Calcutta Corner

Trinamool's Very Own
The morning of January 30, 2014 was a nightmare for Calcutta. Daily commuters using public transport could not find buses, taxis, autos and even rickshaws to get to work. And yet the roads were choc-a-block with traffic. How's that, you ask? Because most of the state government vehicles which normally ply the city's roads had been informally commissioned by the state to ferry truckloads of people to the site of the Trinamool rally being held at the Brigade Parade Grounds in the heart of Calcutta, where chief minister Mamata Banerjee was to be the chief speaker. Slogan shouting activists spilling out of these vehicles were dressed in Trinamool headbands, hats and headgear. As desperate office-goers gaped in horror, buses, taxis, autos, and rickshaws zipped past them carrying huge Trinamool Congress tricolors which were fluttering wildly in the cold January breeze. Some passengers wildly gestured towards some of these to stop in the vain hope that they would give them a lift. Alas, none stopped. To make matters more exasperating, a slogan–shouting youth in a bus, was leaning out of the window and pointing in the direction of the passengers stranded by the side of the road... "Eraa kaaraa? Era kaaraa?...Trinamool-er aapon jaara!" (Who are they? Who are they?...They are TMC's very own.) 

Now A Graphical Ganguly
Amar Chitra Katha, the children's comic series which for decades held the monopoly on graphical representation of Indian mythology since before the days of the Internet has decided to reinvent itself in keeping with the times. Its publishers have decided on a policy shift and will now include not real-life and living heroes. And the first real-life living hero to have been chosen by them is former Team India captain Sourav Ganguly. Kishore Biyani, the CEO of Future Group, which has taken over the publication in 2011 has announced the decision saying, "The future generation should know about this sporting legend and this is the best way to do that." 

The Memorial And Its Memorabilia
Calcutta's "Taj Mahal" the Victoria Memorial is a storehouse of history. Literally. Britain, which is planning the Centenary Celebrations of World War I, has recently brought this fact to light when it announced its plan to visit the museum inside the heritage building – the Victoria Memorial Hall Museum – which authorities claim, is a treasure trove of war memorabilia, rare photos, documents and other material. The role played by British Indian soldiers in WWI is supposed to be among the subjects that visiting authorities have taken great interest in and the museum is expected to provide much information on this. "It would be interesting if Calcutta itself hosts an exhibition of the war memorabilia stored in the Victoria Memorial," said a city dweller, reacting to the news. 

Homecoming
Not only has former Congress leader Somen Mitra quit the Trinamool Congress, but he has also re-joined the Congress Party, something he was undecided upon doing even till very recently. However, sources inside the Congress said that Somen Da's return to Congress was made easier by the way in which not just the Bengal Congress but also the High Command in Delhi welcomed it. A Congress veteran, Mitra's decision to quit and join Mamata's movement before the Parliamentary Election of 2009, was a blow to the Congress Party. But soon Somen fell out with Mamata Banerjee and regretted his decision to join her. His wife Sikha Mitra, MLA from the important Chowringhee constituency in Calcutta too had an open spat with Mamata and had announced her decision to leave the party. Mamata has not commented on the move openly. But that Congress has welcomed him back with open arms is clear from the way the Calcutta streets have been lined on either side by posters and billboards showing smiling Congress leaders – from Sonia Gandhi to Bengal Pradesh Congress President Pradip Bhattacharya – in the backdrop of the larger-than-life message of "Welcome back Somen Da." 

Traffic Talk
Another gem from Calcutta Traffic Police...a slight variation in the 'helmet' awareness campaign: 

Baabaa'r maatha boddo daami 
Helmet-ey tey Dhaakaa 
Chhotto matha'r nei kono daam 
Amar maathaa phaankaa. 

(Father's head is precious
So it's covered in a helmet My little head has no value So I did not get)