A Date with Dada!

(Statutory warning: Eta Kolkata, tai Banglay lekhatai banchhoniyo.)

We live in Kolkata, the land of Rosogollas, the land of Victoria Memorial, and also its the land of our very own Dadas. No, we aren't really referring them as brothers. They are just our Dada.

(Ekhane, Dadur boyoshi lok o apnar Dada!) Be it an old man just crossing the barrier of 90, or just a kid crossing his teenage days; they all are our Dada.

Here, the political leaders are Dada, the cricket captain is Dada, the phuchkawallah is Dada; or even the rickshaw puller is a Dada. (Rastar more dariye jokhon aamra chechai, "O dada sunchen!; tokhon ke je shone seta bola mushkil!)

That day while travelling in Metro, this journo came across an unique character. The man dressed in white kurta, and white payjama, introduced himself as ..... (naam ta dichhina, Dada khepe jete pare. The first thing he said was "Aami ekjon Dada. Shobar Dada"

Well, all this while we've seen Dadagiri of many people, but ini toh nijei nijeke Dada bolchen.

Journo: Who the hell are you?

Dada: Aarey, amaar naam....., duniyar Dada.

Journo: are you mad? You want to be the " duniyar dadaa?"

Dada: Arey Shala marbo ekhane lash porbe baganey. Aami holam Dada, aat theke ashi shobar Dada. Bujhle?

Journo: ( being a little polite) yup, bujhlam!

Dada: Shono bhaya, ami shokale dudhwalah der secretary, dash ta theke Auto bachao committeer sampadak, barotar por Bus tola jabena samity r pradhan, duto theke Footpath bachao committeer neta, tin ter por theke 'Hawker bachao committeer' sampdak. Charter por theke soja Maidan e Khela Bachao committee r karta, tarpor CAB r mali der sangram committeer pradhan. Chhota theke Taxi Andoloner kormi, sare sat tay Dhalao Mod license na dewa commiiteer hota, atta y Mod khan pran bachan commiiteer poresident. Natay Pratibad commiitee sere dashtay bari phiri. Aami Dada. Bojha gelo he sangabdik?

Journo: So, what do you do in late hours?

Dada: Oh, tokhon ami Ghumer bori khao committeer sampadak. Tokhon aami ghumiye ghumiye andolan kori. Koto struggle bujhcho bhai!

Journo: Well, have these protests of any use?

Dada: (With a soft smile) He He, ta ektu flop koreche boiki. Emon andolan korechi je loke ar ashol dudh kene na. Autoy chapena. Shob purono bus uthe geche. Footpath shob hawker ra nie nieche. Maidaner ardhek mathey khela hoyna. Andoloner jyalamoyi teje shob malider tariye dieche. Taxi ardhek uthe geche. Dhalao license dewa hoeche mod er dokaney. Dekhecho, koto kaaj hoeche.

Journo: How do you motivate people?

Dada: simple. Jekhane jai sekhanei chechai. Tarpor jhagra kori, loke bhabe circus hoche. Lok jute jay, tarpor tader matha chete ami andolan kori.

(Dada was in a hurry. He got down at Chandni Chowk), saying, "Choli bhai, ebar Metro bachao committee r sabhaya jabo"

For a second, this journo was speechless. If these are the Dadas, then can results be any better?

Jai hok, ei holo amader Kolkata, Ar ei holo amader DADA'R DADAGIRI!

(Next episode: Journo faces the agony aunt)