Kolkatar Ajana Heritage by Aryabhatta Khan [Hardcover]

This book takes you on a journey through a time when Kolkata was the beacon for the entire nation. Personalities like Vidyasagar, Bethune Saheb, Nazrul, and Derozio walked along its historic streets - College Street, Bowbazar, and Central Avenue. Yet today, the relics of that era seem to be fading into obscurity. Some have earned heritage status, while others remain neglected.  

Two friends, Tina and Alik, set out to uncover these forgotten landmarks. They trace Bethune School's first address on Sukea Street, visit the iconic red house in Salt Lake that played a role in Gandhi’s Salt Satyagraha, and seek the studio of Gopeshwar Pal, the clay artist who redefined Durga idols.  

They explore hidden gems like the gas stove showroom buried in Mallick Bazaar, Nazrul’s home in Taltala where "Bidrohi" was written, and Vidyasagar’s Metropolitan School with its historic clock. The courtyard of Nargis' childhood home on Indian Mirror Street is now a motor parts shop, while Rabindranath Tagore’s doctor’s grave lies neglected in Maniktala Cemetery.  

The book captures the forgotten stories and fading grandeur of Kolkata's rich heritage, visually documenting these sites before they are lost to the relentless march of urbanization.