If it’s 2 am and you are on the streets of Telco, chances are you will see a funky young guy in shorts trying to give his LML Energy FX full throttle, apparently on his way to the temple but completely lost otherwise. “That’s the way I am,” explains Saurav Chakraborty, who could have been a photographer, a journalist or a stage artist, but instead is a graduate trainee in Hot Srip Mill, Tisco. Impulsive and restless, he believes Jamshedpur is a good place to live when you are forty.

“Life is so set here. No chances. No complaints. Two years here, and I already feel I have seen it all. I think that is why this is exactly the kind of place my dad would like to settle in. The close-knit culture, the warm people ever so ready to help you and everything you need available at the local grocery store. These are precisely the reasons that make it difficult for a young people to get into the groove.

After schooling from DPS, Ranchi, I spent three years at IIT Kharagpur, learning a bit about electrical engineering and a lot about life. There I was totally engrossed in arts and dramatics. I tried my hand at creative writing and won a couple of prizes. From IIT, the leap was straight to Tata Steel and the learning process has begun all over again.

I try to start my day as late as possible. The office bell goes off at 8 in the morning. So I usually get up by 7.15 am, go through the papers in a hurry, grab a sandwich or whatever is available, push my bike and miraculously reach office just in time.

All day it is hard work at the Hot Strip Mill. I am in the maintenance department. Work at the mill can range from being interesting to hopeless. In between I manage to squeez in a lunch hour, which I usually spend reading a DH Lawrence or a George Orwell novel or simply chatting. In the evening, I am again on my way to GT hostel where I gang up with a bunch of equally crazy friends and then our night life begins.

Often we drive out to Bistupur, our very own “Las Vegas”, to just hang out or maybe watch the latest flick on CD or check out what is “new and happening” in town, — a new restaurant or a Gramshree Mela at the Regal Ground. There is always some musician from Calcutta performing or some movie fest in Russi Modi Centre or even Kamaal Khan singing to a jostling crowd. The city may not race ahead of time but at least it keeps pace with it.

Holidays are few and far between and basically comprise Sundays. If I am not sleeping through the entire day, I am out with my gang either trying to climb the Dalma Hills or taking a long drive to the brickline in Ghatshila or to the sun temple on the way to Ranchi or even making plans to go para-sailing and river-rafting. In the evenings we may visit a dhaba or disco on the highway or merely loaf around at Cafe Coffee Day .

In reality, the young crowd actually has very few options in Jamshedpur. I think it would be a real cool idea if Jamshedpur comes up with a decent pub or disco where you can basically chill out with a beer or a drink and shake a leg or two to the latest numbers.

A couple of shopping complexes, a few more libraries and some eating joints would really get this place into the groove. But the need of the hour is a decent cinema that will screen the latest English movies and also old classics.

But Jamshedpur has it’s plus points. It is meticulously planned — the lush green roadsides, the well-maintained parks and gardens and the deep sense of social responsibility in its residents is praiseworthy. The kind of mental peace and sheltered life this place offers would definitely make people want to come back to Jamshedpur.

Twenty years down the line, I probably will be an expert in my field but in the meantime I want to explore and experience all the other sectors, be it marketing, corporate communications or even finance.

I might also end up being a struggling photographer trying to fulfil a long-cherished dream. But wherever I am and whatever I do 20 years down the line, this is where I would finally like to settle down. Cheers to that!

Jasmeeta Dubey