Book Review: SoulCity- Inside-stories from Calcutta

· by · in Book Reviews, Photography. ·

Cover photo by Sammya Brata, the picture says a million words

 

Reading a good book means opening a new road to allow some more light to your soul. All of us have different shades of our own, sometimes, it becomes impossible to identify the myriad hues as they mingle with each other producing a blank canvas- the mind. Every moment, new emotions and passions are etched on it, changing the pattern and process of thinking. The more we learn, the more we unlearn.

A city, like an individual, has a soul too. A soul throbbing with life and lust, flavour and fantasy, images and imagination, pathos and poesy. The city I belong to, my city, Calcutta/Kolkata. The lady, I used to think I know her, the aroma, the streets, the history, the nooks and corners, the whole nine yard so to say till I lay my hand on the book, SoulCity: Inside-stories from Calcutta, curated by Preeti Roychoudhury. Sixteen individuals have contributed, cascading their fondness for Calcutta from different perspectives through ebullient words and impressive photographs. Each story coincides at one point- that Calcutta is an inseparable part of their existence, whether they live here or not, the city lives in them, with them.

The book opens with a poetical prologue by Preeti herself. Like a true word-conjurer, she has set the stage, revealing the contents in a subtle way helping the readers to anticipate what is in store for them as the pages are turned. And, lo! As you turn the pages, one by one, the lady comes alive with all her exuberance.

None of the stories bears any title and, thus, they have become not only personal memoirs but a chord in the sequence of notes that has formed the symphony of Calcutta.

The first one, Brian Paul Bach’s account, unveils the lady’s different moods, the fun, the architecture, the heritage, the comfort and, the coherence. To quote Brian, “The bland has no place here”. The line has been deeply accentuated by Deepanjan Ghosh’s story, a perfect concoction of history and street foods of Calcutta. A delectable mouth-watering account with some food for thought, too. Sajani Mrinalini Dutta is able to discover Calcutta in small things around the world. The love never dies because, she says,“Calcutta can be anywhere, if I decide to allow myself to find her”.

I find resonance in Ahona Panda’s memoir, perhaps because I grew up in that part of the city she has written about, I had a dog who died an untimely death, my uncle lived in Midnapore, and, I love dogs.

Sammya Brata Mullick weaves a gossamer of thoughts, almost in a surreal way as he chases his own shadows (or dreams?) in the serpentine lanes of North Calcutta. His writing has made gully cricket so alive! Preeti portrays the lady in changing canvases of the day, the love and loss, triumphs and setbacks soaked in some “imperfect melody sung by Time” with an impalpable harmony existing somewhere.

Amava Bhattacharya has written a vibrant saga of the footpaths and hawkers. Truly, the pavements are impregnated with so many untold stories, of joy and grief, loneliness and solidarity. A very entertaining read by Nandini Banerjee would make you acquainted with another aspect of the city, the BERAL (yes, the feline flavour is there, but there’s more to it).

There are two contributions in Bengali, one by Amartya Saha and another by Rajib Dutta. Both the pieces are short, crisp, precise hitting where they are intended to. The sketch illustrations by Jit Mukherjee are meaningful with subtle nuances that bring out the character of the city or ‘bangaliaana’ to be precise. Pictorial contributions of Anamitra Ghosh, Soumyadeep Mukherjee, Farah Gherda, and Chandradeep Mallik have made the book a treat to the eyes.

The Calcutta Cartograph at the end of the book by Samit Roychoudhury provides an excellent food map of the city featuring some reputed and some not-so-well-known food joints. Indeed a treasure for the food aficionados.

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This coffee-table book is a musical kaleidoscope, of myriad colours and vibrant tunes, of unknown hues and unheard music. A book that would make you pine for the city if you’ve visited it ever, if not, you’ll find your imagination running wild and your heart throbbing faster to have a glimpse of the city.

Calcutta is not only a city of bricks and stones. She is a living lady, her irresistible pulchritude, her agony and madness, her mundane melancholy- these are the inside stories, the Soul of the City.

