After The Electoral Cyclone
"Severe cyclone expected to hit Kolkata this afternoon. Please remainalert and indoors. Contact KP for any help." This short text messagefrom Kolkata Police arrived in my inbox late in the evening on MondayMay 25, hours after Cyclone Aila tore through Calcutta and WestBengal, wreaking havoc -- uprooting trees, snapping overhead electricalwires, damaging houses and shops, taking lives (23 at last count).