Thanthania Kali Temple Last week, we had begun walking down College Street, and covered a substantial chunk of it. This week, the walk continues down what is one of Kolkata’s most venerated neighbourhoods, through the old book stalls and past College Street Market. Also worth mentioning
Asit Sen’s centenary came and went on September 24, with hardly a mention in the media. The reason is simple. He is among the pillars of Bengali cinema alongside filmmakers like Ajoy Kar, Pinaki Mukherjee, Niren Lahiri, Agradoot and others whose creative talents as filmmakers
When did Durga Puja turn into what is probably the world’s largest street art exhibition? If you consider the question ridiculous, consider the facts too. Today, almost all big-ticket pujas in Kolkata habitually employ the services of renowned artists and sculptors, many of whom call
সিংহাসনে বসল রাজা বাজল কাঁসর ঘন্টা, ছট্ফটিয়ে উঠল কেঁপে মন্ত্রীবুড়োর মনটা৷ বললে রাজা, মন্ত্রী তোমার জামায় কেন গন্ধ? মন্ত্রী বলে, এসেন্স দিছি - গন্ধ তো নয় মন্দ! (Rough translation: The king takes his throne, the fanfare we hear/ The old minister’s mind fidgets and quakes in fear/ Says the
Fort William in 1828 The British knew two things about Calcutta, the city they helped create from a cluster of villages for which they had obtained leases from the Mughal empire. One, it was a city built on trade, where merchants were VIPs. Two, Calcutta and
The old palatial houses (Raj-Bari) of erstwhile landlords (zamindars) of Kolkata have long attracted much attention, especially the time-worn icons at Sobhabazaar, Jorasanko and the Marble Palace on Muktaram Babu Street. However, the stately homes of the districts still have surprises in store for the
‘Nobody conquers a poor country. There is not enough return on investment.’ Can’t remember who said this, but it applies perfectly to the British and their conquest of India. When they arrived, India was among the world’s wealthiest countries. When they left, it was among
