Category: Life experience

Dr. Viraj P. Thacker muses….


Dr.Viraj P. Thacker, currently based in the US, is the famed Author of ‘The Myth of Prosperity: Globalization and the South’. He is also the Academic Facilitator, Development Consultant and the International Executive Director of Manushi for Sustainable Development.

After reading the ‘Chronicler of the Hooghly and other stories, he sent me his thoughts, which I have copied below. Arguably, this is one of the most wonderful acknowledgments that the Chronicler has garnered.

QUOTE

My Humble reflections on the ‘Chronicler of the Hooghly’:

To use a living metaphor, the legendary structure that spans the Hooghly in Calcutta ingeniously personifies the very title of a deeply reflective & flowing read…touching stories of life & circumstance that bridge the history of British Calcutta & Delhi…a reflective re-capture of the social-historical-cultural fabric of India.

To be quite honest, the gently flowing chapters brilliantly managed to evoke a deep sense of my own family history of some 6 generations, in the erstwhile Second City of the Empire…later, the City of Joy!

What truly grips the reader In this wonderful complexity of ‘a touch of the old Raj’ and the deep humanity of the pages that captivate, is the ‘pandemic’ that translates well to our current global dilemma. In fact, the author brilliantly credits the composition of the book to time well spent in lockdown!

The Chronicler of the Hooghly truly resonated with this reader on many counts & in a most heartwarming fashion, left me with a sense of hope-faith in the human experience.

UNQUOTE

Available worldwide on Amazon, Flipkart and select bookstores.

www.shaktighosal.com

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The Millennials


Looking at the involvement with the book, ‘The Chronicler of the Hooghly’ , one notices the creativity and the interest of the millennials.

My earlier sense that the book, dealing with life’s crucible experiences, would gain traction with a more mature and elderly readership , seems to be incorrect. Somewhere in this ‘making sense’ for myself, my error of judgment seemed to have been to equate maturity with age.

Not only did the millennials participate in the ‘Chronicler of the Hooghly’ monthly contests and win, they also are forming a large part of the book readership.

Kanika Sud, winner of the ‘The Chronicler of the Hooghly’ contest and her entry.

Sutanwi Ghosh , a millennial professional from Kolkata eager to checkout on the Chronicler!

Available worldwide on Amazon, Flipkart and select bookstores.

Www.shaktighosal.com

#chroniclerofthehooghly#shaktighosal#encourageauthorshakti#bookofthemonth#bookcommunity #bookaholic #bibliophile #shelfie #bookshelf #readers  #bookoftheday #ilovereading #bookblog #bookgeek #bookalicious #readingforfun #ilovebooks #bookstagramfeature #booklife #bookaddiction #beautifulbooks #unitedbookstagram #bookishfeatures #bookgeek

Ashtami and the different child


As the capital of the British Raj shifts to Delhi in 1912, Junior Clerk Sujit with his wife Bina is forced to migrate from Calcutta to distant and dusty Civil Lines in Delhi. Shanti, born of a forceps delivery gone horribly wrong, comes into their lives. A tale of evolving relationships against the backdrop of momentous events in the nation’s history.

Ashtami is the wide-angle story of the life and times of a couple migrating to Delhi from Calcutta.

Ashtami is part of the ‘Chronicler of the Hooghly and other stories’, now available worldwide on Amazon, Flipkart and select bookstores.

www.shaktighosal.com

Video trailer of the story Ashtami may be seen here.

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How does a sunset cruise surround the tale of a fabled curse necklace?


Samir, trying to cope with two life changing tragedies, takes a sunset cruise on the Hooghly to ‘get away from it all’. He is intrigued by an enigmatic figure who introduces himself as the Chronicler and asks, “Would you like to hear a tale about all that we are witness to today?”

As the boat journeys up the Hooghly, the chronicler takes Samir on a journey spanning more than two and a half centuries of events witnessed by the river.

Available worldwide on Amazon, Flipkart and select bookstores.

http://www.shaktighosal.com

#chroniclerofthehooghly#shaktighosal#bookcommunity #bookaholic #bibliophile , #shelfie #bookshelf #readers  #bookoftheday #ilovereading #bookblog #bookgeek #bookalicious #readingforfun #ilovebooks #bookstagramfeature #booklife #bookaddiction #beautifulbooks #unitedbookstagram #bookishfeatures #bookgeek #bookprojects #readingforfun #addictedtobooks #readabook #becauseofreading #bookloversunite #bookaholic #booksandcoffee #readersgonnaread

An Acknowledgement that I treasure


I feel elated to share this kind and generous acknowledgment given by Mr. Vaikunth, Ex Managing Director, Saud Bahwan Group, Oman & UAE, with whom I have had the privilege of working for more than two decades.

“It has been an honour to have known and worked with you, Sir. I have learned so much from you!”

Mr. Vaikunth writes as follows:

I know Shakti Ghosal for many years as we worked together for the same company in Muscat. SG is known for his great knowledge on the business he handled and had the character to speak out his mind. I never knew that he had this other side of a soft story teller. I just finished reading the “Ashtami” the first story in his book “The Chronicle of the Hooghly”. As he has nicely combined the pre and post independence era in this story it looked like a real life story of some one he knew. His style of writing is unique, clean and simple. That’s what I liked about. Congratulations to SG. I will soon read the rest of the book.

http://www.shaktighosal.com

#Chroniclerofthehooghly,#bookofthemonth,#shelfie #bookshelf #readers  #bookoftheday #ilovereading #bookblog #bookgeek #bookalicious #readingforfun #ilovebooks #bookstagramfeature #booklife #bookaddiction #beautifulbooks #unitedbookstagram #bookishfeatures #bookgeek #bookprojects #readingforfun #addictedtobooks #readabook #becauseofreading #bookloversunite #bookaholic #booksandcoffee #readersgonnaread

Would heaven be something like this?


