Evil Is The Way We Divide

I may not be a good person, I may be a liar, I may be a thief or I may be even be something worse, but one thing that I can proudly say about myself without doubting a second is that I have never discriminated against anybody on the basis of caste, creed, color, religion or region from where a person belong. Never, ever.

Reference: http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/news_details/2937

Most of you will think that similar may be the case with you also and may be you are right, but, the population for whom it really stands true is negligibly small.

You say you don’t discriminate against Hindu, Muslim or Christian, fine by me. But is that the only way to discriminate or have such mentality.Ask the question to yourselves. Let’s take a case:

I am studying in the National Institute of technology, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, Inddia. Students come here from all over the country and do you know what is one of the first thing the inquire about after coming into the college, apart from being the sex ration of course, it is the percentage of students who hail from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, South India and any state they can think of.

What do you have to say about that? How is that for so called educated students who identify themselves as secular persons?

On the very first day of my college, I went to a shop to by nylon ropes for hanging my clothes. This is how our short conversation went:

Shopkeeper: how long should I cut the rope?

Me: 5 to 6 meters

Shopkeeper: what! Don’t tell me that you are going to hang that rope in your room. Biharis do like that.

I simply took the rope, paid for it and went away.

I can just go on and on and on, giving you countless such examples that I witnessed and faced myself.

When I started doing my research for writing an article on this topic, I realized that how mammoth the task is. I realized that I can’t just conclude it in one post. Why? Because the scenario of present day is that we have developed some sort of antigen that just goes on finding novel ways on dividing human beings into categories. As if it is its only hobby and only job. When we are done dividing people into religions, we go on to community, then caste and this goes on. 

I have tried to discuss this problem for quite some time. Now, when my exams are over,from this post onwards I will be posting on some specific areas related to the issue. I will try my level best not to bore you with my ideas and views only, but, with hard facts, evidences and case studies.

Reference: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/family--a-group-of-people-united-by-certain-convictions-or-a-common-affiliation-fellowship-cory-green.html

Please, I request you to be my audience in this journey of ours to make my effort truly mean something.

Rediscovering My Roots

It has been quite long since I have written something worth sharing, but, today I think I found one. It is 2:47am of 17^th May, 2015 and I just finished watching the movie Piku. I really enjoyed it. It reminded me of Kolkata. I despise that city for countless reasons, say, the incomparable pollution, noise, heat and humidity and of course the short temperedness of the general public. Still, when I saw this movie it reminded me of my roots. I miss two cities most – first, Bareilly, the town I grew up in, and, second is Kolkata. 

Fresh Coconuts for sale

Why?

I am not really sure whether I can satisfactorily answer this question or not as I haven’t lived there, just had been there for some short visits. The first reason that pulls me towards the city is the COCONUT WATER, dab, that is what we call it in Bengali. Second, being the feeling that I have so many relatives close by, my grandparents (whom I call Tata-Titi), my maashi (aunt) whom I call mashimuni and so many countless names.

Architecture of the British Era
 

Moreover, being a civil engineering student, my next point is worth mentioning – the design of the old houses there really gives you the essence of a peaceful and calm Indian household.

The market of Shyambazar is also in a class of its own. The unique thing that resides in its class is that you will hardly find any showroom of Adidas, reebok, nike, sony or brands like that, still it is unique because of the immense variety of items and goods it holds. The traditional stuff in quite reasonable rate and believe me all kind of stuffs.

College street is special for the books it holds, both second hand and new.It is one of my favorites.

My grandparent’s abode is in Harighosh Street, Shyambazar. Whenever I visit there I somewhat like the smell of the air, I won’t call it aroma as I already mentioned how polluted the air has become, still I like it. Sometime when the vendors pass by selling their stuff, the way they go around the boulevard calling for customers, define a tradition in its own way.

Durga Puja

Yes, the Durga Puja, those who haven’t visited Kolkata at the time of Navaratras, somewhat in or near the month of October, I highly recommend them to have the experience by personally being there. It is mesmerizing to see the countless ways how you can design not only the Goddess, her sibling and the asura, but, also the pandals (wherein they lie). It is awesome. You can’t believe your eyes until you see it as they seem to be made of pure masonry, concrete and RCC, but actually being made from panels of woodwork with different kinds of cloth and sheets. 

Temporary Handcrafted Pandals

I may have not been able to give you an accurate description because that wasn’t my motive from the very beginning. My motive was to simply share my views and recommendations.

Every city has its pros and cons, some appreciable and some not much appreciable traditions, customs and ways of living. When you visit any, try not to let the later one bother you, just fulfill the reason of your visit, ENJOY IN WHATSOEVER WAY YOU CAN.