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Kolkata Maidan, a breath of fresh air in the congested Kolkata city | The Kolkata Maidan, five square kilometres of greenery in the heart of Kolkata city, is not just the lung
of this teeming metropolis, but also the nerve centre for social and sporting activities. For the common man, it's not the nightclubs, restaurants or amusement
parks, but the venue for a day's outing with the family. The significance of the
Maidan becomes glaringly obvious with the coming of winters, as from the toddler
to the octogenarian there is something for everyone at the Maidan. From morning
to evening walks for the health conscious, picnics on the green to cricket, football
or badminton against the Kolkata skyline, the Maidan experience is a fond memory
for any true blue Kolkatan, whichever part of the world they are in. "It has great
importance in our life. It has an open area, and the trees and all the fresh air
in this Maidan area. We come here every fortnight. Basically, the city we are
living is congested and surrounded with buildings and there sis no clean air and
environment, that is why we come here," said Niraj Banka, a local resident. Horse
riding is a favourite pastime here, as are camel rides. Performing monkeys add
to the attraction as families munch on chips, while many come with packed lunches
to enjoy the afternoon sun and the fresh air. Buggy-rides along tree-dotted avenues
around the Maidan, and past the magnificent Victoria Memorial and the Racecourse,
add to the charm of this huge open space. "The Indian Army is the custodian of
the Maidan, looking after it on the basis of guidelines laid down by the Calcutta
High Court to safeguard the greenery. In keeping with the rules, no permanent
structure is allowed to come up on the Maidan," said Wing Commander, Mahesh Upasani,
CPRO, Ministry of Defence. According to Kalyan Mazumdar, General Secretary, East
Bengal Club, the Maidan has made tremendous contribution to Indian sports, starting
with the likes of Leslie Claudius, whose Maidan forays took him to the national
hockey team at the Olympics, to being the genesis point for famous footballers
like Chuni Goswami, P K Banerjee and Baichung Butia. "This Kolkata Maidan is unique
for Kolkata people. It is the heart of Kolkata. All inter-state activities, sports,
cultural, administrative and commercial activities take place in this Maidan.
The topography of the Maidan is such that it also works as the lungs of the city
so," Mazumdar added. The geographical location of the Maidan, in the heart of
the city, just about ten minutes from Howrah and Sealdah stations, makes it convenient
for footballers and spectators alive to come there for practice and the matches.
That's why after the football match venue shifted to Salt Lake Stadium off the
Eastern Bypass, the number of spectators went down, said Mazumdar. The Kolkata
Maidan is a landmark institution for the city, which has a psychological, social,
physical and environmental attachment to it. The locals are very attached to the
place and are keen to safeguard the Maidan for posterity. |
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