When they came out, we learnt that extraction of tooth, though necessary, may be done after we go back to   India.  Medicines for relief of toothache were given by the Dentist. She also gave an estimate for  Denture of the upper row of teeth.

Next, we visited Dollar family where all items (smaller variety) were selling @ $ 1. No purchase was made here.
So, our next target was Walmart--- may be that we would do some shopping here , as it is a big  name for shoppers and has a large and  a wide variety of stock

We  did some shopping here, in Walmart  and  next we moved towards home for khana and some sleep following the same.

The museum of science.

As planned, Runi, myself, Dada & Bou-di all went to  the  Museum of  Science today.  Yash had been to his lab already. Lunch over, we availed a  Green line train  (C-line) to detrain at North Stn. & then took a bus to get down at the Sc. Museum which overlooked the beautiful Charles River flowing by  its side.
There are  systems as well as facilities of admission to the Museum &  Runi chose to be an annual member who can, throughout the yr., take admissions along with   a few guests, at a concessional rate.
Problem of admission being resolved, we entered the Butterfly garden which is a glass-enclosed conservatory & is home to a variety of free-flying butterflies. Many snapshots were taken & even with a butterfly on Boudi's saree. It is not permissible to drive away butterflies, if they are on your body or clothing, in this natural home of butterflies/moths.
In the Exhibit hall...... we saw a variety of models of science & technology.......models of  light & optics.... we found time & pleasure to handle a No. of  easy-to-handle models of light & Optics. We were highly impressed by the model named Frozen shadow, where one stands against a phosphorescent wall, having some chemical thereon & light is beamed upon it , for a few seconds,  to generate a shadow & the board or the screen, on account of its phosphorescence,develop a shadow  (The screen had a  chemical  painted upon it),  lasting for a few seconds.  Runi & Dada  clicked their cameras here.

We saw many models of optical illusions.    Name-----Seeing is deceiving.   Human brain has its own shortcuts for what it sees, but, in many other cases, as here, optical illusions deceive the brain and we see curves whereas those are straight lines,  circular forms of different sizes, whereas they are of the same size and so on.

We saw tamarins of   Ecuador ------ they are but smaller monkeys in  trees and are live. Children were taking much interest here, to see the tamarins jumping and running.
Fossils------Runi asked me touch a fossil  of a dinosaur  (many varieties of Dinosaurs are there, of course)..... there was a small circular opening for touching the same and it was actually written there----' touch me here' 'Possible causes of the extinction of dinosaurs were written in a place, on a board. I came to know that though some asteroid striking the earth millions of yrs. ago & thereby causing the end of the  Dinosaur-age was a cause, for sure, other causes like volcanic eruptions etc. also were there. 

We saw mathematical and statistical models also-------- we saw Archimedises's experiment of  lifting of water from a lower level, through a screw or a spiral , by rotating a disc at the open end, to  an upper level.
We saw quotes of  Scientists  like Sir Isaac Newton, Hardy, La Place & many ors.

Also, We saw Models of  solar energy, Radio & microwaves,  experimental models of sound etc. I  learnt that if   millions of  Nano particles ,of  let's say water, can combine with each other at the rate of  millions combing per sec for millions of yrs, then a water-droplet  can be formed, after all.
We saw a 3D video  show. Ocean in  an African coast. The African people & their traditional dances. Swarms of  Sardine  fish  versus fish-hunting birds diving into the sea and fishermen catching a huge huge lot of the fishes.  Polarised light was used in this show & we wore 3D vision specs. &  the effect of digital technology  for the video plus audio cast a  spell on us.

In short, we  became aware of the fact that science & technology is surrounding us every moment, everywhere.

We took a break in a  cafe  inside the Museum & had something to chew. Then, again after exploring some  other corners of the  museum, we found people going out in Nos. In the wake of the outgoing visitors, we also made our exit.

Watertown mall & Arsenal mall

Today, it  is planned to go to 2 malls viz. Watertown mall ---- it is also known as Target, and the Arsenal mall. The 2 malls are located opp. to each other and are in the 2 sides of the Arsenal Rd.
Runi is on leave.... Yash is already in his lab. So, we have lunch & some sleep before we start for the malls. Runi is driving the car for us.... also she would have some of her suggestions in case we buy things in the malls.
In the  Watertown mall or Target, as it is known, we spend more than 2 hrs. looking  into   kitchen items, reading & writing items, electrical and electronic items, fragrances, men's & ladies wears plus many other items.  For some items, rebates are there for attention of the buyers...  for many other items... no rebate. The shopping center is huge and  has a v v large stock.

Next, we  go to the Arsenal mall. Earlier, we came here & purchased  a few things, I remember.   This mall is also large & has a variety of stocked items in a No. of shops.  We spend about 1 hr. here also.

