Its extremely difficult to control your tears when you hear to "yeh jo des hain mera" from swades. As an Indian citizen residing abroad nobody in India understands the real feelings that this song instigates and to be honest this blog is not for that purpose.

This one is for Kolkata, the city in which i was born and brought up, the city which is just not merely a home but has been my alma mater, a friend and a guide for so many years.

But that’s where my emotional connect ends.

After spending approximately 2 weeks in Kolkata after almost 3 years I can’t help myself repeating the age old complain that Kolkata has not improved and it would not be exaggeration to say that it does not want to improve either. As much as i hate saying this but that’s the real truth.
I happened to go to Allahabad bank in 1997 for a small query regarding education loan I had to wait for some time and went around 4 desks to get a small query answered, in that process I came across people half asleep, engrossed in social issues, worried about the performance of saurav ganguly and seemingly depressed about the absenteeism of the “chaiwala”. The way of operation was bereft of much technology (understandably so) and only boasted of one PC in the entire 2 floors. Books were still being maintained and ledgers formats still being drawn.
Cut to the present … 2009…. Same bank and same scene. Now that’s what you call delivering with consistent quality!!
A small query regarding an NRE / NRO account made me travel from Boltu das desk to Ashok Koomar both of whom did not see much interested in giving information and I felt horribly guilty for having disturbed Mr. Ashok Koomar afternoon siesta after 2 samosas and a cup of tea (it’s the smell). What seemed most amazing is exactly the same set up and the consistency that the organisation showed with still using minimum technology and following the “strict” rules of book keeping. A PC was still difficult to locate although I must agree that the absolute nos from 1997 had grown 5 times. After having spoken for about 3 minutes I was pleasantly surprised to know that the bank had an internet banking facility (I was impressed .. no puns intended ) and then came the real catch internet banking is available for only savings and current account for NRE/NRO account this facility does not exist. Now don’t ask why the answer is “shecurity”.

My patience and logical reasoning powers begged me to leave. I gave in!

Travel in the metros, buses or walk on the roads you still the same old infrastructure nothing has improved but there seems to be an active effective attempt to dilapidate the city. Blaming the government or any oragnisation would be futile because we all are part of the same but what needs a change for start is our outlook and attitude.

I couldn’t help notice the hype and excitement the upcoming general elections have fostered within the kolkatans, you can read it in the papers, hear it in morning metro conversations, notice the visibility in the streets and to the extent that you get designer undergarments with party signs as well. Everybody seems to be anxious about the result of the elections but what about the final result, what about our roads, what about our hospital, what about schooling, what about traffic…

I guess all that is secondary for Kolkata

God help kolkatans…. As they cant help themselves....

and for me thats a horrible feeling to stay with..