Sedlec Ossuary : The Church of Bones

THE Sedlec Ossuary (Czech: kostnice Sedlec) is a small Roman Catholic chapel, located beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints (Czech: Hřbitovní kostel Všech Svatých) in Sedlec, a suburb of Kutná Hora in the Czech Republic. about 70 kilometers east the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, lies this small town called Sedlec. It might have been an ordinary enough town, if not for its extraordinary church. The inside of this church is decorated with artworks made of real human bones. The ossuary contains approximately 40,000-70,000 human skeletons which have been artistically arranged to form decorations and furnishings for the chapel.

A cistercian monastery was founded near Sedlec in the year 1142. One of the principal tasks of the monks was the cultivation of the grounds and lands around the monastery. In 1278 King Otakar II of Bohemia sent Henry, the abbot of Sedlec, on a diplomatic mission to the Holy Land. When leaving Jerusalem Henry took with him a handful of earth from Golgotha which he sprinkled over the cemetery of Sedlec monastery, consequently the cemetery became famous, not only in Bohemia but also throughout Central Europe and many wealthy people desired to be buried here. The burial ground was enlarged during the epidemics of plague in the 14 th century (e.g.in 1318 about 30 000 people were buried here) and also during the Hussite wars in first quarter of the 15 th. century.

AFTER 1400 one of the abbots had a church of All -Saints erected in Gothic style in the middle of the cemetery and under it a chapel destined for the deposition of bones from abolished graves, a task which was begun by a half blind Cistercian monk after the year 1511. The charnel-house was re-modeled in Czech Baroque style between 1703 - I710 by the famous Czech architect, of the Italian origin ,Jan Blažej SANTIM-Aichl. The present arrangement of the bones dates from 1870 and is the work of a Czech wood-carver, František RINT (you can see his name, put together from bones, on the right-hand wall over the last bench).

THE most interesting creations by Master Rint are the chandelier in the centre of the nave, containing all the bones of the human body, two monstrances beside the main altar and the coat-of arms of the Schwarzenberg noble family on the left-hand side of the chapel.

[Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedlec_Ossuary

http://www.kostnice.cz/

]

Movie review : Transformer The Revenge of The Fallen

THE much talked about sequel of the Transformer created quite hype in its early days of release. But the movie was kinda mixed bag in its overall presentation.

SHIA LaBeouf and Megan Fox ‘s charm has always been a positive point for the Transformer series. Superb special effects, sound and video editing adds more to this movie. But I guess Michael Bay went a bit too far by trying to show a bit of everything in it. Girl robot following Sam ( Shia LaBeouf ) in the college and trying to kill him in bed will certainly remind you of Terminator and Species series and this looked way out o sync. Towards the end the strange ( rather foolish ) sequence of Sam dying and then again coming back to life after taking order from seniors robots in somewhere in heaven ( or should I say heave-tronics??? ) mixed with some very old styled emotions made the movie dull towards the end.

DESPITE all these cons this movie is still good to watch “once” in some good theatre for it’s amazing action sequence and sound effects.

My Rating : Average

When it’s time .... ?

WHEN you start feeling like………….. it’s time? Ahhh... well..... when you see others with their family which seems super happy at a random office party. Or while having dinner at a posh restaurant with your good old friend; you see only couples or families around you. Or while shopping alone you see the couple next to you ( again I must say : happy ....... apparently ) helping each other ( .... in choosing cloths ... only .... in a crowded mall what else can they do ...... tell me !!!!!! ).Or after a long day’s work when you spill milk all over your kitchen while boiling it. Or when you suddenly realize many of your old friends are married now ( Rather I would like to describe this as following ...... “Or when you suddenly discover many of your old friends have forged their own conscious and chose to dive into the deepest well knowing that there is no way out of it ”............... in short “committed suicide ...... but still alive” ). Or .... well this list can go on and on. But you know what I feel; the last one is the strongest one to at least make you think about it though it’s almost like generalizing any misdeed. It’s like saying all police are the wickedest form of thieves, goons and bustards though all under the species are not same. May be a few of them; but not all. What I’m trying to convey here is if you thing a bit deeper what you’ll find is you are focusing on the counting few who committed the misdeed ( well ... committing suicide is illegal in Indian penal code ); in short you are making the mistake of generalization (At this point let me warn you: this piece of information is heavily time and reader’s age dependent. At my present age the above information is true but I doubt 5 years down the line it will not be ).Anyways ... these technical discussions aside; basically these incidents forces every bachelor ( event the most cautious soul like me ) to ask the question ...... is it time . ....?

