Kolkata's just got a fresh coat of red paint and it looks every bit the quitessential City of Joy. It's party time in the Red Citadel. While citizens indulge in another round of holi, the Buddha can't stop laughing, as kudos and compliments flow in from all parts of the country. In all humility, the politico-litterateur bhadrolok just smiles and says "It's the people's verdict and I'm happy." Of course, the people are also happy. Who wouldn't be with loads of shopping malls, clean, well maintained parks, lovely roads, well organised traffic, warm hospitality and fewer bandhs? He's also happy that Kolkata's finally being recognised as a prospective industrial centre and surely welcomes "more FDI and domestic investments." But he wants to get his basics right first. Hence he has identified areas well below the poverty line (according to him 20% of Kolkata's population is below the PL) and aims to provide them with the bare minimum needs for a decent existence and is trying to take agriculture to the next level - agri business. It's like poetry in motion.
I don't understand politics, nor have the desire to, but I give credit where it's due. And will not allow personal prejudices to veil my genuine happiness. As long as I lived there,I hated it with a passion. Now that I am only an irregular visitor, it feels better. So here's to more of Kolkata. And kudos to all those who are making it rock!
PS: Now can we please have the CM put his best foot forward and play a full blooded shot to help the Prince win back his lost glory? We can't let him go down without a fight, or vanish into oblivion whimpering. The elections are over, peacefully. Now let the war begin.
Ok, so this was the whole reason for the post. Selfish? I have an agenda? Yes, go SUE me!
PPS: I still don't believe I wrote this post. It must be the weather, or excess nicotine:P
13 comments:
"As long as I lived there,I hated it with a passion. Now that I am only an irregular visitor, it feels better."
Couldn't agree more..........
I liked the Gubs post better. That one gives me some ideas for VSP. This one almost pre-empts my own reaction to the debate (?) on Arnab's blog.
J.A.P.
M: Always good to have company:)
J.A.P: Tried visualising a hundred-some kilos dawdling around the house with VSP toddling behind. Olle babba...veryyyyy cuuuute! Life with Gubs si a riot these days.
I hadn't read Arnab's blog when I wrote this, so vv glad if it pre-empts your reactions.
"Hated it with a passion" - hmmm. Bet I'd smell smoke if I was in your general vicinity as you wrote it...
Ha, the whole thing is about the Prince, isn't it? He had a chance to go out when there was still some hope, but he just wouldn't! Serves him just right, I would say.
On the other hand, I too am happy for Kolkata and WB. For the Left Front to have done so well, these guys must be doing something right. If only the rest of us can figure *that* out ...
manini chatterjee wrote a nice piece on the WB elections in today's indian express. in case you have not read it here is the link:
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/4275.html
WB and Calcutta, kolkata, whatever needs a lot of work to be done if has to establish itself globally.Hope the Left front do not resort to their "Good ol ways" of stating all the politically correct things and not implementing even one of them.
hear hear!!
greatbong has a nice similar lined post as yours check it out
Aacha...has it really improved that much...
Maaney, how would it compare to B'lore and all?
R.I.M; Don't even begin to compare Blr with Kolkata...for starters, Kolkata, all said and done, is a hummiing, buzzing, LIVING city. Blr's dead boring and a drunken killer.
why doesn't budhha start a new campaign - No Sourav, No Modernisation !!
How can u folks fall for all these gimmicks ... all he does is says: "OK, we've made some mistakes ... we realise and are trying to change" and we are ready to forgive him ...
we forget that at least two generations of Bengalis have been forced to leave the city because of no development ... for 25 yrs, students have not learnt English, saw politics being introduced at the school level ... almost the entire education system comprises of CPM cadres ... for 30 yrs industry has been killed - do you know what is the rate of unemployment in WB?
it's true there is no alternative in the state ... but how can we forget all these and fall for his gimmicks ....
jus quoting u " well maintained parks, lovely roads, well organised traffic "
a far cry from what south calcutta was looking when i was there last... it was more like...
"ill maintained muncipality dustbins, brick red roads (actually brick roads) which hadnt seen some quality tar in ages, and organized mayhem if u will allow me to say so"...
@Bona, I'm definitely not the one to fall for such gimmicks, cause I am one of the many who left the city in disgust for the lack of developemnt and opportunities. I just appreciated what I noticed, and it maybe just an eyewash, I admit. I completely agree with you on the education system there..I'd dread to send my daughter to a school in Cal.
@Sumod: I dunno which part of South Cal you are talking about, but my post was definitely not taking the entire city into consideration. I don't get time to do so much, when I'm visiting! But granted, the city has a long way to go.
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