Leaders come in two cultures. One sort of leader accepts the necessity of accountability in public life. This group is in a minority. The majority follows a law, which their followers know only too well: “If we win, I get the credit; if we lose, you get the blame”.

It is ironic that the best democrats in Indian democracy are the Marxists, whose ideology demands class war rather than the more genteel business of planting your finger on a symbol. They treat their party as an institution, not an individual’s or family’s private property. Decisions are made through a collective system, not sent to a single individual for a royal assent or dissent. Responsibility is assigned to individuals, and individuals are stripped [as far as is humanly possible] of their ego. This is perhaps why ex-Marxists become so egotistic; all those decades of suppressed ego is suddenly let loose upon the world. There are rewards for success, even when this leads to stagnation. During 33 years of Marxist rule in Bengal there have been only two Chief Ministers, Jyoti Basu and Buddhadev Bhattacharya. Basu left because of age; he was not pushed out. No one is pushed out. More remarkably, there have been only two finance ministers, Dr Ashok Mitra and Ashim Dasgupta. Dr Mitra resigned on an issue of principle, otherwise he might have retired only along with his friend, Jyoti Basu, once again because of age. If you win elections you can do no wrong.

And that is what the problem might be in 2009. Buddhadev Bhattacharya could lead the Left in Bengal to its first major setback in three decades.

The buzz in Kolkata has already moved towards post-modern: Bhattacharya has decided to resign if he cannot ensure 25 seats out of 42 for his side. How do the Kolkata addawallahs know? Political information is always porous. The man at the top of the pyramid has merely to make an observation to a confidant or two; the latter discuss the possibility with their close comrades, and word rolls down along the sides of the pyramid to reach the dabblers and journalists on the lower ledges.

There are at least three distinctive aspects of this story.

First, a Chief Minister is planning to take responsibility for failure. Politicians across the country will do badly; after all, someone has to lose for another to win. Every other politician is thinking deep thoughts on how to cling on despite defeat. This of course does not apply to dynasts, who will look for generals to hang.

Second, 25 seats out of 42 is still a clear majority. But the Left has set the bar high and will not lower it.

Third, by levelling the bar at 25, the Left has already psychologically conceded 17 seats to the Trinamool-Congress combine. Even at the height of the Congress wave following the assassination of Mrs Indira Gandhi, the Left had conceded fewer seats.

There are two reasons for this. The Muslim vote, estimated to be over 35%, has switched away in large numbers. And there is no split in the anti-Left vote after Congress accepted the slightly humiliating terms that Mamata Banerjee offered during seat-sharing talks. The Marxists tried, with Pranab Mukherjee’s help, to sabotage this, but final orders came from Mrs Sonia Gandhi in Delhi and it went ahead. The Congress, which had six MPs in the last Lok Sabha, accepted only 16 seats out of 42. Mamata, who had only one, catapulted to 28.

The Left read a clear message in this decision. The Congress was treating the Left, rather than the BJP, as its principal enemy in this general election. How? Because in the states where an alliance would have hurt the BJP, like Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the Congress rejected an alliance with leaders who could have helped defeat the BJP, like Shibu Soren, Lalu Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan and Mulayam Singh Yadav. The distribution of seats in Jharkhand had even been announced, but the arrangement collapsed suddenly, and inexplicably, at the last minute. As a consequence, the BJP will pick up vital extra seats in a state where it was comprehensively defeated five years ago.

The Marxists do not consider this accidental. They believe this to be part of a careful Congress strategy to marginalise the Left. There is nothing personal or sentimental about their response. They will not permit Congress to lead another Government because they are convinced that the Congress will use every tactic, political and administrative, behind a screen of conciliatory words, to pursue the same objective if it returns to Government. They know it is a battle of survival and they intend to survive.

They can also sense an opportunity to do unto Congress precisely what Congress did unto them: use power, with Congress support in Parliament, to target policies which the Congress has made part of its core personality, economic reform and the Indo-US nuclear deal. That is the dilemma which the Congress faces. Can it support a Government with a Marxist Foreign Minister who announces an abrogation of the nuclear deal? Surely Dr Manmohan Singh would never find the flexibility to support a Government in Parliament that sabotaged his main achievement. What would the Congress do in such circumstances? It is not a question of swallowing one’s pride. It would be political suicide.

