Alvida 2011

Finally he is going…year 2011 is leaving the party and 2012 is knocking the door. 1 more year has passed and 1 more year is approaching . Last year 2010 was a big one for me as professionally it sets the direction of my career so naturally I was expecting a lot from 2011 but in that sense 2011 was very disappointed one. Let me summarize the things (good bad or ugly) which affect me this year:

Transfer to Mumbai: last whole year I was traveling like a lost passenger with no permanent address though I always enjoy such journey but after a certain time we ask to our self that “is anybody home??”

So when I got this news that I am finally transferring to Mumbai so I was happy and very much enthusiastic. For anybody who never been in to any metro city, Mumbai is like a big jungle with lots of crowd and no-one-knows-anyone kind culture. In this way Mumbai will never disappoint you. So the new year started when I reached Mumbai on 22^nd Jan. Mumbai accepted me wholeheartedly and soon we became friends.

Cleared CCNA: In life we set some goals and one such goal was to clear CCNA certification. I was preparing for this exam from quite few months but just didn’t get the killer instinct. It was a relief when I clear it but didn’t get much chance to use my knowledge of this exam anywhere so this knowledge is fading with time now.

5^th time Jaundice: Though jaundice was never a new word for me and it always came whenever I start living freely but from quite few years I was sure that with some precautions and some awareness, I have controlled this diseases. But I was wrong and my hectic schedule for CCNA make me an easy contender for this old friend. This time it was serious and It kept me away from field for almost 1 month.

Engagement: I never had any plan for marriage as I always feel I still have some time to settle myself. But with the falling health of papa and loneliness of ma, I have to think otherwise. By the end of April, I was in a relation. Marriages in India is very beautiful thing and it is always a nice feeling to see that you will get someone with whom you can share everything.

Two trips: 2 trips to Calcutta and one to Haryana. Both the trips were tough as this time I was going in totally news areas of India .I have learned a lot on both the trips but got “food poisoning” on Haryana tour.

Shantaram: Though i didn't read much books this year but get to read shantaram and it had deep impact on me and for few days i was living shantaram.

This was the summary of 2011. Though in itself 2011 was a quite year but it has started many things for 2012. It has set the tone for 2012. With lots of changes on the card, 2012 can be make one or break one for me.

@2010: you were best…

@2011: you could have been better..

@2012: Finger crossed……

Rich Kolkata..Poor Bengal....

As part of my job I have visited many places. Few places I have already seen during my college days but most of the places were new to me and I always feel a great joy and enthusiasm while visiting ant new place.

In this series , recently added element was Calcutta or should I say Kolkata for purists. This was my first entry to east part of India. I have learn that whether you are A connoisseur of art or a naïve person, you will get plenty of things of your interest in Bengal.

So this was my first journey to the land of Tagore, to land of singur controversy, to feel the wind of Maoism, to the land of freedom fighters.

Well so let me start the verbal view of my journey to Bengal:

Just prior to my landing I was watching the lights of the city and the scenario was looking like a milky way …Different series of road lights was welcoming me from sky.

I reached to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose airport at around 11 PM. I came out of airport and took a taxi to Hotel Oberoi grand. Whatever impression you are getting by the name of hotel, you are getting it right because it was a kind of palace. During my way to hotel I had chat with auto driver who was a Bihari and he told me that 20% of total population in Bengal is from Bihar. I was amazed to hear this, I mean in Delhi or Mumbai you can expect people from all part of country but in Calcutta?

Second day in the morning I left for a nearby town, Behrampur. Behrampur is 4 hr away from Calcutta if you are in a Travera. But it took us 6 hrs to reach there, thanks to all the traffic we got . On way to Behrampur, I observing the dressing of village people and I noticed that in few villages the traditional dress for men’s were Lungi only while women had just a sari on their body that too without a blouse. Strange!!!

I was disappointed with the fact that KOLKATA IS CITY OF RICH PEOPLE while BENGAL IS STATE OF POOR PEOPLE.

I was travelling with some senior persons whose experience was more then 2/3 of my age so initially we find it difficult to talk but thanks to little bit humor I gathered in all UP-DOWN’s of life, I get along very well with them and I have understood that every man is a philosopher from heart and with experience, your humor quotient will improve.

During my trip ,I got real problem when it comes to lunch. In lunch they served rice with fish. I was searching something for me in menu but later on I have to satisfy my tummy with rice and pickle.

The journey was normal till I was coming back. On our way back, I was watching a long row of peoples with domestic animals. Initially I thought it’s a kind of fare or something but later on I realized that it’s a huge crowd. They all were going in opposite direction. When I ask my colleagues about this then he told me that Bangladesh border is very near from here and security man of both sides, will allow these man to cross border in 50 Rs per head rate. My eyes were wide open.

After 1 hour , we were crossing a forest kind area suddenly we feel some problem with our vehicle. All 4 of us came out, my colleague were trying to stop some other vehicles to get some help but no one was in mood to stop there. Later on, one colleague called police and for my surprise police came in 10 odd mins. They stopped a truck. When we were talking to police people, one Bulero was coming to us but just almost 1 km away they stopped their vehicle and took a u-turn and all of sudden they disappeared in the night. I ask my colleague about this and he said “welcome to place of Maoism”. It was enough for my small mind. When I was coming back to hotel I was thinking about all these incidents, happened in 1 day.

I was thinking that india is really a diverse country and every part of it has something to offer.

PS: Tea is still costs Rs 2 or 3 in Bengal.