Painter

It's been cloudy. And it has rained. The winds have been here too. It's a change from the cloudless pleasant weather in Delhi.

Had a training session to conduct in the morning which went rather smoothly though I don't enjoy talking almost continuously for more than an hour. The evening was packed with some random walking, watching artisans preparing the city for the festival and then some impromptu music. As S very interestingly pointed out, when it comes to more practical projects like the Metro rail, improvement of roads and infracture, Calcutta is remarkably lazy, but for the Durga Puja where innumerable pandals - temporary abodes for the Goddess Durga - are erected only to be brought down after a mere five days, people put their heart and souls into every activity. There is uncanny diligence and professionalism, so to say. Speaks volumes for the city's priorities which most others may not empathize with.

Bengali Rock is a genre on its own. This particular one, a famous band had created their own style fusing folk with rock, and talented as they are like many musicians in these parts, some of the songs did work pretty well. The band were very well spoken and their emphasis was on folk and themes searching out beauty in the mundane. In other cities, where modernity (and here I mean of the mind and not in the materialistic sense) is a relatively newer concept, there is much shallowness as far as the choices people make go. There was also a personal touch and a respectful tone with which the band interacted with the audience while giving away little prizes. It was beautiful to watch and is, in a way the city's signature. Along with, of course the canoodling couples lined upon the steps.

All the gawking isn't something I prefer though. Perhaps Calcutta is an acquired taste.