8/3/2019 Charabagan - CBG in thirty years

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CBG

CBG – That's how we usedto call our locality thirty

years back. Chara Bagan or 

CBG was the lungs of theentire area. Full of lush

green firm lands and a

whole new upcomingstadium amidst the marshy

low lying land of CBG.

The big stadium was the brain child of then CM Bidhan Ch Roy. The surrounding concrete road hadalready built 10 years back when the project lost steam . To taste our stamina we would tell someone to

run along the side and then come back. The marshy land had many water pockets on the way towards

the center field. In the center part of the stadium there was a big round shaped elevated ground whichwas then fenced with brick wall all along the periphery as the stadium plan.

There used to be regular football tournament during summer time and the rich men used to play cricketduring winter time. We never had interest watching football matches. However, watching cricket match

was very fascinating to us. The bowler before reaching the end of the creeze would rub the ball on

trousers and then shout something in English to the fielders was utterly fascinating. The batsman wouldhit the ball in the most majestic grace , the fielders with heavy and colorful sporting shoes running after 

the ball in the soft winter afternoon was terrific.

Sitting on the side line we would eagerly wait for the ball to come in our direction. Holding the ball inour hand was a great feeling.

During break we would try to hold their bat or would try to rub the ball on our pants to feel the taste of cricket.

Going to the center field of CBG was a problem of it's own. There was a straight concrete road going tothe centrefield from the western side but that's a long detour so we would prefer the scarey shortcut. On

the marshy watery land the locale would cut & drop one big coconut tree whose trunk would work as a

 bridge to cross the atoll. Many times while walking on the narrow trunk we slipped off into the watery

land but that was great fun followed up with water splashing with friends. There were lots of coconutand palm trees all along the ground.

On winter days we would find a plane surface and would start playing cricket with rubber ball. The best part of playing cricket there was that you could hit the ball with all your might yet it was still on

the ground. It was so big. In the long summer afternoon when the sun was high on the horizon we

would sit below the shades of the coconut tress. The sultry hot afternoon of CBG was never feltunbearable below the shades.

The huge disk of sun would rise & fall unobtrusive on the horizon of the ground. The eastern part of CBG stadium was full of firm lands. The farmers would grow crops. The vast land shining with lush

green crops was a very soothing sight. There used to be a big colony of washer men here. After 

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washing the clothes the would tie them on high wires on the open space. On a bright sunny after noon

the place would like a shrine with colorful flags.

The north & south part of the stadium was being developed slowly to relocate the lando ustee of the 2nd

Hooghly bridge. That time there was no street light that means after 6PM the whole area plunges into

deep darkness.

We never dared to go to CBG stadium at night however, in the early morning we have been there many

times just to observe sun rise. The rising rays of sun would create a mesmerizing gold effect on the

myriads water pockets all around the stadium. The main CBG locality starts at the north east corner of the stadium. During senior CBSE standard when we had little extra freedom after final examination, we

would stay longer in the evening sitting on the north eastern corner of the ground.

The roads mostly remain deserted. Abhoy uncle was a good football player. He used to play football atthe center ground. Sometimes on Sunday afternoons he would take me along to watch him playing

football. On a typical summer afternoon there used fly quite a number of kites. Majority of the blown

away kites would land at the center ground and Abhoy uncle had a good share of it. I accompanied himonly for kites.

Today the CBG stadium is still standing incomplete. The concrete roads have caved in many places.Surprisingly these concrete roads were not made off reinforced concrete. The development of locality

has encroached it on all sides. The once unobtrusive and majestic view of it's horizon is now blocked

 by concrete jungle of towers from the east as well as west side. The northern & southern sides havenarrow markets and shops. Though the sun rises and sets everyday but that majestic view is no more

available.

The washer men no longer live there nor their colorful display of drying cloth can be found. The oncelush green cultivated land is given way for markets and buildings.

The pressure of civilization is of course more important than cheap sentiments of old people for older days but if this was inevitable in only thirty years then in another thirty years the situation will more

worse than ever if not crumble the whole society itself. We need a better and more composed plan now

rather than this haphazard way.

And for god's shake at this rate by the end of 21 st century there will be hardly any space left except

other than cyberwalking.

S. BeraPowai