Mexico uncovers her charms in the Calcutta Book Fair

New Delhi, Jan. 25. - Mexico and its culture are the main protagonists of the traditional Calcutta Book Fair opened today in this city in northeast India which has shifted a large delegation of artists and Mexican representatives.
"We expected a mystery, but we come to the best and have said that this fair will spend nearly two million people," summarized the publications director of the National Council for Culture and the Arts of Mexico (CONACULTA), Laura Emilia Pacheco , contacted by telephone Efe.
They have traveled to India writers, artists and elite chefs, in order to raise awareness for the first time the arts, literature and Mexican cuisine in this massive showcase Asia, which opens on Wednesday after the holiday tomorrow parentheses , Republic Day.
"We have built a pavilion spectacular, made of silk and perfectly round, designed by architect Bernardo Gómez-Pimienta. Circular because it refers to the sun, very important in our culture, "said Pacheco, who expected to house" about 500 visitors per minute. "
In order to secure a "bridge" with India, the Aztec nation, a special guest of the show-in which comes with the slogan "Mexico means culture" - in Calcutta has organized conferences with authors "first" as Jorge Volpi, Alberto Ruy Sanchez, Margo Glantz, David Toscana and Cristina Rivera.
"I have come to discuss the Mexican variety. In India there is a feeling that Latin literature is steeped in magical realism, and the truth is that it is not, "he told Efe Jorge Volpi, asked to deliver the keynote address.
"India and Mexico are two societies of ancient cultural tradition, cultural diversity, accelerated modernization and inequalities. This allows for reflection, "said the writer, who on Wednesday presented the English version of" It's not the earth. "
Throughout the fair, attendees can meet Mexican cuisine-from the hand of the chef Sylvia Kurczyn - watch movies or cheer dance group dances Mexcaltitan while strolling along a plastic installation work Betsabée Romero.
The delegation has brought 3,300 copies of books that provide exposure to deliver after the Indo-Hispanic Library of Calcutta, and placed screens that will project images of the Mexican culture and heritage, as the Day of the Dead.
This is the first time that Mexico is the focus of the Calcutta Book Fair, now devoted to other case to Hispanic countries such as Chile, Spain, Brazil and Cuba, and which this year will present, among others, 15 Latin American countries.
With his landing calcutí, Mexico also expected to return the legacy of writer and poet Octavio Paz, who spent several years as a diplomat in New Delhi and recorded his experiences in memorable works as "Hillside this" or "The Monkey Grammarian."
"We would like to resume this link was diluted," he acknowledged Pacheco, who mentioned the "purpose" to edit an anthology of Indian writers translated into Spanish for the Mexican public, in order to promote cultural exchanges.
Now in its thirty-fourth edition, the fair of Calcutta is one of the most important literary events of the Asian continent, and has every year with hundreds of posts in its nearly 60,000 square meters of space.
For Mexico, the Far trip to India marks the beginning of a year in the country, immersed in their celebration of 200 years of independence and the hundred since the Revolution, will be starring in various book fairs in the world.
According to Pacheco said, Mexican literature will also have a central role in the Salon du Livre in Quebec (Canada) in April, and later in two bookish events in the Dominican Republic and Miami (USA), the latter already in November.
As the fair itself, the large round pavilion architect Gómez-Pimienta has raised in Calcutta will bolt on 7 February, so the opportunity for calcutíes to follow the rhythms, learn the lyrics and try Mexican dishes.

