Warships on the Hooghly: A Glimpse Inside the Indian Navy ⚓

 

It’s not every day that you get to see Indian Navy warships up close, and this was one of those opportunities that simply couldn’t be missed!

Docked at Kidderpore Docks in Kolkata were INS Kuthar (P46), a Khukri-class corvette; INS Karmuk (P64), a Kora-class corvette; and INS Airavat (L24), a Shardul-class amphibious landing ship tank. The ships had been opened to the public, giving visitors a rare opportunity to step aboard and get a glimpse of life at sea.

And I got an even closer look!

I was fortunate enough to be accompanied by the ships’ Press Officer, who took me around and showed me parts of the warships that most visitors might not get to see. Seeing these magnificent vessels from such close quarters was fascinating—the sheer scale, engineering and firepower are simply awesome.

For a day, the Kidderpore Docks became a window into the world of the Indian Navy, and I wasn’t complaining one bit!

From Crossed Paths to Shared Plates

 

Four young executives, working across different offices and departments of one big media company, often crossed paths at work. We’d bump into each other, exchange a few words and always say, “We should catch up sometime outside work.” Somehow, that “sometime” never quite materialised.

Anisha and Anupam were in Marketing with The Telegraph, Raina was in HR with the parent ABP, and I was with Friends FM, also part of the ABP Group. While the three of them were based in the same building, I was in an entirely different office in another building. And as is often the case, logistics always got in the way of good intentions.

But today, we finally made it happen!

We got together at Fire & Ice, and what was supposed to be a simple catch-up turned into an evening of fun conversations, laughter and some absolutely amazing Italian food.

Funny how people can be part of the same workplace, cross paths countless times, and yet it takes a little effort to finally sit down together. Today, we stopped saying “sometime” and actually made it happen—and it was worth the wait!

A Glimpse of Maa Kali Across the Pond

 

While Durga Puja may be the grandest of all festivals in Bengal, there is also a devoted section of Bengalis who hold a very special place in their hearts for Maa Kali. Kali Puja may not match the scale of Durga Puja, but it is celebrated with just as much devotion and fervour.

This evening, while returning home, we spotted a beautifully decorated Kali Puja pandal across one of the ponds very close to our place. And yes, we do have quite a few ponds in our locality! Those familiar with Kolkata will know exactly what I mean—these little water bodies are almost a geographical feature of the city.

Curiosity got the better of me, so I stopped the car on the service road and took a little stroll to the other side of the pond to get a closer look at the Goddess.

Sometimes, you don't need to go looking for a festival. In Kolkata, the festival simply finds its way into your everyday life.

Lights, Laughter & a Little Bit of Magic ✨

 

Keeping with our annual tradition, we headed over to my in-laws’ place to celebrate the festival of lights. After the evening Puja, everyone gathered in the lawn, and we made sure the caretaker and his children joined us too. Festivals are always more special when they are celebrated together!

There were sparklers of every kind, a few rockets lighting up the night sky, and plenty of excitement as the kids ran around enjoying every moment. The lawn was filled with laughter, glowing lights and the unmistakable festive spirit.

And, of course, no celebration is complete without sweets and a delicious festive dinner to round off the evening.

Another beautiful evening of family, friends, lights and laughter—and another wonderful Diwali tradition to cherish. 🪔✨

When Jim Morrison Came Alive at The Tollygunge Club

 

The Tollygunge Club is always playing host to one musical extravaganza or another, and when we heard that Peace Frog, a Doors tribute band all the way from Venice Beach, California, was performing at the club, there was no way we were going to miss it. After all, with legends like FireHouse performing here, we knew the club wouldn’t just bring any ordinary act to town.

Boy, was the Main Lawn packed for this one!

Peace Frog certainly didn’t disappoint. The music, vocals and theatrics were so convincing that it felt as though Jim Morrison himself had come to life through the vocalist. From the haunting melodies to the unmistakable energy of The Doors, every moment transported us back to the golden era of rock.

It was a spectacular night of music, nostalgia and pure rock ’n’ roll—a chance to relive some of The Doors’ greatest classics, right here in Kolkata. What a show!

Schoolmates & Families at Tung Fong

 

And the the drive Back to Kolkata

One would have thought that the drive back would have been easier. In fact it was much worse.