Named after a steely lady who stood by her husband, supported him and saw to his every need from the very first day of their marriage when he was banished from home because he'd wedded the girl of ...

Named after a steely lady who stood by her husband, supported him and saw to his every need from the very first day of their marriage when he was banished from home because he'd wedded the girl of his choice, the Gargi is not just any bangle but a repository of the spirit of this brave woman who, despite being a famous filmstar's little sister, never sought help from her own family nor compromised on the resolve of her husband to strike it on his own when his parents turned their backs on them. She brought up their two children single-handedly while he plunged into a profession that raised eyebrows as it had no assured earning, foregoing a cushy job with a prestigious music recording company where, as a young MBA in the mid '70s, he was already an assistant manager.

Starting out from a spartan 300 sq ft room --- a place adjacent to their living quarters --- with insignificant equipment, he has gone on to become a living legend and perhaps one of Calcutta's most famous names in the field of creative arts, plying his calling for some time now in a formal space that still holds the record as the largest of its kind in Asia. Gargi, a devoted mother and wife, and a brilliant cook, would often be seen attending to the business guests with tea and tidbits. Limited as that role may have seemed then, each one of those visitors knew the unflagging strength and resilience she brought to this life of struggle of a family that yet found its happiness and contentment within the circumstances because she was there to alleviate the pain contingent to the pursuit of dreams. Close friends noticed more. How she eschewed jewellery and fancy clothes ; her silent resolve in the face of social opprobrium, especially from those she wanted to care about but who judged her without even knowing her, with not a harsh word spoken against anybody ; splendid as a mother committed to the wellness and well-being of her babies who she urged to heed lessons from their father in shaping their own future ; successful in her single-minded effort to establish her spouse by not just believing in his talents and trusting his decisions but also dedicating herself to his cause with such devotion as to invoke the deities to change the course of destiny. And so she did, with all the power of her glorious spirit.

These guinea-gold chooris, chosen by her, are just a reflection of who she is and will remain forever ----- the immortal Mother and Wonder Woman, combined. Assuredly austere, the narrow flat engine-turned surface has deep notches along its length and also at the sides where they become shorter, more rectangular strokes. These could well signify the hardships faced and overcome over three decades of family life, or they might be a mere ticking off of all the goals she'd set herself to achieve and has. Either way, the design is significant in its humility and noble reserve and can mean different things to different people based on how they calibrate and measure the success of their own lives and that of their loved ones. It's a jubilant ornament, a home for the radiant spirit of a lady who epitomises the innate strength of women and the power of their presence that makes beautiful this troubled world of ours, and a celebration of success defined by the skill, fortitude, forbearance, ingenuity and selflessness of a matriarch that steers a family through every situation to enduring happiness and peace and contentment.

The entrepreneurship, the greatest and most difficult of all, required to build a family, hold it together, and keep it happy and healthy in body and spirit --- always, must be acknowledged. Gargi (Gargi-Boudi to us right from the start of her relationship with A.Sirkar) is how.