The pace of my efforts to see as much as possible
and record the sights of Kolkata does not slow down. Yesterday, Saturday, 3rd
year, U of Kolkata, IT Engineering student Samrat Dutta, very kindly shared his
time and knowledge of this great city to show me the sights and sounds, high
life & less high life, not typically seen by your average tourist. Thanks
Sam, look forward to reciprocating when you visit North America next year.
One of the joys (yes, miseries also) of long range travelling solo, is that one is somewhat forced to make contacts with strangers. Today, I crossed paths in a McDonalds with a couple of very
interesting ladies, Americans, who are working for a children’s charity
for three years in Orissa, southern India. One of them is getting married this
week to the Indian Director. Fascinating to get their take, learn of their
impressions, & to hear about struggles to make a new life in this country.
Hard bed...... |
Boiling the curd..... |
Yes, life in Kolkata city is crowded, hot, chaotic &
very noisy. Iin my time here however, I have not seen any evidence of aggression
or anger displayed. People seem accepting of their lives, the pressures (economic & social) and respect the lives of others. For me, crossing the road is an
excellent illustration. In the West, this a simple process, that is governed by
understood rules: traffic lights, zebra crossings, cameras, police etc. many folk get very angry when the rules are flouted. Apparently, in
India, laissez faire, no rules, no traffic lights, nothing—each person for themselves. Just
now however, I am learning that a different, but real logic in fact applies and is generally understood. Everyone comprehends that according to the rules of the game, the cars will not actually
touch, that vehicles will, at the very last second, brake for the old lady or the man
with no legs, for the cow or whatever. All accept the unwritten rules and
miraculously it all comes together peacefully without the evil of ‘road/civil
rage'.
Tomorrow 3 November, I am travelling
down to Chennai, formerly known as Madras, inSisters of Charity administering to the homeless.... |
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