The people retelling the Kolkata story

The Kolkata Restorers – a collective of 306 donors driven by a shared commitment to preserve and revive the city’s architectural and cultural heritage – is a force that has been reshaping the city. And 49 of these Changemakers came together for the first time at the newly restored Charnock Lohia Hospital for a super exclusive photoshoot celebrating 25 years of Calcutta Times. They spoke to us about their work and deep-rooted belief that restoration is not merely about preserving bricks and mortar, but about safeguarding memory, identity, and the layered histories that define Kolkata. Who are the Kolkata restorers The Kolkata Restorers are a citizen-led collective of Kolkata residents united by a shared commitment to preserving the city’s architectural and cultural heritage. What sets them apart is that they are not a formal institution, but a community-driven initiative powered by individuals who willingly contribute their time, resources, and expertise towards conservation. While their work spans a range of restoration and revival efforts, they are best known for their large-scale illumination project, which, since late 2023, has lit up dozens of heritage buildings across the city, transforming how these structures are experienced—especially after dark. Beyond lighting, the group is actively involved in hands-on conservation, from restoring heritage elements like old clock towers to cleaning historic sites and bringing neglected structures back into public consciousness. Their approach seamlessly blends aesthetics with awareness, using illumination not just to enhance visual appeal but to spark conversations around preservation. At its core, the initiative is about reclaiming ownership of Kolkata’s legacy, demonstrating that heritage conservation can evolve into a shared civic movement—one where citizens come together to protect and celebrate their city with pride.Quotes: I am a Kolkatan at heart—born and brought up in this city. It is important that we not only preserve the best of Kolkata, but also restore and showcase it to the world. The illumination of these iconic landmarks has, in many ways, created a unique night circuit for the city—something very few places around the world can truly claim -Ketan Desai aka Bald Man of TeaKolkata is a city that sits on one of the largest concentrations of heritage sites, yet for a long time, much of it went underappreciated. What is encouraging now is that people have begun to truly wake up to the value of the city and its legacy. In a remarkably short span of time, and with the efforts of a relatively small group, we are already witnessing a significant shift—both in awareness and in action—towards preserving and celebrating Kolkata’s heritage -Sandip Nowlakha When we go to cities like London or Paris and see how thoughtfully they have preserved and integrated their cultural heritage into everyday life, it makes you reflect on what we can do for our own city. It has always made me feel that Kolkata deserves the same level of care and commitment, that we must value, protect, and celebrate our heritage with the same pride and consistency -Raj Agarwal, Chartered Accountant As the city undergoes urban reinvention, I believe heritage conservation must remain at the heart of this transformation. Unlike newer cities such as Gurgaon or Noida, Kolkata carries a rich historical legacy. For my company to contribute to rediscovering and highlighting this dimension is both a privilege and a responsibility. This project is my way of honoring the city that has given me so much. We are committed to playing an enriching role in helping Kolkata recover its lost glory and reaffirm its place as a city of heritage, pride, and inspiration. -Padam Prakash Gupta, MD & Director, Techno Electric & Engineering Co. Ltd.I live in a heritage building in Chowringhee, opposite Calcutta Club, and that experience has given me a deep appreciation for the need to preserve such structures in their original form. Living within that space, you become acutely aware of the history it holds and the responsibility that comes with it. Conservation, to me, is about retaining that authenticity while ensuring these buildings continue to be respected, cared for, and lived in Anant Nevatia, Rural Health Care Foundation In times of AI and rapid technological change, it becomes all the more important to stay rooted—and that begins with respecting and preserving our heritage. It anchors us to our identity, reminding us of our history, our values, and the cultural context that shapes who we are, even as we move forward into an increasingly digital future -Vivek Mundra, finance Heritage should be made to be paid for itself, without that it will be difficult for heritage to sustain -IAS Atri Bhattacharya Kolkata is an incredibly beautiful city that welcomes people from across the country. The challenge lies in balancing the needs of its growing population with the preservation of its architecture and heritage. What is encouraging is the growing sense of consciousness and awareness around this. More importantly, it is now translating into action. We have reached a point where private individuals are coming together, taking initiative, and actively contributing to the preservation and restoration of the city’s heritage themselves -Laily Thompson, founder, Kult X For me, conservation of heritage is the most important aspect of the city. The city will always be remembered as what it has , is preserved and what we leave as a legacy for generations to come -Utsav Parekh, Nexome Investment Capital Market Ltd, Investment Banker and honorary consul of the Czech Republic in Kolkata Heritage buildings are silent storytellers, and restoration gives them back their voice—allowing future generations to listen, learn, and connect. When heritage is illuminated, it transforms public spaces—streets become galleries, and the city itself becomes an open museum -Dilip Shah, Rector & Dean of Student Affairs, The Bhawanipur Education Society College Today’s Kolkata is yesterday’s Calcutta-international cosmopolitan city. Heritage restoration or illumination is an act of continuity; it ensures that a city’s story is not interrupted, but carried forward with care, dignity, and relevance. When we restore a building, we are reclaiming a piece of collective memory that might otherwise have faded into obscurity” -Soumen Mitra, former commissioner of Kolkata Police I have undertaken restoration work myself in South Kolkata, and that experience has reinforced my belief in its importance. Restoration is a vital part of preserving the city’s heritage—it is what we leave behind for the next generation to understand where we came from. At the same time, it shows how thoughtfully we can blend the old charm of the city with modern facilities, ensuring that heritage remains both