To Kolkata.....With Love

I curse this city each day the city prepares for yet another bandh. I curse this city each day another young lad wears off his soles in search of a job here. I curse this city each day the varied political parties scream and howl at each other blaming the other for all the problems in the city. I curse this city when political terrorism claims the lives of thousands in some remote village and is passed of as "ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION". I curse this city each day a prestigious business house is driven out of the city depriving thousands of their rightful employment. But which each curse, I utter a silent prayer under my breath for this city. While our more upbeat and "FORWARD" counterparts elsewhere in the nation are busy savouring the rotten taste of parochial politics,Kolkata justifies the claim that India is essentially a nation of diverse cultures. When our financial and technological capitals get busy dictating HOW (good)women should dress and behave and rummaging every nightclub in the city,every woman of this "not so forward" metropolis,wore their freedom on their sleeves and stepped out in the wee hours of the night without any fear(never mind the catcalls,the wolf-whistles and glares,we have learnt how to handle them). While the "RESPECTED" self-appointed custodians of our CULTURE were busy banning and condemning Valentine's day claiming it to be the erosion of our "CULTURE",the young love-birds of this city thronged the streets confidently and fearlessly. Often have I heard people making snide remarks about a Bengali's obsession with his culture and his immense love for art,literature,music etc. A few "admirers" of good cinema in other cities take great pride in vociferously declaring how much immersed in art and cinema they are. When the youth in almost every other city grows up being obsessed about fashion,a child here learns to appreciate a Satyajit Ray or a Mrinal Sen almost naturally. We know the nuances of film-making so well that it almost gives the impression that film-making runs in our bloods. Often will you hear people raving about WORLD CINEMA. Ask us about a Polanski film,or an Almodovar masterpiece,or a Spielberg gem, we could humbly teach you a thing or two. A visit to our beloved Nandan during an International Film Festival could give a fair idea about our taste in world cinema... The majority of the youth here can rattle of Dante or Shakespeare or Tagore with equal elan. From Economics to Music to Politics,ask an average Calcuttan,and he knows it all.... I do accept that the one field in which we might be still lagging behind is Fashion,but spare a thought and just think that a certain Mr. Sabyasachi Mukherjee is a son of this soil. The current youth icon and a designer's fantasy, Sonam Kapoor swears by a lady called Anamika Khanna,another product of this city. And one of the most colourful and trendy designers of our times,Aki Narula is a contribution of Calcutta to the Fashion Fraternity of the country.....

The city is steeped in as diverse elements as tradition and modernity, art and rock music,theatre and adda,literature and the band culture,art house cinema and popular flicks..... I may always wish to fly away from this city as early as possible but deep down I tremble at the thought of being away from MY City OF Joy...........I pray for you,my beloved city,that may you progress and develop but never to lose the essence that characterise you......

To Kolkata.........With Love.