Latest news with #Pintu
Time of India
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Paan seller turned author: Kolkata man who runs a paan shop, has authored over 200 short stories, a dozen books!
In Kolkata's bustling streets, Pintu Pohan, a paan stall owner, defied poverty and lack of formal education to pursue his passion for writing. Despite facing hardships like leaving school early, health issues, and financial strain, he authored over a dozen books and numerous short stories, published in esteemed Bengali magazines. Occasionally, extraordinary things happen in the most ordinary of places. Sometimes, a raging persistence, a dream nurtured over decades, and the goal to progress, influence the most inspiring journeys. It's easy to assume success comes with privilege, but there are many people who rewrite their futures from scratch, with nothing more than hardwork and a will to succeed. One such story comes from the streets of Kolkata, where a man behind a paan stall is doing something different, and far beyond what meets the eye. His journey reminds us that creativity doesn't require a perfect setting, just the right passion. A writer in a pan shop Pintu Pohan grew up in Madan Mohan Tala, near Behala Chowrasta, Kolkata, where poverty and hunger defined his early years. 'I would often sleep not knowing if I'd eat the next day,' he told The Telegraph India. Forced to leave school after Class 10, he worked various odd jobs, from factory helper to electrician, surviving while holding onto his passion for writing. In 1998, with just ₹1,500 in savings, Pintu set up a tiny paan stall. It was here, amid the smell of supari and the din of Kolkata traffic, that he began writing seriously. 'When you want to do something, you will do it anyway. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Itakhola: Comfortable Sofas at Affordable Prices (See Offers) Comfortable Sofa | Search Ads Learn More Undo by Taboola by Taboola It is difficult to sit here and write, amidst the bazaar and the busy road. But I have done it all from here,' he said. Over years of dedication, he authored more than a dozen books, along with over 200 short stories and poems, many of which found space in esteemed Bengali magazines like Desh, Anandamela, Sananda, Suktara, and Nabakallol. Despite being a published writer, the physical strain of long hours at the stall led to serious health issues, and sadly, he developed lumbar and cervical spondylitis. Doctors advised six months of rest, but he persisted. Between holding the shop open late and attending computer and language classes, Pintu continued writing and selling paan, driven by responsibility toward his wife and two to Better India, his first book, Parulmasir Chagalchana, was published in 2017. Even COVID-19 hardships couldn't dim his spirit; he persisted through financial strain, ensuring his children stayed in school. 'I am grateful to social media and journalists because of whom people now know my story,' he said, hoping to gain wider recognition for his literary work. Pintu Pohan Pintu's story shows that writing profoundly does not require fame, wealth, or a sleek desk, it requires heart, will, and daily dedication.
United News of India
31-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
TMC Leader Pintu Chakraborty hacked to death in Hooghly
Kolkata, July 31 (UNI) In a shocking and brazen attack, another Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, Pintu Chakraborty, alias Pintu, was brutally hacked to death by two unidentified assailants in a crowded market area in West Bengal's Hooghly district, police confirmed today. Chakraborty, a businessman and a member of the TMC-led Kanaipur Panchayat Committee in Konnagar, was attacked with sharp weapons on Tuesday (July 29) near an auto stand in the market after he closed his gas agency shop and was on his way to attend a party meeting, according to TMC sources. He was rushed to a nearby local hospital and later shifted to Kolkata's SSKM Hospital, where he succumbed to multiple grievous injuries. Konnagar is located approximately 23 kilometers north of Kolkata. With the latest killing of TMC Panchayat member, a total of six leaders from the ruling party were murdered at different parts of the state in this current month. The political killings happened in South 24 Parganas, Birbhum,Murshidabad and several other places. The string of killings comes amid rising political tension ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, expected in eight to nine months. Police have launched an investigation and said efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. UNI PC AAB
Miami Herald
21-07-2025
- Miami Herald
16 dead as aircraft crashes onto Bangladesh school grounds, official says
