Calcutta calling
The City of Joy as it is called has something special and that is 'character'. Unlike many other big cities in India Calcutta or Kolkata has not turned materialistic and still has a humane side to it. Its a underdeveloped city by its potential owing to many reasons but its a city where people are still happy and have time to smile. I might sound
bias being a Bong but the truth is many of my non-Bengali friends who have been there second my opinion.I realise it more being in a plastic city like Bangalore. As a by product of the IT revolution the smile in a person's face has been programmed. People are too much engrossed in looking high up that they are having pain in their neck. Success here does not give time to relax and enjoy but puts across another gold in life. In doing so an entire generation is missing out on the beauty of life. The positive side is Kolkata is somewhat isolated from this syndrome.
Being born in the lush green hills of Shillong an annul visit to Kolkata during the winters was what I always looked forward to. It was time to see so many things like trains, planes and cycle rickshaws which were not seen in my 'Scotland of the East'. The numerous earthen pots of misti doi and rosogollas never could satisfy me. The slow moving trams and the hand pulled carts symbolised a city which is trying to hold on to its glorious past.
A paradigm shift happened to my love for this city when I started growing up and did not see Kolkata offering me much opportunities. Soon the 'City of Joy' seemed too doomed to offer me anything. I tried Delhi but could not find my solace there and now Bangalore has taught me interesting lessons as to why we are still lagging behind in comparison to other cities.
This city will only grow when the best of its brains work here rather than migrating to other parts of the country. True there are may factors resulting in this brain drain but we seem to over worship other places and look down upon out own. An entire overhaul needs to be done with our everyday thinking as India is changing fast and our glorious past needs to reflect in our present and golden future.
10 comments:
jaater taan baah...
@. But I value the quality of life and not its price may be because of my upbringing in beautiful Shillong.
U r arguing dat tho Kolkata pays less..quality of living is superior der???Ain't quality of life a rather individualistic and opinionated paraphrase??? Since U luv Kol doesn't mean dat others hate Mumbai and Bangalore..but still cling on for daa cash
Quality of life includes the kind of accommodation, infrastructure you get at a price......Many people cling onto places like Mumbai and Bangalore just because of money you cannot deny that and its not just 'jater tan' Kolkata accepts outsiders with open arms.....
Its the city where max Hindu-Muslim couple have settles
Its the city where 90% trade, 60% labour is in the hands of outsiders but still there are no fights
Importantly its the "City of Joy"
Whoopsidaisies..and I thot quality of life meant how happy u r inhabiting a certain region in direct proportion to modernity of course...
Jus coz Dominnique Lapierre called Kolkata da City of Joy,we have come 2 terms wid it far 2 easily.
How can u contend that Delhites or Mumbaiakars hate Mumbai...
Jus infering frm a few expats residing der ain't da complete picture
Well o well you are right quality of life is indedeed about hapiness. People in a economically deprived city like Kolkata are more happy than a flourishing place like Bangalore or Mumbai Why? You cannot deny that fact....These are over competiotive places which do not even let people enjoy their success.....
Thank god Kolkata is still immune to that....
Howz Kol immune???Success is rampant der,depends on da definition and cognitive perception..the city is tryin to be the next in line after mumbai,bang or delhi.
What u shud be elucidating is that u like the Kolkatan defn of mirth,the peaceful chaos out der rather den da hectic commotion in here,the feeling of being attached...stuff like dat
what u r doin is imposin ur brlief on a million others,just to convey ur defn of quality of life and happiness
I am trying to convey my opinion on my blog that and....I m too small a person to impose my opinion on others and they much be insane if they follow me without scrutiny.
I would love Kolkata to have jobs and industries like Bangalore or Delhi but not loose its character in doing so
Not become a place where outsiders are kicked in their stomach (read Mumbai)......girls are raped and molested in moving cars (Delhi).....or like is all about glass and materialism (U better know which place m talking about)
Din u say ppl tend to hang on to bang and Mumbai like places for da cash bequeathing superior quality of life at places like Kolkata....
Din u just den impose ur opinion on all expats,when u dun even kno if they like dis way of life or not???
Secondly...just becoz the glass and materialism thingy,outsider kickin thingy...do u think these isolated events rob of tyhe soul of a city...it jus manages to tarnish its image,dats jus y u think these are evil foreboding places
I expressed my opinion and did not impose it....i mean anything I write can sound imposition than.....Violence against woman in our capital is not an isolated incident (its considered to be the most dangerous place for the fairer sex).......as far as Mumbai is concerned right from 70s it has had a diff eye for the migrants just the swing has been from anti-south to anti-north.....now tell me all these are isolated events
the question waz whether Mumbaikars luv mumbai and Delhiites luv delhi..these incidents have tarnished der image..maybe dey aint dat isolated i concede.
Watta u think raping in delhi and roaring gas bags in mumbai is the lifestyle of Mumbaaikars or delhiites??
And again...anythin u write can have many facets..ur side,their side or a neutral side...wen u give ur side u r imposing
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