CPI bandh-Kolkata 20/08/08

Today, there was a bandh in this city by whom it does not matter (CPI btw..). It has been 5 months and this is the second bandh announced by the ruling govt. and the fourth in all, the other two being made by the very “eloquent and charming” mamta didi.
The fact remains that the normally “buzzing with activity” neighborhood of mine, with its proximity to the airport was at a standstill. No buses emitting tons of CO2, no rickshawallahs in their superbikes enacting a scene from Dhoom, no busy pedestrians moving about thinking what to do with their lives; nothing.
It has started occurring to me off late, that Bengalis seem to enjoy bandhs, as if not having a bandh every month or fortnight makes them restless. Relaxing the whole day with nothing to worry about, no waking up in the morning, no queuing for buses/ metro, no abusing the bus driver for his rash driving, just peace. Waking up late in the morning, having the world famous “Maach Bhaat” and then again lying down for siesta, in the evening have tea, chat for a while and then sit down to enjoy Zee bangla or Incoda TV. Aah!!what a relief.
Who cares for the crores lost in one day of a bandh, who cares about industrialization for that matter, who cares for people who might have to live the day just on biscuits bought one day earlier in anticipation of the bandh. Who cares for the loss of one working day, who cares if the lifeline of Kolkata, the metro is decaying. Who cares if the roads are filthy from the rains yesterday, who cares if the drains are overflowing, who cares if there is a garbage dump probably just 5 kms from the airport eagerly inviting the unsuspicious visitors with their stink.
The problem is that Kolkata has begun to love the filth that it is, no one wants to improve it, neither the government, the opposition nor the people. The buses plying here are centuries old, their drivers formula 1 wannabes, the metro has been in the same state since it was inaugurated by Robert Clive in 1857, not even one nut must have been fixed. The metro stations are in the same state as they were in 1950s and shall remain so until 2050 when the iron begins to rust and give away. Every year there are heavy rains in this region yet water scarcity, the water here is very hard and high in iron content(which can lead to hairfall leading to a loss in sex appeal). The shopkeepers here consider customers as a nuisance, to be nabbed and sent packing off. All the kolkatan wants at the end of the day is his daily dose of cigarette smoke and (of course) Maach Bhaat.
I guess the people who coined the term “Metropolitan City” had to change their definitions for Kolkata. As one of my friends commen ted, Kolkata is even worse than Patna.
There are some bright spots though, Kolkata will remain one of the intellectual capitals of India, that does not take away the fact that kolkatans are plain lazy. So, lazy in fact they did not even bother to change the government for the past quarter of a century. You will get cigarettes and khaini in almost every nook and corner but good quality, clean food is a rarity.
This is just one part..the next will be covered later.

First Mock CAT-Sunday 17/08/08

I had a strange feeling as I was getting ready for my first mock CAT ever today. Feelings as strong like I were a young warrior getting ready for my first battle. Although it may sound farfetched considering that I will have to face these battles, every Sunday from now on.

My love or passion or obsession, whatever you may choose to call it began about 6 years ago, when I was preparing for IIT JEE. My thoughts then were influenced by the people I had around me. I used to see geeks everyday in my class, thinking that all these guys can think about is Math, Physics and Chemistry. I thought if there were an exam which would test the general attitude towards life, attitude towards taking challenges, extra curricular knowledge, I could beat them hands down. It is a very normal human attitude( or so I think) that everyone thinks highly of him/herself. So, all these thoughts used to race through my mind whenever I got lesser marks in my exams, ridiculed for not being so intelligent as other people.

Then I came to know about CAT. Although the written exam is still the one which geeks crack, but my expectations were more from the interview in which the person and not his knowledge is tested. This may seem fairly utopian now, but then that was my thinking.

Now, 6 years later as I was getting ready for my first CAT, I began to think, what was I thinking then? I am not even capable of becoming a manager. Whatever experiences I have had since then have forced me to have second thoughts about my ultimate dream. I am no different from any engineering graduate. I have done nothing spectacular in either my acads nor my extra curriculars nor my personal life that is to say neither I am a first class with distinction neither I am very good at quizzing or gaming neither I have a girlfriend (of all the three, the latter hurts me the most!!).

I sometimes wonder, what right do I have even to dream about getting into an IIM? Shouldn’t I be happy with my current job, getting decent salary for my age, slow and steady progress in the company? Live forever in this god-forsaken city Kolkata (don’t even get me started about it) unless some opportunity knocks elsewhere.

It is then that my ego comes and tells me, no Sudhakar, you are good, you are different from the crowd, you are special. But am I really that only time can answer. As of now, I am getting ready for my next battle; the next mock CAT that is.