DHAKA, Bangladesh - At least 16 people were killed and many others were injured when a Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed onto the compound of a school in Dhaka on Monday, officials said. The Chinese-made F-7BGI aircraft crashed at the gate of the two-storey Milestone School and College in the north of the capital in the afternoon. At the time of the crash many children were present at the school, which teaches children from elementary to 12th grade. Sixteen people were killed in the crash, said Sayedur Rahman, an assistant to the head of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus. Rahman spoke to reporters at the Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka, where many of the injured were taken. He said more than 100 people were undergoing treatment at different hospitals. The government announced a day of national mourning on Tuesday to pay respect to those died, said Asif Nazrul, a senior member of Yunus' cabinet. Khaleda Khatun, an official on duty at the Fire Service and Civil Defence control room, said that nine fire engines had been working to extinguish the fire at the accident site. A witness named Pintu, who was at the scene to pick up his child from school, told reporters that he saw the aircraft descend rapidly before crashing with a loud bang. "Soon after the bang, I saw a fireball erupt. I could see nothing but the flames at that moment, and I ran for shelter," said Pintu to private broadcaster Jamuna TV. He later found his son unharmed at the school compound. The cause of the crash is not yet known. The government said it would launch an investigation. ----------- Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Family drama with slice of life enthralls theatre enthusiasts
Lucknow: The plight of an old man struggling with age related hardships was depicted in a play titled 'Sankraman', staged at Bhartendu Natya Academy on Thursday. Written and directed by Akshay Kumar Meshram, the play highlights generational differences and changing relationships within a family. The plot revolves around an old man and his son, Pintu. The old man constantly nags his son about damages and keeps yelling at him to bring labourers to repair them. His son is busy with his own work and, in return, shouts back at him. One day, the father decides to repair the water tank himself but slips and dies. After his death, the son gradually turns into a grumbling man like him and begins nagging his son, Bunty. Main characters were played by Arpit Kumar, Ashutosh Singh, Divyanshi Singh, Anchal Sachdeva, Rubal Jain, Ashpreet Kaur, Satyendra Maurya, Ankur Mishra, Satyam Sethi, Abhishek Kumar, Atul Kumar, Batoshi Yadav and Shardul Pathak.
NDTV
11-07-2025
- NDTV
Uncertain Future For Owners Of Dhaba Destroyed By Kanwariyas
Muzaffarnagar (UP): The aroma of spices and the cheerful clatter of plates, once the hallmark of the Baba Balak Nath Dhaba, have been replaced by the quiet despair of its owners, Sadhna and Dhiraj Panwar. Their small roadside eatery, popular among travellers near the Phaloda bypass under the Purkazi Police Station area here, now stands as a stark reminder of a brutal act of vandalism by a group of Kanwariyas, all over a few slices of onion in their food. On July 8, a group of Kanwariyas, pilgrims on their way to collect holy water, entered their dhaba. After consuming ten plates of food at Rs 150 each, the group allegedly found some onion slices in their meal, and unleashed a destructive rampage. Sadhna recounted the terrifying incident to PTI on Friday. "They didn't pay a single paisa. Instead, they vandalised our dhaba, causing damage of thousands of rupees ." The enraged Kanwariyas damaged furniture, destroyed the kitchen and even mangled the ceiling fans. Sadhna alleged that they even looted cash and stole beverages from the refrigerator. The financial blow has been immense for the couple, who were already grappling with financial difficulties before the incident. "Our customer count has dropped by 70 per cent," Sadhna noted. The violence has driven away their regular clientele, leaving the dhaba eerily empty. To make matters worse, all but one of their employees have left. Pintu, a staff member, bore the brunt of the Kanwariyas' fury when he tried to intervene and prevent the destruction. "He was brutally beaten and suffered a fracture in his leg," Sadhna said. Doctors have advised Pintu to take three months of rest, during which the Panwars are committed to caring for him despite their own struggles. The Panwars, who had poured their hopes and limited resources into their dhaba, are now facing a severe financial crisis as the very foundation of their livelihood has been shaken. As of now, the culprits responsible for the vandalism remain at large, but a senior police official assured that the matter is under investigation.
