In Kolkata, revel and rebel with a cause

Like the (in)famous 'Mumbai spirit' that apparently helps citizens wade through life's ups and downs - mostly downs - with a (forced) smile, Kolkata has its own brand of resilience - and dash of adventure. Take the curious case of an 18-year-old 'boy' (in India, anyone under 33 is somehow considered a 'boy' or 'girl') who went missing during a Durga Puja night this year.

He was found a couple of days later, not at a friend's or cousin's place, or aboard a train heading to Ahmedabad where he had gone off to seek a fortune, but camping at Esplanade in the central part of the city where junior doctors are protesting against the West Bengal government over the RG Kar case.

Apparently, this budding anti-establishment spark feared his parents might not share his enthusiasm for protests, parents being the original model for a mai-baap state. So, he did what any rebellious teenager would do: disappear into the festive chaos of the pujas. In true Kolkata fashion, it wasn't just about surviving the pandemonium but also being a rebel - with a cause.


Usually, it's common to hear about a lost 10-yr-old at the Kolkata Book Fair, with the PA system announcing that his or her parents come and collect the kid. But, now, getting lost in Kolkata can have a purpose, and this being Kolkata, the purpose must invoke a bold political statement, of course.