300-yr-old Achipur temple restored before Chinese NY

Kolkata: Ahead of the Chinese New Year, the Chinese community in Kolkata has restored the historic temple in Achipur, on the outskirts of the city, bringing to life the over 300-year-old structure that lay dilapidated for several years.On Feb 17, the Chinese Year of the Horse begins.The temple, built in 1718, stands as a testament to Kolkata's first Chinese settlement, established by Tong Achew, the first-known Chinese trader to have arrived in India. Achipur village derives its name from Achew, who set up sugarcane cultivation and a sugar manufacturing plant, employing several Chinese workers, who had migrated to India."Initially, six of us decided to restore the temple and started the work in Sept. Gradually, many people joined in and contributed. Finally, the restoration was completed just before the new year," said Michael Hsieh, a member of the Gee Hing Club in Tiretta Bazar area in central Kolkata. Gee Hing Club looks after the upkeep of Achipur Temple. Community member Christopher Ian Alpin, who documented the entire restoration process over the past few months, said the transformation was "remarkable". "The temple was crumbling, but the determination of the Chinese community members from Gee Hing Temple on Black Burn Lane, who are the caretakers of the Achipur Temple, was unshakeable. I wanted to capture not just the physical restoration, but the emotional one. You can see the happiness on people's faces when they visit the temple."According to the Chinese in Kolkata, the restoration marks a significant moment for the community, which dwindled from nearly 1 lakh in the 1960s and 1970s to just a few thousands today. The exodus began after the Sino-Indian war in 1962, which created feelings of alienation among the once thriving community. Another wave of migration in the 1980s saw families leaving for Australia, Canada, and other countries in search of jobs and higher education.In recent decades, the closure and relocation of tanneries from Tangra further reduced employment prospects, triggering an exodus."We are small in numbers now, but our roots run deep," said Janice Lee, a Chinese entrepreneur. "Restoring this temple isn't just about preserving a bricks-and-mortar structure. It is about telling our progeny where we began, and the invaluable economic and cultural contribution to the city," he added.The settlement Achew established transformed Achipur into a buzzing Chinese hub, though today not a single Chinese family lives there.The temple's daily upkeep is done by Faruqul Haque, whose family served as caretakers for seven generations. However, during Chinese New Year, the sleepy hamlet transforms into a temporary Chinatown as Chinese families from across Kolkata and beyond make their annual pilgrimage to the temple."When Chinese New Year comes, this place transforms," Lee said. The community currently maintains the temple through local funding. The Gee Hing Club has been trying to promote Achipur as a heritage tourism destination. The club hopes to draw attention to this unique aspect of Kolkata's history diversity.