Well, what could be a better topic to write about in my first blog other than My First Love - Calcutta ?
Yes, I prefer to call it Calcutta over Kolkata!
Having been out of Calcutta for over 7 years now, I could feel its essence.
Needless to say, the city has got its own charm - the small things like a hand in difficult situations, since people here have hell lot of time to leave their work and interfere and resolve your problems; respect for elders and women (be careful when you tease a woman here, you could be in serious trouble); cheap but delicious food, public transportation, and above all the ability to survive for a day with even ten bucks in your pocket! Well, in today's scenario, it's difficult to imagine such things.
Being born-n-raised in the town of Barrackpore, I relished every bit of it. My schooldays were the best part, as we had a lot of exposure to Extra curricular activities like sports and music. And I used to be a part of almost everything there!
As every household in Cal would make their children play some instrument - I was handed the Tabla, which I learnt for close to ten years, but could never quite master it (I wish I had played the guitar since then).
Then of course there was Cricket, and I used to go to the camp for almost two years. I was quite good at it and I was considering it as a potential career option, till I realized that I wasn't good enough [:P]. But the best thing I was at was fielding; I just loved that, and used to take brilliant dive catches. Anyway, now it's lost skill I guess. But these things really enhanced the adventure quotient in me. I used to jump all over the filed, just insane dives, which if done wrongly could have proved fatal. My mind was framed in such a way that I was sure of taking any physical challenge without a second thought!
Once from school we got an invite to visit Vibes (fest organized by Voices - The Statesmen daily), and there I heard "Krosswindz " playing "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi. That was my intro to Rock music; and I'm hooked up to it since then!
Times have passed now, but the initial induction which I got from being born-n-raised in Cal is still oozing in me and will be there forever! :)
