My exit poll! As I leave #Bengal, it would be a disservice not to say this: I have come to deeply admire the way women inhabit space here. There is a quiet, almost subconscious elevation of women as independent entities—something that stands in stark contrast to the entrenched misogyny that still finds resonance across much of northern India. Perhaps it stems from a cultural understanding of shakti. A form of empowerment that manifests here in ways both subtle and profound, unlike anywhere else in the country, even in the south.
Any woman journalist who has covered political rallies across India will recognize the difference immediately. Other states, a crowd is not just a logistical challenge, it carries risk. the inevitability of wandering hands, the violation masked by chaos. Here, the crowds are no less dense, the air no less heavy with sweat and alcohol—but the hands, for the most part, do not grope. Men step aside to make way. When contact happens, as it inevitably does in chaos, there is visible embarrassment rather than entitlement. What you encounter is not chivalry, but something far rarer: equality. And equality feels far more meaningful. Was never a fan of chivalry in any case :)
There is more. Women politicians across party lines campaign with a striking freedom, aggressive, sharp, unapologetically irreverent, often using what would elsewhere be labelled as ‘masculine’ rhetoric. In most states, such behaviour would invite judgment, even censure. Here, it is met with acceptance, applause. What feels liberating to an outsider is, in Bengal, simply normal. What we frame as empowerment here is a cultural undercurrent.
I have covered four elections in this state, and each time I have returned with the same sense of awe. Bengal, meanwhile, ambles on with a certain bemusement, as if unaware of what sets it apart. But it is a big deal. And perhaps the most remarkable part is that Bengal does not think so.
Governments will come and go. One can only hope that this constant endures, not just how Bengal sees its women, but how, in many ways, it doesn’t. ♥️♥️♥️
When you're 18, a disappointing board result seems to be the end of the world. It isn't, there's so much ahead of you.
Life is a test match, and the boards are just your first wicket partnership on day 1. A good stand is a great starting point, but if you lose a wicket, you might just have Viv Richards coming in next!
@MakaibariTea - Your flagship outlet in Kolkata airport ran out of branded carry bags. Gifting a foreign delegate your best product in a Toyland bag. Can’t be more frustrating. Worst possible branding exercise for you!
Handing over the batton is a process and journey in itself. It seamless from Fav 5 to the current 3. But this time it looks to be an issue especially in Test Cricket. ICT fans should expect more heartbreaks.
The road outside RN Tagore Hospital in Mukundapur is in a pitiable condition. Non existent. It has turned into an exhibition of craters of various shapes and sizes. @kmc_kolkata please take urgent measures to fix it. Thousands of patients are dependent on it.
From saying it was a terrible combo to be a KKR and India fan as they don't win anything, to seeing them both win trophies in less than a month...
Life's funny, man.😂