Stop pedaling fiction about Kolkata

I’ve been bemused by the outrage in certain national newspapers, many of them not even published in Kolkata, that have editorialised and expressed anger at the so-called cycling ban in Kolkata. On television, I heard a breathless anchor, who has clearly never seen a street in Kolkata, holding forth on how every road in the city deserved a dedicated cycling lane. As usual, the CPI(M) and its friends, fellow travellers and in-laws in the Fourth Estate are cooking up a fictional issue to blame the Trinamool Congress.

So what are the facts? For some years now, in keeping with the norm in major cities of the world, Kolkata has had cycling restrictions on heavy-traffic roads. This prevents accidents and saves lives, including those of cyclists who otherwise have to negotiate tight traffic that allows neither them nor bigger vehicles much room for manoeuvre.

These restrictions were in place well before Trinamool came to office in West Bengal. To be fair, they were not political decisions but professional calls taken by the traffic police. No new streets have been added under the Trinamool government to the “cycling restricted” areas in Kolkata. It’s the same as it was in 2011, when the Delhi media’s Most Favoured Party was still running West Bengal.

What has happened is this. Recently, the government brought certain areas of Greater Kolkata, outside the core urban zone, within the remit of Kolkata Police. This was aimed at improving law and order, the crime situation and services to the people. In line with its new mandate, Kolkata Police undertook a traffic survey of these new areas in Greater Kolkata and recommended cycling restrictions on some heavy-traffic streets. A notification to this effect was issued recently. That’s all.

I spoke to editors of two major newspapers in Kolkata. They were downright bewildered by the supposed controversy and both termed it a “non-issue”. One of them told me he couldn’t understand why Reuters and BBC, NDTV and Hindu covered it, “when even local papers ignored it… That should have told them something surely…”

The second Kolkata editor was more cutting. “It seems to be an issue,” he said, “only among Delhi media–persons who have no idea of Kolkata’s traffic and geography.” Don’t worry, I felt like telling him, they generally have no idea about Kolkata’s – and West Bengal’s – politics either.

Leander is, well, just Leander!

My younger brother Barry cleaned him up in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0.

I did it quite convincingly too, 6-4, 6-3.

The person who lost both singles matches on the same day to us in a club tournament was one Leander Paes.

Yes, this is a true story.

But now the real truth.

The year was 1979. Barry was 16, I was 18… Leander was 6!

Calcutta’s favourite sporting hero (jointly with Sourav, I would say) won his 14th Grand Slam title at the US Open on Sunday night.

Actually, if you count his junior Grand Slam titles it would add up to 16.

In the age of Instagram and Facebook likes, the word legend is used all too easily. But for Leander, legend sounds right. Deservedly.

Consider this: he has won his Grand Slam titles over three decades.

If that hasn’t impressed you enough, try this: his singles record against both Pete Sampras and Roger Federer is one win each and no loss!

But our old friend is more than records and surly statistics. There is so much more to this lad (lad?! the man is 40!) who played his early tennis at DI and CC&FC before his father Vece did what most parents wouldn’t do — packed him off to the BAT (Britannia Amritraj Tennis Academy) in Chennai to pursue his passion.

Those of us who have seen Leander grow up know that his first love was actually football, not tennis.

Notwithstanding all his Grand Slam wins and considerable achievements, Leander has always remained the boy next door. Whether it’s paying a visit to the hole-in-the-wall Bengal Hair Dressing Salon next to Mithai in Beckbagan or charming septuagenarian “uncles” and “aunties” in the clubs of Calcutta he grew up in or playing a practical joke on his eldest sister Jackie... Leander is, just Leander.

A few days ago I had lustily TV-cheered Stepanek and his partner as they upset the top seeds, the Bryan brothers. Then the final; a cruise: 6-1, 6-3.

That was a wonderful way to round off a Sunday evening in Calcutta. The effortless win took little over an hour.

Now let me tell you about Sunday morning. There was a lady in a blue top sitting just in front of me at Sunday mass at St. Thomas’ Middleton Row. This was the first time I saw her there (she usually goes to a different church). It was Leander’s mom, Jennifer. Surely her prayers were heard.

[This article was carried by The Telegraph | Monday, September 09, 2010]