Calcutta may have changed the way it is called today, but essentially Calcutta has not really managed to shrug off its time weathered facade, the dusty layer beneath which lies some of the finest manifestation of art, culture, literature and human values.
Give me my vintage Calcutta any day over the shiny and pompous that is being displayed and glorified in name of Calcutta makeover! Here are some of the images from Calcutta that I clicked in 2011. Some of these would sound dated!. Nonetheless.
Shaheed Minar Lal Salam! Or is it going to be painted Blue now that there is change of guard at the Wrtiters. The governments may come and go but the Minar stands tall and mocks at the pettiness of the politicians
The majestic Metropolitan Building near Metro Cinema. For me this is the finest building in Calcutta.. am sure many eyebrows will be raised at my preference. This once housed the American Library which provided much needed respite from the scorching summer heat and dust of Calcutta, that too gratis. One could browse, watch Videos or simply laze around there. Anadi Cabin is just across the road for those freaky Moghlai Porota!
Dada may be out of the Indian and IPL team but Dada still rules Calcutta. He stares from numerous hoardings, his Sourav on MIddleton Row attracts his fans for gourmet food.
The Building with Thousand Windows near Raj Bhawan gate stands tall and still attracts
admirers. This is a quirky building worth a dekho.
Bhaanr! Only the Calcuttans can understand the meaning of sipping hot milky tea from
these lovely mud cups. These bhaanrs still command monopoly though the bio non-
degradable plastic cups have started appearing in tea stalls.
Victoria Memorial. What can one say about the old lady. She has given shelter under its tress to so many budding love stories and breakups. She can actually write a tome on Love
The Great Eastern Hotel, at one time this was the best hotel in this part of the world. Now in shambles, but awaiting its turn to shine as gloriously as in the past. The hotel will soon be back with new management and complete renovation. But will those grand Durbar Halls survive renovation.
Dharamtolla Crossing. Many of us have non-erasable memories of waiting over for our beloved here before devouring Rosogollas, sandesh , mishti doi at K C Das or Chittoda's kobiraji and cutlet on Dacres Lane.
Howrah Bridge was always a lifeline for Calcutta more so in those days before the new and shiny Vidyasagar Setu came up on the Hooghly. But the romance of shiny Howrah bridge will remain forever. Those boat rides down the Hooghly in the summer afternoon and those stolen moments with the loved one behind the curtains on the nauko 'boat' will always remain special.
The Roadside Chaiwallah. Look out for the ketli and the Bhaanr. Tea drinking at such stalls will always remain an experience.
The Calcutta Traffic Police constable. You can't miss him on the noisy Calcutta roads which tests their patience at all hours.
Yello Taxis and the bare-chested cricketers peeking from the hoardings are a common sight today
The Rickshawwallah. One of the several uniqueness of Calcutta.Many would say this is inhuman to ride a rickshaw pulled by a human, but i guess they have to feed themselves as well as their family somewhere in obscure village in Bihar. I quite liked my short ride down Mirza Ghalib Street on a March afternoon. The clink of bell was magic!
Fairlie Place Railway Building reminds me of those long hours standing in ques to book railway tickets or palming off the tout for a place in front of the long queue. Those days are gone for many of us. Now we book rail tickets at the click of the mouse. Hey wait.. Do we really travel by train any more?
Chowringhee Square - Aren't the signage of Chowringhee Hotel and East India Arms Co as dated as the building itself!
Anadi's Cabin. The place to go for Mughlai Parotha is still doing roaring business. I wish they could open on Sundays too!
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