Kolkata - 2001

Wrote this article on Kolkata for my School Magazine, "Echo", in the year 2001. I was just going through it in my old hard-file archives, when I realised that 10 years from the time, the article is still so relevant.

"Nights fade to make way for the light of sunrise. This light activates every tiny object as it does to the human beings. The sleeping Geographical Entity wakes up. A single human head of the moment turns into thousands of the next. Yes, Kolkata wakes up to herald the approach of a Cyclone which has Kolkata in its eye. Yes, this is a Cyclone of human activity covering a 300 year old landmass.

Hawkers and walkers crowd the streets which were desolate hitherto. Beginning with a faint buzz Kolkata rises to a deafening clamour made by the hustle and bustle of the wanderers and the hooting of the traffic. Daily schedule starts and casts the most familiar image on Kolkata’s face. Kolkata is brought back to a living Entity.

If there wasn’t a cherry on top of the cake, the Kolkattans would space the gap immaculately. A conversation with one of them shows the in-depth sincerity and emotions that they possess. They are never fatigued. Either Politics, or Sports or Current Affairs, they have them all by heart. Whether on the street or in a vehicle they are always ready to invigorate their neighbours with a delightful talk. The hospitality offered by the Kolkattans sets forth an example for everybody. Service and help are the two keynotes to the character of the Kolkattans.

If Kolkata is a large and beautiful garden, Rabindranath Tagore, Subhas Chandra Bose, Satyajit Ray are few of the brightest flowers that will continue to emit their beauty and fragrance incessantly. You can see the bi-coached Trams cruising through the main streets of Kolkata. You can travel in the underground Metro Railway. You would come across a Richshaw pulled men on foot. T\you can see the towering, beautiful Howrah Bridge standing as a firm bond between Howrah and Kolkata.

As you take a trip down the streets you will not only take a trip down the roads but also a trip down memory lane. History will summon you. You can still see the houses which, once housed the British. The cracked walls of the heritage buildings would remind you of the Partition of Bengal into East Bengal and West Bengal. The red walls of the Writers’ Building would reflect the sights of the British Administrators performing their respective jobs. The red walls would remind you of the bloodshed that dominated the city during India’s struggle for impendence. Through the by-lanes you would hear the youths marching hurling slogans of “Bande Mataram”, “Jai Hind”, “Simon, Go Back”, “Quit India”. Inside the Victoria Memorial, you can see the delineation of Queen Victoria, weapons and the early versions of the modern day Rifles and guns. Inside the Eden Gardens Cricket Ground you would see Pankaj Roy undauntedly facing the English Bowlers. Inside the Mohun Bagan Football Ground you would see the barefooted Indian Players as they march their way towards victory against the British to win the prestigious Durand Cup. This city stands proud and high up and proves why it was the Capital of British India.

Kolkata is a city of traditions. The “Durga Puja” tops the chart. In the early days the “zamindars” used to worship the Goddess and it has continued even to this day. In addition, now it has become a joint-public affair. Even the poorest Kolkattan would love to have a share of the festive mood of the “Durga Puja”. Who is unaware of the “Roshogolla” and Bangali “Mishti Doi”?- May be not even one in a thousand. On the day of the “Mahalaya” you can still see thousands crowding the Prinsep Ghat to offer “Tarpan”. How much young hearts do not have fond memories of the Albert Hall, popularly known as the “Indian Coffee House” ? films of Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen still rank the highest. On the first day of the Bengali Calendar, ”the Poila Boishaakh”, people still give garments and gifts to their loved ones. On “Dashami” of the Durga Puja, people act likewise and the juniors take blessing of their seniors.

Kolkata is often called “The City Of Joy”, and joy and hospitality is what everybody receive out here. However the citizens, themselves, are not all joyful. You can still see the pavement dwellers endeavouring hard to get a “paisa”. You can still see the beggar begging for a morsel. Kolkata might not be advanced as the Western World but is fast coming up. Kolkata is the highest citadel where emotions and the divine law of hospitality are at their respective peaks. The city is a Gem. Kolkata – a City with days and nights with people having 24 hours of Day and almost no hour of Night."