SnoozyUnicorn

Leaving Kolkata

Every time I come back to my hometown of Kolkata, I see a deserted "para" or neighbourhood. Almost everyone I grew up with has left the city, leaving behind old parents. Beautiful big houses which were built by the earlier generations in the hope that one day the next generation would come to live with them torn down making way to ugly flats. It just breaks my heart. What are your feelings?

7mo ago

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ZestyQuokka

Stealth7mo

Are these houses up for sale?

SnoozyUnicorn

Tesco7mo

Some of them are. Someone senior to me I know bought an old house and renovated it. He personally does not like apartments so he went this route.

ZestyQuokka

Stealth7mo

Would you know how much they cost?

SparklyNarwhal

Stealth7mo

Every time I come back to the office town of Bangalore. I see a deserted "para" or neighborhood. Almost everyone is trying to rent their house. Small ugly houses which were built to earn rent from professionals who come to Bangalore for a stay.

SnoozyUnicorn

Tesco7mo

I have no idea what you have just typed

PeppyMochi

Stealth7mo

Kolkata is a dead city honestly. Had there been no Gujaratis, Madwadis, in the city, the city would have been in a worse economic situation. They kind of propel the of the state. Politics and the attitude of egoistic Bengalis have ruined the city. I often have fallouts with my friends who have hardly seen the world outside Bengal and are too stubborn & egoistic to accept the fact that we’re the worst “metropolitan” city in the country even behind some of tier 2 cities to be honest, and only we have done this to ourselves. I go back home only for my parents and to meet cousins and friends who are all in town towards the end of the year generally. That’s it, that’s the only thing that makes me go back. I wish for a future when all the metros and tier 1 cities will be overpopulated and then it’ll be time for Calcutta to rise again, believe in Capitalism and flourish. But that distant dream might be just too good to be true. We Bengalis are adamant and utterly confused but are always up for debates and opposition. We’re happy being workers and corporate slaves. We oppose socialism but we also have a problem with capitalism. The political parties have ruined the youth of the city who have no work but will sit in the political party para clubs, hooliganism is their way of life. Living a less than mediocre life is what they are content with. It feels sad, utterly pathetic at times honestly.

SnoozyUnicorn

Tesco7mo

While the points you raised are pertinent and I agree with them, this thread is more on the lines of emotions. I understand from reading your post, you perhaps have not been born and brought up here or just merely stayed till ur education. In any case you don't seem not so much of an emotional person which is good for you. But not every person only thinks in terms of logic or cold hard cash ☺️

BouncyUnicorn

Stealth7mo

This is true for Mumbai as well tbh. I grew up in Chaar Bangla.

All the 3-4 storey MHADA complexes with trees and playgrounds are being replaced by 40 storey towers with 5 floors of parking and a half dead tree on podium level.

Next gen is in US, EU, wherever.

Coastal Road will spurt another round of redevelopment and all the bollywood folks who keep the vibe chill and cosmopolitan will be priced out. Can't wait for those "veg only" towers in Andheri West of all places.

SnoozyUnicorn

Tesco7mo

Yeah, I am sure. In every big city, the middle class is getting priced out of the market.

DizzyLlama

Freelancer2mo

It's true, the para which was full of life and people nowadays is quite deserted. People have grown, they have found jobs elsewhere and settled. I'd say, this was bound to happen as no industry in recent years wanted to setup anything in Kolkata, so getting jobs is a problem

I love Kolkata, the food there, what truly means to be inexpensive there, garments, etc

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