WHEN someone asks me “when’ll you get married” I generally give this reply ... ( by the way; this reply has become very famous now a days ....... )

“..... I know that nobody is immortal; but I tend to live a bit longer than the average ......”

And trust me .................. I really mean it. But you know what ... at times these things around you does not help much. After all ......... who loves to clean milk bathed kitchen all alone at 1 a.m. in the morning? All this happened only because I felt really really hungry at 12:30 am; initially I chose to skip dinner that night; rest of it ... you should guess. At this very point you might start thinking about the television advertisement about a good looking wife preparing delicious food for her husband though he is late form office. And ...... voila ... she is having good "Jilabi" with her at the movie theater too.... ( ahha; what a lucky dog )

BUT when you think a bit deeper you'll certainly realize about the "other side of the coin". Beneath the silver lining there are sad things which; earlier you realize … is better for you. It’s like so called “big sale” of now a day’s shopping malls. There would be a big advertisement saying … “up to 50% off *”. Now what this small “*” signifies is what you need to do to avail the discount which most of the cases is devastating. Say you jump into the well ……….. and if you are lucky enough you might get a few things which let’s say you could do without in most of the cases; like “home made food i.e. a good cook” ( ahhhhh…. this might not be appealing to all; specially to those who live with their parents; but let me tell you; I stay alone and it really sucks when you realize you have to do with milk and oat at midnight as you have no other options left ) or “a good cleaner / organizer” ( I certainly won’t elaborate on this point ) and few other things …… ( few in the list are beyond the scope of this blog ). But how about the *? What all are you doing to get these things? Let’s see ….. have you ever seen any of your married colleague to go out with you on weekends to checkout the latest trendy bar in the town? Or when did you last able to pursue your married colleagues to go on special Friday night outs? If you were able to then those are exceptions. Remember I told about a random couple in a shopping mall helping each other; I remember seeing the same couple later that day outside the mall. The poor fellow carrying dozens of bags and following his wife faithfully ( like a dog would be a good analogy ).

LET’S analyze the scenarios after the inevitable “disaster”. The best case scenario would be you becoming her grosser, ATM machine, shopping companion, driver, load carrier ( you decided to fall for the saga; you have to pay of course ). And the worst case ? Well …. all of the previous list; plus cook, cleaner ( i.e. forget about the discount and pay double ).

I would like to end this blog with a very nice proverb in Bengali which goes like this :

“There are two kind of men in this world : married and alive …”

And as I earlier said no one can be immortal; but why not live longer than average??????

[ P.S: Needless to say that I’m still “alive” and zero experience might have shown its effect on last few paragraphs. So it would be good to receive enriching comments specially from those who are helpless now ]

The name saga……..A

NAME … your name; have you ever thought about it? How it is; where it came from. I remember during childhood days “what is the meaning of your name” was an obvious question after “what is your name” by any senior citizen (I mean any person senior to me). Even during school interviews I was asked the same question. Principals with very thick specs would have asked it in the most unfriendly manner possible. But do they really care? Who knows…

BEING a Bengali and moreover being form a cultural Bengali family means your name will match some writer, poet or famous personality (famous in positive way; I mean). Mine was not different either. I was named after a famous Bengali poet Sukanto Bhattacharya. Though I could not do justice to my name poetically guess I did enough justice literally by having a good enough physic ( my friends and colleagues may want to comment on this ). But the catch is not here.

IF you are familiar with Bengali culture ( specially with the older generation ) you must be knowing that many of us have a strong affinity for “A”. They want to put “A” where ever possible. And that’s what this blog is all about.

