Nila Debi

I live and work out of the Tollygunge Tram Depot quarters, specifically House No-2B. If you know Kolkata, you know this area is always moving. The sound of the trams is something I hear all day long, from early morning until late at night. It’s a bit of an old building, but it has character. My name is Nila Debi and I’ve been in this spot for quite some time now. West Bengal has a way of staying the same even when things change outside. Inside my home, it’s mostly quiet except for when the neighbors are out in the hallway talking. I do my work right from my kitchen table or the small desk in the corner of the living room. It isn’t a corporate office with glass walls. It’s just a regular house where things get done. Sometimes the rain in the monsoon makes it hard to get around, but we manage. I keep things simple. Most people in the neighborhood know me by sight. I don’t really go for all those fancy business talks you hear on the news. I just focus on what’s in front of me today. Kolkata-39 is home and it’s where I plan to stay. There is a lot of history in these tram quarters. You can feel it in the walls. I spend a lot of time just keeping track of my daily tasks and making sure everything is in order for the next day. It is a humble way to live.