Thursday, October 23, 2008

BLOG BREAK

We (the spouse, the kid-kittens and I) are off on our annual visit to Kolkata, where there’ll probably be no time to blog, bogged down as we’ll be by festivities, friends, family and food.

I remember being faintly offended when solicitous neighbours asked us, during our maiden year in Mumbai, “Are you going to your gaon (village)?” Kolkata/Calcutta was a big city, a metropolis, I would indignantly reply.

No more. The pace and polish of Mumbai has left Kolkata behind, way behind. It is a city stuck on ‘Pause’, maybe even slowly sliding down to ‘town-status’.

But let me not crib, not now, at least. We go to Kolkata expecting the city to remain the same, the same dusty-delightful bookstalls at College Street, the same decrepit-debate-ful Promodda's canteen at Presidency College, the same cacophonous-crowded Gariahat pavements, the same benign-bespectacled bhaiyya at Tasty's in Dakshinapan, the same affordable-and-mouthwatering restaurants at Park Street and Tangra. Yet we are also elated at every new flyover and mall that comes up (the South City Mall is a must-see this time), thrilled that our beloved "gaon" is keeping up with the Joneses (the IT cities and the biz-hubs). The changes may well be cosmetic, the malaise may well be deep, but the holiday-mood is upbeat and forgiving, so, we tend to look only at the brighter side of the bandwagon.

I’ll be back, with a lighter soul (reconnecting with the roots is therapeutic), and a heavier stomach (all those calorific treats lovingly insisted upon).

8 comments:

Sukku said...

It's what we call in Malay "Balik Kampung" and it happens during the festivals where the City folks travel back to their home town to spend the holidays with family and friends. So I am going to miss your blogs but I would like to wish you and your family "Happy Diwali". Enjoy yourself....

Ugich Konitari said...

Sucharita,

Happy Diwali to you and your family, and have a wonderful time in Kolkatta.....As you say, "the changes may be cosmetic, the malaise may be deep", but hometowns, have a lot of soul, dont you think ?

Anil P said...

Who knows, down the years, gaon might be the way to go :)

Koel said...

Happy Diwali and Have fun at Kolkata.........I can connect very well on the "gaon" comment, same thing happened to me also while in Mumbai. I think it was our maid who made that comment, and I was also similarly hurt and annoyed :) But later realised that "gaon" is synonymous to "hometown" in mumbai lingo .....I am also looking forward to our visit in November - mostly gariahat, new market, dakshineshwar, and all the great great food starting with the humble "phuchkas".....I have never tasted ones even 10% of the taste that we have in our "gaon" :)

Deepa said...

Happy Diwali! Enjoy your break! do come back full of stories and rekindled memories!

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Lazyani said...

Welcome to hometown, Sucharita. Trust me ; Mamata , Singur and bandhs notwithstanding 'Kolkata achae Kolkata tei'.

Happy Diwali and funfilled pandal hopping during the Kali Pujo night.

Sucharita Sarkar said...

Thanks everybody and happy diwali to all of you!