CROSSROAD
The Disappearance
When we talk about guerilla soldiers, we are often at a loss to put a face to their names. The Liberation War of Bangladesh was the combined effort of guerrilla warriors and organised military forces.
CROSSROAD / Behind the scene and towards a poor theatre
Behind the scene, in stage terms, is all that goes on behind what you see on stage as the audience. What you see on stage is more like the tip of the iceberg. You see only one-eighth of what it is. The rest of the seven parts of the iceberg remains unseen.
CROSSROAD / From “lau diye moong daal” to online catering
When it comes to cooking, I am reminded of the early days of trying my hand at the stove. The earliest was probably when we were in our single digits and would have bon-bhojon, i.e. cooking in the front yard or backyard with a bit of help from the cook or an adult.
CROSSROAD / A small car with a big idea
When the Volkswagen Beetle started plying through the streets of Dhaka in the late '60s, I had little notion of the “big idea” behind the “small” car, whose famous ad proudly stated: “Think small.”
CROSSROAD / School in the years gone by
Mrs Rumbold was our class teacher in class five. She was heavy-set, probably in her mid-50s or mid-40s. In the eyes of a 12-year-old, everyone after 20 seems the same age. She had a really white handkerchief which hung smartly from her brown belt.
CROSSROAD / Sorry, a gentle soul
All we did was give him a shelter. But what Sorry probably valued most was the love he got from so many in the Asiatic family and from Joynal, his caretaker.
CROSSROAD / Take a bow, break a leg, and stop the show
Different plays have different curtain calls. One thing is common though—we invariably take the bow in an expression of our humility.
CROSSROAD / Eid of my childhood
Eid-ul-Fitr used to rate the highest as festival of the year in our childhood, followed closely by Eid-ul-Azha and Shab-e-Barat.
The Queen and I
I have admired Meryl Streep all my life. It is not often that I find myself in the role of a fan or an avid admirer. I can neither swoon over a celebrity, nor fall at their feet.
Comedy of Errors
Many a comedy is played out “on stage” and “off stage.” The longer the number of years one has been with the medium, the greater the number of errors and louder the laughs.
