“Tomar chhuti, amar na,” (You are on leave, not me) a few years back, a private hospital in Kolkata had gone to town with this tagline that aptly described the lives of various people who work on holidays and festive days. This Durga Puja, too, when most people spend time with their families and friends, some professionals will be answering their call of duty and serving the society in their own ways.
My Kolkata speaks to six such heroes as they gear up for the busy days ahead.
Dr Dipankar Debnath, geriatrician and co-founder, 60 Plus Clinic
We all look forward to Durga Puja but, for me, it is a busy time. My clinic remains open during the day till Saptami. I also head an organisation called 60 Plus Clinic that takes care of elders who either live alone or their children stay away from them. We provide them with medical care and 24x7 emergency services. So, it is impossible for me to leave the city during Puja as I may have to attend teleconsultations. It is difficult to go on patient visits as most of the roads are either blocked, diverted or the traffic load is too much. Me and my team are thus under constant stress about medical emergencies.
There are very few doctors available for consultation in the city during Puja, so I always try to be ready for my patients.
The most tricky and challenging part is making plans with the family. Often, I have had to change or cancel those plans to attend to a medical emergency. I usually devote time to my family in the evenings and nights as that is the time when it’s difficult to move around in the city. Most of my family commitments are scheduled two to three days after Puja.
Last year, on Saptami night, I got a call from one of my elder care managers around 9.30pm saying an 87-year-old had fainted in her home. I rushed and by the time I reached, she had regained consciousness but was weeping inconsolably. The lady attendant said the patient had been constantly crying and not eating properly. Her daughter, a US citizen, could not visit her like other years because of COVID and the aged member was missing her sorely. I checked her thoroughly and found her blood glucose level to be low and she was also under severe depression. We organised a video call with the daughter. The next day, we took her to a nearby pandal for Ashtami rituals in the morning and were happy to see her smile finally.
Kanika Mitra, sister in-charge, Sambhunath Pandit Hospital
I have been in the profession for 32 years. I have been at MR Bangur Hospital and then I served at SSKM as a senior nurse for years before being posted to Sambhunath Pandit as sister in-charge. Our profession demands dedication and it is no different during festivals like Durga Puja. Working hours are as usual and, if needed, we have to be on night shift, too.
I have spent most of my life working during Durga Puja. It is like a normal day for me. While outside the hospital, the celebrations, crowd and lights are overwhelming, we are committed to our duty. In all these years, I have not been able to devote time to my family during Durga Puja and they, too, realise my commitment and have never complained. They understand my work and respect it. I have no regrets because it’s a profession that serves people. After so many years, it’s more than just a duty. Sometimes emergency cases do happen at odd hours.
An unfortunate incident remains etched in my mind. A few years ago, a young couple met with an accident and the man was brought to the hospital dead. The girl survived with a broken hip and other severe injuries. They were out on a bike, celebrating and having fun when they collided with a truck. I remember the boy’s father coming in crying. His young son had left home happy as ever, expecting to have a good time but, within a few hours, their lives changed forever. The father’s helplessness had struck me since I have a son, too. This is how we spend our Puja. We see both sides of the world during the festivities.
Alok Sanyal, assistant commissioner of police, Kolkata Traffic Police
I have been in the force for 33 years, including my tenure in the traffic department for 16 years. Our duties on regular days are limited to managing the traffic during school and office hours. Sometimes, rallies and processions have to be managed. It’s a routine and we usually have an idea about the situation.
But Durga Puja is a grand affair and the sea of pandal-hoppers seems to be swelling by the year. People come in from the suburbs and move in various modes of public and private transport and the traffic flow increases immensely. It is our job to ensure that the traffic flow is smooth.
We also try to help people too. Aged persons, women and people from the suburbs often need our help. Some may ask for directions or report some other issue. So many unpredictable situations may arise and we need to have on-the-spot solutions. We are also a part of the mega festival and serve with a smile. We work odd hours and shifts and cannot be with our families. When I joined the force, I used to feel bad but now my family and I have adjusted with this lifestyle.