Nor should anyone believe that Marxists would compromise in order to save a non-Congress, non-BJP patchwork Government. They have an agenda, which is in the public domain. They will implement it. The CPI[M] is not going to enter the history books — this is the first time they will join a Government in Delhi, if the chance arises — as having betrayed its core commitment, anti-imperialism, in order to stick to office. This is high on its list of campaign themes, as anyone interested in Bengal and Kerala will know.

The Left will not do well. It will be mowed down in both Kerala and Bengal, but it will still have around 40 seats in the next Parliament. Both Sharad Pawar and Dr Manmohan Singh acknowledge, the first happily and the second reluctantly, that a non-BJP Government is impossible without the support of the Left. Curiously, the Left, with 60 MPs, may have been less relevant to a Government’s survival in 2004 than it could be with 35 or 40 in 2009.

It would be paradoxical, would it not, if Prakash Karat were being sworn in as Foreign Minister in Delhi and Buddhadev Bhattacharya were submitting his resignation in Kolkata? But stranger things have happened.

Let me suggest one of them. If the BJP becomes the single largest party, you would be surprised by the number of small parties which suddenly discover the virtues of stability at a moment of economic crisis. The Left will be actually relieved: it can be where it is happiest — in the Opposition.

Kolkata, city of joy has many reasons to attract tourists in India. One of the foremost reasons may be Kolkata’s food culture. There are lots of streets and traditional shops were foods are world renowned. Sweets of Bengal are world famous. Starting from traditional Bengali foods to multicuisine, you name it and we have it. In this blog I will try to give some food destinations of Kolkata.

Traditional Bengali foods have always attracted peoples from all over the world. Starting from regular household recipes to traditional recipes everything is available. Some good destination for Bengali food may be at Taj Bengal (5 Star) restaurant at Belvedere Road, Aheli (Peerless Inn) , Bhojohari Manna at Gariahat Road, Kasturi at Marquis Street, Oh! Calcutta at Forum-Elgin Road, ITC Sonar Bangla at Haladane Road, Hyatt Regency where people can try Ilish Maach (Hilsa Fish), Bhetki Maach (Bhetki Fish), Chitol Maach (Chitol Fish), Tangra Maach (Tangra Fish), Pabda Maach (Pabda Fish),Rui Mach Doi Diye (Rui Fish with Curd Curry) Parse Maach (Parse Fish), Chingri Maach (Prawns), Kankra (Crabs). Apart from Fishes people can try varieties of Mutton dishes like Kosha Manngsho (Richly Prepared Mutton), Dakbanglo (Dry Curry of Mutton), Kochi Pathar Jhol (Gravy item of Mutton) and lots to name a few. Chicken items are also available. The Bengali food is best matched with plain rice. If rice needs to be avoided then loochi (A flour preparation), Paratha, rotis are also available.

An ideal Bengali thali contains Plain Rice with Moong Dal, Allo fry, one side vegetable preparation, Begun Bhaja (Fried Brinjals), One Fish Item, One mutton or chicken item, Prawns, chutney, Papads, deserts (Payas), Sweets and in the end a pan. At ShyamBazaar there is food shop called Golbari. Mangsho (meat) from Golbari is very famous.

Apart from Bengali foods people can try North Indian foods like Punjabi foods or Mughlai even frontier foods are also available. Some famous restaurants include Azad Hind Dhaba at Ballygunje circular road (Punjabi foods), Dum Pakht at ITC Sonar Bangla (Punjabi), Guchi (Punjabi) at Hyatt Regency, Saffron at the Park Hotel in Park Street (Punjabi), Sonargaon at Taj. Frontier foods are available in Kafila at City Center and at Sigree in Silver Arcade EM Bypass Lane. Some dishes that can be tried out here are Biriyanis, Chaps, Kababs, Kormas and Firni. Apart from these big ones a very famous hotel named Royal Indian Hotel is there in Chitpur. It is famous for its Tikiyas, Biriyanis, and chaps. Also similarly Sabir in Ganesh Chandra Avenue is famous for its Rezala. Aminia is famous for its Biriyani.

