Author

Anshuman Bhowmick 7 posts 0 comments

Anshuman Bhowmick is a cultural commentator and theatre critic based in Kolkata. He loves to maintain a fine balance between his Bangal and Ghoti selves that he inherited from his parents. His roots in Barishal and Nabadwip make him toil to find a toehold in Kolkata. And he enjoys the challenge.

Cityscapes

Durga Puja: in the narrow lanes and bylanes of Banamali Sarkar Lane, better known as Kumartuli

Anshuman Bhowmick Oct 5, 2019

It is that time of the year. Durga Pujo is just a week away. It starts as soon as the Devi Paksha starts, mind you, in downtown Kolkata. The moment the state Chief Minister starts visiting…

Cityscapes

When the Sahibs and Memsahibs joined the Durga Puja festivities

Anshuman Bhowmick Oct 4, 2019

A chance discovery often leads to an illumination unforeseen. This water-colour work by William Prinsep executed in the 1830s is a recent example. Preserved in the British Library…

Cityscapes

When the Goddess arrived in colonial Calcutta

Anshuman Bhowmick Oct 3, 2019

When this black-and-white photograph appeared on the Facebook timeline of a Kolkata resident a few days back, some of her friends from the university days expressed their wonder in varying…

Cityscapes

Durga Puja: in the narrow lanes and bylanes of Banamali Sarkar Lane, better known as Kumartuli

Anshuman Bhowmick Oct 8, 2018

It is that time of the year. Durga Pujo is just a week away. It starts as soon as the Devi Paksha starts, mind you, in downtown Kolkata. The moment the state Chief Minister starts visiting…

Cityscapes

Durga Puja: separating plebeians from the elites

Anshuman Bhowmick Sep 27, 2018

‘Old Kolkata Pujo’! What’s that anyway? With more and more tour operators pressing into action during the Puja days in Kolkata, peculiar expressions like this have entered the Pujo parlance.…

Cityscapes

When the Sahibs and Memsahibs joined the Durga Puja festivities

Anshuman Bhowmick Sep 19, 2018

The Baboos believed that the presence of European guests would elevate their social standing.

Cityscapes

When the Goddess arrived in colonial Calcutta

Anshuman Bhowmick Sep 10, 2018

Why the Deb family of Sovabazar began worshipping the mother goddess in 1757.