The Calcutta Heritage Collective launched its Chaitanya Library Restoration Initiative at Hyatt Regency Kolkata on 12th January 2025. The initiative aims to restore and reuse Kolkata’s built heritage, involving thought leaders, students, senior citizens, professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, heritage experts, developers, and concerned citizens united by a shared passion for preserving the city’s rich history.

The goal of the Chaitanya Project is to restore the 135-year-old Chaitanya Library, home to more than 150,000 rare volumes and journals, to its former splendor. The library, founded in 1889 by scholars including Rabindranath Tagore, Kunj Behari Datta, and Gaur Hari Sen, has priceless books on Indian philosophy, history, and culture. It needs to be restored and digitized after decades of neglect to protect its priceless collection for future generations.

As part of the Calcutta Heritage Collective’s project, the building will be restored, its priceless resources preserved, and its rare publications digitized. Leading national heritage conservation architect and member Ayan Sen volunteered to help with the restoration. His plans have provisions for possible adaptive reuse to guarantee the entity’s long-term self-sustainability. These initiatives seek to preserve the library’s physical legacy while making its contents available to a worldwide audience.

Renowned percussionist and cause ambassador Bickram Ghosh honored the occasion with a unique live performance honoring 25 years of fusion music and giving a sneak peek at his most recent album, Rhythmscape 2.0. The event was a festival of art and music. He was joined by Satyajit Mukherjee on drums, Nirmalya Roy on vocals, Abhishek Mallick on electric sitar, Pulak Sarkar on piano, and Pt. S. Sekhar on mridangam. They worked together to create a captivating synergy that enthralled the crowd and made the evening one to remember.

In just thirty minutes, Shuvaprasanna, who has seventy-three years of experience, painted a beautiful picture in front of the audience. His brushstrokes perfectly matched the percussion maestro’s tabla sounds. The establishment of the “Chaitanya Heritage Baithakkhana” a stunningly designed venue that perfectly encapsulated the program and brought the heritage of the Chaitanya Library to life, further enhanced the evening’s specialness.

The Calcutta Heritage Collective’s trustees, Gaurav Gupta, Munish Jhajharia, Dr. Rupali Basu, and Sangeeta Dudhoria, are spearheading this revolutionary endeavor with their dedication and vision. The restoration project of the Chaitanya Library is a call to action for everyone who values Kolkata’s rich cultural legacy.

For more details, visit www.calcuttaheritagecollective.com

Priyanka Dutta