September 20, 2009

Pictures from Burdwan University Academic Staff College

Recently I went for a refresher course at Burdwan University Academic Staff College and I took a few pictures of the beautiful green campus. Here area few of them...

May 22, 2009

Pictures of Clouds

White clouds, blue sky...

April 18, 2009

Pictures of Dahlia

Dahlia flowers that bloomed in the last spring in West Bengal.


March 26, 2009

Pictures of Bandel Basilica



















Bandel Basilica at Bandel, a small town in the Hooghly district of West Bengal.
























The history of Bandel Church as recorded by the authority.
























The Statue of the Virgin Mother.























The holy mast at Bandel Church


















The story of the holy mast as told by the church.

March 23, 2009

Pictures of Hooghly Imambarah and the Tomb of Haji Muhammud Mohsin




















A front view of Hooghly Imambarah. Sadly enough the place is in very bad condition. No proper maintenance is done.




















Inside the Imambarah or Imambara. The picture is taken from the stairs of the Prayer Hall.




















This is the view of the Prayer Hall, taken with difficulty through the narrow net and in low light. The actual view is awesome and will take you to another world of aristocracy of which we are quite unaware. once you are there an automatic feeling of peace and harmony and vastness of the universe and smallness of human life passes the heart. If you want to experience what peace is, go there and you will understand.




















A rear view. The photo is taken from the side of the Hooghly river. Once there was a Hammam or bathing room equipped with advanced technology.




















A view from the right tower, which houses large clock. The large tank is full of fishes.




















The Imambara was deliberately built on the place where the river takes a sharp turn.




















The sun-dial in the bakyard.



















A view of the river. From this place you can take a boat and go to Bandel Church for only 10 rupees each person.



















Stairs o the Gharighar or Tower of Clock



















The setting sun seen from the tower.




















The tomb of Haji Muhammaud Mohsin. The tomb and the surround areas are in extremely poor condition. I heard there is an appointer Mali or gardener. But God knows what the ell he does. The place has become an open latrine and anti-social activities taint the sanctity of the place. Voluntary organistions and the governments should immediately come forward and save the place from being obliterated into oblivion. It is a strange country with strange concepts of honour and respect.




















March 19, 2009

Palash Flowers or Butea frondosa,Flame of the Forest)


















This is a macro shot of Palash flower or Butea frondosa (Flame of the Forest).

















Picture of Palash tree at twilight.

















Photo of one of the branches of Palashtaken at night .

Pictures of Dakshineswar Temple

















Photography is prohibited in the main area of Dakshineswar temple. So I had to take the picture from outside the area.

















This is the banyan tree, under the shade of which Sri Ramkrishna is said to have passed much of his time reflecting upon the hard human fate. The main tree died, but remnant branches have now become full grown tree. The cottage, recently built, is made of concrete.









This place, known as Panchomundasan’ (seat of five skulls), is famous for being Sri Ramkrishna’s seat of ‘sadhona’ (meditation and performance of rituals). Here he is said to have attained ‘siddhi’ or the supreme knowledge here.













This is the place where Sri Ramkrishna is said to have embraced Islam as an experiment for some time.










This photo is taken from under the shade of the banyan tree near Panchomundasan. The top of the temple is visible against the sky.