At the Gulab Bari event and Times debate

March 3, 2014: Last weekend, I was occupied on both Saturday was Sunday evening. On Saturday I went to the Gulab Bari Event which is hosted before Holi at the Neotia residence in Queen’s Park. This event is being held for more than three decades now.

Gulab Bari has its own charm in the city’s social calendar and it has its legacy and tradition as well where classical performers play “Phoolon ki Holi” at the end of the event.

Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj performed at this year’s Gulab Bari event which I attended. In the last part of the event, Girija Devi had also joined him and both of them performed an excellent piece which, of course, concluded with “Phoolon ki Holi”.

I met many known faces of Kolkata at the event. Gulab Bari also has the same menu for the past three decades which the Neotia family members serve to the guests.

After the event I met Pt Birju Maharaj and complimented him on his performance. At the age of 76 when he performs kathak the whole stage comes to life.

On Sunday evening I went to the Tollygunge Club to attend The Times of India debate – “Converse” on the topic “New politics is ideal for opposition, not governance” featuring Salman Khurshid, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Sitaram Yechury, Yogendra Yadav, Aruna Roy and Shobhaa De.

It was quite a site to see a Congressman Salman Khurshid, a CPI(M) man Sitaram Yechury and a BJP spokesperson, Ravi Shankar Prasad speaking for the motion. Contrary to popular perception, the team of Shobhaa De, Yogendra Yadav (Aam Aadmi Party) and Aruna Roy won the audience votes to win the debate. Yogendra got the longest ovation from the audience. It was a great evening.

ess bee