A Little More About Calcutta

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 Much like homeopathic medicine, Calcutta ought to be taken in small, regulated doses. Not because big doses can harm you-it's just nicer when taken a little at a time. Either way, the impact remains the same. 

Mumbai is a big city, as is Delhi, but there is one pivotal difference between these two metropolitan jewels of India and Calcutta. I'm not talking about the British Empire designating Calcutta as the capital city here, though. It's the general pace and charm of Calcutta that sets it apart from every other metropolis.

Delhi has an old world charm, but not everywhere. There are areas where everything is uber-maintained or regulated and that's great, no doubt about it. It is the national capital, after all. Some regions of Delhi will take you back to a past century, but then you will be harshly recalled to reality the moment you step out of that locality. 

I don't know much about Mumbai, if I am honest. What I do know, however, is that it is a city where everything moves at a breakneck speed. Literally. Every city does, but Mumbai more so than others. I've been waffling about this for a while now, but bear with me a little longer. 

If there are three people with boats and devices on a river, then the three cities can be, in my opinion, represented as follows: Mumbai as the CEO in a business suit with an iPhone on a motorboat. Brutally efficient and will use everything in their power to get something. 

Delhi would be the hard-working, intelligent but easily angered guy who will buy an iPhone because someone said they couldn't afford it. They can get a lot of things done, but might choose not to do so just because they felt like it. They can definitely leave Mumbai in the dust, but it depends on the time, place and mood.

Calcutta, I think, would be the IITian or the brainiac with a motorboat and an iPhone. They just don't need to prove themselves to others and are laid-back just for the sake of it. It's not that they can't get something done; they're just happy doing things at their own pace. 

I know I'm being really biased here, but I can't help it. I'm on the home team. Calcutta is a crazy place, with crazy people who can talk about anything and everything with an intellectual air, irrespective of their knowledge on the matter. The food will be mind-blowing, be it Chinese cuisine or Indian, and the lesser said about the fanaticism of sports fans, the better.

You will find people who have a million deadlines and an unimaginable amount of work to do. The very same people will be found having a cup of cha at the nearest stall and listening to the best hits from a radio playing Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. Not just because they're lazy; they're just working at a different pace. 

The man may have died in 1945, but his music is timeless; there's no greater truth when it comes to Rabindrasangeet. Tagore is still the pride of every Bengali individual, however old or young they may be. Subhash Chandra Bose could never have died in a plane crash; to say so is to blaspheme and cuss more than the average sailor. 

It's a stubborn city, both gruff and sweet at the same time. It's still old-fashioned even though it has the know-how to forge ahead. It's hot and humid and noisy. Fish and sweets are the life-blood of every Bengali, while eccentricity and fastidiousness are part and parcel of our lives. 

Like I've said before, it's well nigh impossible to capture the essence of a city, but you can always try to describe or compare it. It's been a long day and I've talked a lot already- it's time I signed off. Stay safe, everyone, and have a good time. Adios!

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