Needless to say I was also a hapless victim of this. Let me clear this … my name is “sukantA”. Most of the non-Bengali will find a feminine touch in this name. Ah …. I can’t blame them. I was warned by few of friends about this. One of my childhood friend “sudiptO” ( not “sudiptA”; because that is a common Bengali female name; though grammatically wrong and has no real meaning ) once gave me this wise advice of changing the spelling of my name to “sukantO”. But then I was turned down by my so called senor citizen saying that …. Well there is no girl named sukantA ( oh … so you can take the advantage of it ….). And alas … I accepted.

GUESS what … I did not realized the dark side of it till I was in Kolkata. But drama started once I came out Kolkata. Problem started when I started my work life in Bangalore. Almost everywhere I need to explain “ …. though it spells sukantA it pronounces “sukantO ….”. And guess what .. in my new company many have this very doubt “is this a guy or a girl ……….” (Basic doubt …. eh? ). And to add to this recently I discovered a girl named “sukantA” in Orkut (though this name is grammatically wrong it has absolutely no meaning )……….

SO ……… here I am; pretty much stuck with quite a confusing (!!!!!!!!) name….. rather spelling….

Movie Review: “GHAJINI”

A second grade MASALA movie – GAJINI killed MEMENTO

The much hyped movie of this year end. The house full presence at almost at Bangalore theatres reflected that fact. But this movie somewhat failed to impress me.

First of all it failed to keep the suspense of the movie. Though the story was crafted well and Aamir Khan’s acting talent is unquestionable the movie lacked practicality. This movie is a remake of the Tamil movie Ghajini which is inspired by 2000 Hollywood flick Memento, was a disappointment overall. The unnecessary songs, somewhat childish comedy results in a second grade Hindi masala movie which could have been a great psycho thriller. The original English movie Memento is a proof of that.

After movies like “Rang They Basanti” and “Jane Tu Yah Jane Na” the expectation was higher from Aamir Khan. He has certainly failed in that front.

My Rating : Average 

My Favourit Sarcastic Quotes....................

Here are my favourit sarcastic quotes ............. 

"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake"

- Napoleon Bonaparte

 

“Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything“

-Josef Stalin

 

 “I won’t say ours was a tough school, but we had our own coroner. We used to write essays like: What I’m going to be if I grow up”

-Lenny Bruce

 

“I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because it’s such a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her”
-Ellen DeGeneres

 

“I’m a psychic amnesiac. I know in advance what I’ll forget” 

-Michael McShane

 

“If you love someone set them free. If they come back, set them on fire”

-George Carlin

 

“A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing”

-Emo Phillips

 

“Condoms aren’t completely safe. A friend of mine was wearing one and got hit by a bus“

-Bob Rubin

 

“A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.”

-Edward Abbey

“I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here.”

-Stephen Bishop

 

“Sometimes I need what only you can provide: your absence”

-Ashleigh Brilliant

“The one function that TV news performs very well is that when there is no news we give it to you with the same emphasis as if it were.”

-David Brinkley

 

“I believe in luck: how else can you explain the success of those you don't like?”

-Jean Cocteau

 

“History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives”

-Abba Eban

 

“If you can't live without me, why aren't you dead already?”

-Cynthia Heimel

 

“Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted”

- Aldous Huxley 

 

“Every time I look at you I get a fierce desire to be lonesome”

- Oscar Levant 

 

“Advertising is a valuable economic factor because it is the cheapest way of selling goods, especially if they are worthless” 

-Sinclair Lewis

”Not even computers will replace committees, because committees buy computers”

-Edward Shepherd Mead 

“The trouble with a kitten is that it eventually becomes a cat”

-Ogden Nash

 

“Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary”

-Robert Louis Stevenson 

 

“Progress was all right. Only it went on too long”

- James Thurber

 

“Honesty is the best policy -- when there is money in it”

- Mark Twain

 

“He has Van Gogh's ear for music”

- Billy Wilder 

 

“There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot”

- Steven Wright 

 

“I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought jewelry”
- Rita Rudner

 

“Sometimes I need what only you can provide: your absence”
- Ashleigh Brilliant

 

“He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends”
- Oscar Wilde

 

“There will always be ifs and buts, but it’s always be our butts which will be kicked”

- One of my colleague regarding recession and salary hike

 

“Loss in Share Market is stepping stone to ……………. more loss”

- Me on Share Market

COLLEGE DAYS .................

