May 7 – Kolkata, once India’s capital under the Raj and one of its most enigmatic cities, is getting a makeover of its most historic areas from Asian practices familiar with preserving ancient buildings. Formerly known as Calcutta, the city was once one of the world’s largest ports and a flagship of the British Empire. It saw its fortunes wane, however, after trade from what became Bangladesh dried up and the Chinese occupation of Tibet ceased to connect the city with Lhasa. Up until that time Kolkata had been the import and export hub for Tibetan products – neither Lhasa or Kolkata have ever recovered their previous trade and historical ties.
As a result, Kolkata’s once thriving China town, home to the largest number of Tibetans outside of Lhasa, is now a pale imitation of what it once was. Meanwhile, iconic areas such as College Street, which inspired poets such as Allen Ginsburg, have been left to decay over the past five decades. The area is also home to the famous Indian Coffee House, which now serves coffee for just Rs 8 to students and tourists, yet in the 1970’s was a meeting point for Maoist insurgents and Indian communists. This building will be receiving a makeover as well, reminiscent of the Café Leopold in Mumbai. Continue reading
