With the beautiful Atika Gupta who works with the Oxford University Press, at the Apeejay Kolkata Lit Fest, which I greatly enjoyed.Didi wants to transform Kolkata into London! Well, she succeeded with the weather. It was freezing1 The coldest winter in Kolkata in 40 years! The dahlias were in full bloom but I failed to buy some from New Market as the florists there didn't stock any! Why????
 I saw the most gorgeous variety blooming happily on the magnificent lawns of Shirin and Priti Paul's stunning mansion at Alipore. Also in Rakhi and Aveek Sarkar's garden in Ballygunj.Blessed are the cities that enjoy seasons! All this in retrospect. When I was shivering inside the incredible Victoria's Memorial, where the inaugural function was held ( under Warren Hasting's statue), all I could think of was a hot bath in a warm room! Terrible! Especially since the keynote address was being delivered by Shyam Benegal and it covered 100 years of cinema!