A niece of mine had developed a tumour at her back, inside. A Bankura (West Bengal) physician suggested taking her to Apollo, Chennai. But the girl wanted to postpone a probable surgery. She was brought to Kolkata and 2 doctors were shown. One doctor suggested not delaying an operation beyond 3 months. Another said it may, if necessary, be done before 5 months. Her own family and related families were naturally in tension for the last 5 months. Finally, the girl was taken to Chennai and shown to foreign returned Head of the Department in Apollo, Chennai. He said no surgery is required. Just exercise will cure the syndrome. What has happened to Kolkata doctors? Dr B C Roy was from Kolkata, who was a doctor per excellence and the First Chief Minister of Bengal and in whose name there exists a prestigious award in the medical profession. Kolkata and the whole of West Bengal is in morass. I am getting goose pimples as I reflect on West Bengal's prospects. It has gone down in every aspect of human endeavour. It has a Chief Minister as bad as U.P.'s. In India Today's Best Colleges issue West Bengal has few names. Electioneering was so abominably poor in taste and actual casting of vote. West Bengal Government is loosing every court case. Government Officers are so scared of the poliktical leadership that they just shirking their responsibilities. There are murders, rapes, hooliganism, chit fund scams. And now this personal medical experience. How can I call myself a Bengali and not get demoralised? It is a shame. Either I should stop calling myself a Bengali or hang my head in shame.