London dreams

Sir — I agree in general with the opinion expressed by Ruchir Joshi in his open letter to Mamata Banerjee (“At the top of the hole” June 26). Indeed, it was rather childish of Banerjee to say that she wants to turn Calcutta into another London. The chief minister’s comment is also demeaning for Calcuttans.

It seems that Joshi was referring to an article by Benedict Moore-Bridger in the London Evening Standard of June 6. But “the piece by a young British journalist” contained a number of errors. Moore-Bridger says in the article: “Mother Teresa worked and helped transform the lives of the 16 million inhabitants, 80 per cent of whom earn less than £1.20 a day.” He seems to suggest that almost every Calcuttan used to survive on the benevolence of Mother Teresa.

It is true that Calcutta has a number of problems. But what it suffers from most is its depressing image in the eyes of the world. Joshi’s article mentions the criticism that Banerjee’s comment has invited, but he does not make any attempt to hold up a positive image of Calcutta. Also, the writer should have argued against the misguided notion prevailing across the world that Mother Teresa is the face of Calcutta. The West recognizes this city by her name, which strengthens Calcutta’s image as a ‘poor’ city. This perception has made many people reluctant to invest in Calcutta. Many Calcuttans, however, are fiercely protective of Mother Teresa’s legacy: they cannot tolerate any criticism in this regard. Joshi panders to this sentiment. His article would have been truly worthwhile if he had not done this.

Yours faithfully,
Aroup Chatterjee,
London, United Kingdom

Sir — Ruchir Joshi’s article was annoying. It is not clear why we have to take note of what a journalist had to say in a British newspaper regarding Mamata Banerjee’s comment about emulating London in order to reform Calcutta. It is time to free ourselves from the colonial hangover that forces us to give undue importance to Western viewpoints. Instead, we must focus our attention on the East. When Banerjee stated that she wanted Calcutta to be like London, she said this in a manner of speaking. What she meant was that she wanted Calcutta to become a world-class city. Joshi identifies the ‘flaws’ in Banerjee’s argument, and then sets out to correct them. He should have paid attention to the point Banerjee was trying to make instead of finding fault with her words. Such biased columns can affect the credibility of a newspaper.

Yours faithfully,
Sangeeta Ghosh,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Sir — The recent downpour led to waterlogging in many parts of Calcutta. During her election campaign, Mamata Banerjee had promised to transform Calcutta into London. She should be reminded that the capital of the United Kingdom also faces severe downpour at times. But in London, the streets never get waterlogged, and inclement weather seldom causes inconvenience to citizens.

It has been reported that the new chief minister has asked Calcuttans not to panic but to respond to the situation “sportingly”. This comment sounds paradoxical.

It is time Banerjee put her words into deeds. Let alone be like London, Calcutta has to grapple with the basic civic problems that affect it. As per a recent municipal report, the city’s drainage system needs urgent upgradation. The use of plastic bags has to be minimized as well. The functioning of pumping stations also needs to be looked into.

London is on the banks of the Thames, while Calcutta is on the banks of the Hooghly. But there is a huge difference between the civic infrastructure of the two cities, especially in their drainage systems. If Banerjee really wants to match Calcutta’s appearance and living standards to those of London, she should pay attention to civic infrastructure and administration instead of worrying over trivial issues such as the names of places. Her priority should be the welfare of the common people, who suffer greatly owing to the lack of a stable infrastructure in Calcutta.

Yours faithfully,
Indranil Sanyal, Calcutta

Equal rights

Sir — The joyful and emotional faces of the same-sex couples whose photographs were published with the article, “NY legalises gay weddings” (June 26), were very moving. Those pictures, and the accompanying article, present a strong case for legalizing the relationships of same-sex couples across the world. Homosexuality is not ‘abnormal’; gay men and women deserve to be accorded a legitimate place in society. Their right to marriage is unlikely to pose a threat to mainstream society. Heterosexuals, being the majority, should refrain from sneering at homosexuals, and let them live in peace.

Yours faithfully,
Md. Aslam Parvez, Calcutta

Parting shot

Sir — “Bus jerks, throws girl to death” (June 28) made for shocking reading. Such gruesome incidents have happened time and again in Durgapur, but little has been done to prevent them. Durgapur is a town that is now said to be ‘developing’. Yet vast stretches of roads are littered with potholes. If the burgeoning middle class is seduced by the mirage of ‘development’, basic necessities such as roads , public transport and healthcare are going to be given the short shrift by an indifferent government.

Yours faithfully,
Debotosh Chatterjee, Durgapur