relevant and lived-in -Rajesh Sen, restorer When I was introduced to the illumination project, I found it truly unique. Beyond its immediate visual impact, what stands out is how it is beginning to reshape the city’s relationship with its own heritage. By bringing these landmarks into focus after dark, it has opened up an entirely new way of experiencing Kolkata. More importantly, it is steadily boosting tourism, drawing both locals and visitors to explore parts of the city they may have otherwise overlooked. It creates not just a visual spectacle, but a cultural circuit that encourages people to engage with Kolkata’s history in a more immersive and meaningful way -Aditya Jajodia, chairman and managing director of Jai Balaji Group “The illumination of heritage sites has fundamentally changed how the city is experienced—what was once overlooked in the dark now becomes a focal point of pride and curiosity -Sharmistha Chatterjee, IT professional I am deeply involved and interested in what Mudar is doing. The illumination project has transformed how people experience heritage—turning static monuments into living, breathing landmarks after sunset -Pradip Kumar Ghosh, senior advocate, Calcutta High Court In over just two years, this has grown into such a beautiful movement. Kolkata has the most amazing heritage structures in the world; it is unfortunate that they have not been looked after. In our own little way, we have tried to contribute to the happiness quotient of the city -Rahul Saraf, Chairman of Forum Group Being born and brought up in Kolkata, it gives me immense pleasure to contribute to the city in this way. It feels like a way of giving back to the city that has shaped who I am. Preserving these structures is not just about maintaining buildings—it is about protecting memories, culture, and a sense of identity that defines Kolkata for generations to come -Himanshu Ajmera, Sometimes with a future forward outlook, a look into the past and drawing inspiration gives you clarity into the future. Heritage restoration pays homage to the efforts done to the place and sets a vision for the newer generation -Tushar Bhala, Hind Lighting Studio A restored building stands as a bridge between generations, reminding us of where we come from while guiding where we go next -Manoj Lunia of Lookad India limited Preserving heritage is a collective responsibility; restoration is where intent meets action -Sharmishtha Das, teacher Heritage cannot survive on sentiment alone- it needs thoughtful intervention, sustainable models, and continuous care -Payal Chitlangia, Education consultant What we need to do is talk more and more about Kolkata—about what it truly is, beyond the clichés, and the immense potential it holds. The city has a depth of culture, history, and character that often goes underrepresented. By telling its stories more consistently and with conviction, we not only reshape perception but also unlock opportunities for growth, tourism, and renewed civic pride -Sunil Bhandari , poet, podcaster, philanthropist I conduct heritage walks, and through these experiences I have come to truly understand how deeply these places and structures matter. They are not just remnants of the past, they are what define the character, memory, and identity of the city. When people engage with them up close, they begin to see Kolkata not just as a place, but as a living archive of stories. The illumination project, in that sense, is especially commendable. It has quite literally brought the city to light, revealing details, histories, and architectural beauty that often go unnoticed. More importantly, it has transformed the way people connect with these spaces, making heritage visible, accessible, and alive even after dusk.” -Navpreet Arora, heritage walk curator I am often asked how I have been able to complete the illumination of 113 buildings, restoration of 8 public clocks, restoration of 4 monuments and cleaning of 1312 heritage plaques in a span of 2.5 years-the fact that this city has got the richest collection of colonial architecture, so i thought i should illuminate and people meaning to do so will automatically come in and that is what actually happened. Somewhere, the industrial slowdown of the state has affected they city in the past 4 decades and the city needed an alternative revenue generator and that is tourism and if you don’t do things like illumination, restoration then you'll not be able to create an alternative revenue engine. So, the idea was, if i do this, there could be a difference in the dimension of how people see the city especially following dusk and the response has been very positive -Mudar Patherya, restorer and Chief Craziness Officer at Trisys Projects like the illumination project change the face of what the city was and what the city can be. Projects like these give hope and bring a lot of positive energy to the city -Atul Gupta, director, Eastern Financiers Limited The success of any restoration effort lies not just in the outcome, but in the awareness, it generates—encouraging people to value what they once took for granted -Sumant Kothari, entrepreneur Not just us but whoever is restoring, repurposing or breathing new life into the city’s heritage, is doing a great job and we must keep moving forward in this direction -Sangeet Kothari , entrepreneur Heritage as a tool is a life changing mechanism. With Bari Kothi we could revive the local communities. A big movement starts with small conversations, conversations in a huddle, that is how big movements have been formed- history says it and we will repeat it -Darshan Dudhoria , co-founder Bari Kothi Heritage Hotel I think the most important things that the Kolkata restorers do is preserving the past to create a very vibrant foundation for future -Ananda Basu, advocate, Calcutta High Court Lighting heritage structures is not just about aesthetics; it is about reclaiming public spaces and reintroducing history into everyday life. When these buildings are thoughtfully illuminated, they become more than static landmarks, they turn into active, shared spaces that people can engage with, gather around, and take pride in. It shifts heritage from being something distant or forgotten to something immediate and lived -Suyash Nasaria, Lighting designer -Working on the mechanical side of restoration gives you a very different perspective, you are not just preserving what is visible, but strengthening what holds it all together -Swapan Dutta and Satyajit Dutta of Sonotime Illumination projects democratize heritage, they make it visible, accessible, and engaging for everyone, not just historians or conservationists -Aditi Mitra A well-lit heritage structure does more than beautify the skyline, it creates an emotional connection, drawing people closer to the history that surrounds them -Suvransu Mitra Inputs by Raima Ganguly