[Kalimpong, North Bengal, India]
My little trip to this hill station was a time that was to be worth talking about later when I think back about it. The chilly weather and the scenic beauty were all I could take in then. Unlike the plains (where I live), the atmosphere is calm, less chaotic and quiet, almost as if it's a separate part away from the country. Although a place that most of us want to spend our lives at, it is romanticized a lot.
But people overlook the difficulties of living in a place like that, apart from being excessively hardworking to live in a place like this. A good support from the government is also needed. While going back to the railway station, the person who dropped us off expressed his grief and frustration on the government, when my parents asked about the poor conditions of the road on the mountains. The roads are not constructed properly, a huge river flows near the national highway and the houses near that river (Teesta river) are almost hanging on the edge by the riverside, one heavy rainfall and it's all gone. They are always uncertain about what will happen next if there is a flood yet one can always see them smiling. The government doesn't seem to bat an eye on this.
Despite this place and my home (which is in the plains) being in the same state. Kolkata (where I live) the main attraction for tourists and home to many ministers, is being decorated with atrocious colourful lights spending heaps of money on it, which is not needed. Streetlights are enough. And building ridiculous monuments in the city that don't hold any connectivity with our culture, is a waste of money. Instead of spending so much amount on these things, they can easily invest in places like Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and the NH to make it easier for people living there. It helps secure their livelihood and save them from danger.
The government shouldn't turn a blind eye to this. Despite this rant or any other protests raised by the people who need help, they chose to prioritize their reputation and comfort over their people's welfare, is this the democracy we all vote for?
The first pic is an incident of a landslide, but there are places like this in Kalimpong where the roads are from the side and just a wooden plank is laid over it, instead of actually mending the road.
the second pic is of the Teesta River, it is a river with a heavy current.
