World Humanitarian Day | 19 August

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. Continue reading World Humanitarian Day | 19 August

Indrajit RoyChoudhury19 Aug 202201 Jan 202314 Comments

Opinion

Coronavirus | New Blueprint for Bio-terrorism?

The conventional view of the COVID-19 outbreak is that it originated in Wuhan, China, near the most sophisticated Chinese bio-weapons lab and then proceeded into the world from there, leaving people to guess whether it originated in the lab and leaked, came from wild bats or snakes, or came from an exotic meat market. Regardless of the source of the coronavirus, it may now be … Continue reading Coronavirus | New Blueprint for Bio-terrorism?

Indrajit RoyChoudhury22 Apr 202026 Sep 20218 Comments

Travel

Encountered a Highway Dacoity in Jharkhand

It was in the month of January 2001. I was then posted at the bank’s zonal office in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand state. Occasionally, I had to visit various branches in the state of Jharkhand for official purposes. Many areas in Jharkhand were infested with Maoist rebels then. From the security point of view, we used to travel during the daytime and reach the … Continue reading Encountered a Highway Dacoity in Jharkhand

Indrajit RoyChoudhury05 Feb 202021 Jan 20239 Comments

Assortment

Visit to Chandigarh (1986)

While chatting with my classmate Aranjit a couple of days ago, Chandigarh came into our discussion. I recollected my first visit to the city and he suggested me to pen it down on my blog here. The time that I am referring to in this story is of May 1986. I was then undergoing training in the bank. There was a system of one year … Continue reading Visit to Chandigarh (1986)

Indrajit RoyChoudhury21 Sep 201918 Jan 20237 Comments

Food, Stories

Umm Ali | Dessert Born in Blood

Recently, I attended an Iftar party at a luxury hotel in Baghdad. After I finished the food, I found a nice, sweet dessert there, called Om Ali — a simple concoction: bread and pastry are combined with raisins, pistachios, coconut and almonds, then drenched in sweetened milk. It’s not the story of a royal chef preparing an innovative dish at the behest of a discerning king, but of a murder and a rather cruel one! Continue reading Umm Ali | Dessert Born in Blood

Indrajit RoyChoudhury20 May 201926 Sep 202112 Comments

History, Travel

Bullet Marks at Jallianwala Bagh (Amritsar)

Ninety-eight years ago, one of the bloodiest actions of British rule was the calculated massacre of close to 2,000 innocent Indians at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar (Punjab). The firing was ordered by an officer of the British colonial power, General Dyer. While the official figure for lives lost was 1,526 the actual figure was reportedly much higher. Continue reading Bullet Marks at Jallianwala Bagh (Amritsar)

Judhajit Roychoudhury08 Apr 201718 Jan 202319 Comments

Assortment

Explosions at Our Head Office in Baghdad

One month ago, we encountered twin-car bomb attack on our office building. The Incident is still fresh in my mind and I feel sad for those poor families, who lost their near and dear ones. I fail to understand the purpose, the logic of terrorists, who kill innocent people in the name of their faith. They’re cowards. Do they think that they will reach the Heaven? NEVER! They will never find peace. Continue reading Explosions at Our Head Office in Baghdad

Indrajit RoyChoudhury22 Jul 201018 Jan 20233 Comments