Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary reason why Kolkata was associated with squalor in the Western mind?
What is the primary reason why Kolkata was associated with squalor in the Western mind?
- As a result of the Naxalite movement
- Because of the flight of industry from the city
- Due to the city's extensive slums
- Because of the international attention given to Mother Teresa's work (correct)
What was the consequence of the partition that accompanied India's independence for Kolkata?
What was the consequence of the partition that accompanied India's independence for Kolkata?
- The city experienced rapid economic growth
- The city had to absorb several million refugees from East Pakistan (correct)
- The city became a hub for industrial development
- The city's population decreased significantly
What was the outcome of the Naxalite movement in Kolkata?
What was the outcome of the Naxalite movement in Kolkata?
- The movement was successfully suppressed by the government
- The movement transformed into a peasant uprising
- The movement led to successful land redistribution in rural West Bengal
- The movement resulted in urban guerrilla warfare (correct)
What is the current stance of the Communist Party of West Bengal towards investment?
What is the current stance of the Communist Party of West Bengal towards investment?
What was the perception of Kolkata by India's prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, in 1985?
What was the perception of Kolkata by India's prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, in 1985?
What is the main strategy used by drivers in Kolkata?
What is the main strategy used by drivers in Kolkata?
What is the purpose of honking in the narrow side streets known as lanes?
What is the purpose of honking in the narrow side streets known as lanes?
What is unique about the rickshaws in Kolkata?
What is unique about the rickshaws in Kolkata?
Why is the city of Kolkata distinct among great cities of the world?
Why is the city of Kolkata distinct among great cities of the world?
What is the governing authorities' attitude towards hand-pulled rickshaws?
What is the governing authorities' attitude towards hand-pulled rickshaws?
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Study Notes
Traffic in Kolkata
- Drivers in Kolkata, including private cars, taxis, buses, and three-wheel scooters, use a strategy of "Forge ahead while honking" due to the lack of stop signs.
- Pedestrians often attach themselves to a group to cross major thoroughfares safely.
- In narrow side streets, loud honking signals a taxi or truck approaching.
Rickshaws in Kolkata
- Kolkata is one of the few cities in the world with a large fleet of hand-pulled rickshaws.
- The rickshaw pullers are usually skinny, bedraggled, and barefoot men who use a small bell to alert pedestrians.
Kolkata's History and Image
- Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, has a population of nearly 15 million people.
- The city's image is often associated with poverty and squalor, partly due to Mother Teresa's work.
- However, Kolkata has a rich intellectual and cultural life and has made significant progress in recent years.
Challenges and Changes
- After India's independence, Kolkata faced challenges from absorbing several million refugees from East Pakistan.
- The city experienced power outages, labor unrest, and violence in the 1970s and 1980s.
- In 1985, India's prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, called Kolkata "a dying city."
- However, the Communist Party of West Bengal has since embraced capitalism and modernity, and the city has seen significant changes and improvements.
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