You mustn’t think I’m not sorry the World Heritage Week, 2021 is over, because I am. The walks and events of DAG’s “The City as a Museum” were, for me, a never-before-had experience.
We sailed up and down the river Hooghly in a motor boat, with the full-moon shining bright and clear, and the light from the lamps, floating on the rippling waters, standing out from the dark with all the finesse of chiaroscuro. It was a sight to behold, even as we were being acquainted with the features of the different ghats.
A few days on, we crossed and re-crossed the river, ferrying betweeh “Peneti” and Konnagar. If the renovated “Nihar” on the Panihati side had its own draw, the property at Konnagar that once belonged to and was frequented by the Tagores, was an other-worldly experience, enlivened by the commentary by members of the DAG team.

But, what I found curious was the writing on a plaque below a bust in a corner of the alley leading to the Tagore House. In fact I was a bit flummoxed, for while the bust resembled Abanindranath Tagore, the tablet beneath read -

ABANINDRA NATH TAGORE
Father of the master artist

Now I, for one, have never seen any picture or statue of Aban Thakur's son and, though the bust appeared to be that of Aban Thakur, the writing sowed the seeds of doubt in my mind. Could there have been such a close similarity beteen Aban Thakur and his son, Alokendra Nath?

A few steps on, there was a board saying -

Heritage Prperty
Garden House belongs to the
Father of the Master Artist
Abanindranath Tagore
(known as Konnagar Bagan Bari)

So, it is just the syntax that is confusing. The bust is indeed that of the Master Artist, Abanindra Nath Tagore.

Hang on.
The evening ended with a delightful performance by Srikanta Acharya and hid troupe. Never before has any tour been, for me, so stimulating, so intoxicating. And, the hangover lingers.