& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Dhaka Day by Day

When You Leave Your Heari Behind with the Rickshaws

by Fayza Haq
Unassuming but not untmpr^sive by any means. Cartes Aranaga has been handling press affairs for the USIS for seven years.
Mr. Aranaga may not have seen the nooks and crannies of the Subcontinent but talking to him at the USIS cafe — amidst frequent calls from his friends who wanted tq have a last chat with him — I realised he had. a fairly comprehensive notion of IL
This quiet young man has certainly absorbed the essence of Bangladesh and India although he may not have been a compulsive traveller.
Tve been to Goa which is picturesque with Its churches and cathedrals, udiich appealed to my sensitivity and background as I'm a Roman Catholic myself. Here you' see the remnant of Christian heritage in India.' he said.
He has been to places' like Delhi and Agra like most people who have visited India. T liked Delhi because it is beautiful and modem In many ways. They have real five star service where yqu get everything that you want. The people who built the Taj Mahal have their de-scandents w-ho are still there to carry on the fine work." he added.
As for the Taj Mahal itself he said. "It is breathtaking. You've heard that this place is one of incredible beauty but the pictures don't do Justice to the reality of seeing. The structure of the white marble with the inlaid work shimmering in the heat is like a mirage."
Comparing the places of the north of India with the south he de-scrlbed Bonga tore as beauti Carlos Aranagar'Dhaka has a fill' with its picturesque hills. He went to Ma-'■■■aB and Mysare too but he found them quiet p >cea. He felt the areas tn the south were certainly more reserved than the milling and booming cities like Calcutta and Delhi.
Speaking of Dhaka and Calcutta Mr. Aranaga remarked. "It'S a different place tn each world. Here in Bangladesh you are never very far away from the rurJ lift Cukutta is such a humungous city. In frat metropolis you can drive for hours but yr* couldn’t leave the city. Here if I ton to the airport road, tn fifteen minutes seeing rise paddies, lakes and rivers".
Did he f*l stagnated after coming from Calcutta to Dhaka ? Ho. I felt refreshed." he replied with enthusiasm. "You do have the theatre and -’sitar' recitals. There is a definite cultural life ..Apart from the dance, drama, and other musical activities I've had the chance to meet a tot of writers, poets. Journalists and politicians. It has been a great pleasure to hove been here and I really regret having to leave. I wish I couM stay at feast another year." the
I etas personally’intrigued as to whyhe went about tn a bicycle except when he went tor offi dal work. 1 haven't owned a car in seven years," Mr. Aranaga replied with an infectious laugh. "It was a matter of practicality and not Just a healthy habit. While In India the traffic in Calcutta was so horrendous that 1 didn't want to have the responsibility of owning a car '
I was naturally keen on finding out his opinion of the thousands of rickshaws in the city, and the overloaded buses, as well as the trains with passengers sitting on the roof. He was not unnerved by them as he came to work. "When I go back to the US IT1 feel strange because there the streets aren't similarly full of people. I love crowds. The rickshaws provide Jobs and they are a cheap form of transport. As for the buses and trains 1 simply held my breath When I saw them. Obviously there is a crying dearth of buses and trains in Bangladesh", he commented.
Dwelling on the city of Dhaka, again, Mr. Aranaga said, "Dhaka has a wealth of culture and tradition. You've been through your independence trouble and that's In no way less than what they have achieved In West Bengal. The cultural affinity between West Bengal and Bangladesh has made It easy for me to be here."
The diplomat added. 'The food and the language is the same.*! specially loved the 'biryani'. 'tehari', 'niha-rf bakarkha-ni' and borha-ni'. The 'achats' and 'chut-nles' were delicious. You can love rich spicy food when you have ft tn moderation and not every day"
Did he have any embarrassing moment while in Dhaka? Mr. wealth of culture and tradition. Aranaga was annoyed about the time he was once misquoted. "That taught me a little about making unguarded statements." he commented, with a short laugh.
How is it that he is leaving his heart behind in an overcrowded Third World country when he is proceeding to Washington? He replied seriously. Tve met only a teeny tiny fraction of the millions of people who live in iiangladesh They’re people til always remember. I still hope they will stay a part of my life. Distance Is not an absolute factor In this day and age there are Jet planes. Again, one can always write a letter."
Mr. Aranaga. who has grown up In Baltimore as an Immigrant from Peru, with a physician for a father, is the eldest of a family of four children He hopes to be In time for the marriage of his slater in USA. when he leaves Dhaka shortly.
Has thia American of Peruvian descent who reads and writes Bangla thought of settling down permanently with someone despite all his travels? The lover of books and music had thia to soy. 1 might have and I'm not trying to be coy tn saying this "