Slow-moving, financially unviable, waste of space. In a nutshell, that is how most modern Kolkatans have been conditioned to view trams. Why ‘conditioned’? Well the popular perception of trams in Kolkata has been shaped by the policies of successive governments, but primarily those of the
While taking a walk down the hustling and bustling stretch of Raja Basanta Roy Road, I hardly ever realized this road hid vignettes of a revolutionary past. After all, we always relate North Kolkata to the Old Kolkata and a South Kolkata road that is
In the good old days, not so long ago, a number of letter boxes painted in red or otherwise made their presence felt by hanging on a tree or on a pole or on old doors of Kolkata to be filled with letters. But in
The British East India Company was making considerable profits in Calcutta in the early 1850s. Calcutta was still being controlled by the company and did not require the troops from the British administration. The profits made by the British often lured others from other foreign
While walking past the central business district of Kolkata, have you noticed a non-descriptive building of a hotel standing on the side of the road just opposite the Telephone Bhawan? Spence’s Hotel, the first ever hotel of Asia was opened to public in 1830 by
The narrow lanes of Kiron Shankar Roy Road and Old Post Office Street are otherwise a mesh of old shacks serving a hot cuppa or bread omelets to hundreds of litigants, clerks, and lawyers who tread the footpaths every other day. These footpaths are also
Bengal was the first city where the Supreme Court was set up by the British during their colonial rule and John Hyde was a famous judge who resided in Kolkata. During his tenure, Freedom of press in Calcutta was put on trial. Bengal was the
It is always exciting to know the origin of everything. All of us know about India’s fight for its independence from the exploitative British rule. But very few of us know about the first person who raised a voice against such wrongdoings. Well, the man
Image Source : Wikipedia As we prepare to enter 2023, we also need to prepare for an important centenary. For it was in 1923 that ‘Calcutta Aerodrome’ was conceived, with the first flights landing here the following year. Sadly, the more important centenary actually passed by fairly
How many times have you boarded a local train and been entertained by wandering musicians or singers? When was the last time you walked down Park Street and heard the flute seller perform the Titanic theme music on his humble flute? Street musicians and wandering performers