Chinese food destination includes the famous Park Street. In this place some good Chinese restaurant like Bar-B-Q, Tung-Fong, Peiping, Beijing, Marco Polo In China, Japanese foods at Jongs, Jimmy’s Kitchen at C.I.T road. All types of Chinese foods are available here but if you are really experimental with Chinese food then a good destination will be at Mainland China in Gurusaday Road or at Hakka in City Centre.

There is an area in Kolkata called China Para. In this place you can have the most elegant Chinese food cheap and best in quality, although it is not very safe to go that place.

Multicuisine restaurants include Amber at Waterloo Street, Caught n Bowled in City Center, Sourav’s at Park Street, Charnock City at Salt Lake, sizzlers at Mocambo, Peter Cat in Park Street and continental at Hush and Kobe’s in City Center is also very famous. Other famous restaurants include Floriana at Russell Street, Trincas at Park Street, Kurry Klub at Sarat Bose Road and many more.

There are lots of small hotels like Randu Babu Shop Famous for its Mutton Kasa, Monohar Agor which is famous for its Chops, Aileen is famous for its Prawn Cutlet, Mitra Café is famous for its Kabiraji (A mutton Chop)., Chacha’s Ghoogni (A recipe prepared from Grams and Mutton). Also in Esplanade you can find lots of chat shops. In Anglo Indian Area (Para) you can have Beef Steak from Braganza’s. Even Olly Pub makes good Beef Steak.

Vegetarians are also having good scope for having nice food here. Vegetarian Restaurants Include Rajasthani food delicacy at Teej and Gangaur in Park Street, Haveli at Salt Lake, Haldirams in Rabindra Saranani, ISKON sponsored Gokul, Gupta Brothers, and lots of more including South Indian foods at Raj, Chennai Kitchen and lots more.

Coffee House….Its a status of Kolkata. Big minds like Acharya Jagadish Chandra Basu (Scientist), Satyendra Nath Bose (Scientist), Muzzaffar Ahmed (Affectionately called Kaka Babu, politician), Satyajit Ray (Director), Netaji (No introduction needed), and lots of great mind have tasted its coffee and puffed packets of cigarettes here. From this place great ideas born. Although now smoking is banned, but still coffee house preserves its status and glory. A whole blog can be written on coffee house. It is located in just opposite to Presidency College at College Street an area famous for books and Bengalis called this area as “Boi Para” (Area of Books).

Apart from these things there are MacDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Dominoes, Barista, and CCD. Modern Bengalis go to these places where as oldies like me prefer Sharbat from Kaplia Ashram.

Sweets are the most valuable food in a Bengali thali. Rassgulla, Gulapjamun, Sondesh, Rabri, Cham Cham, Doi (Dahi), Ladoo to name a few. Sweet culture in Kolkata can be divided in two categories. One Bengali sweets and other Non-Bengali sweets.

Bengali sweets include Rassgulla (Mascot of Kolkata), Cham Cham, Monohora, Malpoa, Chanar Jalebi, Doi, Nikhuti, Jora Mundi, Sor Bhaja, verities of Sandesh, Ladicanni, Langcha, Kalo Jam, Dorbesh, Danadar, Ladoo, Rabri, RasMundi, Chana pora to name a few. Famous Bengali shops include Bheem Nag, Nabin Chandra Moira, Bancharam, Ganguram, Gobindo, Satyanarayan, K.C Das, Balaram, Girish Nakur, to name a few.

Non Bengali sweets are from north India. It is available at Haldiram’s, Chappan Bhog, Bhikaram, Bikaner Bhujiawala and lots more.

Some famous confectionary includes Flurys, Nahoms, Cakes, Kookie Jar, Candy Treats. Ice cream can be available at Baskin Robbins Outlets, Mamma Mia at Ballygunje Circular Road, Xrong Place etc. Try Lemon Tart at Kookie Jar.

Pan is the end touch to Bengali Thali. Lots of Pan shops are there in Kolkata.Famous is Dutta Babur Paan in college street where a single pan can give you a pinch of 5000 Rupees.

At the end we will come to Bars. Famous bars include Chowringhee Bar (Excellent Vodka are available), Cloud Nine at Astor, Polo Club at Hotel Hindustan International, The Bar at Hyatt Regency (Lovely Cocktails), The Junction at Taj (best Ambience), Trincas and many more.

