Left the city three years back for your higher studies in States? I have a few friends who fall within this elite category, which seemed un-touchable for me, for the time being. I have a few others who have had been working in and around this nation, away from the city for 2 years atleast. When these two lost liners met one day at the Khidderpore Port [The inland river port of Calcutta], they face an awesome dilemma. The place looked similar, but never sounded similar... or some as it is proposed will never sound similar.
The jinx: Well, its the franatic idealogy to change names. Trinamool Congress turns franatic, over the art of baptism, rechristening places from its 300 years old name to the new names. In the tryst to remember great people, the places names are changing...and if things go as it was a year ago, the party will rename the state as a whole...
Come to the Metro Railways, Tollygunge got its name made to Mahanayak Uttam Kumar. Justified, after having such a demand for over two decades... But then where does the places like Naktala, AshokNagar, Garia stand, when we have stations named after a book "Gitanjali", poet " Kavi Nazrul", freedom fighter "Masterda Surya Sen"...and so on! Dont ask me...I dont know the geographical locations at all! In the last budget, Ms. Banerjee, the Supremo Uno of TMC and the Hon'rble Railway Minister tries to rename more.Some are very absurd!
Kalighat: Shahid Bhagat Singh [NO LINK]
Chandni Chowk: Tipu Sultan [Never did that great king visit Chandni Chowk]
etc...
The rename list has new players as well... how about the Minister of State for Port Development, Mr. Mukul Ray. He has announced the cremation ground, beside river Hugli, to be renamed from the historical Nimtala / Neemtala Ghat to Rabindra Ghat! Dont know why, but I feel that this is too much!
A promise to develop doesnt come with changing names... does it? Being a common man, its gives me great pain and confusion to recognize a place that have had a name for 300 years! Then why change? The names didnt pose any problems... if there is a problem then its the electricity and water logged streets during the monsoons! Please relieve us from these then it will us, the public who will start naming the "Good Seasons" after you "Great Politicians".
We are better off with the names in Kolkata...
(c) Somnath Paul: Jan 2010. Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata, WB, India.
Please...No more Name cHange!
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