New Jersey Independent South Asian CineFest 2012

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New Jersey Independent South Asian CineFest 2012 (NJISACF)

NJISACF 2012 will be held at the Big Cinemas in Edison New Jersey from October 5 to 7, 2012. This year the festival will kick off with Mangesh Hadawale’s film “Dekh Indian Circus” to be presented by the hit film maker Imitiaz Ali. The following two days will show case some of the best of contemporary and classic South Asian cinema including a selection of children’s films. Visit njisacf.org website for details.

 

NJ Bengali Clubs Get Ready for Durga Puja 2012

Durga Puja is just round the corner and New Jersey Bengali Clubs are gearing themselves up for the great event. The clubs are trying to attract the Bengalis of New Jersey with a wide range of star studded cultural programmes along with domestic shows, not to mention the sumptuous dinner to be served each evening. On line registrations have started and soon they will all be sold out. So act fast to ensure your attendance.

Here is a sneak peek into what to expect at the major Pujos of New Jersey. Continue reading

Bangamancha 2012

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BANGAMANCHA 2012

Algos International of Kolkata India presents Bangamancha 2012. Bangamancha’2012 is an effort to bring together a package of entertainment to the NRI Bengalis, in the form of New Bengali Movies (World Premiere ) and  high energy performance by Anupam Roy and Raghab Chattopadhyay.

Zee News Bangla – 24 Ghanta will also felicitate GOLBAL BENGALI ACHIEVERS from this part of the world on this platform.
October 6, 7 2012
Felician College, Lodi Campus (Free Parking)

Does the Prospect of Bengali Culture in America Look Gloomy? Part 3 – A Continuum

By Amitava Sen

Lost in Translation:

Language is arguably the important, if not most important component of culture because much of it is conveyed orally or in writing. It is impossible to understand the nuances and deep meaning of a culture without knowing its language and knowing it well. Language is more than just a means of communication. It influences senses and understanding of arts, culture and even our thought process. How children actually learn a language is not clear. Most linguists believe that they do by listening and trying to communicate with adults.

But what are the adults doing to steer our children to our language?  We mostly do not communicate with them in the language of the culture we are trying to induct them into. Indeed the language the parents and the children mostly use is infrequently Bengali. Continue reading

RU SWARAS and Mala Ramadurai

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Raag-Rang proudly presents  RU SWARAS (Rutgers Univ. Swaras) an Hindustani and Carnatic Ensemble of vocal, instrumental  music with tabla and Mrudangam, followed by vocal recital by Smt Mala Ramadurai from Mumbai.  Shree Abay Datar on tabla  and Shree Anant Joshi on harmonium.

Date-13th October. Time-3-30 pm to 6-30 pm.
Venue- Bharat Sevasram Sangha– New Temple Basement.
Donation– $10.00 for Raag-Rang members and $15.00 for non-members.
Contact Details: raagrang07@gmail.com

Does the prospect of Bengali Culture in America Look Gloomy? Part 2

By Amitava Sen

Dominance of American Culture.

Down in the mall between fast food joints and stores selling sportswear and sneakers, a group of young people huddle in clam-diggers or cargo shorts (Short pants extending below knee) and Nike sneakers with ears plugged in I-phone playing latest Justin Bieber song, watching young women passing by in DKNY and Yankees base ball hat, latte in one hand, conversing animatedly in English.

This is a common scene in a mall in America; except the mall referred to is not in America; the place is a mall in Calcutta. If you go to any mall in Calcutta this scene repeats itself everywhere. This is the age of pervasive dominance of American culture. With globalization of trade and business has come global Americanization of culture. Continue reading

The Mosaic Dance Festival

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The Mosaic Dance Festival

Kalamandir Dance Company, a contemporary Indian Dance company from Central New Jersey, is proud to present the second year of The Mosaic Dance Festival, an exchange of Indian culture with international movement. This showcase features international dance styles set to South Asian rhythms and music while South Asian performers will move to Western musical arrangements. Last year’s festival was a huge success with two standing room only shows. This year’s festival will be held on Saturday, September 8 th, 2012 at 2:00pm and 6:00pm at The FUNKtion Dance Complex (4260 US HWY 1, Suite 6, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852).

 

 

Does the prospect of Bengali Culture in America Look Gloomy? Part 1

by Amitava Sen

The Bengalees are culture aficionados, big time. We live culture, breathe culture and drink culture to the point of intoxication. No doubt the Bengalees have a richer cultural heritage when compared to the other Indian language speakers. We have Rabi Thakur, don’t we? In our evaluation, this one man is luminous enough to overshadow all other Indian cultural icons put together. And that is basically our passage to the glory and at times reason for disdain for other Indian cultures.

This brings us to the question: Does only the past glory of the gone by era make us cultured? Presently living a cultured life is somewhat different. It refers to an appreciation of literature, music, art and food and it is a full range of human behavioral pattern, all in the present term, as English Anthropologist Edward Taylor wrote:

“Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, art, law, morals, custom and any other capabilities acquired by men as a member of the society.” Continue reading