The new capital..!
Robert Clements
Monday, May 28, 2012 - There are many in India, and the rest of the world who still think that New Delhi is the capital of India. It isn’t, the capital has shifted. No doubt it was the capital when India got her freedom, when the constitution was made and Republic Day was first celebrated. Without any doubt Delhi has been India’s capital for over sixty years, but finally with a sigh the capital went back to where it had been over a hundred years ago; in Calcutta, now called Kolkata.
If you’ve got any doubts about this, just see for yourself where the most powerful country in the world, sent her Secretary of State: Normally any dignitary lands in the capital of a country, but with not even a ‘by your leave’ to the PM or the President, Hillary went straight to Kolkatta and only after that decided to drop by at Delhi. Howzaat? A hundred years ago, the British shifted the capital from Kolkata to Delhi, now it has shifted back to where it belongs.
There was no big ceremony. No breaking coconuts. No pooja. Not even an announcement. The capital just shifted back. I know there will be many who will say, that the President and Prime Minister are still in Delhi, that Parliament still functions from Delhi, that even Sonia stays in Delhi. But my reply is, where are the decisions made? Kolkatta!
Delhi, poor city had to learn the hard way of course. With loud noise and fanfare Delhi announced to the rest of the country that there would soon come billions of dollars from abroad into the retail sector. No, said Kolkatta. Delhi made another go at a few other bills, including raising the railway fare.
No, said Kolkatta. And Delhi bowed and gave in. There are many in India, and the rest of the world who still think that New Delhi is the capital of India. It isn’t, the capital has shifted. You may like to know what is happening in the new capital, are they putting up new buildings, a new Parliament, are they doing a lot of research as to what is best for the country? I’m sorry folks, there’s no news coming from in there; all cartoonists are in jail, most journalists have stopped writing in fear, and since Kolkata has a power cut, all TV channels are off the air. A shape of things to come for the rest of the country..!
—Email:bobsbanter@gmail.com
If you’ve got any doubts about this, just see for yourself where the most powerful country in the world, sent her Secretary of State: Normally any dignitary lands in the capital of a country, but with not even a ‘by your leave’ to the PM or the President, Hillary went straight to Kolkatta and only after that decided to drop by at Delhi. Howzaat? A hundred years ago, the British shifted the capital from Kolkata to Delhi, now it has shifted back to where it belongs.
There was no big ceremony. No breaking coconuts. No pooja. Not even an announcement. The capital just shifted back. I know there will be many who will say, that the President and Prime Minister are still in Delhi, that Parliament still functions from Delhi, that even Sonia stays in Delhi. But my reply is, where are the decisions made? Kolkatta!
Delhi, poor city had to learn the hard way of course. With loud noise and fanfare Delhi announced to the rest of the country that there would soon come billions of dollars from abroad into the retail sector. No, said Kolkatta. Delhi made another go at a few other bills, including raising the railway fare.
No, said Kolkatta. And Delhi bowed and gave in. There are many in India, and the rest of the world who still think that New Delhi is the capital of India. It isn’t, the capital has shifted. You may like to know what is happening in the new capital, are they putting up new buildings, a new Parliament, are they doing a lot of research as to what is best for the country? I’m sorry folks, there’s no news coming from in there; all cartoonists are in jail, most journalists have stopped writing in fear, and since Kolkata has a power cut, all TV channels are off the air. A shape of things to come for the rest of the country..!
—Email:bobsbanter@gmail.com
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