Change on Day One

(Even as a new government has stormed the Writers' Building with hopes of millions in Bengal, i don't think the basic attitude of people has changed much. That makes me rethink whether the state will prosper in reality or promises will just be on papers. A series of stories from my day-to-day experience in this new regime will regularly fill this otherwise under-utilised cyber space)

And he sternly told me: "Sara jibon ki ek i thakbe naki (Will it be same forever)?" My query was simple: why should have i to pay Rs 80, as demanded by the now Trinamul Congress-run pre-paid taxi booth at Sealdah station this afternoon for a trip to Howrah with my 62-year-old mother while the same does not cost more than Rs 60?

Even two weeks back it was Rs 60 but the union did not change colours then. I told the man how come the steep rise in just two weeks even as there was no hike in price of diesel! Most of the taxis in Kolkata are Ambassadors run on diesel. Only last Saturday, petrol prices were hiked by Rs 5 — a day after UPA's principal ally Congress put up a brave face in state elections, including in Bengal. But it had nothing to do with taxi fare 'hike' in Kolkata.

Never in the past seven days or in recent times there was an official hike in taxi fare, so why this sudden change? Has it anything to do with change in political scenario in the City of Joy, or Misery? Muscle-flexing union leaders at bus terminus, taxi stands like many other places were a common sight everywhere in Left-ruled Bengal. I thought that would change for good in the new regime, but could not imagine i had to either pay up any amount the new office-bearers of the union demand or take a ramshackle bus — an indelible symbol of Left-ruled transport department — instead.

I chose not to pay any heed to the union leader's demand although he started abusing me for not taking a car from their stable. That dictatorial attitude dies hard even as dynasties change. As novice in running government, Trinamul should know how to nip such thugs in the bud before they try to corrupt the system and begin another avalanche that can throw them out of power like the once 'omnipotent' Left Front in Bengal.