I am a Non Resident Bengali. I was born and brought up in Delhi. Apart from yearly visits to Kolkata during summer vacations, I stayed continuously in Kolkata for 2 years only- during MBA. And that stay removed the rose tinted glasses. There are 3 things that jolted me- generic dilapidation, civic apathy and abject urban poverty. My friends from CU/JU wore "You can travel the entire city and eat if you have 100 in your pocket" as badge of honor. You see half the people would starve as they don't earn 100 day.