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Magazine
Kolkata
THE country celebrates the Festival of Colour this week. Whether as Holi in North India or Dol Jatra in Bengal, across the country people will be entering into the joyous rituals that mark the advent of spring. At Swabhumi, Kolkata's open-air heritage centre, one can get a taste of Holi in a preview of the real thing. On Sunday March 16, the Food Court will host a Holi celebration that pays tribute to the many cultures in our country and the different ways in which each celebrate this spring festival. Through songs, dance sequences and food, visitors to Swabhumi will get a chance to sample the multi-coloured, multi-faceted nature of Holi celebrations in India.
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ON March 21 theatregoers can catch one of Bengali theatre group Theatron's most powerful productions in recent times, "Tomari Matir Kanya" (The Daughters of Your Earth). The play is based on Euripides' "The Trojan Women". Euripides (485-406 BC) is considered to be the most socially critical of all the ancient Greek tragedians and "The Trojan Women" (415 BC) shows how man — caught in the midst of the contradictions of war, — becomes the perpetrator of the most ruthless violence on his opponents, especially on defenceless women and children. Theatron's production, sensitively directed by fiery stage person Saswati Bhattacharya under the mentorship of Theatron founder Salil Banerjee, is a faithful rendition of the Greek original. And given the terrible violence being perpetuated across the country where, inevitably, it is women and children who are the worst victims; and the threat of war in the international context, the play takes on a special resonance and relevance. A well-timed production that theatre buffs must not miss.
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THE Nobel Prize was instituted by Swedish philanthropist, Alfred Nobel in 1901. "Hundred Years of Nobel Prize" on at the Birla Industrial and Technological Museum provides a historical perspective on the world's first international award given yearly since 1901 for achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace and consisting of a medal, a personal diploma, and a prize amount. It's a well-mounted, informative and engaging exhibition that traces the history of the Prize down the ages. For young people, it's a chance to learn about those people who are behind the great scientific breakthroughs that today are taken for granted: DNA, penicillin, et al.
It's also an opportunity for youngsters to be reminded of the work of Indian scientists like C.V. Raman, H. Khurana, S. Chandrashekhar — all Nobel winners who were awarded the prize in recognition of their immense contribution to science.
An exhibition that hopefully will encourage and inspire the next generation. On till April 30.
ARUNDHATI ROY
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