Leaving Bangalore

After 2 and half years in Bangalore, I got what I wanted all the time, a transfer to Kolkata. Today is supposed to be the last day in Bangalore. The city that I felt like hating all the time, today feels a little different. Suddenly I realize I'm gonna miss a lot of things, that I got used to in these years. The high life, malls, south-Indian food, specially Kerala style fish and Andhra style meals, the ever stagnant weather, the mix of language and the joy of hearing Bengali suddenly (now I'm gonna hear it all the time). I'm gonna miss a lot of people. Friends, roommates and colleagues. Shopkeepers and hotel owners. And a lot more crazy people roaming the streets of Bangalore, a crowd I might never find anywhere.

Every city leaves an impression on you. And for me, who never could settle down at any place (so far my highest stay has been in 2 places - Kurseong-school, and Kalyani-college, for 4 years each), each place I stay keeps its impression like a human being, an associated face, an associated emotion.

I'll cherish my memories of here, and wish I'll come back to visit Bangalore sometime, though I never want to come back here with a job.

Contrasting India

This photo and the topic are cliche. But they are such a stark reality in India, looking with a questioning eye to every responsible Indian citizen. While many of us (like me for example) just sit and talk or write about this, (some even make films) some, a rare few go out there to work on it. It looks like we need a few more people (in fact a lot more) out there in the field. Anyone coming with me?

 

 This is what I see when I look out from the balcony and I don't like this view.

The growing idea

Last time I was writing a blog about inception of an idea. Well there were quite a few of them and the good news is that they are coming to life. As they rightly say "Ideas are like sparrows, if u don't catch them they flee". So this time I tried hard not to let them fly away. In fact it is so delightful that nearly all of them are taking shape. And more I'm exploring them they are getting better and better.

My first idea was to start drawing again and to tell the truth my other blog, the figments of imagination, has kept me on my toes for updates and updates means new drawings. A new drawing for me means a new idea come to life. All these ideas - drawing in MS paint, chinese calligraphy, sketching Bangalore and urban life, sketching in blue, sketching in pen, all of them, combined together in a series of permutation and combination is giving me the time of my life.

There are other people around me with ideas, too. They are my friends, relatives, acquaintances, who have great ideas in their head but never let it bloom. For example, there is a friend of mine with a unique business idea for "fuchka" or "Panipuri". I want to see him do it, but he is too busy earning his daily bread. Some of my friends were artists and musicians. Most of them have forgotten that they ever were something creative once. But the good news is, many of them are coming back to life, life of creativity.

I personally feel that for me the year started in a great way, and it shall continue to be so. Let's call it the year of growing ideas.