Kolkata still living in
packets of 2 and 3
My relationship with Kolkata is older than my age. The
relation started much before the year Calcutta
became Kolkata. My grandfather spent most of his life there. My father spent
prime time of his youth there and my uncle could not leave Kolkata for one or
many reasons. Thanks to the genetic relationship , Kolkata was never a strange
place for me. I was a regular visitor to Kolkata since my childhood. Kolkata
was my intermission junction on my way to my college of engineering at Vellore
from my home town, Muzaffarpur. Coromondel and Howrah Chennai express were my
loyal trains.
My affair with Kolkata took big seven years break due to my
posting in Delhi . But thanks to the
company I work, I returned back to this old grand mega city of East
India on a short deputation. While rest of India
has changed a lot, most parts of Kolkata have changed a little. Though few
parts of Kolkata specially south Kolkata got major revamp in these years. Skyscrapers,
high rise corporate buildings , swanky flyovers have come up which compelled me
to rethink whether I was in the same Kolkata
. But my notion changed as soon as I moved towards Howrah
from Salt Lake India
at a single place , then he or she must visit Howrah
railway station. Here we don’t see faces of people but just heads.Heads having
black , brown or grey hair ,even no hair too. But the real struggle of ‘aam aadmi’
at Howrah railway station starts
when a local train, the life line of kolkata arrives at the platform. You need
not to step up to board the train. You will be automatically pushed by the
agile crowd into the train. The regular passengers know where to position
themselves in the train bogie to bear minimum hassles whereas novice co
passengers like me get maximum elbowing. But as soon as the train starts,
people forget about their problems and enjoy the journey. Generation next use
ear phones to listen songs from their mobile sets whereas people traveling in
group specially office goers start their chit chat on topics ranging from
vegetables to parliament.
The journey of a local train is incomplete without the train
hawkers. I was surprised to see how hawkers were still able to sell sweet or
salty almonds , digestive golis, and lots of other eatables in the packets of Rs
2 and Rs 3. Not only eatables you can buy pens , towels , slates , toys of
local brands having standard quality from these train hawkers at relatively cheap rates. The deboarding process
from train is almost similar as the boarding process. You need not to step down
from the train . Crowd will do that free service for you. I deboarded at
Konnagar station.
After having the rejuvenating experience , I stopped by a
tea shop which was also selling hot samosa. I ordered two samosa and a cup of
tea. The quality of samosa and tea was par excellent. I asked the shopkeeper, “
how much?” And his reply could not stop my laughter. He said Rs 5 for two
samosa and Rs 3 for a cup of tea. I don’t think anywhere in India
we can find such a quality tea and samosa at such a cheap rate. With a big
smile on my face, I moved further to stop by a sweet shop.I was again surprised
. Rs 3 for a sondesh and Rs 4 for a rasgulla. Am I still living in India
of 21st century affected by high inflation with UPA govt in centre
for last ten years? Any national level football team can dare to beat Mohan
Bagan but none of Indian state can compete with Bengali sweets. I think there
is some magic in the sugarcane grown in Bengal . My mouth
started watering just by writing these words. Kolkata is known for its street
food. Rolls , Jhal Murhi , Puri -Sabzi are few of most common and well known
items. If Bengal is a paradise for people with sweet
tooth , it is kaba for non vegetarians. Bengalis eat fish or chicken almost
daily. Though the preparation of fish or chicken may vary every day. Here in
Kolkata , you can have sufficient meal for two people with three vegetable
curry in just Rs 50. Montek Singh Ahaluwalia would be the happiest person to
know this.
Though Kolkata still lives in packets of 2 and 3, a sense of
satisfaction can be seen on the faces of people living here. People don’t
hesitate to talk to strangers. Knowing Bengali makes you an immediate member of
grand Bengal community. The change in demography in recent years has increased
number of people who can understand as well as speak Hindi. Closeness among
family members , zeal to travel , a sense of beauty , love for art makes
Kolkata a beautiful place to live. And my genetic connection with Kolkata makes
me nostalgic again.
“Khub Bhalo, na ie te Darun aache” ( Not only good , its
very good )
