CREATIVE ARTS: Baisakhi Ghosh
Her Story: Baisakhi Ghosh started her career with theatre, dance and drama, and was associated with renowned theatre groups like Rangakarmee and Ensemble. This was followed by a very long stint in Montessori teaching. But it was her inherent creative streak that led her to discover her interest in floral art and design. She quit her job, pursued her passion seriously and soon, armed with a degree in floral design from Bangkok, embarked on her journey to make social events beautiful by ‘saying it with flowers’. Today she is a successful entrepreneur, with a long and loyal list of clients, adorning different social events hosted by them, as well as bedecking corporate functions with her inimitable designs. Her passion to create different and unique styles of floral art ensured that she did not stop learning. She has taken formal training in engineering and architecture to be able to design innovative floral installations that have become the hallmark of her creations today.
She Said: I am grateful to The Telegraph for acknowledging our industry, which is mostly unorganised. Entering this profession after many years in theatre, dance and Montessori teaching was a totally different learning experience for me. To me, flowers reflect the rhythm of the cosmos. Once I select the flowers and arrange them in a particular situation, they emote by themselves and generate their own rhythm.
LITERATURE: Mandakranta Sen
Mandakranta Sen receives her award from Maj.Gen. V. N. Chaturvedi (retd), Deepali Singhee and Lovey
Her Story: In 1999, Hriday Abadhya Meye, her first book of poems, won her the Ananda Puraskar, an annual award for writers in Bengali literature, making her one of its youngest recipients. In 2004, Mandakranta Sen was honoured by the Sahitya Akademi with its golden jubilee young writers’ award. Her predilection and talent for poetry was evident from a very young age. Today she is a prominent voice in contemporary Bengali poetry, with her literary corpus spread over several genres. She has written 28 collections of poems, 11 novels, three volumes of short fiction and much more. Her distinctive style of frank, outspoken yet lyrical verse has established a yardstick for modern Bengali poetry. At present, she is a translator, playwright, lyricist, music composer, cover designer and the editor of a little magazine. Her work has been widely appreciated all over the world and translated in several Indian and foreign languages.
She Said: I quit studying medicine to become a writer because I knew that was what I was meant to be. I write about my experiences and perceptions and I relate to them. Like the paintings of painter Frida Kahlo. My characters are me and I am them. All my protagonists are reflections of my own personality.
LIFESTYLE ENTREPRENEUR: June Tomkyns
June Tomkyns receives her award from Vanita Bajoria, Shaheb Bhattacherjee and Rukmini Maitra
Her Story: She set up her beauty business in 1977, from just one room in south Kolkata. Her impressive list of clients included Bengali screen legend Suchitra Sen. In the 1980s, she introduced the square layer hairstyle to a whole generation of youngsters, along with fringes and the Halle Berry pixie. In her early years it was she who helped her clients to be aware of trends. Her personalised effort, hours of hard work and emphasis on quality made her gain an enviable reputation and ensured that the elite of the city became her steady clients. After four successful decades in the profession, she continues to be enthusiastically involved in every business decision, which includes running her salons with the help of her children and grandchildren.
She Said: My definition of beauty lies in being true to oneself and I think that is all that matters. I thank the members of the jury for selecting me and honouring me with the award. I thank the ladies of Kolkata who have supported me all these years, my family for always being there for me and my loyal staff, some of whom have been with me for 35 years.