I am from a developing city
(Visakhapatnam), my family is now at Hyderabad and I am working in Bangalore! Of
course I was born in Nagpur! I also worked in Bhubaneswar for a short period.
Recently I had an opportunity to roam all major metros within a short span of
time on official work. After finishing our official work at Pune and Mumbai, I
along with my senior colleague landed in Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
International Airport, Kolkata by 11:00 pm. We surprised to see long queues for
prepaid taxi service controlled by Kolkata police, while the branded taxi
service counters were empty. Even international travelers were seen in the long
queues and none of them even tried the other services. I looked at my colleague,
he glimpsed to stay in the queue only. Suddenly there was a commotion at the
counter and two passengers were shouting at each other for a place near the
counter. I wondered whether we were in airport or bus stand. After few minutes
the counter was temporally closed due to shortage of taxies. Few people left
our queues and lined up for other branded taxi services. Again I looked at my
senior colleague, still he signaled me to wait as we were in different queues.
Finally we got the taxi slip by paying Rs.350/- and boarded the taxi assigned
to us.
First
I didn't like the ‘yellow taxi’ with diesel stinking smell inside. Even though
I came to Kolkata several times before, I still don’t have the complete idea of
the city. All those were sightseeing trips with family, everything arranged by
travel agents, we never felt the pain and the perspective was different. I
asked the driver, how much time it will take to reach Alipore (Taj Bengal), he
simply said 45 to 60 minutes. At night 00:20AM that too nearly empty roads,
45min means a long journey. Then Rs.350/- is nothing, even an Auto Rickshaw in
our cities will charge more. The same situation in Bangalore/New Delhi/Hyderabad
will cost you not less than Rs1000/-, of course with a neat AC car. These types
of cars also available in Kolkata. But in other cities, there is no other
option for common man. You have to cough up more in the name of development. Then
I understood why all preferred yellow taxi which is also safe! I also observed
on all taxies ‘NO REFUSAL’ caption prominently painted (see picture) means the
taxi driver should not refuse to a
passenger whenever the taxi is on the road. It’s a great service to the common
man, who usually gets exploited in all major cities. But in Kolkata, I observed
the common man is always protected. Transportation, Food, Accommodation and
Clothes are always cheap in Kolkata when compared to any city in India! The
public transport fares in Buses, Trams or even Metro are peanuts when compared
to Bangalore. The common man is protected in the Kolkata system. You can see
Love, Care and Humanity in all aspects; there is no looting in the name of
development. The high class people also happily utilizing the facilities, as I
observed the queues near prepaid taxies.
The next day, we asked the
receptionist to arrange a taxi by 7.00AM, then he suggested ‘Sir, just walk
for few feet to the left of the hotel, you will get plenty of taxies with
normal fares, If I call them here, they will charge more!’ What an advice! Is it
honesty or injustice to his profession? I call it as ‘being human’ Here people
won’t cash your situation! Just recalled the same situation in Pune, where we
have to cough up extra Rs.200/-. We roamed around the city with those yellow
taxies as per meter reading, once the meter showed Rs.41/- when I am searching
for that one extra rupee, the driver said, Rs40/- enough. Have you ever paid
below Rs.100/- fares for taxies in any other cities? The poor, middle class are
protected from exploitation by public and private transport systems.
Another small but clear
indication of differences among these cities. A ‘Sweet Pan’ in Pune costs Rs.20/-
where as in Kolkata it costs Rs.10/- only. The best and affordable food
available for all kinds of people in ‘Haldirams’. Of course KFCs, McDonalds are
also there.
Really
those two days, I have seen a different world, which I never thought of in a
metro city like Kolkata. I have seen the ‘Love, affection, care and the human
touch’ which we are missing in the so called developing/developed/metro/mega
cities. That’s why long before the famous author and historian Dominique
Lapierre called Kolkata as ‘The City of Joy’. The people of ‘The City of Joy’
and their tragedies will move you, but their faith, generosity, and most of
all, boundless love will lift you, bless you, and possibly change your life. Yes
the people live here with ‘Joy’! It certainly changed my perspective on several
aspects.
Finally, when we reached the airport
and waiting for our Bengaluru flight, we were informed by the ‘Haldirams’ vendor
about the yesteryear popular heroine ‘Moon Moon Sen’ who smoothly rejected our
request for snap, but allowed to do so, once she came to know that we are from
Andhra Pradesh and reminded her about her legendary Telugu film ‘Siri Vennela(1986)’
by well known Director K.Viswanadh. Bengalies won’t disappoint you!
