Television
1986
To see Maradona we purchased for the first time a Konark black-n-white, large, television for our home. The first day the TV came, fifteen-to-twenty neighbours were invited, milk-payesh was served along with luchi—all huddling together in a semi circle goggled at ‘Pallikatha’*—they all got to know the Saswati-Chaitali duo; Pramanik auntie explained, “You know, they are two sisters”. For quite a long time, all in the neighborhood believed that duo to be two sisters.
1995
Papa and Mamma, and we two brothers were in Purulia. Every one of our friends had a colour TV. So for our home also was purchased a colour TV, though a portable one. Our home was filled up with colour. Our frequenting the cinema-halls lessened. And shortly the Saswati-Chaitali duo dropped off our memory and we grew familiar with Annu Kapoor and Renuka Shahane. The first time I saw Baywatch, my eyes were glazed blind. But I don’t remember the name of that TV company, since that set was sold in a short time.
1996
BPL. Large. Colour. When purchased for our home, for the first time I began thinking we’re also getting rich-men-like. Sourav’s century I saw, Anaida’s album, films on STAR-Movies. Mom became an addict, a movie-worm of various serials, but Dad only of cricket and old films on Zee-cinema—of sixties-seventies—the Hindi films with dishoom-dishoom.
2000
Dad passed away.
2003
Even today that self-same BPL set of 1996. Forty-nine channels. Brother says, “This model has gone out of fashion now. Do you know how many channels we’re deprived of seeing?” For the last seven days, brother, Tinni and Soma are away—only me, Mom and our maid Asha are at home. Returning home at midday I find—Mom is busy with her needlework but the TV is on. “When you are not watching it, can’t you switch it off?” “Actually, you know, in the empty house, none of you are at home—that is my sole friend—when it’s on, I feel someone’s near about, talking to me—at least I’m not alone”.
To see Maradona we purchased for the first time a Konark black-n-white, large, television for our home. The first day the TV came, fifteen-to-twenty neighbours were invited, milk-payesh was served along with luchi—all huddling together in a semi circle goggled at ‘Pallikatha’*—they all got to know the Saswati-Chaitali duo; Pramanik auntie explained, “You know, they are two sisters”. For quite a long time, all in the neighborhood believed that duo to be two sisters.
1995
Papa and Mamma, and we two brothers were in Purulia. Every one of our friends had a colour TV. So for our home also was purchased a colour TV, though a portable one. Our home was filled up with colour. Our frequenting the cinema-halls lessened. And shortly the Saswati-Chaitali duo dropped off our memory and we grew familiar with Annu Kapoor and Renuka Shahane. The first time I saw Baywatch, my eyes were glazed blind. But I don’t remember the name of that TV company, since that set was sold in a short time.
1996
BPL. Large. Colour. When purchased for our home, for the first time I began thinking we’re also getting rich-men-like. Sourav’s century I saw, Anaida’s album, films on STAR-Movies. Mom became an addict, a movie-worm of various serials, but Dad only of cricket and old films on Zee-cinema—of sixties-seventies—the Hindi films with dishoom-dishoom.
2000
Dad passed away.
2003
Even today that self-same BPL set of 1996. Forty-nine channels. Brother says, “This model has gone out of fashion now. Do you know how many channels we’re deprived of seeing?” For the last seven days, brother, Tinni and Soma are away—only me, Mom and our maid Asha are at home. Returning home at midday I find—Mom is busy with her needlework but the TV is on. “When you are not watching it, can’t you switch it off?” “Actually, you know, in the empty house, none of you are at home—that is my sole friend—when it’s on, I feel someone’s near about, talking to me—at least I’m not alone”.
Translator's Note: *Pallikatha: a rural TV programme by Bangla Dooradarshan (India’s public service broadcasting organisation).