As it is the day was gloomy with non-stop downpour and rumble in the first half of the day. All the business gone on a toss. I went to St.Xaviers' College to meet the Father but the college was Bandh (closed). The gate keeper had no clue of the reason. In Bengal this is possible because such Bandhs (strikes) keeps on happening every now and then. So I came back to the office empty handed.
The day was turning very sad one and nothing good was happening. So I decided to call it a day at 3 PM, which was too early even for a half day. Mind you today was a Friday, a full day. So I got into the metro from Maidan and got down at Sovabazar Sutanuti, which was earlier Sovabazar. God only knows from where this Sutanuti came and for what. But this can happen anywhere in India. Victoria can become Shivaji.
The real drama started after that. First time I witnessed a Chakkajaam by the political party of the greatest, highly intellectual, deity for the deprived and downtrodden, savior of mankind from the ruling party in Bengal, knight in shining armor for the enemies (which includes industrialist like Tatas). Some people believe that she is an incarnation of goddesses Kali. How can she tolerate demons like Tatas to set up a habitation in untainted and contented Bengal? Why after all the state with the poorest village needs industry, jobs or higher standard of living. The main concern of Mamta Di is that this demon may transfer Bengal into an industrial state and spoil its position, which though achieved and maintained by the competitors, was unique to Bengal. This state of gods and goddesses was washed away of demons like Tatas a few decades back by the supernatural beings who calls themselves Marxist or comrades. You may confuse them with Aliens but they are Bengal bound Human beings.
It was not a terrible day for the auto pilots (because they drive this weird vehicle like a jet) as they were charging atrocious fare from the commuters. What for? To take you from the metro station to the place where the agitators were doing great service to mankind by blocking the roads for hours. So I got down near one such agitation. It was a awesome sight, stalled up vehicles all around, raising fume and herd of people standing in between. The fume was of tyres burning in middle of the road. This may be warning to all, that the agitators belong to omnipotent and if you dare say anything to them the city will burn like the tyre.
Some exceptionally powerful personality was stationed over there, which had only one strong thing his voice. He was managing without microphone and was still audible to the pleased and concerned people all around. I didn't stop there and walked off from there. Just now I witnessed a Gheraw, the word born in Bengal and we are all proud that it got a place in Oxford dictionary.
It was just 4.30 PM but the day was dark and cloudy. There was a continuous spitting from the sky. People were playing football in the middle of the road because cars were blocked from both side of the street. After a 5 minutes walk a witnessed another similar scene. This time a herd of people listening to a lady, who might have eloped from a village and was in early twenties. The only thing which made her suitable for this job was muscular, non-stop, irksome voice. I stopped there for a moment to listen to this great orator. She was vomiting fire for the ruling party in Bengali.
I moved from there. One thing which was at the top of my mind was “whether I want to become a demon like Ratan Tata someday” Shame on me!!