Out in the parking space, Runi  is again on the wheels & drives home quietly. Bou-di first serves tea for the 2nd time in the evening & dinner is laid on the table soon after. Menu----- Chawal  (Bhat), Roti (Nun), papiya curry (peper tarkari), mochar ghanto ,  daal,  kajari maacher jhol & achar (pickles).

Nothing more to add  to & I stop here.

HNHM

Runi is on leave this week & she has planned to go to HNHM or the Harvard Natural History Museum.
Yash goes out for work more or less early. Boudi and Runi are engaged in cooking, while dada and myself  are preparing for the trip. I learn that the museum closes by 5  P.M.

After a quick lunch at about 1100 hrs. we all are ready and move on. A Green line train  and then a Redline train in the subway, bring us to Harvard Sq. Stn. We walk thru Harvard univ. campus area upto the main street which leads us to HNHM. Runi gets the passes (She is a Harvardian) for us & we enter within the museum.
The botanical gallery feature the internationally acclaimed glass Flowers. One has to marvel at the perfection (even from a botanical pt. of view) and the creation of a father-son duo of glass artists viz. leopold & Rudolph Blaschka. There are more than 4000 models of plants , created by glass & having wires within which are replicas of the original variety. many snapshots taken by dada, Runi and even  a few by me. The gallery is sort of a wonder & the Harvard museum has added a feather in its cap, by patronising the art of the said 2 artists.

The mineralogical gallery has many minerals like oxides, sulfides, sulfates, calcites, carbonates, borates & many ors. Crystals of Gypsum etc. catch the eye.  Also there are meteorites which provoke many thoughts of an onlooker.

Children were there looking at the gallery and reading the introductory writings & some more writings which were benificial to them, for gathering knowledge. Adults also enriched themselves by reading such explanations.  One Mr. Sadasibyya of  India, Bengaluru befriended us  &  we had tit-bits of things to discuss among ourselves.

New England forest gallery:-----  It  showcases the ecological  &  natural  regional forests of Massachusetts, Rhode island etc. & White Pine, Birch, beech etc are displayed.

The zoological gallery has a large collection of fossils & other extinct animal life. Vertebrate Paleontology  showcases Dinosaurs.

 the  Great  Mammal hall shows  fossils of mammals of the past. Africa gallery showcases replicas of Gorilla, African elephant etc.

 We saw replicas of Bison,  very large  skeleton of whales hanging from the ceiling in a gallery, Bengal Tiger  (replica), Lions, giraffe, reptiles also.

 We also saw  Maya and   Aztec  murals.

 We made our exit at about 4-40 P.M and walked to Harvard Sq., thru   harvard univ. bldgs. where we pose for photographs before the statue of John  Harvard. We touched  with one hand  one of the feet of the statue. Runi said to do so and actually many younger visitors  were also posing themselves  in the same way & their friends were taking snapshots.  Next we peeped into COOP --- a bookstore with a good collection of books. No Books or mags. were  purchased , however fm the store.

 We availed trains & came home at about 6 P. M.     Boudi had tea for us within mins.,  following which Poha was served by Runi for us.  The earlier day Chandi wrote in his e-mail------" Those who love to eat, learn Cooking fast."
As  Runi is learning to cook fast, Chandi's opinion must hold good in the reverse order also i.e Runi loves to eat.

Eureka

Yesterday, 17th July, Runi drove us to Russo's market---- near BJ's.  Let me refresh my memory about BJ's---- this is a wholesale club where one can find 1001 things, so to say, under one roof; but, one has to buy wholesale.  However, one can have membership & enjoy concessions for purchases.
Near this BJ's, there is a market (Russo's) which has a variety of  plants ............... flower plants of all types, Tomato plants, Misti Kumro plants (creepers??) , green vegetables of different countries inclusive of Indian varieties  ( we were surprised to find banana flower i.e mocha even in good condn.), saags viz. Kumro saag, Palak (Palang) saag, mulo saag & many ors. Strangely, I found Chinese bitter (Karela chinese type), besides our Indian type bitter i.e Karela.  This was our Eureka moment really,   because, 99% of  the items were our own variety  &  for all such things,  we were exploring so many market places. A lot of vegetables were purchased therefore & everybody appeared to be more than happy.
Runi said that she came here for the first time, though she  knew about the mkt.
Next, we went to BJ's and bought things.
Sorry---- I forgot to mention here that in Russo's, I was highly impressed by a well-spread-out salad bar which had a lot of salads. Next time  (In case we arrive here)  I would taste salads definitely.
On 18th  (In the afternoon),  Runi took us to Kenmore by a bus, from Washington st., & Corey Rd. intersection. The bus ride here was new for us.
From Kenmore, we  i.e Runi, myself, Dada & Boudi  (Yash was in his lab) ----- all walked along Deerfield St., by the side of Ramakrishna Mission upto Charles River & sat there in a bench for about 25 min.
As usual, many snaps were taken. Opp. to us, on the other side of the river, Hayat (Hotel chain) was there with its massive & eye-catching structure,  two  capsule lifts going up & down like butterflies and the name of the hotel  (Hayat) showing more or less clearly, even from the considerable distance & inspite of the fact that lights were not on, though it was late hrs. of the evening  evident by the sun which was declining.. A bridge over the river was clearly visible--------people practising health exercises, joggers and a few boats sailing on the river added to the charm of the place. Dada & Runi took many photographs.
Next, we walked back towards kenmore Bus station and availed ourselves of a bus which took us to the same point of  intersection wherefrom our house would be just  2 or 3 min's walk.