Calcutta crazy with the arrival of Diego Armando Maradona

New Delhi, December 6, 2008. - Thousands of lanterns and candles gave this morning in the Indian city of Calcutta (east) to welcome the soccer star Diego Armando Maradona, who walked the streets of the city to more than 50,000 people in a carnival atmosphere.
The Argentine coach landed at 01.25 local time (19.55 GMT yesterday) International Airport Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Calcutta with his girlfriend Veronica, in a two-day trip.
"We have invited because he is a living legend of football. Comes to inaugurate a football school and a sports complex named after him, "he told Efe Samik Lahiri deputy, who has managed the trip.
More than 50,000 people-some of them volunteers, gathered at nightfall in the streets of the capital Bengali and many more followed the arrival of former footballer from home, which was broadcast live on local television channels.
Just landed, Maradona received a bouquet of flowers by the Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty, and climbed into a "minibus" special large windows so that football fans could have at least a glimpse of their idol.
In the audience were people wearing the sheepskin Argentina, while others carried posters and banners with welcoming phrases in English, Hindi, Bengali and Spanish.
The followers came to run alongside the bus "armed" with flags of India and Argentina, while there was a marked who dance to Latin music sound between shouts of " Diego Diego "dedicated to football legend.
Maradona plans to spend two days in the city to put the stone inaugural football academy, visit the center of the Missionaries of Charity and attend a charity dinner.
Touched by the emotion of grateful fans calcutí, Maradona reached up from his seat to greet the crowd, trying to get close to the star more than three decades after the visit of another great genius, Pele.
Indian media have surrendered already fallen to the "glamor Maradona" and have welcomed the arrival of the "prince of football", which has gathered in the streets for children, youth, amateur and even footballing clad housewives in their traditional saris.
Even without the splendor of old Calcutta remains the football capital of India, a country where cricket sports monopolizes the attention of the fans.
"I've been waiting over an hour. I am a big fan of Maradona, "he told IANS housewife Ratna Sen, who had traveled 25 km to witness the arrival of Maradona.
"Maradona is our god. So far, we had only heard of him. Only to see him in person and we are blessed, "he told the Indian agency PTI another fan, adapting the Argentine coach of the Indian tradition" darshan "(blessing for eye contact).
Several districts in the region, West Bengal, have organized short trips to Calcutta, along which balls to Argentinians, the colors of the Argentina, and ceramic figurines representing the player.
"Maradona is a phenomenon. This is a great occasion. It is the pure passion for soccer which has attracted many people to the road, "said former Indian footballer Prasun Banerjee, among the crowd.
More than 5,000 police, including Rapid Action Force and commands were deployed along the route of the convoy of Maradona, in anticipation of any unexpected incident.
To our knowledge, the only intervention took place near the airport, where security personnel had to act against two young men climbed up the lampposts to hang Argentine flags.

Football reigns in Calcutta bites of lobster and shad

New Delhi, February 26, 2007. - The city of Calcutta has one of the oldest rivalries in Asia and rough, pitting supporters of Mohun Bagan football club, known as "lobster", with East Bengal (" shad "), with a smaller budget but passion so intense as in Europe and Americ a.
While in India cricket is the most popular sport and hockey is considered the national sport, football holds his scepter in the coastal areas of Kerala and Goa (west) and the region of Bengal (East), whose capital, Calcutta, are remeasured morning the two clubs.
"Cricket is the sport in India. But football is enthusiastic young people, especially those from the lower classes, that after every match is thrown into the streets to celebrate the triumphs of his team, "said Efe Gayatri Bhattacharyya sociology professor at the University of Calcutta.
In New Delhi, the organization Youth Football Association of India (IYSA, acronym in English), carries out projects to promote the sport among the smallest of the nation's capital, with attention also to those with fewer resources, through a street league.
"In our Little League play some 550 children over a period of seven months. And among them, there are about 60 to those who provide transport and equipment. We play every Sunday, "he told Efe IYSA secretary, Arup Das.
However, there is a world between the laudable efforts of NGOs such as the IYSA to promote the sport and passion of football unleashes masses in Calcutta around rojigualda colors of East Bengal, and green and purple of Mohun Bagan, which will meet again on Tuesday.
With deep marks of British colonization, India Calcutta is the city that feels more football, and many still listed as a national landmark building Mohun Bagan's victory against Yorkshire Regiment, a 2-1 in 1911 that considered the end of the primacy of English in the country (football, that is).
In the city, the fervent supporters of Mohun, founded in 1889, is proud that in Bengal had a Football League before there Barcelona or Real Madrid, but have little to celebrate if we analyze the clashes with the opposing team, the East Bengal Club.
The latter squad, knowing that statistics are favorable, includes on its website a comparison with the victories and defeats in clashes with rivals Mohun Bagan, which obviously kept quiet about it.
However, the Mohun Bagan, considered the oldest club in Asia, it boasts a track record longer than the East Bengal and counting in its ranks with "Ronaldinho" Indian, Baichung Bhutia, who leads the classification of the scorers against the eternal rival.
Each time there is a derby as the morning, some 120,000 spectators crammed calcutí of Saltlake Stadium in hopes that his team scores more goals than the opponent, to fill after massive street celebrations and celebrate a great feast of fish and seafood at home.
"Both teams have their own idiosyncrasies and gastronomy. The Mohun Bagan is identified with the lobster, and East Bengal with hilsa shad, a tropical fish. When Mohun wins, the fans go to the fishmonger to buy lobster. And if you win East Bengal, shad runs, "says Bhattacharyyia.
In the city, the more cautious and have bought their ration days before the match, because in Calcutta everyone knows, when Mohun Bagan faces the East Bengal, fish prices rise.