Icons of human excellence Life is a journey from the planes of dormant possibilities to the summit of fully-blossomed human excellence. It is not just idle loitering, but a concentrated surge ahead to complete and realise this tremendous journey. Self-conviction without arrogance is the hallmark of greatness. Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda, certainly two of the most extraordinary Indian personalities of the 19th century, attracted world focus and became natural icons of human excellence through their supreme self-conviction and confidence. They restored the lost faith and pride of the country, became messiahs of love and peace through catholicity, with tolerance and acceptance as their central message. As a tribute to these two great personalities, Bhavna Records and Cassettes launches Uttoron: Biley Theke Vivekananda, Rabi Theke Rabindranath, a twin-CD audio-album based on the story of transcendence of Swami Vivekananda and Rabindranath Tagore through music and commentary. Providing glimpses of their struggle to unfold their genius, the collection offers valuable insight into the minds of both men, who were also philosophers and visionaries. Abhirup Guha Thakurta has rendered the Tagore songs in his naturally expressive voice. Swayambhu Mukherjee has wonderfully harmonised the text and songs. The text is comprehensive yet aesthetic and his reading style is a relief from the cliche, but with the power to touch the hearts of the audience. To mark the launch of Uttaran this evening, Abhirup Guha Thakurta will present a solo recital of Tagore songs. Event: Launch of audio CD Uttoron, with Tagore songs and narration of Tagore and Vivekananda’s life and teachings When: Today at 6 pm Where: Vivekananda Hall, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park

Art

Till October 14 at Studio Aloke, 1/42 Shahid Nagar, Dhakuria; 4 pm - 8 pm: Shades of Enlightenment — a solo exhibition of 20 paintings in mixed media by Aloke Paul. Till October 15 at Aakriti Art Gallery, 12/3A Hungerford Street, #2289 3027/5041; 12 noon - 7 pm: GenNext IV — an exhibition of works by artists below 40 from different parts of the world. Participating artists: Aharon Rothchild (USA), Amit Kr. Debnath, Atul B. Mahajan, Barun Pramanick, Debasish Dutta, Dipta Bhattacharya, Debasish Sarkar, Huma Mulji (Pakistan), Jaishri Abichandani (USA), Kondor Valéria (Hungary), Mansoor Ali Makrani, Mantu Das, Nabanita Datta Guha, Nantu Behari Das, Oli Ghosh, Paltu Barman, Partha Guin, Piyali Sadhukhan, Prafull Singh, Prandeep Kalita, Priti Kahar, Priyanka Lahiri, Pramod Kumar Singh, Punyo Chobin, Romicon Revola, Dana Lynn Kleinman and Ruth Avra Kleinman (USA), Sagar Bhowmick, Sanhita Banerjee, Siraj Saxena, Soma Das, Sujit Karmakar, Sukanya Ghosh, Tusar Kanti Pradhan and Youn Mi Ock (South Korea). Till October 16 at Bose Pacia, Stephen Court, 18 Park Street, #40010148; 11 am - 7 pm: An exhibition of new paintings by Ramakrishna Behera. Till October 18 at The Promenade Lounge, Taj Bengal; 10 am - 11 pm: A solo exhibition of recent works by Kushal Mukherjee. Till October 19 at The Halo Heritage Art Gallery, 26 Ritchie Road; 3 pm - 8 pm: Mind’s Eye — an exhibition of paintings by Anita Roychowdhury, Prabir Sen, Krishnendu Chaki and Subhendu Sarkar. Till October 22 (except Sunday) at Gallery K2, Supra Court, 35 Lansdowne Terrace, #2465 1444; 11 am - 7 pm pm: An exhibition of small format works by Shaibal Ghosh. Till October 24 (except Sunday) at Akar Prakar, P 238 Hindustan Park; 2 pm - 7 pm: A solo show of paintings by Rabin Roy. Till October 25 at Monastery of Art, 48/44 Swiss Park; 2 pm - 7 pm: The Convergence, an exhibition of works by Radhika Mansata. Till October 31 (except Sundays) at Experimenter, 2/1 Hindusthan Road, #2463 0465; 11 am - 7.30 pm: In Memory of an Ideal — an exhibition of paintings by Ng. Bidyut Singha. Till November 21 (except Sundays & holidays) at Tejas Gallery, 11 Mayfair Road, #9830049825; 1 pm - 7.30 pm: Tejas Gallery is hosting its third annual Devi show by 24 artists. The exhibits, numbering approximately 70, include both gods and goddesses. Till November 28 (Sundays by appointment) at Idiyas Gallery, 15 Dover Road, #9831005003, 65508418; 10.30 am - 6.30 pm: Color Immersion — an exhibition of the works by Atin Basak, Ramananda Bandyopadhyay, Subrata Saha, Aditya Basak, Subrata Gangopadhyay, Subrata Pal, Suhas Roy, Bratin Khan, Gourango Beshai, Sibsaday Chaudhuri and others.

