Museum of the Moon at Kolkata

"At night, I open the window and ask the moon to come and press its face against mine. Breathe into mine. Close the language-door and open the love-window. The moon won't use the door, only the window." ~Rumi

An artificial moon, measuring seven meters in diameter and featuring detailed imagery on the surface of the moon was in my city, Kolkata on the 17th and 18th of February. The beautiful artificial moon, known as "Museum of the Moon" is a brilliant artwork by Luke Jerram that is gaining adulation from all over the world. 

The Museum of the Moon traveled to 5 cities in India on the month of February including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Udaipur, Kolkata, and New Delhi. It will travel all around the world in the forthcoming days, enthralling millions of people. 

At Kolkata, it was displayed outside the iconic Victoria Memorial which made it a stunning visual delight. Thousands of people flocked in front of the north gate of Victoria Memorial Hall to view this marvelous piece of art. British Council has made it possible for us to gaze at the Museum of the Moon in India. 

As soon as I heard that Museum of the Moon will be at Kolkata, I couldn't stop myself from rushing to the Victoria Memorial on the 17th February. A musical function was also held in front of Museum of the Moon in the evening of 17th Feb. 

The acclaimed singer-pianist duo of Kolkata, Soumyajit and Sourendra delighted the audience as they sang songs dedicated to the moon which included a few Tagore songs, ghazals, and old Bollywood songs. They ended the function singing the Gayatri mantra, followed by the song "Mile sur mera tumhara" to symbolize the unity and beauty of several cultures in India.  

The musical performance along with the beauty of the moon made the ambiance surreal. Moreover, the wonderful weather of February and the gorgeous Victoria Memorial made it an evening to remember. It made me reflect on the beauty and the serenity of the moon. It also made me nostalgic as I remembered about some of the most beautiful moonlit nights of my life. That evening had the magic to turn anyone poetic. I was so entranced that couldn't wait to scribble a few lines on the moon after returning home. 

When the artist, Luke Jerram was asked about the India tour of "Museum of the Moon", he said, "We are thrilled to be in India and would love to observe and contemplate cultural similarities and differences while simultaneously also considering the latest moon science in the country. The India visit of the "Museum of the Moon" is not only an opportunity of the public to have a close experience with the moon, but also for us to get a deeper understanding of the moon's cultural significance in the country."

To know more about the "Museum of the Moon", visit https://my-moon.org/

"Tell me the story...

About how the sun loved the moon so much

That she died every night

Just to let him breathe..." ~Hanako Ishii

A jocular conversation between a spoon and a fork

(This post is an entry to the The Great Indian Blogging Contest, as a part of the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival 2015.)

                                      (Sketched by me for this particular blogpost)

Amit: You look happy.

Deep: Yes, brother! Finally I got the promotion.

Amit: Ha! Promotion. This is called getting the price for buttering that bald fellow.

Deep: Ha ha ha! Butter is quite expensive and if am buttering someone on a daily basis, I deserve a price for it. Don’t I?

Amit: You dull head! My little son has more brains than you.

Deep: May be I am not intelligent like you, but you can’t argue that I am less hardworking.

Amit: Ha! Hardworking my foot!

Deep: Not your foot! My inconceivable capability! I know each and everything about boss starting from his favorite food to his shoe size. I even keep more details about his wife than I keep of my own wife. This takes a great deal of commitment and hard work.

Amit: Don't tell me you are interested in that fat woman.

Deep: Fat? Madam is not fat, she is just concealing her beauty with few extra layers of skin. 

Amit: Boss is nowhere in the sight. Stop being his chamcha now.

Deep: Actually Amit. I am thankful to you for not being part of my competition.

Amit: I have a backbone Deep, unlike you. I don’t need to be a spoon. 

Deep: And I have an invisible tail. I can wag it whenever needed.

(Amit’s phone starts ringing)

Amit: (Yes, honey…I will be late…Try to understand…I am working overtime…) The stupid bald boss in office and the annoying wife at home will give me a migraine now.

Deep: Relax bother! I have a suggestion. Once you reach home today, just start complimenting your wife on everything…that how beautiful she is…how wonderful she cooks…how melodiously she speaks…etc etc.

Amit: Hell! I don’t need to be my wife’s chamcha.

(Deep’s phone rings at that moment)

Deep: Hello…. Aww darling…your voice is as sweet as a cuckoo. It makes me want to dance with joy. And I miss you so much. 

Amit: Cuckoo? She was shouting man!

Deep: I know she was thundering but as I said those words, she is not angry anymore. It worked. It always works!

Amit: Ridiculous! Have you gone to a school for chamchas?

Deep: No brother! Practice and determination made me a master in this skill and of course, a lot of hard work. You start practicing and I can be your mentor if you want.

Amit: A spineless spoon trying to be the mentor of a fork

          He nods his head saying, “Yeah yeah yeah!”

          Before his mind grasps a single word

         And he wags his tail shamelessly when anyone speaks, “Blah blah blah”

         Without ever getting irked or tired.

         He calls it hard work, I call it sycophancy

         He calls it talent, actually he is a chimpanzee.

       Dear Mr. Chamcha! Keep sparkling that white teeth

      You will soon be awarded “The Great Indian Chamcha” indeed.

Deep: (grinning from ear to ear) Thanks brother for making poetry on my skill.

Thank you Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival 2015, The Great Indian and Kolkata Bloggers for organizing this contest and for giving us the opportunity to write on this wonderful topic.