24 March 2007

A city in conversation

People in Kolkata are always talking to each other, even if they are perfect strangers. After I got into the auto, the autowallah waved at a Punjabi woman on the street, and then turned back to me and said, "She is a very good woman. She is much respected here." When I said, 'Huh,' he just continued, 'She is friends with everyone in the area. That is what matters - your behaviour with people. Poisha to sabhai kamachhe (roughly translated, it'd mean, 'No big deal about earning money, everyone does it.')' I couldn't figure out why he delivered this monologue, but then, smiled at him and nodded. By now I know. It is a city forever in conversation. We love to talk here.

I had wanted to post something a couple of days ago, but varied news about Nandigram has been pouring in, and has been quite depressing. I love Suman Kabir's daily talk show on current affairs on Tara Bangla. As a poet-singer, Suman is original, refreshing, and stays with you. But that's just part of the story. He's almost a cult figure here. He changed his name from Suman to Suman Kabir, so that he'd be neither Hindu nor Muslim. What I like about his show is his complete ease with the camera, perhaps because he's just being himself. His smiles are spontaneous. When something worries him, it shows. He's been doing a series of shows on Nandigram and related events. In one episode, a doctor, who went as part of a team to Nandigram, said there were about 400-500 people missing from the villages. He had many other gruesome things to tell. At the end of the show, Suman asked his viewers to not write to him, or to anyone in West Bengal, because it would be in vain.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

We talk in vain but we love to talk. One day we will be heard...

Anonymous said...

I've heard of the legendary friendliness of Bengali's in general, and Kolkatans in particular.
I'm also given to understand that it's a very bad idea to tick on of them off!

ರೇಣುಕಾ ನಿಡಗುಂದಿ said...

Dear Vijayalaxmi Avare,

Naanu Renuka anta dharwar davalu, today i happen to see your blog here. Nimma kelavu blogs odide. Tamma vivaragalenu? Kolkata dalli vaasa, enu maduttiri? Naanu delhi yalliddene. Nanagoo bareyuva geelu ide, nimmashtilla.. nanna jate maatadi...tumba kkhsuhiyagutte. Nanna mobile no.9811044161
thanks & regards

Vijayalaxmi said...

Hi Renuka
Tumba santosha. Nanna vivara eno kelidderi, aadre nimma profile not accessible yaake? :) You can add me on gtalk (check profile for id). alli maatadabahudu. sihikahi oduttiri.

Anonymous said...

Hey Viju!Read all your posts on Singur. Must say,info that you gave was much more than our local newspapers. Maybe because the newspapers here felt it isn't worth writing about something happening in Bengal! Keep posting! By the way do check out my new blog. www.pkandi.wordpress.com.

Anonymous said...

ಹೋದ್ವಾರ ನೇಂಸೇಕ್ ನೋಡ್ದೆ. ನಿಂ ಪೋಸ್ಟ್ ಓದಿದ್ಮೇಲೆ ರಿಲೇಟ್ ಮಾಡಕ್ಕೆ ಸುಲಭ ಆಯ್ತು.
ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಬರೀತೀರ.
ಕೀಪಿಟಪ್.
ತಲೆಹರಟೆ

Vijayalaxmi Hegde said...

namaskaara taleharateyavarige (hagandre bejarilla taane? innen maadli, nim hesaru gottilvalla.) prashansege dhanyavaada and welcome here :)
Naanu namsake nodilla, aadre nodiruva nanna bangali friends prakaara adu dabba. ene irali, nimage eno ondu common thread kandirabeku. illi barta iri.

Slogan Murugan said...

Chatterjis!

Vijayalaxmi Hegde said...

U bet!

Anonymous said...

kabir suman has left tara news and joined kolkata tv.

please visit and join www.kabirsuman.org