'State' of West Bengal - II

The picture above is that of a construction site - Merlin is building a residential housing complex here.  Its in Lake Town, just in front of Banaphool Abasan. A couple of years back, some factories stood here. One  belonged to Rollick Ice cream, another factory shed housed a printing press. After they closed down, land sharks moved in, and clearances for converting the land were granted by the local politicians  and municipal bodies pretty quickly. (Some palms needed to be greased, of course!!) And to think that our Chief Minister cant find non-agricultural land for setting up industries in this state!

(Photo taken by me with my Nokia Supernova)

P.S. If anyone has any similar story to share, please feel free to do so in the comments section. Thanks.

'State' of West Bengal - I

This was something I spotted a few days back in Jessore Road, Lake Town. The story is a familiar one: a factory has been shut down, the workmen have not been paid their dues, and now, attempts are being made to build multi-storeyed buildings in the factory premises. Unfortnately for them, the workmen, about 300 in number, have received no support from any quarters whatsoever - not even from that great champion of the masses, Ms. Mamata Bannerjee and her Trinamool Congress.

Lake Town today is littered with the carcasses of dead factories and most of them are being torn down to make way for a booming real estate industry (thats what CREDAI Bengal calls it) and this in turn has led to the growth of the land mafia and the promoter-land mafia - politician nexus. More on this in my next post.

(Photo taken by me with my Nokia Supernova)

Aal Izz Well ?!?!?!!!

   

Wanted to catch the movie with that song in it. However, the trouble that I had in trying to get myself to catch that movie tells me that Aal izz definitely not Well ..... In fact, nothing seems to be well - about my efforts to catch the movie, or my life in general, right now. Had a huge fight with a close friend. And I can't figure out why, when you fight with close friends or family, they take you back to something you (or they) had done a year, or a decade, back. (This fight was no exception.) Must confess I was also guilty of doing this, though. And then, you have to deal with the guilt...of fighting, and saying things you really shouldn't have said, or meant, and of losing patience and your ability to deal with reality.

Also, there's the small matter of coping with some of the 'not-so-sensitive-and-flattering' stuff that you get to hear about yourself during a fight. Can leave one really depressed, I say. I for one, was left speechless.

And I wonder why it always happens to me....every time I want something badly, I come very very close to getting it. But then, just when the cup is about to touch my lip, it all goes up in smoke. Holy Smoke!!! Happened with the two jobs I really wanted. And a host of other things. Now this. Planned for two months, and then, 2 days before the movie, I have a really really 'Big Fight.' Looks like I need a Getafix to fix this one for me!!

Merry Christmas!!

Accosted by a pimp on Camac Street. “College girls le lo….hostel girls le lo….” Wanted to punch him. Real hard. Couldn’t. We live in a civilized society after all.

Came to know that a friend of mine had been flicking money from another friend’s wallet when the two of them were sharing a flat. Somehow, the news didn’t shock me as much as it should have.

Spotted some NRIs flashing fancy gadgets and taking photos of poverty in Park Street. They were even letting their kids play with the 5-year-old ragpickers. Could make out from their faces that they felt they were being very egalitarian and magnanimous and what not. For some reason, I couldn’t figure out who to pity, or feel sorry for, though...Could someone please remind them that the guy whose birthday they were supposedly celebrating was also born under similar circumstances??

   
Discovered that Nahoum and Nizam have lost their former glory.

The best moment of the night came when I entered a small little shop in Lake Town to buy some mouth fresheners. (Was returning home after consuming vodka in generous amounts, and didn’t want to take any chances.) The kid manning the shop had just heard about India’s victory from the radio playing I the shop, and he stated smiling…even clapped a few times. Pure joy…..something  I haven’t witnessed for a long time now. I smiled back at him….gently, ever conscious of my own self. He looked even happier. He knew he’d struck a chord….had communicated happiness and joy. Sometimes, just sometimes, a smile is all that it takes. And the next time India takes the cricket field, I’ll pray a bit more for the team. They really do need to win…..for kids like him, and countless others….without a semblance of what we often call a ‘life’…..and any hope of a better tomorrow.

Was glad Santa had a gift for so many of them too, this Christmas eve.

Merry Christmas.

Exploring oneself

Dear Reader,


This is my first tag post, and its also my first post in along while. I took up this exercise after discovering that Debosmita had tagged me in her post and, needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole exercise. Hope you like reading it!!


I am: Swayambhu Mukherjee, (Sway to some, Swam to others) 23, male, single, corporate lawyer, Kolkata (will be moving to Bangalore soon)  


I think: too much at times, and too little at other times…..rarely get the balance right.


I know: that it’s always worth standing up for what you believe in, and what you feel is right.


I want: a life that I can look back on, 40 years from now, with a peaceful mind and a content heart….. I need to know that I tried my best, gave it my best shot all the time.


I have: courage, and a strong sense of righteousness.


I wish: to be able to follow my heart someday, before its too late.



I hate: dishonesty, showing off & snobbish behaviour, disrespect for women, corruption, racism and politics (the last one should surprise some people, but its true…very true).



I miss: nothing much now, but I guess I will be missing a whole lot of things after I move to Bangalore.


I fear: losing my family and closest friends, and losing myself.


I feel: confused, when I try to figure out the right path for me (w.r.t. my personal life only)


I hear: the sweet sounds made by the river flowing gently by my native hamlet.


I smell: the aroma of good food and the fragrance of fresh paper, when I open a new book for the first time.


I crave: for  happiness and joy all around me.



I search: for peace of mind.


I wonder: if I will be able to finish all my tasks before I die.


I regret: not learning from some mistakes, and repeating them.


I love: anything that challenges me and my abilities.


I ache: for love, warmth and affection.



I care: about my family, my closest friends and my people.


I always:  manage to cause pandemonium and general mayhem wherever I go.


I am not: fat, just “well covered.”


I believe: in being there when my family and friends need me.


I dance: in my dreams only.



I sing: see answer above.


I cry: never (that’s a lie, but then, I am a guy…..)


I don’t always: find the courage to stand up for what I know is right, and that’s something I really would love to change about myself.


I fight: only with my closest friends.


I write: only when I really want to….not very regularly. Check the frequency of blog posts.


I win:  In the end. Always.


I lose: Never, or so I would wish.


I never: put on a mask.



I confuse: everyone around me, when I want to!!


I listen: only to my parents and very close friends.


I can usually be found: busy doing nothing.


I am scared: of nothing (that’s just what I would want people to believe!!!).


I need: a sense of security, and a lot of love, warmth and affection.


I am happy about: my new job, and the fact that I am getting a chance to start life afresh, anew.

I am tagging Someshwar Roy and Ramanuj Mukherjee. Am hoping other people will take up this exercise too! Just one thing - no plagiarism please!