From the aromatic kitchens of Bengal to the rhythmic echoes of the Tagore legacy, World Heritage Week-2025 from 19-25 November, was a vibrant journey through India’s timeless culture. Organized by the INTACH Calcutta Chapter in collaboration with iconic institutions, the week celebrated the stories, flavours and melodies that make Calcutta – Kolkata’s identity. Following are the highlights of the week:
i. A Taste of History: The Food Culture of Bengal
The week started with a discourse on Culinary Heritage of Bengal – two special lectures organised by Victoria Memorial Hall in collaboration with INTACH Calcutta Chapter. INTACH Calcutta Chapter Convenor G.M. Kapur gave the inaugural speech and Co-Convenor Nayantara Palchoudhuri felicitated the speakers at the end of the event.
Dr. Utsa Ray delved on the layers of Bengali cuisine, tracing recipe origins from ancient texts to foreign influences in her lecture titled ‘What’s in a Name? Unpacking ‘Bengali’ Cuisine’. Nilanjan Hajra explored ‘Gastronativism’ through the curious history of Chhanar Dalna. The celebration of food continued with a heritage dinner at Amar Khamar, featuring authentic home-cooked recipes sourced from farming communities across Bengal’s districts.
ii. Melodies & Memories: The Tagore Legacy
At the Indian Museum, Sri Sukanta Chakraborty and Dr. Abhijit Majumdar led a mesmerizing lecture-demonstration on the ‘lost music’ of Rabindranath Tagore and his family. Indian Museum, Kolkata, Ministry of Culture, Govt of India in collaboration with INTACH W.B. & Calcutta Regional Chapters organised ‘Re-discovering the Lost Music of Rabindranath and other members of the Tagore Family’ at Ashutosh Birth Centenary Auditorium.
The Netaji Research Bureau with INTACH Calcutta Chapter organised the screening of Tracing Tagore’s Legacy in America, a documentary by INTACH member Dr. Kallol Basu exploring Tagore’s profound impact in the United States of America, at the Netaji Bhavan auditorium.
iii. Icons of Hospitality & Conservation
The Elgin Fairlawn (est. 1783), Sudder Street landmark was honoured with the prestigious INTACH Blue Plaque for Heritage Hospitality. Director Mrs. Nimmi Oberoi was felicitated by the INTACH Calcutta Regional Chapter’s Convenor Mr. G.M. Kapur and Co-convenor Mrs. Kanchana Mukhopadhyay.
The World Heritage Week-2025 concluded with INTACH Life Member and research scholar Mr. Prosenjit Dasgupta’s insightful talk on the ‘Importance of Conservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage – some examples from Bastar, Kerala and Karnataka’. He spoke about the need for safeguarding and documenting the living tribal traditions in these regions. The presentation was based on Mr. Dasgupta’s research and documentation in these regions.
INTACH Calcutta Chapter continues to take forward the work of appreciating and preserving Kolkata, West Bengal’s rich art and cultural heritage.
