Cal

Cal is a lovely city, but it is a city trapped in the memories of its past. The colonial hangover still remains and I daresay that if the Queen were to visit the city, her cavalcade would be greeted by a million people. One day, leaning on the railings outside Oxford Book Store on Park Street, I was puffing away to glory in the company of a dear friend of mine. Suddenly our eyes went up to a coat of arms on the shiny red board that had the name of the store written over it. In one corner, a coat of arms declared that the store was by some royal appointment to some XYZ who belonged to the court of the Queen. Sixty years after independence - and a bookshop proudly displays its English connections. I am no rabid nationalist, but it still rankles when we do not derive our identity from being Indian. And that too in a place like Cal.It hurts to see that this magnificent city is not able to realize its potential. A city of nearly a crore, but still not able to make it big in business. Any attempts at getting investors in are mismanaged by over zealous officials. The interesting part is that a lot of large Indian companies have a lot of Mr. Das' , Mr Chatterjees and Mr. Roys in their top ranks, but when it comes to working in Bengal they are paralyzed by lethargy and indifference.I have been born and brought up in Cal. I have seen the city transforming. But a few malls and multiplexes do not characterize the work ethic of a city. Wake up, wake up -- or you'll be left far behind the ambitious Ahmedabads, Chandigarhs and Punes. But when you do wake up and decide to do something -- don't lose your charm. Because that's what sets you apart from the rest !!