KOLKATA: Does
living in Kolkata mean there will be people who will interfere in your choices? Will there be people judging you for what you wear or eat? Or does the city generally allow people to live by the rules that they choose to make for themselves. TOI talks to a cross-section of people to know their experiences in the
City of Joy.
Tanushree Sahu
Assistant professor, SA Jaipuria College
Yes, I enjoy my freedom to the hilt in this city. These days, the interaction is less. Everyone is professional. Forget interfering, nobody is even bothered about how the next-door neighbour leads his or her life. They are neither there to lend a shoulder to lean on during hours of grief nor are they there to share happiness. Sometimes, I feel a little bit of interference wouldn’t have been that bad. The old para culture would have helped. People might say things behind their back but they are indifferent in front. Life is too mechanical now.
Rajarshi Middya
Research scholar, Jadavpur University
Rajarshi
Having lived abroad for quite a number of years, I am happy to say this city allows a lot of
personal space and freedom. There is hardly any gender discrimination. Apart from a few instances of moral policing, a woman is allowed to live life the way she wants. Even if my female friends drink or smoke, nobody will raise an eyebrow. Even as a man, I am given ample space to do what I want to. It could be a simple thing like enjoying my privacy in the cacophony of Kolkata. Or go to the Maidans and sit with a book. Kolkata lets a person be the way he or she wants to.
Ekta Bhattacharjee
Graphic designer
Ekta
It does. In both my professional and personal front, I have got all the freedom to lead my life the way I wanted to. In the 26 years of my life, nobody has played a moral guardian. When I decided to take up a career like graphic designing and art direction, there were initial apprehensions. But as things settled down, there was no objection any side. Besides a lot depends on how an individual conducts himself or herself. I don’t intentionally enter into unchartered territories and hence, nobody bugs me.
Panchali Kar
IT professional
Panchali
In Kolkata, I find like-minded people. I can exercise my choices in front of them. I know I will not be judged even if I were to make political statements or talk about LGBTQ rights. I can easily voice my views on the social media. People do judge me there for doing so. But I don’t react to what they say. In terms of dressing, Kolkata’s acceptance changes with the locality. What I can experiment in Park Street is not what I can do in Belghoria. The socio-economic cultural strata changes dynamically in this city and so do the reactions.
Soumen Dutta
Marketing executive
Soumen
Having travelled in both developed and developing countries, I know that people in Kolkata get a lot of personal space. In developing countries, physical space is an issue what with the sheer number of people breathing down each others’ neck. That’s why people tend to get interfering. But in a developed country, there is no problem of physical space. So, privacy doesn’t become a casualty. Knowing these limitations in the Indian subcontinent, Kolkata gives a lot of elbow room. I am not afraid to try anything in Kolkata. At least in comparison to Chennai, Delhi and even Bangalore, I enjoy more personal space in Kolkata.
Anirban Halder
City blogger
Anirban
I have enjoyed personal freedom. As a blogger, I have to go to various corners of the city. Even when I want to peep into unchartered territories, people have not objected to it. When we are doing food shoots at small eateries, people don’t arch their eyebrows and behave as if we have landed from some other planet. They are accepting of anything new. But yes, there are attempts by some to put me in a box. It will still take time for them to accept the concept of blogging about the city as a whole.
Tanushree Sahu