Kolkata, once the crown jewel of British India, is experiencing a renaissance as its architectural heritage comes alive at night. Under the Kolkata Illumination Project, a team of passionate citizens is working to illuminate the city's historic landmarks to celebrate their grandeur.
Tour guide Sujoy Sen leads visitors through the vibrant streets, showcasing colonial structures like the General Post Office and Raj Bhavan, which shimmer under new lighting. I was stunned, Sen recalls, comparing the vistas in Kolkata to Paris by night.
The project, initiated by a grassroots group named Kolkata Restorers, aims to harness the beauty of heritage through strategically placed illumination. Mudar Patherya, a driving force behind the initiative, emphasizes that it isn't just about lighting but rekindling pride in Kolkata's rich history.
As the program has grown, so too has the focus on restoration. Many historic sites, including the 150-year-old Hogg Market and its iconic clock tower, require repairs before they can be illuminated. Expert clock technician Swapan Dutta is revitalizing these long-dormant timepieces, adding another layer of life to the project.
With just 22 million rupees, we've restored 92 buildings and several clocks, demonstrating that heritage restoration can be citizen-led and crowdsourced, says Patherya. His dream is ambitious: to light up 200 landmark buildings, making Kolkata a dazzling nocturnal destination gleaming with architectural diversity.
This initiative not only showcases the intricate beauty of the buildings but also inspires local pride in Kolkata's rich cultural tapestry amidst a rapidly modernizing urban landscape.