Remembering Golden Days of life is a great experience. The golden are those days in a person’s life when he or she had spent their best times of life with friends, colleagues or family. I consider my golden days when I was studying my chemistry honors in my college. Our college was a pretty famous college in south Kolkata. It has both good names and bad names regarding studies and politics respectively. In our times the politics was at its peak leading with SFI (Student Federation of India), a communist backed student organization. I entered the college in the year 2000 as a fresher and got involved in politics. Regular violence was a daily story in our college regarding various issues.

I remembered the day when a fierce riot broke out in our college related to the issue regarding beating and insulting one of our fellow comrade, Comrade Asif Ali Peerzaada. He was beaten by the opponents so severely that as a General Secretary of the Union I was not able to sit back. I along with my fellow comrades started a riot in or college and we started to blow down the windows and set fire at corridor. Police approached and they arrested me along with eight other members. The police van took us to the police station and we reached there by 8:00 PM. I don’t know the reason but the police separated me and my friends. They kept me in a separate cell along with an inmate. The police were laughing at me after putting me in the cell and their caricature was really bothering me.

The cell was hardly 10 feet by 7 feet dark room with full of mosquitoes and bad odors. In that cell along with me there was another inmate who was sitting in one corner of the room and was continuously staring at me. His eyes were really bothering me, so to make myself comfortable I sat on the other corner of the cell. I continually kept a watch on that mysterious person; he was still staring at me with red eyes. The man was in his early forties wearing a dirty shirt and torned pajamas. His hair has turned almost white and he had not shaven for long time. He was smoking a biri and was staring at me. I was very much afraid of him and I was cursing myself from the bottom of my heart that why I had joined the politics. Time was flying by when suddenly that mysterious person came to me and sat beside me. Trust me my heart almost stopped beating. He suddenly started to laugh at me. Then he asked me in Bengali that what I have done…is it a murder or a rape? I felt really ashamed that now everyone is thinking that I am a hard core criminal. I told him angrily that I have got arrested on a minor issue regarding college and will be released by tomorrow morning. He offered me a Biri and I also took it since I was very tired and need some puffs.

Puffing the Biri, I asked that person his name. He told me his name as Rabi Das and he is from Barasat, a distant place from Kolkata. He also told me that he is a regular visitor in Lock Up since he is a professional criminal. He is having hundreds of theft charges, pick pocketing and extortions. But this time he is in Lock Up for a murder charge. His trial will be tomorrow. To make a point clear to readers, this is India and anything is possible a political minor can also be kept with murderers. I asked him whether he had really murdered. He shouted with joy and replied “Yes… I have murdered a devil.” Then he started crying. I soothed him and then he started his very extraordinary and sad story.

I referred the person as Rabi Da (Da means brother in Bengali). Rabi Da don’t know when and where he born. But when he opened his eyes he was in a dustbin. He was an orphan. A well to do scavenger found him and surrendered him to e station. The police done their duties by sending the baby to an abusive orphanage. Rabi Da recalled his childhood how he was beaten severely with belts and sticks how he was given electric shocks for not doing works how his soft skin was tortured with cigarette burns and how they kept him hungry day after days. His small little hands were used for cleaning the floors. He had never known what is mothers love what is a family what are festivals and what is love.

When Rabi Da was 11 years old he along with one of his inmates ran away from this abusive world and yeas they were really successful to ran. After running away from the orphanage they make up their minds that they will work hard and earn and live peacefully. They started to work in a tea stall. Time was flying peacefully when suddenly god smiled on their happiness. Rabi Da’s friend suddenly died at the age of 12 due to cholera. Rabi Da broke up and left alone. He asked his master to pay some rupees so that he can at least cremate the body of his friend. But the shop owner refused to pay the amount and instead he instructed to throw the body in “Shamsan Ghat”. Rabi Da was crying and was thinking what to do next. Then, he quickly stealed some money, but was caught and fired from job and his friend’s body was thrown in dustbin.

