Bandh once again

Another Bandh.Once again had to go through the ordeal of waking up very early and boarding the office pickup van at 5 am . The city looked so ugly today except the stretch around the lakes .The teeming masses and polluting vehicles actually distract one's attention from the ugliness that is reflected on the unkempt streets, senseless temporary structures, grotesque buildings, litters etc that make up the city's general  features Probably  the sweepers were on strike too.

Kolkata is a city full of stray dogs. This morning throughout my one hour drive through different localities in south Kolkata the scene was similar. A few shops had opened shutters , morning walkers on their daily ritual, devotees in front  of the closed gates of Ramthakur temple waiting to get a glimpse of the lord, daily labourers trudging on foot to their workplaces and to  keep them company bands of stray dogs roaming around in almost every gully. Why doesn't anyone do anything to rid the city of these animals. I think these poor animals are part  of the city;s general culture of rampant neglect and calllousness.They look so pathetic in their unwashed bodies sans all dignity.They are one with the street urchins .But even urchins can  be found in specific areas of the city.These creatures are everywhere.

I am not a dog lover but have respect for all kinds of life. The world can be a beautiful place for all creatures to live  with dignity and grace.But Kolkata at times appears to be a huge garbage bin lying unattended for ages now.  At times I feel Kolkata has lost all  its bright ,enterprising sons  and daughters to an Eldorado called globalisation  and with it the will to live,lead ,innovate,grow and prosper.