Taslima Nasrin returns to Calcutta.

Bangladesh-born writer Taslima Nasrin returned to Calcutta yesterday, after she was accorded a civic reception at Rabindra Sadan, sharing the dais with the West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari during a literary program against fundamentalism.

She'd left in 2007 during the tenure of the CPM-led Left Front government led by Buddhadeb Bhattacharya in Bengal after violent protests over her novel "Dwikhandito" led to a deterioration of the law and order situation in Calcutta. 

She is now a Swedish national.

Tailpiece.

It rained heavily in the whole of Kerala, today.

The FIFA shenanigans.

European nations to boycott FIFA competitions in protest

UEFA and its member nations have agreed to boycott FIFA events if the global body goes ahead with its privatisation plans. A look....

Infantino plan faces major backlash

FIFA President Gianni Infantino's plan to sell stakes in the WC to private equity investors was hit hard on Thursday by his former colleagues at UEFA, who agreed to boycott all the FIFA competitions in protest. "UEFA and its national associations will not participate in the FIFA competitions". The European body said after an online meeting of its 55 member nations.

Somethings are too important to sell

* Some things are simply too important to sell. "The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always           will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale".

* The meeting was called to counter Infantino's offer of $20M to each of FIFA's 211 members that has       to be accepted by mid-September.

05 Sep

Is when Women's U20 World Cup, the next FIFA event will begin.

The trawl ban to end tomorrow.

The 52-day annual trawl ban period is set to end tomorrow, with a feeling of hope and anxiety prevalent among the fisher folk, all across the state. For the 30,000 fishing crafts operated by traditional fishermen, the trawl ban period, that offers them a season of bountiful catch, has not been encouraging.

While a few motorised crafts got bounteous catch, most of them had to struggle to meet the operating costs. This uncertainty has spread anxiety among the 3,500-odd mechanised boat operators who fear they will have to undertake longer fishing trips this time.

Tailpiece.

Mini and Mithun are on their way to New Jersey. They should reach Ammu by tomorrow forenoon. 

A quiet Wednesday.

Got up at a half past 4, the chores, lit up the puja room lamp, opened up the house for the day and switched on the hymns on the home theatre.

The usual Wednesday aa'arathi of the house was carried out this morning.

Walked on the courtyard and recited my prayers. Bath followed by breakfast.

Spoke to Dr(Mrs ) RS Sodhi regarding Lekha's continuing fever and cough. According to her instructions, the following were done at the Rajah Hospital :-

            * cbc

            * crp and

            * chest x-ray PA view

Lunch.

Armed with the results, we'd visited the doctor at 2, got medicines. Review on Saturday.

A quiet evening. 

 

A thoroughly wet day!

Got up at a half past 4, went about my chores, opened up the house for the day, lit up the puja room lamp and switched on the hymns on the home theatre.

A thoroughly wet day; the maid was at work.

Ramesh, the gardener, had fetched up with his understudy to clean up the compound, clear the wet/dry waste bins and clean the kitchen washing outlet. He finished his work by a half past 12.

My first outing after I'd returned from the long break of the Reading Month Activities. To my bank to reset certain readings, etc.

Lunch followed by siesta.

Teatime.

The caretaker called up to say that the wild grass that had grown all along the skirt of the second tier of the compound have been cut and disposed.

Recited my prayers.

A quiet evening, watching television.

I'm good!

After a week's round of medicines, I'm fine with my cough having disappeared but Lekha's case hasn't been the same.

Offered 'bali tharpanam' for Ammachi on her 35th remembrance day as per the Malayalam calendar.

In the evening, therefore, we went across to Jimmy for the review and he has put her on another round of medicines for the next five days. Her cough continues to be stubborn! 

It was a rainy day today!

Getting better!

Slowly coming out of the grip of viral fever. There's a slight weakness but otherwise, am fighting fit. Lekha is also getting better.