Oh! Calcutta

The realization of “it’s been a month" is all that reminds me that its been just a month after all.

11 July 2009 marks one month for me and likes at IIM Calcutta. Now I have been to IIM Ahmedabad and tend to compare the two...at least used to when I came...It was my difference of hope and reality…but I don’t any longer. And I have reasons to say that.

Now I, in no means want to describe my life @ IIMCAL. Its too soon and clichéd. I like it here is all I have to say. I am interested in different stuff that I never saw people mention anywhere in their scripts.

So Joka is a place that makes you feel uncomfortable for once. The nearly two hour drive from airport is enough to infuse thoughts in mind which are not so welcoming. And for a delhiite, umm…slightly more horrible. Weather for once, can not be addressed. And I can’t state for the umpteenth time how the place has terribly horrible weather.

As you reach the gates of IIMC, chances are you will not even notice you have reached. It’s a simple plain low green gate that can boast of nothing, not even security! And plane jane font of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta shines in a neat line. That’s it. If you are passing by the road, chances are that u will spend you lifetime without noticing the life inside. But life, just like always and everywhere, more so at remote places, exists…

Much before I was even allotted my hostel room, I did go through all sort of professionally-unprofessionally done arrangements and kept on wondering and contrasting things. How Bongs are slow at everything, how they are cold and low (nil) at enthusiasm. Yes, India is multicultural. Its not just language and food, It’s in genes. So from people to dogs, cats and even mosquitoes, all are slow here. They are in no rush is what I will realize soon….

Now comes the contrast part. IIMA is a structure that you will be in awe of. The moment you enter IIMA gates, u know you have to live upto it! Yes. Those red bricks shout of Louis Khan perfection and embraces only the perfectionist…

Cal is a routine building with its flaws and modesty. For once, I wasn’t sure if I will be able to survive in my small hole-room. The mess looked like a Govt. office canteen to me. My feel: Had I been here earlier, I wud have put more fight for A”


But then it sinks in…shabby building says: I’m yours, I will live upto what u want, just take me. And I did. We all did. I am not in awe of the place, I am in it…Living plane and simple. And then things sink in further. My advise, don’t ask or form opinions before at least a week here.

From weather to place to people, everything changed. I feel like a hypocrite to state that I love it now when I hated it till less than half a month ago. That’s the secret of city of joy. Another fact is that Calcutta to a larger part, at least compared to Delhi, is holding on or untouched deliberately by western influence. So, bar a few malls etc Calcutta is what it was. The way delhi 6 is what delhi was. So you will still find people who do not look like plastic-single mold-mall people but vibrant and rustic natives who are in no hurry. Yes, I remember a beautiful mail on slow down culture. Calcutta originally adheres to that. People are in no hurry and they have not given any opportunity cost to their happiness.

I don’t find people doing conventional things for the heck, but they do things to stay happy and joyous. They are not rushing. Ambling in life. Staunch about believes and stringent about them...to some extent fanatic too maybe. Of course I am talking of the mold of people in Calcutta. Human beings will always differ at higher level…

So back to Calcutta. I did not cry when mom left, that is when I usedta cry every weekend before going to grad college hostel. That’s difficult to imagine out of me. And more so, I don’t much feel homesick...either I have toughened, or this place is too busy or well…I like it here too much…No clue, too early to answer this.

I just know that these are my last two years of student life. I want to do things that I always wanted to do now. I’m for once also going with the flow and just living. Not bothering or deliberately trying to do anything. I have kicked off well coz I feel belongingness and at place. Now, this is important. I felt I belonged to DAV school. Never to Bal Bhavan and not at all to NSIT. But I feel I belong here. I truly feel this continues. By the way, in a month, I have realized how this place, of all things has managed to stay at near top for times…It has chosen the other extreme of pedagogy. Not stretching your limits and excelling but for once, stopping to stare and moving on. It’s like basketball game. In a rush to make a basket, the holder of ball just hurries and keeps on passing and getting rid of the ball…You may of course make score like that. But try dribbling slow, grabbing ball, stop, think and aim, it will go again, maybe with equal probability. But this time you did not achieve that while trying to get rid of it…and believe me That’s the difference. don;t get rid of life to achieve or other way round...

My lesson one in Cal- heard, told and reiterated many times earlier, but now internalized: The best things of life are also the simplest ones.

And this is what the city of joy tells, that it has life, in spite of all the many things it falters at, and that’s why they say: You can take me out of Calcutta but you can not take Calcutta out of me!