Welcome to our World
our story.
We were your regular overworked and underpaid individuals, overcome by a sense of ennui. Then one day, we decided to take fate by the throat, and take a look at us now!
We may still be overworked and underpaid.
But there’s a new zest for what we do now.
Conceived of, founded, and designed by Iftekhar Ahsan – aka Ifte – an intrepid Explorer, Calcutta Walks is manned by individuals from various walks of life. As Explorers, researchers, and a resource team, we have on board theater veterans, historians, architects, lawyers, businesspeople, home-based professionals, corporate entities, and quasi-intellectuals whose sole job it is to keep us on our toes and at our best – for you!
Explorers
For starters, our company has no ‘guides’. But if you’re looking to explore the city with us, we have trained Explorers to walk the city with you. A bunch of folks from diverse backgrounds, your Fellow Explorers are in love with the city and keep their fingers on its dynamic pulse. This is a challenging task in a city that is on the threshold of major and potentially explosive change! Our Fellow Explorers revel in discovering the extraordinary in what seems everyday. They are opinionated romantics, keen on sharing with you the way things were, are, and should be. Yet a convincing argument from you will get them to change their mind! Remember, our explorers are not historians, but perpetual students who thrive on the concept of shared discovery.
Explorer Ramanuj
Explorer Ramanuj, the new addition to the Calcutta Walks team possesses infinite enthusiasm for Calcutta and at the same time, his heart being in the right place, longs to be a social entrepreneur. His connection with both West Bengal and East Bengal gives him a unique view of the city of joy through the eyes of a person whose family was affected by Bengal’s partition. Explorer Ramanuj enjoys reading history, geopolitics, international relations as well as Bengali literature and incorporates these in his tours. A strong believer in multiculturalism Ramanuj delights in showing his guests the tolerant, secular and multi-dimensional spirit of our crazy city. His playful spirit is infectious and he can speak non-stop on all his favourite topics. So come on board to explore the city with him and get positively surprised.
Explorer Ifte
Ifte the Intrepid is the one to be blamed for having started it all. His passion for trespassing is second only to his love for this city. Life is an adventure for this true romantic, for whom the predictable is abhorrent. His antennae tune in to all that’s ‘forbidden’. Fun, spirited, and brimming with questions – that’s our Ifte for you. Join him in an exploration of any part, theme, or perspective of the city, though he’s all for unearthing and understanding the various sub-cultures that shy away from the mainstream.
Born and brought up (and hopelessly in love with) Calcutta, Iftekhar Ahsan hails from Rajasthani stock. A regular contributor to The Telegraph and other publications he has managed to build a reputation for himself as an explorer of the city and one of the best people to walk around town with. And when he’s not wandering the streets of the city then you can find him tracing his love to the Silk Road and the various countries that it passed through. If you ever need to plan a trip to any Silk Road country, including Iran, Uzbekistan, China, India, Turkey and the like just drop a hint and watch him animate in excitement.
Explorer Rahul
Rahul began his photography career assisting in the college darkroom in exchange for free film rolls to toy around with his camera. From a National Geographic on Expedition to assisting photo legend Steve McCurry at his studio in New York, he has done it all. Besides leading the Calcutta Photo Walks he is the technical director at Studio Pomegranate and handles all things geek for a studio that provides all photography related services. He has spoken at various forums about photography and continues to expand his skills and knowledge.
Explorer Tuhina
The youngest and most energetic of the mix, Tuhina has always hated the mundane and everyday routine. While pursuing her graduation she was often found trading off her uni classes with lone walks around the city collecting stories and soaking in all the warmth and love that Calcutta has to offer. One can always find a sketchbook tucked in her jhola in which she captures the city the way she sees her. Exploring with her is a joyride and one can’t help but feel enraptured by her free spirit. She will always have the most interesting stories to tell about this city with a soul; a city that will stay with you long after you have left it.
Tuhina knows pretty well that connecting old, historical Calcutta with modern Calcutta is a challenging task. Yet this is what she loves doing with travelers from across the globe. While she has trekked in the Himalayas she is equally at home leading urban treks like no other. An animal lover and a gifted artist she is as infectious as this crazy city.
