Kolkata embodies the trough of urban civilization. Wandering its streets conjures images of life in Europe in the Middle Ages, of a place ravaged by the bubonic plague, or some other devastating epidemic. Human activity revolves around the very basic elements of life, and there appears little in the way of ingenuity or progress. Seemingly every person is afflicted with some disease, parasite, or disfigurement, and blending into an entire population of victims. At the same time, Kolkata is one of the more exciting cities I’ve experienced, and amidst the struggle lies a degree of grace and beauty not found in the most developed of cities.
A little girl rifles through a drunk man's pockets at the Mallick Ghat flower market.
