Aman

A beginning of new month. Third month of the third semester. In most of the classes if not all we have crossed 2/3 mark. I really cannot imagine, this journey which I began here so many months back. In less than 5 months we will be placed atleast most of us will be. We will all become part of different caravans again. I still look back and wonder at how this road less travelled was travelled somehow. The memory of that very first day of college is still fresh in my mind. When I took a wrong bus. Then conductor on the next bus said that there is no stop for Roda Mistry College. Maybe God almighty was giving me bit too explicit signals. But as usual I refused to take them and reached class. Which was informed to us would start 2 hours late. Atleast that was better than previous college where first classes were postponed by 3 days. But in both the classes I entered with a confused heart but left with a confident mind. I still remember Aseem Sir presenting the whole curriculum. Bef...

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that India is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and govt. buildings in numbers this nation and our state has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference. It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, leftist and rightist Bengalis who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red and green people: we are, and always will be, Proud Indian and Bengalis. I still remember the day back at school when a chapter on West Bengal was taught and I was the most proud Bengali in the class of Punjabis. Today once again that pride is back and when no...

Somewhere around 7.15 am a local train chugs out of Kalyani Simanta station in the district of Nadia. By the time train reaches Naihati the largest town between Kalyani and Kolkata. There is hardly any space left to stand properly. At Shayamnagar the rush increases several folds and at Barrackpore there is equal number of people standing inside the train as outside. As stations passes the pressure inside increases several folds. At Belgaria people somehow try to cling to train to reach Dumdum rather than some other hell outside the world. Dumdum comes as a relief for those who will continue the journey to Sealdah. But what about those who got down at Dumdum? Well they still have some more punishment to go through, first at ticketing, then at entry points. And finally at the suffocating boxes which will take these cattle herds to their respective farms in the Central Business district. And Fnow the herd which left for Sealdah. A big part will get down at Bidhannagar. The rest will go to...

When I was selected and after I came to know that Sandeep da is in 4th year of his B.E then I thought I am the youngest climate champ form east zone. But on 6th of July when we all met I was proved wrong. There was someone who was even younger than me. What’s better he had academic background just like. Had science till class 12th and now doing political science. I missed him throughout Delhi cos I thought he will share those leg pulling sessions I had with the seniors and those big questions about how I being a history student come into environmental field. And after coming back to Kolkata I helped as much by giving those manuals we got in Delhi. He helped with the Political Science stuff. And in no time we were good friends and we found so much common stuff between us. Without him most of my formal dresses could still be not be used. I thought them to be worn only during the meetings with GB. But after meeting him I felt they are also stylish. I never used wallet thought it to be ver...

The date was 1st of June 2010. I was very nervous when I called the British Council office and some one picked up the phone and told me I have been short-listed for the interview. That was the start and after that she has not stopped her habit of giving me good news on phone. The next day was 21st of June and she told me I have been selected as International Climate Champion 2010 and she will be our Program Manager. To whom I affectionately refer as our PM. (The reason You all know) Well the first problem I had was calling her ma'am. Finally after going to Delhi I learnt to call her Radhika Di. Well describing her is not a very easy job. Even for someone like who have been Junior Journalist. She is just awesome. From the first day till now never perhaps it has happened that I have asked for any kind of help and she has not given me that. She is sometimes a bit bossy but most of the time just like our friend. What I have found her to be is like one of my elder sisters. On whom I c...

On 21st of June 2010, 9 young and intelligent students in and around Kolkata were selected by British Council as International Climate Champion 2010 after a hard selection process. They became the part of the Eastern Zone of climate champs. And also a very special zone of my heart. I was also one of them and the only one to be living in the suburbs of Kolkata. In last three years of ICC never before have so many Climate Champs been selected from Kolkata. Though our numbers were large still we all were so close, sorry are close. I still remember how I was counting days for the 6th July when we all were going to meet for the first time. It was such nice time we all had. Even before they knew each other all got to know me. It was such a nice time I had planning the trip to Delhi for every one. Unfortunately Shreenita Di left us for her higher studies but still you were all there. Well lets start the story of the journey from the day one. Well as usual I reached the BC first. But then ca...

The date was 30th of June 2010. I when out from a local train at Shayamnagar station. I thought of meeting a big tall old guy. But all my hope were met partly. I was a bit surprised. Talked about my project and other stuff that day and found him quite helpful. I got to know about mychlorophyll.com. I opened it as fsat as my computer could start (I must tell you that My Ubuntu Linux takes only 20 seconds to boot. So that was quite fast). Next meeting with him was in the Bristish Council on 6th of July. Perhaps one of the most memorable one. Because we live very near to each other. We both went Sealdah on Amitava's car. There he boarded a train saturated with people. And I had to jump from the wrong side to get down from the train. From then to till he went he gave me some very nice experiences on the train. Except a few. But I will miss those all now. Just last day I came to home on a empty train missing him a lot. Missing all that arguments he had once with a co-passenger for getti...