Event On : 13 Oct 2017

iLEAD organized an entertaining Adda as a part of the Paryatan Parv in association with Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India. Paryatan Parv was also supported by Ministry of External Affairs- Govt. of India, Indian Museum, Archaeological Survey of India, iLEAD foundation, Indian National trust for Heritage and many more such bodies. 

The event was presided by Chief Guest of the Adda Mr JP Shaw, Regional Director East, Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India, Mr GM Kapur, Convenor of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, Mr. P.K. Mishra- Ex Regional Director of Archaeological Survey of India and Mr Raju Raman from Victoria Memorial.

iLEAD chairman, Mr Pradip Chopra started the session by stating that the ultimate motive of conducting such Adda was not only to listen to the rich experience of the people involved in the field of tourism, heritage restoration and research but to conduct an interactive session where the audience and the speakers could both share their experience of their city's rich heritage.

Mr. Chopra first showed the audience three short films by Incredible India that showcased the amazing natural beauty and the rich archaeological asset present in every corner of the country.   

The Adda continued with all guests initiating the conversation and discussion about how to promote Indian Tourism to global visitors and create awareness among the Indians about their rich heritage.

Mr. GM Kapur started the adda session through his diverse experiences as a tourism and heritage connoisseur. He shared his experience with the audience about the Bengal tourism scenario as an activist of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. He started his speech by telling about the opinion of the foreign tourists about Kolkata. He also told that Kolkata is one of those sole places in the world which is the largest repository of British colonial heritage. The next speaker in the Adda was Mr. JP Shaw who told the audience about the deficiency of awareness among people about the importance of promoting tourism in Kolkata and Bengal.

Mr. P.K. Mishra put forth some important points regarding the tourism scenario in India and Bengal in particular which included:   

Showcasing tourists the chronological and literary records of India from prehistoric times to pre medieval times which is only present in India

Utilizing the immense archaeological wealth we have in developing the tourism strategies of India.

The role of public in spreading tourism through becoming cultural and archaeological ambassadors of their own region, locality, state or district

Creating separate laws for combating sculpture and other important artifact theft from various tourist spots of cultural and archeological significance

Mr. Pradip Chopra carried forward the session where he showed the audience and the respected dignitaries a short power point presentation on the Unknown facets of Bengal.

The historical sites shown by Mr. Chopra during the presentation included-

Afghan war memorial in Dum Dum area which is a very old monument having historical value
Armenian Church at Free School Street (now Mirza Ghalib Street): Armenians are the first foreign community to come to India and it is also the first country to adapt Christianity in world and the foundations of Armenian Church goes back to the time when Armenians first arrived in India.
Boat museumat Ambedkar Bhavan in Kankurgachi
Calcutta Police Museumat Machuabazar area
Chotorasbari at Tollygunge area
Clive House at Dum Dum area carrying rare and wide range of Mauryan inscriptions
Greek Orthodox Church near Kalighat Tram Depot- Orthodox Greek priests come here for conducting their religious  rituals
Hiuen Tsang Monastery at Tiljala- Paschim Chowbaga Area
Indentured India Labour Memorial and Clock Tower located in Kolkata Port Trust area
Surinam Memorial inside Port Trust which was a major Coolie Depot containing detailed records of vessels arriving and departing from there.
Jewish Cemetery at Phoolbagan Narkeldanga main road and two Synagogues in Burrabazar area.
McDonnel Monument, forgotten drinking fountain opposite Kolkata High court
Metiaburuz Walk which was a typical English town where the great king Wajid Ali Shah spent the last days of his life.
Buddhist Temple at Central Avenue
Temples in Chinatown carrying the rich legacy of Chinese culture and history in India
Wooden Pagoda inside Eden Gardens Kolkata
Parsi Zoroastrian Fire temple which is the oldest fire temple of Kolkata
Putul Bariat Sovabazar launch ghat which is considered haunted house and the vibration of the building is felt when the circular train goes around it
St Stephen's Church at Kidderpore where the marine travelers prayed for good journey.
Ray Chaudhuri Zamindar Bari at Barisha, Kolkata from where the treaty of Kolkata was signed between the Britishers and the landlords of the villages-Sutanuti, Gobindopur  and Hatkhola to form Kolkata.

Mr. Chopra also put forth the fact that forming collaboration with the National Trust of England will greatly help the Indian tourism and archeological fraternity in restoring the rich and valuable artefacts. The session ended with the mention of the Calcutta University which was the palace of Subodh Mallick and about the residence of Mother Teresa from where many Anglo Indian communities originated in the Kolkata.