টমটমপুর নামে কোনাে জায়গা কোথাও নেই। টমটমপুর নামে কোনাে জায়গা কোথাও ছিলাে না। আসলে অন্য একটা জায়গার কথা কিছুদিন হলাে বারবার লিখছি, এবার তাই নামটা একটু বদলিয়ে দিলাম। তবে এই নাম বদলের অন্য একটা কারণও আছে। যানবাহন বলতে নৌকো ছাড়া টমটম ঘােড়ার গাড়িই ছিলাে আমাদের অল্পবয়সের সেই শহরের একমাত্র সম্বল। হয়তাে কারাে মনে পড়তে পারে ডুলি বা পালকিও ছিলাে, কিন্তু তার ব্যবহার ছিলাে সীমিত, সংখ্যা ছিল নিতান্তই নগণ্য। অবশ্য যাতায়াত প্রধানত ছিলাে জলপথেই, স্থলপথ প্রায় ছিলাে না বললেই চলে। রেলগাড়ি আমরা ছােটবেলায় চোখেই দেখিনি।
Tarapada Ray (Bengali: তারাপদ রায়) was a Bengali writer of poems, short stories, and essays. He is especially known for his satirical sense of humor. He was born on November 17, 1936, in Tangail, now in Bangladesh. He lived in Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal until his death on August 25, 2007. He had his schooling in Bangladesh where he passed his matriculation from Bindubasini High English School. In 1951, he came to Calcutta to attend college. He studied Economics in Central Calcutta College (presently Maulana Azad College). For a time he taught in a school in Habra in North 24Parganas. Apart from numerous short stories and essays (mostly satirical), he wrote many poems as well. His first collection of poems, "Tomar Pratima" was published in 1960. He also wrote several short shorties commemorating his childhood days spent in East Bengal (Bangladesh). Among his most important works are a novel like Charabari Porabari and travelogue-like Neel Digante Tokhon Magic. He died on 25 August 2007. He was survived by a son and his wife. He was suffering from renal failure for the last few months. He was so enthusiastic about writing, that it was reported that he even wrote several pieces from his hospital. Tarapada had a close friendship with Hollywood actor Wallace Shawn and famous author Deborah Eisenberg.