To Acton

We all are going to Acton, Massachusetts today, in the afternoon, to Mr. & Mrs.  Sadhukhans' house. They came to our house on 22nd June already about which I wrote a line or two  in my blog the same day..
However, the Sadhukhans contacted Runi a no. of times for this visit. Mr. Sadhukhan (Ramu Sadhukhan)  is all set to prepare grilled & tandoor chicken leg pieces & other pieces also. Plus, veg preparations would also be there. In addition, Bengali style dinner for all------- nothing can be more tempting than this.
So, we started for Acton, Yash driving the car, Runi with GPS  guiding the route towards destination. Once, Yash stopped at his lab & we were able to see the  Harvard medical school , his place of research,  the front-view of the same was........... glass on every side of the bldg. rendering it magnificient to see fm outside.......then, again  he stopped for Runi  at Whole foods market wherefrom Runi procured some gift for the hosts.
It took us about 40 or 45  mins. to rech Drummers farm where they (Sadhukhan family) live........in Acton.. A serene place with a  natural backdrop & the house itself with its nice front view plus a backyard -----     it was a symbol of peace & tranquility.
Suvam, their only  child   (Son)  who is in the schools, seemed to welcome us outside their house. Also, his mother  opened the door the next moment  and we were led inside the house. Couches , Large digital TV within,  seemed to greet us. The dinner table was also ready for the party-----which later happened.   In the backyard, Ramu , in shorts & a casual  upper wear, was seen trying to gain control over their Barbeque machine. At the sight of me, he was all smiling & said--------" We have a table & chairs ready in the yard---  you may like to sit there in the open." Jayati i.e Mrs Sadhukhan wanted to serve Tea/coffee----- also we learnt fm her that  2 more families  i.e Amitava, his wife  Aparna and their son Arka... another schoolchild as well as Ashim & his wife Sumita would come & join us.  Actually, Arka came soon & grouped with his playmate Suvam. In the meantime, we tasted grilled chicken.  Bou-di had some veg dish to eat.  Also,
we had tea before or maybe after, the grilled food. Aparna came next & all of us had a lot to talk about. When the latter's husband Amitava came, it was a grand adda. Later came Ashim from  Boston perhaps. By the way,  His wife also was likely to join us  shortly.  Amitava and family  live near Ramu and Jayati's house.
Tandoor chciken had already been prepared by Ramu and we tasted the delicacy.
Next, Ramu, the 2 kids, myself, dada, boudi, Runi & Yash went to a swimming pool nearby where the kids would swim for some time. 
The swimming pool was quite good and we sat there for some time watching the said children jump in water, swim & resort to frolic.  A mother was bathing her baby under the watch of an elderly  gentleman. A lady opp. to us, in a chair, was reading a book or a mag  & seemed to enjoy the day  (the day was warm & enjoyable indeed and it  was late hrs. in the afternoon already).  Dada, Yash and Ramu were engaged in a conversation.   Runi, boudi and myself  liked this blissful nature all around and the pool and the swimmers plus the people present there already, before us.
Back home, we were introduced to Ashim & his wife (Sumita) and  now was the time for the adda  to gain real momentum.  Our talks ranged from weather to politics, corruption in India plus latest happenings etc. There is a term -----' bangalir adda'   which means bengalees love to assemble and  chat and that's their true color. So, we showed our true color and the adda was at its peak, when I was called by Jayati and some other lady to sit for the dinner. I joined the dinner party and was happy to taste what was there for me already. An all Bengal affair it was & we thanked Ramu, Jayati as well as the others for such an enjoyable evening. Lichhi (Kind of fruit) and cake (Taken by Runi) were also there, taking the place for sweetmeats.
Some of the guests exchanged e-mail addss. plus  cell  ph. nos. with Yash & Runi.  The hosts and the other guests  already  liked  it  very much to remain in touch with  them, now and in future.
Good bye hosts, good bye other friends also....all of us were now out on the road, having Runi in the driver's seat & Yash assisting her with the GPS, while we three were sitting behind, talking in low voice among ourselves as regards the v. good khana & hospitality of the Sadhukhans.