After this incidence Rabi Da left that place and he moved to a distant place. To earn he started Pick pocketing at the age of 14. Then on mastering on this art he started extortion and robbery. Rabi Da told me that he is having severe hatrism for those rude persons who has no heart and treat little Childrens as dogs. He started extorting riches and started earning. By the age of 20 he was a hard core criminal. He told me that by the age of 25 he has visited jail at least five times. He started taking alcohol and marijuana to sooth his pains.

A time came when Rabi Da also started to dream a normal life. A woman came to his life, and he dream to marry her and be settled. But here also god played his game. The woman was actually playing with him and she looted everything from him and ran away leaving him alone in distress. From this stage a hatrism developed in him for women and Rabi Da started visiting brothels and believed that it is the only place a woman can deserve, although I don’t agree with his view but I kept listening him.

I was listening to him minutely when suddenly a police shouted and my concentration broke. I looked at the watch; it was 3:30 AM. He offered me another biri ad we started puffing and he continued his story.

I asked Rabi Da whether he believes in God or not. He laughed and told me “Yes it is there. But you know he is my biggest enemy, if I have a chance to meet him or her I will take my revenge.” I was thinking whether he was correct or not. What has god given to him? No parents No Family No love! No one has ever cared about him, but in spite of being so untouched he had a big heart.

One day he pick pocketed a person. After stealing he ran to a safe distance and opened the purse. He found five five hundred rupees note, a card mentioning his name and address and a letter addressed to his sister. The letter was actually a suicidal note. In the letter that person had mentioned that he is going to suicide since he has no desire to live. He is leaving this money for his sister. That person has asked his sister to get a new sari on her birthday with this money. After reading this letter Rabi Da hurried his way to the spot where he had pick pocketed but it’s of no use. The person was not there. He tried to find him but failed. He was left with no other choice other than to go that place. So he moved to that person’s house by looking at the address in the card. But when he reached that place it was so late. The person had already committed suicide and his sister was crying holding her brother bitterly. There were police, relatives and friends. Rabi Da know, that if he returned the Purse he can be arrested, but this great man without any fear returned the purse and proudly went to jail. In this way Rabi Da entered left and reentered the jail. Everyone knows him including police, lawyers and judges. After saying this Rabi Da paused for a moment.

I asked Rabi Da whom he murdered. He stared at me and told me that he had murdered a father of a baby girl. I got red after hearing this and shouted upon him “why you have done so?” He smiled at me and replied that day he was drunken and was walking through road in mid night when suddenly he noticed a person throwing something wrapped in blanket in dust bin. He chased that person and found that he was throwing a 2 day old baby girl in dustbin. Rabi Da asked him why he is doing so. The man replied since he doesn’t want a girl. Rabi Da started to bargain and this bargain ended up in killing of the person by thrashing. People gathered and took him to police station.

I didn’t ask him why he had done so because I can understand his pain. One day he was also thrown in dustbin. Rabi Da was laughing bitterly madly and then started crying. I hold him in my arms I was feeling heaven to give love to someone who had so much pain.

Our conversation was so long that when it ended I saw the day light. My mother was standing outside with lawyer. Her face was red. Lawyer was talking to police. When suddenly a police came and released me. When I was leaving the cell Rabi Da told me not to do any misdeeds again since I have a bright future. His eyes were saying “Don’t leave me brother alone” but his mouth was saying “Best of Luck for your future.” I was leaving the cell forever but Rabi Da was entering the cell forever, since today morning he is having his trial.

I reached home my mother shouted upon me and even slapped me. I was felling sad not for my mom but for Rabi Da. I left politics and joined Engineering College. I topped. But in spite of so many happiness I never forget Rabi Da. One day I decided to meet him. I went to central Jail. But, sadly he was no more. Rabi Da expired only a month ago.

I thought yes, Thanks god for being so good to a son of yours. Rally Thanks! I accept and testify your presence. You could do anything you like.

In the darkness of hatrism and negligence our children are just going to be like Rabi Da. My request to the readers is to try to love children and orphans who has no one other than you. Try to look at their innocent eyes, whether they are girl boy or anything. Give love to every child and if possible stop throwing them in dustbin and also stop abusing them. By spreading love, joy and creating smile in their faces you are actually worshiping your god. It has more goodness than to visit Kashi or Kaba. Instead of visiting temples or Mosques or Church go to an orphanage and spread love, education and humanism which is the biggest religion.