09 Aug 2004
I am a studeent and an amateur writer. I would like to know what kind of writing do you prefer, and is there a
preferred language? By the way, I am a Bengali staying at hyderabad, india.
somdatta bhattacharya.


15 Aug 2004
I have some points to clarify:
1. Do I send typed out or written submissions?
2. What about the deadline? I mean, for each month is there a deadline?
3. Can I get a copy of the magazine if I send you the address?
4. Is there an online version, or is it purely the printed one?
With best wishes for the magazine and for you... somdatta.


31 Aug 2004
I am so sorry, I am so late in mailing you. and specially when you have been so kind to me in informing me of all my queries. Can you write to me, the address of your magazine? Then I can send an entry immediately. Okay? Once again, I am so sorry. Love and best wishes... somdatta bhattacharya.


01 Sep 2004
Thanks for the address. I will try mailng you by next week or so. As for the calling up, it wasn't me. If I do have queries, however, I will sms you. I did not know your number till now. Thanks and best wishes...somdatta.

ps: Why don't we get to know each other a little more? I generally have good terms with my editors, and though you have not published anything of mine, at least we have mailed each other some 2 or 3 times. Tell me about yourself, if you do not find that problematic. love... somdatta.

03 Sep 2004
It might come as a little bit of a surprise, that I am not a guy, I am a girl. 100%. Well my name does not give away much, as it could easily have been a guy's name. I do not blame you. Nice to know you. You seem dedicated, and believe me you are one of the handfuls. I am not a Bangladeshi by nationality, I am all Indian. But my roots lie in Bangladesh. I am what they call in West Bengal...Bangal. My dad comes from Sylhet, and mom comes from Moimonsingha (spelling thik achhe?)
I studied in Presidency College, Kolkata, and there caught the virus of poetry writing. I published some in the college magazine, a wall magazine, and some in a little mag. I have a few publications to my credit in some netzines. And now if you allow me to, I can get international (by getting published in Bangladesh). Stay well. Keep mailing. Love...somdatta.


26 Sep 2004
Dear Bhaia,
Of course ami kobita pathabo. Goddo o pathate pari ki? Lekhar ki kono word limit achhe? Janan kober modhye pathate hobe. Aapnar kotha shune boro bhalo laglo. Kauke encourage korle, shei encouragement er appreciation pele bhalo lage. Magazine tai peyechhi, kobi porichiti ki alada kore chhilo? Tahole kintu pai ni. Apnar next mail pelei ami apnake kobita gulo pathiye debo. Bhalo thakben, kajer chaap-e bhenge porben na. Onekei apnar saathe achhe, pashe ache. Kamona kori apni egiye jaan. Love...somdatta.


02 Oct 2004
Bhaia,
Onek din amader campus er shob computers kharap thakar jonne mail korte pari ni. Kintu aajke computer thik peyei mail korchhi. Can I send the poem entries sometime later next week? Dhorun can I send it on Friday or Saturday next week or early the following week? Will it be too late? You can send me the books you want to. Reading is a thing I do even if I die. Ar matribhasha ke hela kore kaar saddhho? ha ha. Jai hok, Mail koro, bhalo theko, take care of your mental and physical health. Love...somdatta.


06 Oct 2004
Bhaia,
Tension neben na. Ami ki book post e pathabo, na emni mail e? Kindly janan. What are the expenses like in each case. Mail korte thakben . Bhalobasa saha...somdatta.


11 Oct 2004
Bhaia,
Amake ar hduto din samay din. Amader ekhankar internet speed bhishon slow hoye jaoai, ami mail kore uthte pari ni, tobe kaal kei jabo scan korte. Kichhu na hole, ami apnake English scriptei pathabo. Ektu patience rakhun. Ami jani apnar oshubidha korchhi. Kintu chhoto bon bhebe khoma kore din. Asha kori kobita pochhondo hobe. Bhalo thakben. Love...somdatta.


18 Oct 2004
Dear bhaia,
Ar ekta din opekkhha korun. Amar shorir bhalo nei. Khub koshte class korchhi. Kaal asha korchi scan kore uthte parbo. Somdatta.


20 Oct 2004
Dear bhaia,
Ekhon duto kobita pathachi. Bhalo lagle bolo, aro pathabo. Asha kori bhalo achho. ‘Amar kintu onek kichhu lekhar nei’ kobita-tar title ‘Shada pata.’ Thik achhe? Khobor janio. Deri korar jonne khomaprarthi. Bhalo theko. Bhalobasante...chhoto bon.


20 Oct 2004
Etai holo ‘Sshada pata’.


23 Oct 2004
Bhaia,
I will send the poems after 4th of November. Till then I have exams. Is it ok? SOMDATTA


30 Oct 2004
Dontyo sh okar maw daw toy toy akar, bhaw toy toy akar chaw akar antyostho jao ref. bujhte parle? scan korar samay ekhon nei. na bujhte parle janio, ami 6th e scan kore pathiye debo with the poems. bhalo kotha, can u send me the format as a mail, and not as an attachment, khulchhe na. ok? bhalo theko. little sis.


04 Nov 2004
Dear bhaia,
I will send today (i hope so) some of the poems, that will lessen my burden a bit, here getting the scanning machine for urself is one pain. honestly ami tomar pathano biography sample ta dekhte pelam na, karon ota computer dekhachhilo na kono reason er jonne. jai hok, ami ekhane amar ekta motamuti jibonkotha likhe pathachhi. dekho jodi thik hoi.


04 Nov 2004
Exam was fine. i am sending all the poems tonight only. i will send the photo 2mrw. what about the biography? what else do i need to include? reply.


