Category: Potpourri

“Potpourri is the literary equivalent of canapés, tapas and mezze in the world of gastronomy: Delightful assortments of tasty morsels to whet the reader’s appetite.”

Nurses are the blessings of God

On By Judhajit RoychoudhuryIn Event & Festival5 Comments

Today is International Nurse Day. It is observed around the world to honour the contribution of nurses to society and acknowledge the role they play in the overall healthcare system. Nurses play a crucial role in providing medical care and their role during COVID-19 has inspired humankind. Nurses have a long and rich history of serving humanity with compassion and professionalism. Nurse Day is also an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges and issues that nurses face in their work. Let us recognize that nurses are not only caregivers, but also leaders, innovators, and advocates for health and human rights.

My First Wedding Anniversary

On By Judhajit RoychoudhuryIn Event & Festival14 Comments

Earlier this month, on the 3rd of May, I celebrated my very first wedding anniversary! It’s been an incredible journey so far, with much to be thankful for and much more to look forward to. I feel like it was a month or two ago that we went down to Dumka (Jharkhand), but then again when I look back on everything that has happened this year it feels like we have been married forever.

Akitu Festival: A Celebration of New Beginnings in Ancient Mesopotamia

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn Culture, Event & Festival, Iraq, Prehistory & Ancient History12 Comments

The Akitu feast was one of the most important religious festivals in ancient Mesopotamia. It marked the beginning of the new year and the renewal of life in spring. It was also a time to honor the supreme god Marduk and his son Nabu, who were believed to have created and ordered the universe out of chaos. It reaffirmed Marduk's role as the supreme god and creator of all things. It also reaffirmed the king's role as Marduk's representative on earth and his legitimacy as ruler of Babylon. It also reaffirmed the bond between the king, the gods, and the people, who shared a common destiny and fate.

Somen Debnath: Cycling around the world for AIDS awareness

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn Iraq, Potpourri16 Comments

Somen Debnath has been travelling across the world on a bicycle to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS. Starting from his home at Basanti Village in South 24 Paragana district of West Bengal at the age of 21 on 27 May 2004, Debnath has been on the road and travelled over 185,400 km and visited 170 countries. During his journey, he was in Baghdad, Iraq for a few days in 2013. I then met him and interacted with him during his stay in Baghdad.

Epic Moment: Successful Change Management

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn Potpourri16 Comments

When something is memorable, it means that it is easily remembered, particularly if it is something special or out of the ordinary. These are experiences which involve anticipation, emotional involvement, and altered perceptions of time – think about how “time flies when you’re having fun,” and they involve a process of doing and undergoing. I recollected one such memorable experience, which I still remember.

90 Days by Anirudhya Mitra: Story of the Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi’s Assassins

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn Iraq, Potpourri13 Comments

After 30 years, Anirudhya Mitra narrates his experiences as a journalist in India Today covering the drama of the hunt for Rajiv Gandhi's assassins. The excruciating attention to detail and research are commendable even as the author struggles to condense such thrilling stuff into a cogent and accessible narrative. I appreciate Anirudhya Mitra for writing the book, albeit a bit late, and for providing a deeper understanding of the circumstances, possibilities, and cover-ups.

World Humanitarian Day (19 August)

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn Event & Festival, Iraq14 Comments

Each year, World Humanitarian Day (August 19) focuses on a theme, bringing together partners from across the humanitarian system to advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers. This year, the highlight is on the immediate human cost of the climate crisis by pressuring world leaders to take meaningful climate action for the world’s most vulnerable people.

Guru Purnima (2022): Biggest Supermoon of the Year

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn Potpourri6 Comments

July’s full Moon orbits closer to Earth than any other full Moon this year, making it the biggest and brightest supermoon of 2022. During the 13 July supermoon, the Moon appeared as much as 14 per cent brighter and 30 per cent brighter. For Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains, this is Guru Purnima (Guru Full Moon), celebrated as a time for clearing the mind and honouring the guru or spiritual master. The Europeans called this the Hay Moon for the haymaking in June and July. The Algonquin tribes of northeastern United States called this the Buck Moon. This full Moon has many other names.

World Hypertension Day (17 May)

On By Judhajit RoychoudhuryIn Event & Festival5 Comments

On 17 May, we celebrate World Hypertension Day (WHD), a day dedicated to highlighting the importance of monitoring blood pressure and bringing global awareness to over 1 billion people living with high blood pressure worldwide. The theme of WHD for 2022 is “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer.” It focuses on combating low awareness rates worldwide, especially in low to middle-income areas, and accurate blood pressure measurement methods. The day focuses on creating effective communication about the importance of raising awareness on the early diagnosis of high blood pressure and avoiding complications of advanced stage complications.

Trip Down the Memory Lane: Judhajit & Tania

On By Indrajit Roy ChoudhuryIn Potpourri61 Comments

Turning a boy into a man is one of the hardest things a parent can do. As I look back across the years, so many pictures flash on the memory screen that just as I begin to see one clearly, another slides in, blotting out the first, itself to be pushed aside by the next and the next and the next. Sometimes, I wish I could just rewind back to the old days and press pause… just for a little while. Congratulations on your wedding, dear son! It is not an easy road, but with each other, marriage will be the best thing you’ve ever done.