Kolkata Ekal O Sekal by Rathin Mitra [Hardcover]

Every major city in the world is characterized by its own cultural heritage. This heritage is prominently displayed in its various architectural works, monuments, and memorials. These structures preserve the city's history and serve as tangible symbols of its beauty and grandeur. Kolkata is one such remarkable city—layered with tradition and history. This heritage is reflected in its captivating architecture and its memorable and dignified homes. It is present in its roads and bridges, temples and mosques, churches and the banks of the Ganges, and even in its cemeteries and burial grounds.

However, much of this heritage and history is now on the path to destruction and obliteration. In many cases, it has already disappeared. The aggressive expansion of high-rise buildings, subway excavations, neglect in maintenance, lack of heritage awareness—due to these numerous reasons, the condition of Kolkata is becoming increasingly worn, dilapidated, dull, battered, and unattractive day by day. The renowned veteran artist Rathin Mitra has been meticulously capturing the image of this historically rich and heritage-rich city of Kolkata and its changing face, which is on the verge of destruction, for a long time. This book compiles those artworks. Without a doubt, this album will remain an eternal testament to his love and awareness of Kolkata.

Those familiar with Mr. Mitra's drawings know that the precision and authenticity of his line drawings on paper are so perfect that they resemble etchings. It seems as though the entire scene has emerged from within. His pen-and-ink drawings are enchanting. Rathin Mitra has never wavered in his artistic convictions with pretentious abstract theories. As an artist, he has always been resolute and sincere. This integrity and conviction are evident in every picture in this collection.

Among modern Indian artists who have carved out their own distinctive place in the minds of art connoisseurs, Rathin Mitra is one of them. Almost every region in India—the roads, ghats, temples, mosques, churches, gurdwaras, and historic houses—has found its way into newspaper and magazine pages and into our homes through Rathin Mitra's line drawings. From Kanyakumari to Ladakh, from Europe to famous cities in the Far East or unknown corners of the world, Mr. Mitra has traveled and captured them all.