Kolkata
is the cultural capital of India. It has been long known for its literacy,
artistic and revolutionary heritages. As the former capital of India Kolkata
was the birthplace of modern, literary, artistic and scholastic thoughts. Kolkatans
tend to have a special appreciation for art and literature its tradition of welcoming
new talents made it “a city of furious creative energy “.
Paras
in Kolkata signify a neighborhood with a strong sense of community, and are
usually sharply defined on the basis of loyalties. Paras culture typically
segregate Kolkata communities on the basis of origin.(West Bengal communities
GHOTI vs East Bengal communities BANGAL).Typically every para has its own
community club with a club room and often a playing field. People of a para
habitually involve themselves in “rock “and “rowack” addas and teashops in the
evenings after work .North Kolkata typically has more street life than the
south.
It
has been since my birth that I have been in Kolkata which I still think of as Calcutta has been the same
as it has always been .But what pleases me the most is the Kolkatan thing about
Kolkata that goes from strength to strength is the institution of adda .Other
communities pass the time in idle chatter and gossips but not so the Bengalis
.There is nothing idle about his chatter or gossip which goes by the local name
of “Adda”. For the Bengalis the adda is not a mere time pass it’s a timeless
passion .Its a conversation devoutly to be wished and the Bengalis spends hours
at it .According to them Adda is not a wastage of time but time is a wastage of
adda. Anything and everything Right from the success of Chennai Express to the execution
of Ganguly from the Ipl, from mountains to molehiles.Bengalis can talk a lot
and that also with loads of energy .
As
Amartya Sen has noted all Indians are argumentative .If we weren’t India
wouldn’t have been the biggest and most vocal democracy in the world, because
democracy is just another word for argument. Long ago we Bengalis realized that
argument is the essence of adda, its life blood and its Oxygen. Right from the
age to 12 to the age of 60’s the adda is very much evident in Kolkata specially
the Bengalis. Each one of us has its own taste and so the topic changes accordingly .And moreover adda is the
tradition of Bengalis .
During the last few
months the city witnessed two debates one organized by a local newspaper and the other organized by a Saturday
club .The themes respectively were topical : Should politicians be ruled out of
government? And have scams kept up with inflations? The popularity of such
events underscores the argumentative nature of Bengal. There are so many clash
of words ,some wise advices while someone giving dumb statements it seemed to
be a heroic moment of argument saga. Overall Kolkata is the place of adda and
fresh talents from where lots of wise decisions also come up. Some people can
fight for a social cause , while others making a blood donation camp ,or may be
something in terms of entertainment adda is not only time pass its fruitful as
well giving rise to new thoughts and ideas and hopes that glitter our future .
Subham Basu
PGPMC
2nd sem
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