Independence Day

Last of a kind: These are the gentlemen who earn a living pulling others around. He'll be out of a job in two weeks time. I see this chap often sat at a particularly busy junction to Park Street trying to pick up trade. He's not got a bell so has to find a good spot to attract attention and also has to shout above the noise of traffic and taxi horns as he goes. Many of these men will have come from out of town looking to earn a few rupees. Tip big. I should imagine they'll be stuck in the city with nothing, like many others, come September. (I obviously asked this guy if he was happy for a picture. In order to avoid a lengthy photo shoot attempting a natural pose I simply took him as he stood; absolutely straight, looking slightly awkward. Didn't want him to feel like a tourist oddity, but he didn't speak any English and I spoke less Bengali, so I tried to show my respect with a hearty handshake.)

A game of "monsoon footy", as described previously, played by the lads at Anandaloy: I went again the following day and the lads said the pitch had dried out so we went for a game. It turns out that an Indian "dry pitch" is equivalent to an English "sodden" pitch and has patches with anything up to an inch of water. So we got quite muddy and my game wasn't quite as sharp as it might having been :-). One lad there recognised me from our visit to the detox centre. He's new to the Anandaloy home and it was evident that the other lads were looking out for him. It was good to see.

Below is a close up of the game Carrom, I believe I've noted before (There an entry in Wikipedia on it). Again at the Anandaloy home. The player's about to execute a slick little flick sending the black counter into the pocket.

A back street grocery store: The guy's holding a measuring spoon with which he loads a newspaper bag with rice which is then given to the girl to weigh.

A typical shop along a busy street in Kolkata: See the guy sat on the counter selling the packets of snacks and other food. This takes a little getting used to. Don't tend to see the girls at ASDA sat on the checkout counters back home. As I walked past you could see underneath him someone else making chai, just behind where the other guy is sat down on the right. It's a two storey shop, kind of a road side department store.

Yesterday was Indian Independence Day. 60 Years since India first enjoyed self-rule. Every Indian I've met is very proud of their country, culture and achievements. There was a colourful celebration at the EMC Ripon St office, with many of the children and adults we've met and worked with over the past weeks involved. The program appeared to be a celebration of Indian culture and the survival spirit that every Indian seems to possess. There were no digs at the British or the injustices we were responsible for.

Sweet tea and samosas for refreshments afterwards. Then the Tearfund team went to the Tollygung country club for a bit of a break. It's a throw back to the old colonial past. A few swam in the swimming pools (swimming caps provided from the bottom draw of an old table for those with long hair), others of us wondered around the golf course, watching the birds as well as the golf balls. The evening meal there was a little entertaining simply due to the outrageously poor service.

Karen has had a few blisters come up on her feet, possibly from insect bites. She's got some cream and tablets from the hospital. The doctors here use a scatter gun approach. So she had yesterday at the YWCA with Jennie but it was a profitable time for her to apply her Kolkata experience so far and consider future directions.

A guy has just come into the Internet cafe wafting incense and chanting. Offering puja for a faster connection maybe, or perhaps this is the virus protection.

Today the others have gone to Aquatica, a water park, and I'm spending the day going through the streets once more, reading a little of "City of Joy" (the classic novel about Kolkata). Got my glasses repaired at the best looking opticians I could find, in return for a small charitable donation (simple repair, one of the little pads fell out, not the first time). Off to get some lunch now and find somewhere to do more reading. Then tomorrow it's back to Anandaloy. Asked the lads last time if there was anything specific they'd like to do. Bapi replied that I could perhaps teach them some new games and take some Bible studies, :-).