Does Kolkata Still Continue Being the Cultural Capital of India?

Close Your Eyes! Think of Kolkata! The frames that pass are of trams, yellow striped taxis, the city’s cultural diversity marinated in music, literature, art and theatre, the famous colossal Howrah Bridge, its massive “adda” culture on the famous and infamous “para rocks” and surely the beating of our very own “DHAAK” during the “DURGA PUJA” . It is since the renaissance of the 19^th Century that Kolkata has been the incubation centre for numerous mavericks, philosophers, and cultural dignitaries and thus been called as the “Cultural Capital of India”.

It’s now even ranking to the number 7^th as per a Rediff Report that the city of Kolkata is now becoming the selected choice for real estate investments not only because of its affordability and the standards and costs of living but also due to its united diversity of culture and heritage. I would try and take you through this Journey!

• ·         The Lofty Heritage of Kolkata’s Literary Genius!

The beginning of the 19^th Century saw the spree of a great number of Literary artistry in Kolkata. Starting with Raja Ram Mohan Roy, who is believed to have been the Father of Indian Renaissance, the heritage gets carried on by Michael Madhusudan Dutta, the one to have dared to represent centuries old Epic through an unbiased vision, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the creator of immense literary pieces rich in the spirit of the revolutionary movement against the British Colonialism, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar and many more. It is important to mention that it was primarily in 1913 that Kolkata became a place of world significance with Rabindranath Tagore being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and thus its local native language –Bengali became an eloquent topic of discussion and research throughout the world. Today this heritage is being carried over by eminent litterateurs like Shankha Ghosh, Shakti Chattopadhyay, Sunil Ganguly, Mahashweta Devi, Nabarun Bhattacharya, Shirshendu Mukherjee, Srijata Bandopadhyay, Mandakranta Sen and much more.

• ·         Film and Art Venues

Motion Pictures, according to many, have been for a long time an important media of the expression of thoughts and views. Kolkata over the years has seen prolific filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha, Aparna Sen, Kaushik Ganguly, Goutam Ghose, Srijit Mukherjee and much more. The state-owned complex for movies, Nandan, was inaugurated and got its logo designed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Satyajit Ray. Nandan, located in the southern part of the city, now, hosts the Kolkata International Film Festival and many other national and international film events.

Also in the southern part of the city lies one of the oldest art galleries in the country- The Academy of Fine Arts. It was by the efforts of Lady Ranu Mukherjee that the gallery reached its heights, where it stands today. Works of eminent artists, sculptors, paintings and photography from the nation and abroad are put on exhibitions here. This is also followed by other Art Galleries in the city like the CIMA ART Gallery.

• ·         The Religious Festivities of Kolkata and its Vigour!

A popular saying amongst the Bengalis, the originals of Kolkata, means Thirteen Festivals in Twelve Months ( Baro Mashe Tero Parbon). However the most vibrant are the Durga Puja also referred to as “SHARODASTAV”. During the pujas, the city turns into a delirium of millions of people getting on the street for “Pandal Hopping” and nibbling at the street side delicacies to enjoying full courses at the exotic fine dinings of the city.

But not only Durga Puja, Diwali, Holi, Bengali New Year (Poila Boishak), Eid and last but not the least Tagore’s Birthday( 25she Boishak) are also celebrated with pomp and joy throughout the city.

• ·         The City’s Engrossing “ADDA” Culture

“An adda (Bengali: আড্ডা) is a form of intellectual exchange among members, who were original of the same socio-economic strata, but the process has democratised in modern times. It is most popular among the youths belonging to the so-called "middle-class intelligentsia"” of Kolkata. One can experience the rich essence of the adda in the overhauled Alber Hall in Kolkata, now referred to as the Coffee House just opposite to the Presidency College of Kolkata. This place, at one time, used to be frequently visited by intellectuals like Ritwik Ghatak, Bijan Bhattacharya, Narayan Gangopadhyay and many more. The well-noted song by eminent singer Manna Dey “ Coffee House-er Sei Adda ta Aaj Ar Nei” (Those Addas at Coffee House are no more there today” shows the passion for adda amongst the City’s residents. In was in 2004 that “ADDA” was included in the Oxford English Dictionary.

• ·         Kolkata’s Real Estate

The former Capital of the British Empire, Kolkata hosts a mixture of the colonial period architecture and modern urban skyscrapers and elegant shopping malls. Owing to the affordable housing projects in the city, Kolkata has become one of the opted places of nesting for a lot of NRI's, professionals and the retirees.  As Kolkata is the largest cultural, commercial and educational hub of Eastern India, Kolkata has witnessed steady transformation over the past decade.

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