Thursday, March 29, 2012

Oh Calcutta!

Was back in Calcutta /Kolkatta after a long long time this February...for a friend's son wedding...
Everything on the way hit me....the deafening sounds at the Howrah station...the crowds on the way to my friend's place off Salt lake....I did find my way...spoke to my Mamu on the way to get the directions...

The wedding before and after were just the most amazing times with all friends and family..
So much to see...so much to remember from my days in Calcutta in '67 68....That was another time another place.

I lived in Calcutta with my uncles aunts grandparents and cousin while may parents were in Vietnam. My dad got a posting there ..and he went with my mom and baby bro...i was old enough to attend school in Calcutta...since no schools were functioning in Saigon....remember that was 67-68...war zone...
Well...I did live there and loved every moment....My dida ...dadu and my mamus and mamis (grandparents, uncles aunts)  and my kid cousin...her pet name Tota....she talked non stop at a very young age (around 2-3 years old) so she was called Tota..(parrot) .

I had several other grand uncles aunts and many more uncles and aunts - my mom's cousins , my father's sisters and their families. We met often for birthdays, festivities and weddings in the family. My uncles and aunts left no stone unturned to keep me in busy with lots of activities to keep me from thinking of my parents and my brother who were in Vietnam.