DRAMA

October 14 at Academy of Fine Arts; 7 pm: Rangakarmee presents Rudali. Story: Mahasveta Devi. Direction: Usha Ganguli. October 14 at Madhusudan Mancha; 6.30 pm: Miunus presents its latest production, Strike. Drama & direction: Utsab Das. October 15 at Academy of Fine Arts; 6.30 pm: Nandipat stages its latest production Aapod. Drama: Bimal Kar. Direction: Bimal Chakraborty. October 15 at Girish Mancha; 6.45 pm: Rang Roop presents Byaram Biram. Direction: Seema Mukhopadhyay. October 15 at Tapan Theatre; 6.30 pm: Niva Arts presents Homa Pakhi, produced by Cinetel. Direction & performance: Soumitra Chatterjee. October 15 at Madhusudan Mancha; 7 pm: Rangakarmee will stage Boorhi Kaki. Story: Premchand. Direction: Goutam Halder. October 16 at Madhusudan Mancha; 6.30 pm: Purba Paschim will stage its latest production, Patol Babu Film Star. Direction: Ramaprasad Banik. October 16 at Academy of Fine Arts; 6.30 pm: Rang Roop will stage its latest play, Jalchhabi. Direction: Seema Mukhopadhyay. October 16 at Tapan Theatre; 6.30 pm: PLT will stage Titumeer. Direction: Utpal Dutt. Re-created by Mrinal Ghosh.

PERFORMING ARTS

October 14 at Moulali Yuva Kendra; 4 pm: Kabyalok hosts Bhalolagar Gaan O Bhalobashar Kabita. Participants include Suchhanda Ghosh, Malabika Bhattacharya, Ajanta Sarkar, Amitesh Chanda, Debasish Gharai, Shubhra De, Partha Pratim Bhoumik, Soumita Das and Anushila Basu (songs) and Sujit Datta, Prosenjit Sengupta, Shampa Dutta and Samir Ghosh (recitation). October 15 at Weavers Studio Centre for the Arts, 94 ballygunge Place, #2461 3145; 6 pm: Weavers Studio centre for the Arts, in association with Learning System and Somy Arts & Entertainment, presents D 4 U, Music Weaving into Life — an evening of songs by Debjit Bera, accompanied by Dr Avijit Ghosh (sarod), Annie (vocal), Indrajit Dey (synthesiser), Subhasish Dey (violin) and Avijit Kundu (keyboard). October 16 at Satyajit Ray Auditorium, Rabindranath Tagore Centre, ICCR, 9A Ho Chi Minh Sarani; 6.30 pm: Concert by Berta Rojas, classical guitarist from Paraguay.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Till October 13 at Academy of Fine Arts, South Gallery; 3 pm - 8 pm: Spectacular India, a solo exhibition on travel photography by Balaram Bose. October 13 - 15 at Gaganendra Pradarshashala; 2 pm - 8 pm: Wide Angle, Contemporary Foto Artist Forum presents Silver Moments — a group photographic exposition. Participants: Saikat Ganguly, Benu Barman, Subir Banerjee, Shyamal Das, Sk, Jan Mahammad and Writwik Chakraborty. Till October 22 at Seagull Arts and Media Resource Centre, 36C S.P. Mukherjee Road; 2 pm - 8 pm: The Seagull Foundation for the Arts and Tasveer present Face Up — an exhibition of photographs by Anna Fox and Sunil Gupta.

TALK

October 13 at Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Shivananda Hall; 5.30 pm: Sitanath Goswami will speak in Bengali on Panchadashi. October 13 at Ramakrishna Vedanta Math, 19B Raja Rajkrishna Street; 7 pm: Swami Atmabodhananda will discuss in Bengali Sri Sri Mayer Katha.

EXHIBITION

October 13 at 16/2 Gariahat Road, ground floor hall; 11.30 am - 7 pm: Sruti Disability Rights Centre hosts Diversity 2009, an exhibition of diyas, candles, handicraft items, dry food, stationery and publications, in aid of marginalised persons and those with disabilities. Till October 14 at 57/9 Ballygunge Circular Road; 11.30 am - 6.30 pm: Soumya’s Creation presents Deepavali, an exhibition of saris in cotton, tussar and chanderi, suit pieces, printed silk cotton kurtis, printed and woven unstitched suits and a large cache of costume jewellery along with a variety of evening bags. Also, a wide range of durries, cusion covers, home linens, earthenware table-lamps and ceramic jars. Till October 16 at Gallery 79, 79 Raja Basanta Roy Road, 1st floor; 4 pm - 8 pm: Nimble Fingers presents some of the finest craftsmen and their exquisite skill in an exhibition, Colors of Bengal. Till October 16 (except Monday and holiday) at Birla Academy of Art & Culture; 3 pm - 8 pm: Somewhat Different, a design exhibition from Germany. Till October 17 at Artisana, 13 Chowringhee Terrace, #2223 9422, 6515 5185; 11 am - 7 pm: Crafts Council of West Bengal welcomes the Happy season with an exhibition of terracotta lamps, planters and straw toys, sarees from Fulia and Kota, and kurtas and kurtis for women. Till October 17 at Art Walk, South City Mall; 12 noon - 8 pm: A wide range of affordable paintings, handicrafts and objects d’ art. Till October 17 at Starmark, 3 Lord Sinha Road; G-202 City Centre, Salt Lake; South City Mall and Mani Square;10.30 am to 8 pm: Starmark presents Lights — an exhibition of traditional and designer diyas, candles, Diwali gifts and cards. Till October 19 (except Tuesdays) at The Halo Heritage Art Gallery (ground floor), 26 Ritchie Road, #2419 0133; 12 noon - 9 pm: Nandanik — an exhibition of designer costumes.All those who wish events to be included in this column should write not less than a week ahead to: Time out, The Telegraph, 6 Prafulla Sarkar Street, Calcutta-700 001; Fax: 2234-8244

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All those who wish events to be included in this column should write not less than a week ahead to:

Time out, The Telegraph, 6, Prafulla Sarkar Street, Calcutta-700 001;
Fax: 2234-8244