One thing I would like to mention regarding the two contributions in Bengali, they should have a gist written in English for non-Bengali readers. It would have helped them to grasp the meaning correctly.

Recommended for all.

BUY LINK: FLIPKART

 

 

73 responses to “Book Review: SoulCity- Inside-stories from Calcutta”

  1. There was another session held last Sunday to promote this book where I could go through it in brief and I must say it looked fabulous. Oh yes she does have a soul, this city. Loved the review and will be getting the book pretty soon. Not only because some of my friends have contributed in it but also because it has some really beautiful stories and should be treasured by all of us Cal lovers. Way to go.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yes, I missed the Sunday session at Au Bon Pain due to some personal obligation. Glad to know you attened and enjoyed. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by and sharing your thoughts about the review 🙂 Indeed, such books are a treasure to all who love the city… 🙂

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  5. I will be seeking this one out, I find it interesting to try and get a feel for a person’s city as well as from their writing. I would love to learn more about your city and its unique vibrancy. It’s a great substitute before I can eventually go.

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  14. ‘ This city has a soul’ I truly agree with these words. Somewhere I feel I have a connection with the city & Bengali people. Though I have visited the place ever in my life. I would love to soon. The old world charm & richness of the place is so intriguing.
    You have reviewed the book wonderfully, capturing the very essence of it. I am sure;y going to check it out during my next visit to India.

    http://www.sweetsharing.com/

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  17. Lovely, perceptive review, Maniparna. As a contributor to the book, your words are especially intriguing and enticing, as I haven’t even seen it yet! (It’s in the mail…). I’ve been visiting Calcutta since 1982, and witnessing its evolution through several eras has only increased its soulfulness for me. Out of these feelings, I was moved to write/photograph ‘Calcutta’s Edifice: The Buildings of a Great City’ (Rupa, 2006). And now, Preeti, such a polymath, has created a new wonder, based on love. I’m so honoured to be a part of it. Many thanks for spreading the word. PS: Last fall we lost our beloved hound of 12 years, Hugo, so sympathies are easily shared. Now we have Hudson, who is a wonderful successor. PPS: I wish I’d had the talent to learn Bengali, but alas, I do not…

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    • Thank you so much, Brian, for such encouraging words. Your story in the book so perfectly has set the foundation for what is in store and, the readers can easily connect to your words, even those who haven’t visited the city. Preeti has done a wonderful job, indeed. We all are thankful to her… 🙂

      I know the pain of losing a pet 😦 I lost my Chikkus when I was in my college, still it’s difficult to accept that she is no more, a pug. I never dared to go for a successor…. 😦

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  22. Such an uplifting review of the city of Calcutta. Sounds like it’s a city bustling withe people day and night, undoubtedly bland as it seems. “The more we learn, the more we unlearn.” This phrase caught my eye and made me wonder. So true. The more we learn, the more our perceptions often change and we learn to feel lost towards what we discover, asking questions as we go along the way 🙂

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    • Thanks, Mabel. The book. I found it to be such a wonderful interpretation of the city, in words. 🙂

      You are right, as we come to know of different things and theories, our outlook keeps on changing, questions begin to surface and re-surface, changing the face of truth, as we used to know it… 🙂

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  27. finely reviewed! A reviewer can only write like this, when the book touches her soul deeply. I am intrigued to know more about calcutta and about the book. I shall keep the title in mind to be read when I finish the current books on hold:)

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  29. I’ve always had an attraction towards Kolkata and, some day I’ll visit it, in spite of my laziness. I loved the review and the opening of your post, where you mentioned that a city has a soul. I strongly believe in that. And, a city is sympathetic to only those, who have a matching nature, conforming to its soul.

    Didn’t know that you are a dog lover! I had a rottweiler once, who broke my heart by dying two years ago. Since then I decided no pets, although they all come seeking me. 😀

    https://theopalmoon.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/jackie/

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