Anjan and Jaya were sitting on one of the lovely grassy visitor areas on the Muscat beachside. A gentle soothing breeze was blowing. Two boys were jumping with joy as the Chinese lantern released by them floated higher. Few families were huddled around portable barbeque stands and the occasional aroma of the grilled meat was overpowering. Ayan was running around with a frisbee. All three of them in fact had just played an invigorating game of frisbee. Now out of breath Anjan and Jaya had begged Ayan for half an hour’s relief to which he had reluctantly agreed.

“Would heaven be something like this Anjan?” mused Jaya. “If only we could be sitting here for ever and ever”.

“Hmm, yes enjoy it while it lasts”, replied Anjan gazing up at the star filled sky. He lowered his eyes towards the darkness of the sea in front. “Look at those bluish phosphorescent patches on the waves breaking on the shore. Did you know that these patches are created by millions of tiny marine creatures?”

Anjan had almost failed to notice a small huddled figure slowly come out of the foaming waves. The figure seemed to be beckoning to him.

Snippet : The public beach close to Al Khuwair and Qurum is beautifully sandy, clean and a beach goer’s paradise. There is a raised continuous walkway parallel to the sea face. One may sit on wooden bemches or plonk down on the grassy atolls wirh a coffee and snacks and watch a beautiful sunset. It remains a preferred place for Barbeque get togethers with family and friends.

The bluish Bioluminescence in the Arabian sea waters is a fairly recent phenomenon and some attribute it to climate change . This is attributed to a plankton like species nicknamed ‘sea sparkle’.

Muscat beach features in the story, ‘Fault Lines’, part of my forthcoming book ‘The Chronicler of the Hooghly and other stories’ which is scheduled to release in February ‘21. For updates, do visit

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Jagjit Singh Live


It has been ten years since Jagjit Singh, arguably the most successful ghazal singer and composer of our times, passed away.

The other day a two decades old memory of my brief association with Ghazal King Jagjit Singh got jogged.

This came from a Facebook post by Jaya Kumar in which she eulogised Jagjit Singh and mentioned her being there for the Jagjit Singh Live Show at the Qurum Amphitheater Muscat in April 1999. We were still in the last century, how time flies!

It had been a privilege for me to be associated with the organising and compering of that memorable night. As maestro Jagjit Singh gave voice to some of his mellifluous offerings, the over fifty thousand strong audiences comprising of the ‘Who’s Who’ of Muscat listened mesmerised.

As I listen to the words today, I am left wondering at the prescient hold they continue to exercise on me.

In Remembrance……

#Jagjitsingh, #jagjitsinghghazals,#shaktighosal,#muscatoman,#muscatlife

The Chronicler tales…..


Coming you way. Are you ready?

In our lives, we at times get confronted with intense and traumatic events which force us to question who we are, what really matters to us and what we believe in. In some ways these events alter our sense of reality.

#bookrecommendation,#fiction,,#bookloversunite,#booksbooksbooks#booknerd,#bookobsessed,#bookaddict,#booksofig,#bookstherapy,#returntoreading,#rediscovergoodread,#happyreading,#bookishlife,#booksbrat,

The Company Puja


‘On the appointed day of the Pujo, Robert Clive drove in his carriage to Nabakrishna Deb’s residence in Shova Bazaar and participated in what was to become the biggest festival in the Bengali calendar. He was accompanied by a number of Englishmen. The pomp and grandeur of the pujo were such that it became a talking point and something to aspire for by the upcoming rich merchant class. The Company Pujo, as it became known as, was not the usual conservative ritual based Hindu puja. Instead, it became known for its dance parties, elaborate menu of meats from the Wilson Hotel and unlimited drinks!

It is also said that Raja Nabakrishna Deb’s guests were regaled with the performances of the best nautch girls of Calcutta, one of them being the sensational new courtesan Rajni Bai who also responded to the name Joba……..’

Shova Bazaar Rajbari and its Durga Puja features in the story ‘The Chronicler of the Hooghly’, part of my forthcoming book of the same name. Should you wish to receive exclusive previews and free copy of the book, do write to me @ author.esgee@gmail.com.

Ghantewala @ Chandni Chowk, Delhi


Once when the emperor was going through Chandni Chowk, my predecessor offered sweets to the royal entourage as well as to the Emperor’s elephant”, said the shop keeper.

“And what did the elephant do?”, asked the children in unison.

 “Oh! It was a very intelligent elephant and he liked our sweets very much. So after that day, every time the royal procession would come this way, the elephant would stop in front of our shop, shake its head and refuse to move on till it was offered sweets. The bells hanging from its neck would keep on ringing till it finished the sweets. This is how we got our name”.

Did you know that the Ghantewala Halwai, iconic sweet shop in Chandni Chowk, Delhi: Set up in 1790 AD, it is arguably the oldest running sweet shop in Inda. It has catered to Mughal Emperors, Presidents and Prime Ministers….

Ghantewala Halwai features in the story, ‘Ashtami’ , part of my forthcoming book  ‘ The Chronicler of the Hooghly and other stories’. Should you wish to receive exclusive previews and the chance of winning a free copy of the book, do write to me @ author.esgee@gmail.com

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