KOLKATA




The "City of Joy"
Of Banerjees, Chatterjees and Roys,
Das, Ghosh, Mullick and others,
The air rife with happy Bengali chatter,
Smell of fish and tuberose,
First underground metro,
A city I identify with my blood relatives,
A city proud of its heritage.

City that houses Victoria Memorial,
The Birla Planetarium,
Dakshineshwar and Kalighat with it resonate,
As do Chowrangi and Esplanade,
Boat rides on the bosom of river Hooghly,
Fort William and the army,
The Maidan and the Howrah Bridge,
The Writers Building and others bewitch. 

A land of Ilish
And a lot many fish,
Arsalan and Aminia biryani,
Kathi, rolls, the cutlet Kobiraaji,
Sondesh, Roshogolla and Doi Mishti,
The humidity and Brishti,
The neighbourhood shop of kochuri, phuluri,
Yummy desserts at Flurry's.

The neighbourhood, para and adda,
Discussing Marx, Lenin, Kafka,
The melodious strains of Rabindra Sangeet,
A arty culture that no one can beat,
The quintessential 'Bangali Bhodroloke'
Whom the whole world mocks,
In their 'dhuti panjabi '
And 'bou' in beautiful taant sarees.  

Kolkata runs through my blood,
The uniqueness of the city floods
And creates a flutter,
The culture all my being covers,
Songs, music,poetry, drama, art, all thrive here,
Bring me a smile and cheer,
O City of Joy!
It's you I always enjoy.

©®Madhumita

ILISH: A TYPE OF FISH
SONDESH, ROSHOGOLLA: SWEETMEATS
DOI MISHTI/ MISHTI DOI: SWEETENED CURD
BRISHTI: RAINS
KOCHURI, PHULURI: SAVOURIES/ SNACKS
BANGALI BHODROLOKE: BENGALI GENTLEMAN
DHUTI PUNJABI: DHOTI AND KURTA 
BOU: WIFE