The Street to the Road.

I had tried many times before this to write a blog. I always had a topic to write on but could never find a suitable ending to my topics, hence I could never post anything. However, I believe that Blogs are reflections of people's life, then why search for an ending. So, this is another attempt to post a blog.

After completing my Engineering two years back, I joined Avaya Global Connect Ltd. one of the best EPABX (Electronic Private Automatic Branch Exchange) company in India. A month after joining at the Gurgaon Office, I was posted to the Eastern Regional Office at Kolkata. Frankly speaking I never had thought that I would ever work in Kolkata. My city of dreams had always been the city of Mumbai. However, the professional life started in the City of Joy. A frenchman had coined that name for the city believed in his book "The city of Joy". I never read the book. I do not know what it says about Kolkata. I have seen enough of this city. I do not think I need others' views on the same. "Tram" and the "Metro" railways was how I always new Kolkata. That is all my parents had to tell about Kolkata when I was may be 10. It was the Gateway of India for Mumbai. The Republic Day Parade in Delhi (I still want it on the independence day too). The 3 cities were the only Geography I knew about India then. I lived in Mumbai. Another thing I knew about Delhi was that there were frequent power cuts in the city. Kolkata was a mystery. I always wanted to go to Kolkata then. Sit in the Metro and the tram. Well I got the chance in the summer of '07. Summers and onset of the monsoon to be precise. First the scorching heat and then the monsoon that water logged Kolkata every 3rd day almost made me pledge that I would never work in Kolkata. But in the summer of '08 I was among the people of Kolkata. By then I had enjoyed the Metro of Delhi and Kolkata Metro was more like the local train of Mumbai. Only it was closed. The tram's charm is something I still have got to explore. The first thing I noticed about the city was the Bandhs/Strikes that were called by various unions backed by the Political Parties on regular intervals. The second thing was the Color Red. Communist Party of India (Marxist). Both the things normally co-exist together. I would not say that the CPI(M) was all about strikes and hindrances. It is they who had brought well almost brought the TATA Nano plant to WB. The loss of the plant actually saw the downfall the reds and the sprouting of 2 small tricolor grass flowers. The rage was wide spread. The CPI(M) first lost it foothold in the Loksabha and then was routed over by the Trinamool Congress in the Municipal Elections. We can almost correctly foretell the future by guessing the new residents of the Writers Building.

The Durga Puja. This is what makes Kolkata the City of Joy. One can see the grandeur of the city. Every pandal is unique and not a single one can be left not visited which is impossible of course. Watch it to believe it. The festival is like a Christmas for the whole of West Bengal. The preparations for the same begin almost 2 months in advance.

The best part was however something else. Unfortunately this is the part that actually sometimes makes it the worst part too. It is the People. They make or break a city. In office too, I had help from my left and right, people sitting farthest to me and some help from the glass palace too. They helped me survive the Eastern Region. There are people who make noise like a half filled jar. There is some pink noise some white noise. But living in Kolkata and speakers blaring for a whole colony if a monkey has to tell you something will make you accustomed to all the noise. There have been a few good colleagues who I still miss. I am very lucky to have the best coaches (5 in 2 years :).

I will miss the Office parties. The delicacies are mainly non vegetarian with a wide varieties of fish and Different preparations of chicken. The sweets are like soothers. Eat one and it makes your day. I remember, I had overheard a lady once say that Vishwakarma Puja is for workers and hence one can eat non-veg on that day as workers do not vegetarian food. Funny. People always have rules and logic to support what they want.

With a new offer from another company, I now have a chance to move to my city of dreams, Fulfill a few dreams and Get an Audi for myself. This is a new turn to a highway from the bolevard of broken dreams.

This post is a tribute to Kolkata overlooking the hoogly river, the city of Joy, the city of Gur ka rosogulla. This post is a tribute to the people of kolkata. I hope it rises again to the status which it had during the times of the RAJ. With a few grudges. With a Few sweet memories. With some joy and with some tears I say " phir milenge chalte chalte".