This has been an unprecedented year with unprecedented consequences. Which is why we had held back the results of the 14th The Telegraph Super Souvenir Awards in the hope that things would normalise and we could hold the prize distribution ceremony as always with all the winners in attendance. But that is not to be.
With Durga Puja 2020 knocking on our doors, there is no point waiting further. This edition of the contest was otherwise a successful one, drawing the highest number of participation in its history. Which goes to show that more and more pujas in Salt Lake are becoming confident enough about their printed output to want to take part in the contest while pujas in New Town are becoming organised enough to bring out their souvenirs.
We have decided to add a couple of more categories for this year — Best Travelogue and Best Memoir — as we wanted to accommodate more participants on the awards list.
Our sincere thanks to each housing complex and block for sending in your puja souvenir. Hope you continue to do so every year. And congratulations to each and every winner.
Those featuring on the winners’ list are requested to send a mail to saltlake@abpmail.com with their contact numbers or call us on Tuesday or Wednesday evening at 22600115 before 10pm.
Salt Lake FE Block Residents’ Association
Why: The souvenir is increasing in bulk with every year. But the ratio of reading material and advertisements has been maintained. The articles are on subjects as varied as global warming and Kashmir plebiscite, India’s education system and varieties of tea... Other than several travelogues, memoirs and poems, there is even crossword puzzle and sudoku as leisure activity. Children of the block have been given space to share their writings and sketches.
Another thoughtful section is a column that is used as a filler at the conclusion of longer articles on Puja memories and reflections of former presidents of the block association, who are now senior citizens.
In a nod to technology, the souvenir also has a downloadable e-version.
Best Editorial
Winner: Gora Roy, secretary, Salt Lake CF Block
Residents’ Association
Why: The theme of pollution that the block’s puja pandal had showcased was explained in a refreshing manner — through a slice-of-life fictional account. It successfully brought home the message of how many of us unwittingly contribute to pollution, without being preachy.
Special mention: Satyaban Roy, convenor, souvenir sub-committee, New Town AA1B Sarbojanin Durgotsab Committee and Ishwar Mukherjee, editor, Utsab Bichitra, Purba Samabay Abasan (Cluster XIII, Purbachal Abasan)
Best Poetry
Winner: Sarbani Banerjee of East Enclave Residents’ Welfare Association for Pratichi O Aro Duti
Why: The poet’s voice is strong, without being strident. A voice that articulates the poet’s thoughts through well-crafted words that are devoid of fluff, yet leave behind an impact through vivid imagery.
Special mention: Purba Kar of CD Block, New Town, for Chithi and Asim Das of East Enclave Residents’ Welfare Association, New Town, for Amar Kono Tara Nei.
Best Travelogue
Winner: Susmita Bhaduri of Sanjeeva Town The Bungalow Estate For Ektu Ushnotar Jonyo, Uttar Golardhe
Why: The account has the right balance of personal information and description of places visited. While the remote destination, Iceland, is itself exciting, piquing readers’ interest by its very mention, the journey turns out to be even more entertaining as the author’s pen is generously dipped in a pot of humour. As she describes how she chased the northern lights or revelled in the idyllic settings where Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol had shot the Dilwale song Rang de tu mohe gerua, the reader
senses and shares her enjoyment and awe.
Special mention: Sekhar Basu of JC Block forbHollywood-er Jaadu Durgo.
Best Fiction
Winner: Bibha Roy Chowdhury of FE Block for Udbastu
Why: The narrator’s tale of being uprooted from a life of affluence across the border gets intertwined with that of a rustic woman’s, with life throwing both together in a refugee colony.
The twist in the plot is unexpected yet believable because of the sincerity that rings in each voice that the author gives life to.
Special mention: Kumkum Chattopadhyay of East Enclave Residents’ Welfare Association for Rong Bahar.
Early Bird
Winner: Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee, BE (West)
Why: The souvenir landed on our desk the day before Mahalaya when many other blocks possibly were yet to send out a call for articles. Despite being so punctual about publication and distribution, the block has taken care to enrich the souvenir with quality articles. The printing and binding quality is also of a high standard.
Best Memoir
Winner: Tandra Goswami of FE Block for Amar Chhotobelar Saatkahon
Why: A glimpse into an idyllic life, on which time and circumstance have drawn the curtains forever, a life of harmony and brotherhood in erstwhile East Pakistan, where a school’s Muslim teacher did not accept prasad yet sponsored sweets for Saraswati puja, where students sung Bengali songs to celebrate Pakistan’s independence day in school, where swimming and boating lessons for a child were mandatory for survival and could even be supplemented by horse riding lessons by the friendly village police inspector. And which also is a testament to how this paradise was lost to the poison of radicalism and division.
Special mention: Rita Das of BE 98 (BE East) for Hostel Jiboner Tokjhal Mishti.
Best Essay
Winner: Saptarshi Chowdhury of CD Block, New Town, for Messbarir theke soja Baithakkhana Bazar.
Why: The boarding houses of central or north Calcutta, which are now merely shadows of a bustling past, have played a key role in nurturing our artistic heritage. The author’s easy familiarity with both the locality and the literary works that were born in these quarters enrich the reading experience. The writing style is lucid and engaging. The mention of publications as sources of information lends authenticity to the account.
Special mention: Sonali Roy of BE Block (BE West) for Swad O Sadhyo.
Best Cover Sourced by the Telegraph
Best Cover
Winner: DL Block Residents’ Association
Why: The cartoonish treatment of the goddesses seated on their mounts makes the cover stand out. The use of colours is apt. That the illustration is an original art work, credited to resident Indrani Bhattacharya, also is noteworthy.
Special mention: Salt Lake BE (East) Puja Committee and BL Block
Click your township
We have selected the three best pictures among those published in the “Click Your Township” column in the months since last year’s result. The snaps are a testimony to the wealth of photographic talent in the neighbourhood.
Congratulations to -
- Shukraditya Bose
- Saachi Saha
- Abhijit Dutta
Shukraditya Bose, BJ Block Sourced by the Telegraph
Saachi Saha, HB Block Sourced by the Telegraph
Abhijit Dutta, DA Block Sourced by the Telegraph
