Cold shoulder

n?And you feel alright, when you hear the music ring? claimed the Sultans of Swing ? Mark Knopfler and his band mates from Dire Straits. Unfortunately, the music never rings for ardent classic rock fanatics of Calcutta.

Our Gods never come down to the city or have to face problems while doing so. This has been the trend, and it hurts me immensely to say so.

World-class musicians visit the country regularly these days, but do not perform outside Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi. I don?t grudge these cities their good fortune, but I want my share of the pie, too.

The trend started in the late 1990s with Scorpions and continued with Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Bryan Adams and Sir Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones.

The later two, however, had lit the candle of our hopes, but it was blown out in the wind. And I guess our poor luck will continue with Mark Knopfler, too, giving the city a miss.

There must be a thousand reasons why the rockers or the organisers do not think of Calcutta. But there also exist reasons why they should ? we boast of three stadiums, and have no dearth of companies to sponsor the performances.

And if the crowds are a consideration, I don?t think any other city boasts of more rock fans.

So can it be that the dhoti-clad men in power and their infamous practices are keeping the musicians out? I, sure, hope not.

The only respite came in the form of John McLaughlin, jazz guru, who recently lit up a rain-soaked evening in the city, and the likes of the late Shawn Lane, Jonas Hellborg, Steve Topping and Gary Husband.

To conclude my lamentation, I would like to say, it is high time the winds of change blow over the city. Believe me, there can be nothing better than a rock concert on the banks of the Hooghly.

Abhishek Chanda,

Asutosh College

Present perfect

nWe think so much about our past, the mistakes we made, and are so anxious about the doubtful future, but we hardly spend a moment on the present ? the lovely now.

Every day comes with a new promise, but hardly anybody thinks of it. Most of us see a day as an obstacle to be overcome.

If only we could relax and just love life. We work so hard to achieve our goals, but in the end it is not success that we cherish but the lives of the people we have touched.

We have become materialistic, but we do not think of what use is money when it can?t buy love, life and happiness. You may find me far too idealistic, but I can?t stop loving life and I am happy because of that.

Rittika Bhattacharya,

Calcutta Public School