I am 14. I can’t concentrate on my studies because I like a popstar called Adam Lambert. Also, to compound my problems, I recently found out he is gay. Help.
Name and address withheld
Who on earth is Adam? And are you a girl or a boy because from your letter it is hard to make out. I am also puzzled whether you want to get into a homosexual relationship with someone named Adam who, by all accounts, was anything but gay and someone we should thank for humanity. Forget the apple, it was Adam who made it all happen and here we are stuck with Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and their ilk. So my advice is forget Adam and instead look at Daler Mehndi. Daler is a better singer too I would imagine and surely will be more amenable to your advances. In future when you write to me specify your gender. It will help me loads.
My father is a contractor and social worker. He scolds me for the most trivial issues and says I will never succeed unless I work under him.
Name and address withheld
How on earth can a contractor be a social worker? It’s like saying Communists can be gentlemen (even Dr Ashok Mitra does not agree) or that A. Raja one day will be freed from jail and turn honest. These things never work. My advice is ignore the moron and carry on with your life. It is too precious to waste on a father who is a failure himself. Social work is the biggest paradox for any contractor so that too is a blatant lie.
I am 18. I really want a best friend I can share my feelings with. How do I get one?
Name and address withheld
Listen, true friends are not buy-able nor are they available at shop windows. You have to realise that you will only have friends if you are genuine and not searching for something in return. The fault may probably be yours when you seek out friends from whom you can either seek help or get something. Perish that thought. There are enough friendless people out there who will welcome even a dolt like you into their lives. If all else fails, contact Lalu Yadav on 1800-CHARACHOR-420 and he will befriend you soonest. And then there’s always Veena Malik and Poonam Pandey if you want the bare essentials.
HELP AT HAND
Alcoholics anonymous
10A, Nandan Road, Near Ganja Park, Calcutta - 25
Ph: 2419 1174
For free help on alcoholism
E-mail: aakolkata_ig03@rediffmail.com
(2p.m. to 6p.m. Mondays through Saturdays)
Al-Anon (for families and friends of alcoholics)
Ph : 8420738682
(2p.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays)
www.india.al-anon.alateen.org
Narcotics anonymous (Kolkata area helpline)
Ph: 9836223071;
www.nakolkata.org
Email: info@nakolkata.org
Self-help group of recovering addicts
HelpAge India
1800-345-1253
Free helpline for the elderly for social, legal, economical, financial counselling and also access to government schemes and policies
Lifeline Foundation
Ph: 2463 7401/ 2463 7432
Free helpline for the depressed or suicidal
(10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturdays)
Sparsha
AE-36, Rabindra Pally, PO: Prafulla Kanan, Calcutta - 01
Ph: 2591 0334, 2591 3852, 6529, 9856
Free tele-counselling and one-on-one counselling on personal relationships and HIV/ AIDS
(10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays)
Pronam
38/1, Beltala Road,Calcutta - 19
Senior Citizen’s Emergency
Co-ordination Control Room
Ph: 2419 074
