Calcutta; a paribarton Kolkata; on TV channels in the evenings with Pallavi Ghosh winding up riding a Bihari-pulled rickshaw. For me, nothing has changed as on view were many parked rickshaws, wheels pasted in fear to edges of pavements. For 24 years from 1946 to 1969, lived in Calcutta and never rode a Bihari-pulled rickshaw. Me boasts. Today it is more than 11 years went to Kolkata and do not have plans. On TV screens, Kolkata has not much changed though surprised over a Big Ben being built somewhere in the city; Lady Mamta wants Kolkata to be London. Like Mumbai politicians want Mumbai to be Shanghai or better still New York. Also saw Malayalam film, Balyakalasakhi of Mohammad Vaikom Basheer with Mamooty lost in Kolkata. Living in Kolkata mostly was addressed by Bengalis - Medru - a kick no Marathi gentleman or gentlewoman in Mumbai dressed me in. Ahead of Pujas home was raided by young demanding cash; escaped a pasting once. For then young me (maybe, they have changed; do not know), Bengalis (middle class) had a dislike for everything non-Bengali; for them literature rested with Tagore, films were Ray, Ray and Ray, religion Ramakrishna and Vivekananda. A Bihari bhaiya dragging a Bengali-family laden rickshaw was never given the fare promised; and then the abuse of the Hindi speaking non-human at the pada where the family lived. On TV Channels the city has become a bit blue; Coffee House there is with intellectuals, mostly fakes, teaing and smoking; did not see any adda session, a big miss for me. Football has lost to cricket though the East Bengal Club and Mohun Bagan Club remain at the Maidan; Sourav Ganguly has dribbled past Chuni Goswami. Usha Uthup croons Kolkata .... Gautam Ghosh (maybe wrong) says the city is secular...am not sure as India is no more secular. Like tea waste, Kolkata remains. In Bombay and then Mumbai, none, surely not a Maharashtrian, has called me Medru. Of course, Shiv Sena did hurt Tamils and all other communities. Yet on a leave alone basis as living is that, me has more Mumbai, very little of Kolkata. An hour ago, was talking to friend Narayana Karunakara Kurup from a quick Kerala run. 'Kerala is gone; its money, cheating, a coarseness and bite of a coir rope ...Mumbai is, of course, any day better.' Kurup should know and is confirmed by morning walk friends with homes in Palghat and Trichur towns; they go for short Ola rides while based firmly in Mumbai. A Mumbaikar faiths. Long local rides do deny Mumbaikars addas; but a Mumbaikar does not preen; Marathi literature is on par with many literatures, he and she are prone to contend. A shingara or a rosogolla (me likes both) does not define Kolkata as much as a vada pav Mumbai. And everybody in Mumbai picks up his and her vada pavs, chews on it, walking Azad Maidan with a Kabira, Tuka and a Kolatkar. At least, there is no boast. Mumbaikar does not boast. Between a Mother Teresa and Baba Amte, am all for Amte. Mumbaikar prefers aloneness; a Kolkatan peeps.
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Me Mumbaikar
Calcutta; a paribarton Kolkata; on TV channels in the evenings with Pallavi Ghosh winding up riding a Bihari-pulled rickshaw. For me, nothing has changed as on view were many parked rickshaws, wheels pasted in fear to edges of pavements. For 24 years from 1946 to 1969, lived in Calcutta and never rode a Bihari-pulled rickshaw. Me boasts. Today it is more than 11 years went to Kolkata and do not have plans. On TV screens, Kolkata has not much changed though surprised over a Big Ben being built somewhere in the city; Lady Mamta wants Kolkata to be London. Like Mumbai politicians want Mumbai to be Shanghai or better still New York. Also saw Malayalam film, Balyakalasakhi of Mohammad Vaikom Basheer with Mamooty lost in Kolkata. Living in Kolkata mostly was addressed by Bengalis - Medru - a kick no Marathi gentleman or gentlewoman in Mumbai dressed me in. Ahead of Pujas home was raided by young demanding cash; escaped a pasting once. For then young me (maybe, they have changed; do not know), Bengalis (middle class) had a dislike for everything non-Bengali; for them literature rested with Tagore, films were Ray, Ray and Ray, religion Ramakrishna and Vivekananda. A Bihari bhaiya dragging a Bengali-family laden rickshaw was never given the fare promised; and then the abuse of the Hindi speaking non-human at the pada where the family lived. On TV Channels the city has become a bit blue; Coffee House there is with intellectuals, mostly fakes, teaing and smoking; did not see any adda session, a big miss for me. Football has lost to cricket though the East Bengal Club and Mohun Bagan Club remain at the Maidan; Sourav Ganguly has dribbled past Chuni Goswami. Usha Uthup croons Kolkata .... Gautam Ghosh (maybe wrong) says the city is secular...am not sure as India is no more secular. Like tea waste, Kolkata remains. In Bombay and then Mumbai, none, surely not a Maharashtrian, has called me Medru. Of course, Shiv Sena did hurt Tamils and all other communities. Yet on a leave alone basis as living is that, me has more Mumbai, very little of Kolkata. An hour ago, was talking to friend Narayana Karunakara Kurup from a quick Kerala run. 'Kerala is gone; its money, cheating, a coarseness and bite of a coir rope ...Mumbai is, of course, any day better.' Kurup should know and is confirmed by morning walk friends with homes in Palghat and Trichur towns; they go for short Ola rides while based firmly in Mumbai. A Mumbaikar faiths. Long local rides do deny Mumbaikars addas; but a Mumbaikar does not preen; Marathi literature is on par with many literatures, he and she are prone to contend. A shingara or a rosogolla (me likes both) does not define Kolkata as much as a vada pav Mumbai. And everybody in Mumbai picks up his and her vada pavs, chews on it, walking Azad Maidan with a Kabira, Tuka and a Kolatkar. At least, there is no boast. Mumbaikar does not boast. Between a Mother Teresa and Baba Amte, am all for Amte. Mumbaikar prefers aloneness; a Kolkatan peeps.
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