Calcutta Heritage Collective is a voluntary citizen’s initiative. The group’s overall aim is to build pride in our city’s built heritage through a broad range of activities, related to conservation and restoration, creative re-use of properties, and spreading awareness in a variety of ways.

This voluntary body officially launched on the 16th of March 2018 through a brilliant photographic exhibition entitled VIVA which means Alive in Spanish. The exhibition showcased architectural magnificence from all over the world through the lens of internationally acclaimed journalist and photographer Kounteya Sinha.

True to their mission of Respect Restore Reuse they chose to launch at a grand old mansion, right next to Marble Palace at 48 B MuktaramBabu Street, a mansion that was then stripped to bricks.

Amidst the structure, and in the presence ofthe Chief Guest, the Honorable Governor Shri KeshariNathTripathi, Dignitaries like Mr. GM Kapur, State Convener for INTACH, former minister Santosh Bagrodia, former bureacratJawharSircar, Japanese Consul General, Mr. Masayuki Taga and also Cause Ambassadors like Shuvaprasanna Bhattacharya, acclaimed Artist and Chairman of West Bengal Heritage Commission, Acclaimed musician Bickram Ghosh and Singer Usha Uthup enthralling all with her songs The Calcutta Heritage Collectives had had started its journey on the 16th of March 2018

As CHC member Mukul Agrawal had aptly mentioned at the launch the key word then was to "Take a Call". Take a call on how we wanted to see our heritage~ Destroyed, Decayed and then disappearOr as Living emblems of a glorious past, connecting our Today and Tomorrow with our roots.

Over the last two years CHC has been involved in a variety of activities towards spreading Heritage Awareness. World Heritage Day 2018 was celebrated in collaboration with Kolkata Port Trust where The Port Trust launched its Heritage Tour through Land and Water aptly called "A Voyage through Tide and Time".

A brilliant talk on "Who Owns Heritage" was held at the Maritime Museum by Educator and Heritage Activist, Vikramjit Singh Rooprai. A wonderful walk through the ancient Kumartuli just before the start of Pujas which looked at the history and heritage of this historic area of Kolkata.This was followed by a photo exhibition at Ganges Art Gallery on photographs taken during the walk. Since then CHC has organized several Walks highlighting various historic sites of the city like Metiaburz and the Nawabi history of the city, Burrabazar and its mercantile history, Cornwallis Street and its revolutionary history, The East India Company Walk and associations with British history as well a Cruise through the historic Ghats of Ganges. Further CHC has also hosted an interactive talk with Lord Bruce on the Scottish association with the city.

CHC has also actively been involved with spreading Heritage Awareness amongst children by partnering with AKLF for holding Heritage quiz for school children both last year and this year. It was also held Heritage educational activities in Victoria Memorial and has conducted Walks for school students in Dalhousie. CHC has lately organizedan awareness Walk in the Park Street area for Ladies Study Group.

Apart fromspreading awareness, CHC has identified three restoration projects, The Baneswar Shiv Temple at Kumartuli, the Prince of Wales Welcome arch and McDonell Fountain at Fairlie Place.

It also offers consultancy for restoration projects by its member designers and architects.

Two years into its existence, CHC chose to celebrate its journey at the very place of its birth at 48 B MuktaramBabu Street on the 23rd of February 2020.

Two years ago it was stripped to bricks.

In only two years it has been restored to glory by the Emami Foundation

The Members Annual Meet at this very venue showcased the beauty of Restoration, Respect and Reuse which are CHC core values and its mission.

The members and guests were engulfed in living history.

History that moved forward.

How fascinating must be the journey of this house.

Once a home to a family, how much it must have seen...

Restored and opened to the public.

A crisp audio-visual presentation of the process of restoration of this beautiful edifice was followed by a panel discussion with eminent panelists like JawharSircar, Souvik Mukherjee, Sohini Chatterjee and led by CHC member Anthony Khatchaturian on aspects of restoration.

Unlike regular restoration projects which are reused as Museums or Hotels, the Emami Group will Reuse this beautifully restored structure as a Temple and Clinics of Ayurveda and Homeopathy as well as an institution to impart vocational training.

A give-back by Emami to the house from where they started.

May 48 B Muktaram stands tall for centuries to come.

It was a Privilege for members of Calcutta Heritage Collective to have witnessed this beautiful structure stripped down to bricks and then restored to glory over two years.

From VIVA to Re VIVA L!

Calcutta Heritage Collective is a voluntary citizen’s initiative. The group’s overall aim is to build pride in our city’s built heritage through a broad range of activities, related to conservation and restoration, creative re-use of properties, and spreading awareness in a variety of ways.

This voluntary body officially launched o