Let me start by reminding you that I do not live in the
southern hemisphere. So, the idea of getting up at 5 in the morning was really
getting on my nerve, especially when the month is December. Finally it was
decided that we will be starting our trip around the nooks and corners of the
city at 6 am. Now, I rest in peace (1 hour does make a lot of difference
because it is a Holiday). This was decided via chat and suddenly the door bell
rang and my US wala brother entered our home. I was really excited to see him
and when he heard about the Saturday plan, he synced in because even after coming
to Kolkata for last 20 years, he hardly knew what the city is all about.
The alarm rang like anything and I switched it off thinking
there is still time. Suddenly my Mom called me up and I found myself left with
only 15mins to get ready. Well, am kind of a sonic personality. Sharp at 6 am,
both of us were ready, waiting for my friend at Lake Town, Jessore Road.
Boarded on a taxi, all three of us set our journey towards
Burrabazar Folpotti.
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| Photo Courtesy: Kunal Chakraborty |
The route was a very known one because every time you take a bus
or a car to Howrah, you need to cross this place, provided you are traveling
from North Calcutta. As we got down
trying to find our way through the huge trucks, I already found my subject, so
did my friend. We went around clicking and my brother was looking at the huge
trucks loaded with fruits with dazed eyes.
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| Photo Courtesy: Kunal Chakraborty |
These people were really sporty, coming ahead and ready to
pose in front of the cameras. Initially I was thinking the idea was crazy
because I was carrying a simple SX150 whereas my friend was holding a DSLR in
hand. But then I realized, what’s in camera, it’s all about fun.
As we end our session at Folpotti, the next stop was the
Greek Church. It was massive but simple with huge columns and a long aisle. The alter was nicely decorated and there was no one inside, except the long wooden chairs
and the big organ.
A Jewish synagogue was located on the opposite side of the
road and I so badly wanted to see it, but we didn’t have the permission.
My brother said, “Let’s play a foul.” He went straight to
the caretaker and with an US accent he spoke in Hindi. Referring himself as the
representative of Jewish Federation in USA, he said that he has come to Kolkata for
carrying out a photo session in Maghan David Synagogue. In the
meantime, he took my friend’s phone number and then asked him to call up the
company (God knows what company!) to know about the detail regarding this
appointment. I realized, things were going to be really funny and I have to zip-up my laughter. So, with acute
interest, I was trying to read the Jewish scripture. Yes, it was all Hebrew to
me! All of a sudden, my brother called
up someone and passed on the phone to the caretaker telling him, it was priest
on the phone. The conversation continued and I hardly had the idea that it was
my friend who was talking as the priest. Finally, the manager called up and we
were not allowed to enter the Synagogue.
In spite of a failed plan, we laughed like hell the moment we got out of the premise of
Moghan David Synagogue. My friend said, he was trying to find out a name when
the caretaker asked who he was talking to. Anyway, it was real fun.
Next, we went to Dalhousie and arrived in
front of the Writer’s Building. Strolling on the open wide road, we visited Lal
Dighi and then walked towards the bank of Ganges. We thought of going to the Princep
Ghat and hence took the trailing tracks to reach as fast as we could but it was
pretty far and we had to drop the idea.
It was already 8:45 am and as per my friend, too
much sun is not good for photography. Therefore, the journey came to an end.
But before calling off the trip, we decided to visit Indian Coffee House at
College Street for breakfast. Describing my brother the reason for the
popularity, we ordered 3 cutlets, sandwiches and 3 coffees. Oh! I forgot
to mention our morning tea in ‘bhanr’ (earthen cup) with fresh made Jelabi at
the road side tea stall. My US wala brother cherished it; after all it was his
idea and we tuned in.
The trip for the day ended and we boarded on a private bus
and we were back to Lake Town by 11 am.
Winter mornings are always hard to kick out from the bed but
once you hit the road, you can appreciate the beauty of the foggy and silent
Kolkata. There were people sleeping on the roads, covering themselves with a
thin blanket. Life for them is hard, whether it is in the scorching heat of
summer or in the chilling night of winter. But they know how to live even in
the hardest moments of life. May be the smiles on the faces and the fun on the
roads are the magic salts that give them the hope to breathe forever.
