When several iconic buildings in Kolkata have already fallen prey to demolition and a nexus of promoters and developers, there are still some buildings in Central and North Kolkata, that have retained their original frame and even been renovated to carry on the legacy of
When the British began building their new settlement covering the three villages of Sutanuti, Gobindapur and Kalikata in the twilight years of the 17th century, the first thing they looked for were documents which recorded the antiquity of these lands which they were taking over.
A few days ago, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) published its annual report for 2020, which identified Kolkata as the safest city in the country for the third year running. Going through the voluminous report in some detail, it turns out that our city
EThe City of Joy has yet again emerged as the safest metro to live in India as per The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Yes, in Kolkata parents do not have to tell their daughters to return home by early evening in fear of getting
Arpita Chanda is an explorer and heritage enthusiast. She goes around her beloved city and pens down historical tales. ‘Dhobi par Dhobi basey, tab kapre par sabun pare’ This Hindi proverb means ‘when many dhobis compete, then only does soap reach the clothes’ (Christian Behar Proverb). It
Representative Image Whatever else it might have been in the 18th century, Calcutta sounds like an interesting city to have lived in. And by all accounts, the rowdiest part of town was the one now responsible for maintaining its law and order, aka Lalbazar. How’s that
Historic Jorasanko in North Kolkata is best known for Jorasanko Thakur Bari, former home of poet Rabindranath Tagore and his illustrious family. The entire stretch from Jorasanko to Rabindra Sarani is dotted with traditional Bengali mansions and local markets. A colossal building stands close to
On the night of December 30, 1936, a terrified guard in a three-storeyed building off Dalhousie Square (renamed BBD Bag after Independence) fell down a flight of steps as he tried to run away from an old man with ‘eyes like someone rising from the
AIt is a narrow street in Central Calcutta, yet it bears a strong connect with a flourishing trade that Calcutta boasted centuries ago, even before the arrival of Job Charnock. This is also the street where in 1688, the Armenians built the Armenian Holy Church
Remember the Bengali film Sharey Chuattor? The unfurling of that love story behind the walls of a ‘mess bari’ and the hilarious consequences it leads to? Or the Byomkesh Bakshi story in which the murderer runs a mess bari? Well, once upon a time, a