lMy heartiest thanks to Metro on Sunday for publishing the report “Basumati brought back to life” on April 1.
I had never found any write-up on the history of this publishing concern, originally known as Basumati Sahitya Mandir, in any newspaper or periodical. The few reports that I had read on the topic dealt with the closing of Dainik Basumati or Basumati Corporation Ltd.
It cannot be denied that Basumati occupied for a considerable period of time a distinguished place in the history of Bengali publications. Masik Basumati was very popular and Dainik Basumati was respected by Bengalis for its unbiased and rational views.
As the writer has mentioned in the report, Dainik Basumati was uncompromising in its attitude towards the Bengal government. The owner of Basumati and its management never interfered with the freedom of the editors.
The names of editors like Hemendra Prasad Ghosh, Upendranath Banerjee, Barindra Kumar Ghosh and Vivekananda Mukhopadhyay are worth mentioning with respect even after all these years.
Pranati Mukherjee,Anathnath Deb Lane
lWith reference to the article “City of fish fry lovers?” on March 4, Calcutta has been known for ages as a city of book lovers and for good reason. However, I feel a typical Calcuttan is more passionately a foodie than a bookworm.
We probably like pleasing our palate more than quenching our thirst for knowledge.
Fish fry is definitely one of creations that has made Calcuttans foodies. If asked to choose between a good book and a plate of fish fry, many of us will take up the latter first.
Shinjana Mukherjee
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