Divya Pathak - Articles

Woman Trafficking on Rise in West Bengal

According to the data published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), New Delhi, West Bengal stands very high in the list of states when it comes to trafficking in women. The 2005 statistics provided by the NCRB reveal that in 2005, West Bengal ranked second, coming after Bihar, in importation of girls. West Bengal registered 61 cases, and accounted for 40.9 per cent of the total number of such cases at the national level. Read

By: Divya Pathak | 22/02/2008 | Women's Issues

Mother is Still Here: Sister Nirmala

It has been a decade since Kolkata's “Saint of Gutters”, Mother Teresa went home to God. But Missionaries of Charity, the order established by Mother in 1950, still continues to feel her divine presence around. The moment one enters the premises of Mother's House on AJC Bose Road in central Kolkata, one is overwhelmed by a feeling of warmth, peace and serenity like one has never experienced before. Read

By: Divya Pathak | 22/02/2008 | Culture

Maiden From 'chakdah' Who Bowled the World Over

Jhulan Goswami, ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year 2006-2007, is a small town girl, who has proved that if one has the desire and the perseverance, no force in the world can ever stop anyone from achieving what one dreams of. Though this humble girl realises that the award has made her a celebrity overnight, she is determined not to let success get on to her head. Read

By: Divya Pathak | 22/02/2008 | Sports & Fitness

Bird Flu: the Lethal Menace

This disease which has taken a major part of India in its grip, has not only severly affected the poultry industry of the nation but also it has sent panic bells ringing across the states – from Delhi in the North to Tamil Nadu in the South, to West Bengal in the East, the latter being worst affected. Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the current outbreak of Bird Flu in India as the worst case reported till date. Read

By: Divya Pathak | 22/02/2008 | Health

One Month Hence Nandaram Rises From Ashes: the Burrabazar Massacre

It has been a month since the worst fire in living memory gutted the Burrabazar trade hub in Kolkata. But the signs of devastation are still manifested at every step. The charred remains of the Nandaram complex in the area bear a testimony to the universal fact that nothing in this world is permanent. Still, like the Phoenix, Nandaram complex has risen from its ashes, and is trudging towards starting a fresh episode of business and livelihood... Read

By: Divya Pathak | 22/02/2008 | News & Society

The Rizwanur Rahman Story: Till Death Do Us Part

We all have grown up hearing phrases like "Love is Blind", "Love knows no boundaries, no distance, no fear", "All is fair in love and war", "True love never dies" and the like. Moreover, fed on tales of lovers like Romeo-Juliet, Laila-Majnu, Heer-Ranjha, and Shireen-Farhad, we had started believing that love is the panacea for all humanly woes. Love had seemed to be all about Utopian existence, till reality dawned upon us. The punishment that Rizwanur Rahman... Read

By: Divya Pathak | 22/02/2008 | Culture

20 Minutes to Hell and Back

Swallowing a lump in my throat, we moved up to the tenth floor of Nandaram Building. A cloud of thick smoke welcomed me. The heat was unbearable by this time, and we were bathed in sweat. Covering our face with handkerchief, we started surveying the floor. Sunlight was shining through an opening in the wall, but we still found it difficult to move in the darkness. We could see embers at short distances, amidst piles of textile and plastic. The walls of the shops... Read

By: Divya Pathak | 21/02/2008 | News & Society