Gurupurnima festival in Ramakrishna Vedanta Society

 Today,  Runi left for her work quite early.... she had to go to a new place. Yash also went out soon after. Dada and Bou-di went to hay market for  gathering some experience of marketing, while I walked  for about 25 min. in the locality on foot & came home back. Thereafter, I was glued to my  laptop for mail checking, blog-writing , reply-mailing etc.
Dada  & bou-di  came therafter. They made some marketing. Green cabbage, long beans, potato, egg plant etc.
The  open-air mkt was certainly a new experience for them & they spoke at length for the same.
We had a program in the evening-------- we were scheduled to go to  Ramakrishna Vedanta  Society in the evening. We expected Runi & Yash to go there also, when they would be free from work. As we would attend the Gurupurnima festival there beginning from 6 P.M & join the potluck dinner also, runi & boudi prepared  Jeera Rice &  Payesh respectively for our share of food, In a potluck dinner---- this sharing of food is in vogue.
Upon words from dada, I sent an e-mail to the Maharaj there, who promptly welcomed  us to join.
We reached the Ramakrishna Vedanta Society , generally known as Ramakrishna Mission  at about 6 P.M. Runi had already reached the chapel & sensing that we were not that familiar with the streets of the city & were likely to be out of path for the chapel, was looking for us. We met  near the RK Mission, however, and everyone of us entered the same. We were guided to a hall where photographs of Sri Ramakrishna, Ma   Sarada & Vivekananda were there, on a throne & lights were on and total silence prevailed  there, notwithstanding a slowly- growing cosmopolitan crowd of  Bhaktas and Darshanarthis. We also took to our seats & found printed papers on the same which were prints-out of  songs to be sung by the singer bhaktas.
Notations of a song  (swarolipi) was also printed over the lyric of the song therein. Also there was a book containing some other  prayer songs which would be sung, after the  Arati by the President  Maharaj (Swami Tyaganandaji), next to the same Arati stotra and the songs...... a song written by Kazi Najrul Islam, the noted poet of Bengal plus other prayer songs. A kabir's Doha was also sung in between.
President Maharaj explained that Gurupurnima was significant  to seekers of spirituality, as the topmost Guru was being worshipped  (I think he referred to Guru Veda Vyas---- I am not sure... I will try to confirm later, if possible... I failed to listen to  his words correctly at that moment). He also explained that Guru and shishya that is the master & the disciple relationship  is absolutely necessary for a man or a woman seeking for sublimation. He next read out a translation  (by him) from Bengali to  English, for an article (Written in Udbodhan patrika in Bengali language)  by  Swami Brahmananda, the first President of Ramakrishna order.
 Swami Brahmananda, he said,   wrote seldom; but, this one he  (Swami Brahmananda i.e  Rakhal Maharaj) got  published while discussing about certain high points of spirituality.
The  subject related to Guru and shishya also, among other points of discussion and  Swami Tyaganandaji's translation was simple & straightforward. He, however, stopped short of the entirety of the matter & summarised to give  the assembly an opportunity to  offer  pronam to Ramakrishna, Ma Sarada & Swami Vivekananda.
Next, we attended the potluck dinner. It was wonderful----- all veg. items of food, cooked by bhaktas & brought there and arranged , as in a buffet.......... Roti, chana daal, Tamarind rice, Jeera rice, different veg dishes , alu dam and various other items  plus sweet dishes of different variety. Our items of food were also there and we ate heartily, according to ability, of course.
I met the President Maharaj and told him that I had e-mailed him earlier (On 6th of July) & today also &  told him about dada, Boudi and Runi.  Yash could not come , bec. he was busy with his work. Maharaj was also eating his dinner. I  begged to be excused for my disturbance. However, he seemed to recognise me because of my mailing him twice. later, Runi also talked with him. He speaks----- Eng., Beng., Marathi &  Tamil also.
Later, he wanted to know our date of departure from USA also. I think as the Krishna Festival will be held on 28th August here, in Boston, he wanted to know the date. Anyway, I informed that we would go away fm here on 16th August. Next, we  bowed to him in respect & made our exit.
Outside the chapel, Dada and Runi took a few photographs of ours with the R K Mission temple in the background.
I shd add that by the side of the chapel. the river Charles is flowing & that adds to the beauty of the place.

We came home via a green line train bound for Cleveland circle.