This is a laid back city with too much ego-A typical fiefdom of the communist era which still does not let go.
A city that dreams with Mamta Bannerjee but don’t know that its their pockets that are emptied for her aspirations.
A city that was proud of Lenin, Robindranath Tagore and its world’s largest Banyan Tree and the Eden Gardens and its Howrah Bridge..(this one still evokes romantic memories) now prides itself on the METRO the spanking new Underground railway that is now their biggest attraction after the Howrah Bridge and Victoria Memorial.
The psyche of the ’bhadralok’ goes deeper and reams have been written and will be written and read on this but I daresay that increase the price of its trams-and the crowds go berserk and burn down the city.
Talk red and the communists bleed the city red.
Talk Unions and my rights - but don’t mention my duties or responsibilities.
Talk Amartya Sen, Sushmita Sen, Saurav Ganguly and Rani Mukherjee and the city glows and basks under their sheen.
But talk Hooghly river-and its gone to the dogs..Bek Bagan or Beg Bagan ?
Dalhousie or Esplanade they are all bygone eras of the English Babudom.
Walking down memories lane, one can’t but reminisce about the long winding Tram rides on misty mornings to Park street for that delicious pastry from Flurry’s or to New Market(now I think Hogg Market) for the best bargains or to Lighthouse for the slick new English flick and the Mughlai Parathas during the interval and .. I could just go on and on.. but like I always say..
Love to hate you ! But can’t do without your ’puchkas’ and ’jhol’ and ’bedki’ and ’misti doi’ and ’jhol maach’ etc.
Agony..thy name is Calcutta !