Over the years, I have seen so many incidents happening around the city where the KTP has stepped in and solved the problem. One such incident happened around 2015 while I was posted as the officer in-charge of the southeast zone. The stretch from Rashbehari to Gariahat draws massive crowds since there are many big and popular puja pandals around the area. A family of three — parents and their little girl had come to visit the pandals. The girl was around four to five years old and she got lost in the crowd. When she was brought to me, she was crying profusely. We gave her an ice-cream to calm her down and tried to speak to her to get some information about her parents. Initially, she was scared. After talking to her for some time, we got to know that she was from Selimpur and lived in a yellow house! Our constable, after a lot of effort, managed to spot her house and alerted her grandfather, who then got in touch with her parents and informed them that the girl was safe and had been found. When her parents came to collect her, the smiling child waved to us and left. It was a relief that cannot be explained in words. I still remember the incident clearly.
Amit Halder, owner of Cup eবং
Our café is four years old and I have not yet reached a point where I can relax while my employees are at work. I oversee things and procure raw materials all by myself. There are times when I am busy in the kitchen and even have to serve guests. A fair amount of my time is dedicated to the café and it is no different during Puja.
We report to work around 8am and try to remain open till 1am. The rush is obviously more on the festival days and I need to share the workload with my staff. It has not been possible to take time out for my family during Puja for the last four years. I go home only to sleep after a back-breaking day and next morning I am out again. During the festival, I go to the market every alternate day. Although we don’t believe in curating an overpriced Puja menu, we try to introduce new items. Cup eবং is a quaint and homely space where you can relax and spend hours over food. We try to maintain that ambience even during Puja. At present, I have four employees who also work with me relentlessly without taking a day’s break during Puja.
But we also try to enjoy ourselves. We wear new clothes and dress up for the festival just to be happy during the festive season. Even if not like others, we will have a good time serving good food to people without compromising on the quality.
Suvankar Maity, Delivery executive
I have no chance of enjoying myself during Pujas since the workload is unthinkable compared to the usual times. The scope of earning is obviously more and the company also wants us to work hard during the festivals.
Most people depend on food delivery during Durga Puja and there is a deluge of orders and the companies face a manpower crisis.
I am still a bachelor and haven’t been able to devote time to my parents ever since I have been working as a delivery person for the past five to six years. Sometimes they complain, but they have adjusted with my routine. Friends are disappointed (laughs). I don’t even buy new clothes on Durga Puja as there’s no point. Sometimes, when I am stranded at a traffic signal and see a group of friends or a family, I wish and pray to Durga so that I, too, can enjoy like them soon.
People place orders at erratic hours and riding through heavily congested roads and the commitment to deliver on time, every time, can be nerve- wracking. While I have met many inconsiderate customers, there have also been customers who have been kind and even offered me water and tips. Many may think that we are involved in a minion’s job, but when we think deeply, we realise that we aren’t only delivering food but also a slice of happiness to so many homes.
Shyam Sundar Upadhay, app-cab driver
It will be an understatement if I say it gets crazy during Puja. Traffic jams, route diversions, constant bookings — we have to deal with everything. Sometimes, it becomes frustrating (laughs).
But this is my job, which also provides my family with all their needs. My family comprises my wife and two little girls. They have stopped expecting me during Durga Puja and have their plans in which (sadly) I don’t figure. Sometimes, when I get time, I take them around the city at night. We visit some pandals and chill out. The owner of the car I drive is a kind-hearted person and always asks me to take my family out.
The situation in Kolkata changes completely during these five to six days. During the peak hours, the crowd swells manifold. I still remember how in 2019, an aged couple was literally “stranded” on James Long Sarani around 9pm. All their attempts to hail taxis had failed. I had stopped at a tea stall and noticed them. I quickly finished my tea and offered to drop them. The tense couple relaxed only on reaching their destination at Thakurpukur. It feels good to serve people in distress. We all can do our little bit.
