“ … one would think that to those wearied with the routine of business, or with the conventional monotony of modern Calcutta life, it would be a relief to occasionally try and seek refuge in a by-gone world, and in its records to learn something of the social and political life of those who preceded us. Such a retrospect, far from being profitless or dull, would, at least, enable us to take an intelligent interest in the many sites and scenes in our midst, which are intimately associated with memorable events and with the historic names of our own countrymen, and which we now daily pass by without even our curiosity being awakened, because we know so little of those who flourished or who faded here in olden time.”
- Henry Elmsley Busteed (Echoes from Old Calcutta, 1882)
There can be no better way to express the aims of this site than this observation of almost one-and-a-half century’s vintage. But our journey is not only to our past, nor are they only directed to the rich and famous. Rather it is a commutation between the past and present, and we want to make sure that we do not miss anything that shows up on the way, be it the well known, less known or the unknown.
This is an effort by individuals interested in this throbbing city and we want to give our best efforts to bring out as much as possible about Calcutta and Kolkata. In that effort we welcome any contribution in the form of snippets, articles, photos, maps and all you can think of that is related to Kolkata, past and present.