The sweet (really??????????????????????) college days are over. Cheers to next step of my life ……………. job life. At this juncture may be it is the right time to analyze the 4 years that I spend in my college.

I can still clearly remember my first day in college, (I should, coz it's not so long ago, 18'Th august, 2003 ………….. if my memory is not betraying me) in my formals and a bit of fear in my heart ……………. what will happen? (I mean ragging of course)I tried to be a total professional in my green shirt and off white trouser that day. And in ragging session ……………………………. I was asked to propose a senior with a pen as a flower in my hand (it was Nildeep da's idea)……………… and ……….. I did it. Of course that shaved further treatment from seniors. And I was let off.

On those early days I used to pull everyone's leg in my class (I was like that …………. and I guess still I'm). One incident that comes in my mind is about Suto. In chemistry lab l revealed a secret about her in front of our teacher and I had to take four kicks form her:::. I used to eat an egg every day in college. My job was to crash the egg on Shaggy's head everyday before eating (actually I requested my mother not to put off the upper skin of the boiled egg so that I can use it on Shaggy's head). Some days afterward Shaggy used to run away form me when lunch break started. Later I tried this on many of my other friends too. Once I tired it on Tridib's head and then I made him run behind me all around our main building (he was soooooooooo angry for that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and finally he caught me).

One of my peculiar habits was (note that "was", coz I've got rid of this habit) to stretch legs and hands while sitting in class. And I used to eat a lot in class (coz I had a big appetite ……. now a days it has decreased a bit). A combination of this two took me in a bit of worried situation one day. It was the last period before lunch and as usual I was eating my daily quota (an apple) in the class (in those days I used to do this regularly). Sriparna ma'am (I'm not sure about her name ……………. I'm not very good in remembering names ……………. but let me tell you one thing, she was very cute :):):) ) was taking our statistics class. With a piece of apple in my hand I suddenly stretched my hands and she spotted the apple in my hand and asked me what it is. I hade to tell her ……………………. but surprisingly instead of punishing me for this she said "have u taken any solid food? You should not eat any fruit in empty stomach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"Many teachers caught me eating in the class. The list is quite big. Samik sir, Amit sir, Jotirmoy sir ………………………………Jotirmoy sir never charged me in the class though . Later when I asked him if he ever noticed me eating during his class and he said yes:O:O:O. Even we (Deepannita and me) managed treat from Amit sir (for the whole class). The occasion was his marriage. Now Jotirmoy is is in the pipeline for the same reason - treat and the occasion is also same (but with slight difference ………. in this case we want the treat in advance).

I guess I have another very bad reputation in friend circle. I started many rumors about personal relations. Take the case of Suto-Shaggy or Mashi-17. I was behind all these rumors. But none of those ended well. And neither did my love life. Guess I could not find the right person for myself to go forward. Love can be the best or worst thing that can happen to anybody. If best, a new horizon comes out. And if worst ………………… that's where the tough part comes, "politics" And the sad thing is that I have seen more politics than good in case of love and in some of my friends' case too. Politics is the ugliest, dirtiest and most valueless thing in life, but it can not be avoided at any cost. The sad thing is that in a very good group if the number of members becomes more than 2 politics starts. In some cases it may not be so prominent but it's always there. And in these 4 years I can surely say that I have learned a lot about love-politics. After hearing all this, one of my friend (not form my college) once said "alas you missed the most tricky thing in love ……………. i.e how to propose a girl" and he said two very interesting ways (what it is ……… is up to you guys to decide) of proposing a girl. He said either say "I wanna see you as my grandchildren's grandmother" (because according to him girls can not decline matters regarding children) or you say "I wanna f**k you" (because according to him proposing a girl in some cases are like bargaining while buying something form footpath-shops, and in such cases if u go for the extreme i.e f**k can maximum be brought down to love but not less than that ……………………… :O ). Frankly I never tried these ways (actually I did not have the chance to do so ……….: P).

But whatever may be have happened I would like to thank all my friends and enemies (I guess I don't have many though). These people really helped to grow up …………. to become a man from a school boy. And I think in this context my enemies and not so close people played grater role than my friends. Though this journey was not so sweet but was very interesting.