Mr Damien Syed has been the Consul General of France in Kolkata since September 1, 2015. From 2009 to 2012, he was in charge of Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Asia & Oceania Division. Before being posted in India, Damien SYED was a political counsellor at the Embassy of France in Malaysia. He is due to execute his new assignment in Paris. He shares his incredible journey in Kolkata and how the ‘City of Joy’ literally mesmerized him.
It has indeed been a wonderful journey for me. The warmth of the people of Bengal has amazed me. My memories in the City of Joy are something I will never forget in my life. I enjoyed the hospitality of the local patrons and derived great delight amidst people conversing in the local language. I always feel you need to learn the local language to be a part of the heart and soul of the city. I made an effort to learn the Bengali language, read the sign boards and understand the people and their way of life. It has also helped me to understand and appreciate the philosophy of life here and I can definitely say that learning the language to some extent has helped me to become familiar with the culture, the traditions and general activities and attitude of the people in Kolkata. I am indeed confident regarding the cultural exchanges between West Bengal and France. I believe that under the new Consular General, the positivity will definitely continue and eventually usher in a new era of hope and fulfillment.
Before coming to India, I was in Malaysia, a much smaller country. But living in Kolkata is a different feeling altogether. I came to Kolkata for the first time a few decades back when I was in my early 20s. No doubt, this land is unique with its rich culture, history and a splendid diversity with a distinct harmony and peaceful coexistence. In the last few years, I visited so many places in India and met so many personalities– indeed it has been a fascinating journey all through and an eye-opener as well. Be at airport or shopping malls or at programmes, I am always at ease to a point of perfection. Representing France, I enjoyed the luxury of being at various places and meeting people from different sections of life. When I came to India, I was worried about the hot and humid weather. In Kolkata, I could enjoy different seasons and indeed, winter happened to be the most pleasant one. In the winter, so many times I had gone for long pleasant walks, the memories of which will be there forever with me.
As far as food is concerned, I have to admit that Bengali dishes are the best in India. I have tasted so many cuisines in India and yet I believe, whenever I have been to Bengali restaurants or been invited by Bengali families, I have enjoyed the most. The food cooked at home is so tasty and exquisite!
15 years later when I landed here in Kolkata, in 2015, I was amazed to see the Kolkata Airport and its radically impressive transformation. The cityscape has changed and the way Newtown-Rajarhat townships have come up, it is indeed very encouraging. Last time, when I was here many of such areas were simply rustic. The most amazing part is, everything is readily available in Kolkata and I never needed to bring anything for myself from France. Air Pollution was the main concern when I came here. Be it the morning walk or jogging in the Kolkata Maidan itself, often I ran short of breath. This is why I mostly resorted to the gym and avoided jogging or walking outside. I think this is one area where the city can definitely work upon. However, I won’t complain as there is always a scope to improve. As far as traffic congestion is concerned, I don’t think it is a big problem and things will certainly look better in the days to come. In other cities like Bengaluru or even in Jakarta, I have witnessed very slow traffic movement.
Be it films or novels, I have also come across a good many clichés or stereotypes on Kolkata. But it is time to redefine the way what foreigners think about the City of Joy. Poverty has come down in Kolkata and I would say that Bengal is going through a very positive socio-economic change. Even when I was visiting the villages one after another, the change was clearly visible. Credit goes to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for giving the rural as well as the urban areas a completely new look. There seems to be a wave of new hope and constructive development in the state as a whole. Bengal certainly looks more promising to the industrialists and the investors and I do believe, in job creations too. Every time I met French tourists in Kolkata, they repeatedly told me that Kolkata now projects a very different picture responding to the trends of globalization and true cosmopolitanism. In January, when the French delegation attended the Global Business Summit, the members of the delegation were pretty convinced about the possibilities. Witha more business-friendly approach, Kolkata is certainly transforming and under the able leadership of the Chief Minister, the “City of Joy” is fast becoming an enlightened international city determined to eradicate poverty, health hazards and hindrances with regard to setting up of new industries and educational centres.
The French government is definitely hopeful of contributing to the journey of Bengal. Indeed, Kolkata is the city of art, culture, intellectuals, literature– we have already carried out somany projects here where the French Embassy, Consulate and Alliance de Francaise have actively played their part. We have partnerships with many Indian schools, colleges, and universities. People to people exchange can definitely improve and the education segment is where the French government is keenly interested in. Alliance de Francaise has recently spread its wings in the districts of Bengal in partnership with the Techno India Group. We want more Indian students to come to France. That’s why we want more Indians to learn French and we have increased scholarships to motivate such learners. We have already begun preparing for the next edition of Bonjour India. No doubt, Chandernagore plays an important role in French connection with Bengal. There is indeed a huge possibility of boosting tourism in the Hooghly district where the French tourists can definitely drop in. We have to join hands to promote and advertise the possibilities of Bengal tourism. We believe in a prosperous future and I’m sure more French companies will be investing in Bengal.
I will never forget one night we spent at a Santhal village near the Bengal– Odisha border where we had a French delegation too and we discussed music, philosophy and so many other subjects of interest and importance. I wish, given a chance, I would love to be back here again.
Bhalo thakbe Kolkata!
By Ranabir Bhattacharyya
