This was the year 2007. The founder members of Calcutta Walks were trying to find out the history of the city of Calcutta. They referred to the internet; referred to several of the history books written about the city; set appointments & spoke to the old timers whose ancestors / family members formulated the history of the city & took up piloting projects exploring the nooks & corners steeped in history of this 300 yrs old city.
They walked the lanes, by lanes, questioned, argued & gave birth to Confluence of Culture Walk in Calcutta.
The findings for these argumentative Calcuttans (sons of the soil) was was quite unique in the true sense of the word. This was not a self proclaimed truth. This truth got established when experts & freshers said so & there was media highlight letting others know.
So what is the truth!!! what was the finding???
The outcome of reference , discussions, pilot – project walks culminated in the realization – History of Calcutta is the story of settlers from Portugal, Britain, Armenia, Baghdadi Jews, Parsis (from Iran) Agakhani Muslims, Chinese, Buddhists, Anglo Indians & their story of adaptation.
Without denying the fact that after prolonged number of decades, the strong existence factor / influence of the non Indians have faded or almost fading with time but not so much so that we can not relate. We at the Calcutta Walks revive them. Relive them. We interact with people of various communities & often we visit their homes & places of worship.
We inspire you to opt for the Confluence of Culture Walk. This is the real life experience of the reality of Calcutta history of numerous communities in an area which Mahatma Gandhi took notice of. So much so that he he visited this locale & gave a speech to inspire the rest of India about communal harmony.
– Explorer Ritwick