Rao Bahadur (also Raobahadur and Rai Bahadur; abbreviated R.B) is a title of honor issued in India to individuals who have performed great service to the nation. Literally translated "Rao" implies "prince" and "Bahadur" means "most honorable." This title was awarded to Indians, both Hindu and Christian. During the British Rule, the Rao Bahadur was accompanied by a medal. The equivalent title for Muslim and Parsi subjects was Khan Bahadur.-Wikipedia Raibahadurs are extinct now. But it was not so even around five decades back. In and around Rashbehari, Bhowanipur and Ballygaunge areas there were a number of mini palatial buildings with gardens at the front behind large wrought iron gates which used to display names of the owners of the buildings prefixing "Raibahadur" . In my early years, while I was in my morning schools I developed the habit of walking around the Kolkata roads most of the day. I could find a number of those build...
On 3 rd .January, 2016 I found a foggy morning from the 4 th Floor balcony of our flat at Mecon Tower though with a mild assurance of forthcoming sunshine. I could not hope for good Picnic scheduled on the day. By God’s grace I was proved utterly wrong. Sharply at 7.45 AM a bright yellow School Bus showed and parked at the gate. Within minutes my intercom rang and I and my better half Jayasree hurriedly came down. She went inside the bus and I, along with some others, was waiting for the desired ones to assemble. Soon all gathered and the Bus started at 8.15 AM towards its destination. Although a School Bus it was carrying passengers who are mostly Grand Parents of School going kids. The destination was Pat’s Cottage at Sonarpur where we, the Ex-Meconians and their families, would gather for the yearly Picnic. The Bus drove through Prince Anwar Shah Road Connector and took a turn towards south after reaching EM BY pass. On the way it stopped at Kalikapur, Satyajit Roy Film ...
Kolkata and West Bengal suffered a devastating cyclone on May 25, 2009. As reported, at least 80 people were killed and over one lakh people rendered homeless. The storm which is named Aila had a wind speed of 100 kilometers per hour hit the city at around 2 p.m and, thereafter, blew through Howrah, Hoogly and Burdwan districts and moved towards further north into the hills. The scale of devastation were so severe that the Army was deployed for rescue operations in affected parts of North and South 24-Parganas.Several thousands of houses washed away in tidal waves in the coastal areas. The city witnessed uprooting of hundreds of trees which blocked roads for hours dislocating traffics for the day. Air, train and tram services got disrupted for hours. Ananda Bazar Patrika, the Bengali daily, informs from the available records that this city witnessed cyclonic devastation of this extent only on September 30,1737 and October 5,1864.I observed that the report had overlooked the incidence...
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