The city of joy is not my birthplace. I came here as a migrant from a small town to search for a better future, better education and a better life. From then to now the city has changed drastically.
And so it has within my mind and soul. Kolkata is not just a city to me; it is something that I feel deep inside myself. I sense rhythm in the sound of a tram, I feel fresh by standing in the middle of the Maidan (large open parkland), I become romantic to see the Victoria Memorial, I see old world charm when I pass through a north Kolkata alley and I become sad when I see somebody pulling a hand-rickshaw in the twenty first century.
I get a real harmony and see a colorful kaleidoscope in this wonderful city where I first arrived as an outsider. One can’t find a single characteristic about this city. It is truly diversified by its nature. Perhaps these are the reasons that I never think to leave it. The city provides fuel to my artistic thoughts and I am certainly alive because of it. Despite its difficulties and problems, Kolkata is still a city of joy, pleasure, sorrow and moreover it is a city of hope.This is not a story or documentary about Kolkata. No finite photo-essay could ever capture it. This is just a small tribute to this historical city where I made myself complete and it’s still incomplete, at least from my point of view. Perhaps it will be incomplete forever. [Official website]
