| Description: | The BBD Bagh-Dalhousie stretch is two square Kms and is located in Central Kolkata. This historical stretch is replete with Raj-era buildings and the square has been listed by the World Monument Fund(WMF) as an endangered world heritage site. The best way to discover the colonial legacy of Dalhousie square is by walking through its crowded streets. Every edifice in Dalhousie square has history written all over.
There are at least 50 heritage buildings which have been identified by the Government of West Bengal for restoration. For two centuries Kolkata was the capital of the erstwhile East India Company. The square was designed and built in a very planned manner so as to serve as the citadel of British colonial power in India. The square not only had offices of the erstwhile rulers, but also had exclusive residential areas where renowned British servants used to reside.
The Square was named in the memory of Lord Dalhousie who was the Governor General of India from 1847 to 1856. But it was renamed as BBD Bagh (Binoy, Badal, Dinesh) three patriotic sons of Bengal who attained martyrdom during India's struggle for independence. At the center of the Square is the tank - Lal Dighi.
The Dalhousie Square is surrounded by some of Kolkata's most enduring Raj-era monuments like the magnificent GPO (General Post Office), the regal Raj Bhawan, the St.John's Church and the Gothic style Writer's Building. In terms of heritage, no other city square is as rich as Dalhousie Square. It is truly one-of-its-kind in the world and a walk through one of its crowded thoroughfares is like a trip down the memory lane.
But all is not well as far as preservation of the historical Raj-era edifices are concerned. Most buildings are in a rather dilapidated condition and are in urgent need of repairs. The streets are pot holed and hawkers have occupied every available space by the roadside.
But, there has been a turnaround of sorts ever since the World Monument Fund declared the BBD Bagh-Dalhousie Square as an endangered heritage site in the year 2004. Along with the active co-operation of organizations like Action Research in Conservation of Heritage and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, a comprehensive blueprint for the revival and subsequent restoration of this place of outstanding historical beauty is already in place. Restoration work is going on round the clock. |