05 Nov 2004
Hello bhaia,
Now why did you not send me a mail? Did you get the poems? How did you like them or hate them for that matter? I would want to know. Pls send a reply as soon as possible. This mail has an enclosed photograph of mine. See if it's okay. and what do i write in the biography? Pls mail me as soon as you can.

Naam: somdatta bhattacharya
baba: k.b.bhattacharya
maa: amita bhattacharya
bari: kolkata
school: st xavier's
college: presidency
university: university of hyderabad
subject: english literature, post graduation korchhi
born: 20.07.82

r ki ki janate hobe, janio. i mean the best thing wud b tumi ekta mail koro, likhe je ki ki tumi ekta ideal biography te jante chaao. thik achhe? bikele abar net e ashbo, scan korte. takhan jabab pele bhalo hoi. Bye. somdatta.


07 Nov 2004
Dear bhaia,
I was first published in the Presideny College (kolkata) magazine, a poem named ‘Parting’, then I went on to publish my own magazine called ‘Seasons in the Sun’, there I published an article on Satyajit Ray's films: ‘Portrayal of Women in Ray's films, with special reference to 'Charulata' ('The Lonely Wife')’. I had published some poems in it too, like ‘Waves’ and others. Then I got published in a magazine (Bengali) called ‘Lataai’ (as in ghurir lataai), a poem called ‘tumi ki nei’. Then I got published in a wall magazine called ‘graphiti’, an article named ‘College days’, and some poems again, in English. Finally I got published in the netzine named ‘Celebration’ in which I have published an article called ‘Life’ which was later taken off, and then some poems, you can see them in the site archive.
I was born in Kolkata, and later moved to Bardhaman, where my dad teaches in the university (economics) and mom practises law, both of whom are avid readers. I did my schooling there, in St Xavier's school, and for my degree moved to Kolkata again in 2000, where I studied in Presidency College. I was an active part of the college debate club, and also the film society. Then I moved to the university of Hyderabad, in 2003. I am pursuing my Masters Degree in English literature here, and I intend to continue in the academic field, though I have this secret ambition to be a creative writer someday, and earn my living out of it. I have always written in both English and Bangla, but more in English.
I am an avid reader, and my favourite writers in Bengali are Rabindranath Tagore, Jibonananada Das, Joy Goswami, Sanjeev Chatterjee, Nabaneeta Deb Sen, Bani Basu, and Suchitra Bhattacharya. I have always idolised these figures for different reasons: Tagore for clarity and reason, Das for idealistic reasons, Nabaneeta for humour, Joy Goswami for the sheer lyrical quality, Sanjeev Chatterjee for his philosophy, and the other two for the boldness of approaching a subject.
Poetry is closer to my heart, though I try my hands at articles, I have only twice tried short stories, and never have tried novels, which is too much for a person of so little patience. Let me know if you want any more info. Okay? Love, Somdatta, and by the way I rarely forget people, I like.


07 Nov 2004
The letter has not yet arrived, but I will keep checking. When will the book be released, any tentative date? Is it for the next year Boimela? And did you get my photograph? Somdatta.


14 Nov 2004

Dear bhaia
I would like to dedicate my poems to my parents
Maa o Bapi-ke
Sorry for the late reply, my exams are on and I could not check my mails. Eid mubarok -Somdatta


01 Dec 2004
Sorry Bhaia,
Onek din dhore ekhane server down thakai, mail korte pari ni. Amar postal address holo:

Somdatta Bhattacharya
C/O Dr Kalyan Brata Bhattacharya
Bhangakuthi, G.T. Road
Burdwan-713104
West Bengal
India.

Ami ajke bari jachhi. Okhane giye ami tomake ekta lekha pathabo, for the magazine. Scan kore noy, emni, English script e, ami jani tumi porte parbe. Jai hok, aaj shesh korchhi. Room e giye pack korte hobe. Bhalo theko. ami bhaloi achhi. Bhalobasa saha... Somdatta.


13 Dec 2004
Bhaia
I am at home and I am not well. I have pox. I cant get out of my house and net connection at home is not working. I have not been able to check my mails for quite a while. I will get in touch with you the moment I get well. I am sending this message with the help of a friend. -sister


07 Jan 2005
Bhaia,
Ami ekhon onekta better. Kintu puopuri shustho noi. Aaj prothom mail chek korlam onek din por. abar kobe korbo ekhon janina. boi tar ki holo? It did not reach my home address. Jai hok, tumi nishchoy thik somoy pathiye debe, ki holo? eto bicholito keno? ke nisthur? ami? ami to ashushtho. ki kori bolo? jai hok, ekhon theke mail korar chesta korbo. lekhao pathabo. tumi boi ta kobe despatch korle janio. bhalo theko. little sister.


12 Jan 2005
Hi Bhaia,
Ami ekhon onek better. boigulo barite pochhe gechhe, thanks. They will reach me in a few days. Jai hok, tumi kemon achho bolo. kajer chaap ki khub beshi? When can I send you some more of my works. Would you like some prose, and critical essays? janio. bhalo theko. ami o bhalo thakar chesta kore cholechhi. ei to jibon. ha ha. bhalobasante. little sister.


20 Jan 2005
Bhaia,
First of all the good news, I got the books you sent. My parents sent it to me and it reached me two days ago. Thank you very much. It’s beautiful. I have not been able to mail you regularly because our university is having major problems with its internet service. Things are improving and I will keep in touch. Congratulations to your cricket team and the whole of Bangladesh who stood by them. But I anticipated this win. With love, Somdatta


29 Jan 2005
Hi Bhaia,
Well, what does that post mean? I mean what is it that I have to do? If you think I am upto it, then go ahead and appoint me. Sorry for mailing you so late, work pressure, as usual. Bye. Mail you later. Bhalo theko. Sis.