Urban conservation and contested spatiality within Kolkata's European built heritage

Study of Dalhousie square

Abstract

Kolkata, previously recognized as 'Calcutta', is a linear urban settlement on the eastern side of the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India. After gaining administrative authority from the Nawab of Bengal in 1757, the British undertook a methodical urban development of the city to extend Calcutta's geographical influence (Cotton, 1909). From 1734 to 1911, Calcutta served as the capital city of British India until New Delhi replaced it. According to Sinha (1990), research suggests that the Dalhousie Square area in Calcutta displays remarkable examples of grand colonial architecture, which the British constructed. During the late 18th to the late 19th century, the British built administrative, public, and commercial buildings in the Dalhousie Square region to establish it as the central business district of Calcutta. These buildings were designed in various architectural styles, such as Palladian, Baroque, Gothic, Neo-classical, and 'Indo-Saracenic', as documented by Ghosh (1996). The present study examines the disputed spatiality within the European-built clusters of Kolkata, with a particular focus on Dalhousie Square. It analyses the relationship between this area and various heritage initiatives, recent official approaches to conservation and management, and the interests of residents. Combining information from secondary sources and conducting empirical investigations, the research explores different conservation efforts in the Dalhousie Square area of Kolkata. These initiatives encompass the revitalization of public areas, the preservation of architectural heritage, and the repurposing of historic structures for various functions. Informal discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted with primary stakeholders, such as residents, shop owners, street vendors, urban youth, and secondary stakeholder agencies, including municipalities, planners, entrepreneurs, and N.G.O.s. The study emphasizes the need for more sustainable methods of heritage management within Kolkata's European heritage. To safeguard Kolkata's European heritage, it calls for grassroots cooperation among various stakeholder groups, including the local community, N.G.O.s, heritage experts, local authorities, tourist agents, and entrepreneurs.