Comparison of living in Kolkata & Delhi

Certainly. But I tried to be as much neutral keeping apart personal favours.

I think Bengalis are the greatest critics of Kolkata and themselves.

Anyways, it is in good spirit, no harsh feelings.Both are great cities and produced great citizens and contributes immensely to modern Indian society.

To be honest, I have never been to Kolkata, however somehow I love that city. Everything that I hear or read about the city gives me vibes of a great cosmopolitan, vibrant society. However there are too many ifs and buts, when it comes for a non-Bengali to settle there.

I am a recruiter, see people move base on daily basis, however its rare to see non-Bengali moving to Kolkata, and those who have to for some reason or the other, are willing to move out at the drop of hat.

You are right Shashank though Kolkata always welcome and embrace people and cultures around the globe. The apathy for relocating to Kolkata is often due to negative publicity that is carried out. Ya, I dont claim that it has no problems and it is the best place to live in and work for still I feel it is not so fortunate having a reputation like this. People of non bengali origin are always apprehensive to relocate to Kolkata but feels and falls for it after spending a year there. Notable examples are famous singer Usha Uthup and photographer Raghu Rai.It has some charm that is beyond mundane measurement that one has to feel.It has everything good and bad that other Indian metros enjoy and suffer. Chennai also suffers the same apathy from north Indians. I did like Chennai a lot and it has striking similarity with Kolkata in looks, life and fortunes.

I observe Non Indian Indiamikers' interest/love and passion for the city that makes me so happy.Wish fellow Indians could have set apart their apathy and feel for our beloved city. The non bengali community of Kolkata also wins my heart when they show their love and affections for the city and their assimilations into the Bengali society and culture keeping alive their own tradition and culture. It is unfortunate that India is mostly represented by Mumbai and Delhi and very lately Bangalore.It is time to look East/North East or further South also. Recruiters can play a big role in minimizing false apprehensions and making the east and north east reap their own due share of prosperity and respect.

well, my comment was not limited to North-Indians or Indians from any city. I work Pan-India.

India being represented by Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore, however harsh that might sound, but that is where the money is and that is where everyone that matters (well almost) lives. I guess it would be same for every country, being represented by the cities that have maximum money and hence power and attraction.

yeah..........Money matters most at the end of the day...........thats why I am here also. Would stay for couple of years , get bigger hikes and head back

Still it is failure of our economy that despite of being in n th largest economy , GDP growth & blah blah, we(as a whole country) are not able to distribute wealth evenly to all the regions of countryu or all the people of society. Thats what making grounds for separatists in tribal regions, our big leaps are limited to big cities or creamy layer of the society.

Now that is a whole new thread there.

However my belief is that 20 years is not good enough period to do good for more than 1 billion people. But again, lets stick to the cities here.

In Delhi I can breathe because the autorickshaws and buses run on CNG.

In Kolkata I can't go out without covering my nose and mouth; Kolkata is such an interesting city, but the pollution is horrible, horrible, horrible.

Autorickshaws/taxis:
In Delhi, I have never come across even one who didn't want to take me.

In Kolkata, it was a hassle because many taxi drivers just refuse going from A to B.

That's because of the North to South layout of the city. Cabs going in one direction will continue to do so. The advantage in Calcutta is that common folks too can afford cabs.

@OP-
What Shashank says is right; praise from outsiders will hold more water than native praise. Somehow in most threads concerning the city only one sided picture emerges while several facets are overlooked. But Calcutta in reality is a amalgam of many facets all more or less jelling together.

The problem in Calcutta has been multi faceted too. One side low development due to strikes and hartals and the other side major influx of Bangladeshis,Biharis and other neighboring state's people looking for livelihood. People should try out other political processes than what it has been following.

India has a need for "melting pots" and both cities are serving the purpose really well maybe Calcutta more so!

KOLKATA ROCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RICH IN CULTURE PEOPLE ARE MORE PASSIONATE, e.g. People Prefer to be in Queue, where as Delhi only Funda is I/ME should be FIRST....

Truly said Wind Rider

"People of non bengali origin are always apprehensive to relocate to Kolkata but feels and falls for it after spending a year"

I feel the same ,moments i spend during 2004 to 2006......were amazing, still longing for those ......

This is prevalent because most of the taxis are hire n go. Radio Taxis like Delhi are not so much established where the booking is made through the cab company. Still there are ways to deal with it

A. Request him ploitely citing your urgency and promise a tip.
B. Shout a bit citing his responsibility towards public transport, humanity and blah blah.
C.Even if he is adamant just get into the cab and sit on. Seek traffic police's help and note down cab no.This tricks though not always but often works.
D.even if you are not through , admit it is not your day, try for another one.

Damn Bloody spoilsport ! And here I was itching to say my piece....

One should be glad that they never heard of Hyderabad's concept of Kal and Parsoon.

Kal: Yesterday / Tomorrow / sometime in the next 20-25 years.
Parsoon: Day before yesterday / Day after tomorrow / some undefined time in the future.

And, when someone says "Kal parsoon mein ho jayega." / "Kal parsoon milenge" ("Will do it tomorrow or day after." / "Let's meet in a couple of days."), you are SOL.

Please spill ur beans here. Neutral people's opinions are being counted with more respect and importance. Still freedom of speech and thought exists.

Very well then....

The fact that you created this thread seeking a comparision (as also the various posts you made here thereafter) strongly indicates that :

(i) you are having a difficult time adjusting in Delhi...which suggests Kolkattans are not very adaptable.

(ii) you are hoping for positive posts on Kolkatta vis-a-vis Delhi in this thread which would purportedly reinforce your belief that Kolkatta is better than Delhi....which belies your claims of neutrality.


Oops ! Have I spelt Kolkatta correctly ?