They say ’’Home is where the Heart is ’’ ...and though Calcutta is where I belong , that is the place I call my home , that is where my heart is... yet ironically I do not want to go back ! Simply because I do not see much of a future as far as a thriving career is concerned.
The past has been glorious for Calcutta ...once the capital of India, also the cultural hub of India with Bengalis taking deep interest in art , culture and drama.Education was always emphasised in an average Bengali household and almost everyone dreamt of becoming a Doctor , Engineer or a Lawyer! Business was a strict no -no...!
However, complacency, lethargy, wrong attitude and lack of foresightedness and vision has been the downfall of the city and its people. The rich legacy and the heritage has eroded ...Calcutta has fallen behind as far as education, employment and industry is concerned.The city has seen huge ’’braindrain’’ with bright minds moving out of the city for better opportunities.One always seemed to be in a traffic jam in a perennially pot-holed road , suffer power cuts for hours and pray that people learnt some civic sense.
Things could not have gone worse...so the future ahead I feel is BETTER for the city.. which just cannot die. The journey towards improvement has begun ... the spirit to live life fully and robustly still exists in Calcuttans , hence I can see a spark of hope for the city and its inhabitants. The pride of belonging to Calcutta , the attempt to preserve the tradition and culture...the zest, the gusto and enthusiasm in celebrating festivals seen amply in the younger generation brings heartfelt relief!The passion for sports , the warmth and friendliness, the hospitality and brotherhood still binds people together ...the ancient and the modern live in harmony ...it is also reflected on the roads where trams and underground Metro ply side by side ...speaking volumes about the city’s great ability to adapt to change , preserve the past and yet carry on !