92B, Sovabazar street, Calcuta-700005

Ésta es la dirección del famoso Butto Kristo Paul (B.K.Paul) quien fue el fundador de la compañía farmacéutica más grande en Calcuta.

B.K.Paul

Siempre hay cosas nuevas que conocer incluso dentro de nuestra propia ciudad. Yo nunca había estado en este edificio antes. El edificio tiene 158 años, está situado en el norte de Calcuta y a pesar de su edad, para mí fue un lugar nuevo que explorar.

La casa de B.K.Paul (ahora es un edificio patrimonial)

Quedé con Arindam Paul, el tataranieto de B.K.Paul, quien me explicó más o menos sobre la historia del imperio farmacéutico. B.K.Paul vivía en Shibpur y cuando tenía 12 años, se trasladó al norte de Calcuta para vivir en casa de su tío. Comenzó a trabajar en una farmacia de homeopatía y luego abrió su primera farmacia en Kherapati Barabazar. Desde allí empezó a extender su negocio. Después de eso cada instrumentos médicos como medicina, las herramientas cirujanas , etc  pertenecido a Compañía  de B.K.Paul durante esa época. Él abrió esa farmacia dentro de su casa en el año 1858, justo 3 años después de la construcción de este edificio que ahora es parte del patrimonio cultural de la ciudad.

La farmacia dentro de la casa

El negocio alcanzó un nivel nuevo cuando crearon una medicina "Edwards Tonic" y empezaron distribuirla en gran medida. Todavía se puede encontrar en Calcuta, y la gente continúa usándola.

La medicina se llama EDWARDS TONIC

Su hijo Harishankar Paul hizo el negocio global expansionándolo a Londres.

Calcuta tiene un rico patrimonio cultural. Pero, debido a la polución y mal mantenimiento, la ciudad está perdiendo su encanto. Anteriormente había algunas normas y leyes para la preservación y la conservación del patrimonio cultural, escrito en el West Bengal Town & Country Act , 1979, para la planificación y el Desarrollo de la ciudad. Mas tarde, en 1997, un Comité experto fue designado para supervisar el registro, la modificación y el mantenimiento de todos los edificios históricos, monumentos y lugares declarados de interés en todo el estado de Bengala Occidental. En la misma línea, el West Bengal Heritage Commission Act del 2001 fue aprobado y entró en vigor el día 1 de agosto del 2001.

En Calcuta, 163 edificios han sido declarados como Patrimonio Histórico hasta ahora, y la unos 200 edificios más han sido identificados por el Comité de Expertos como edificios históricos, cuya documentación está siendo recogida

Actualmente la farmacia de B.K. Paul la lleva ahora la cuarta generación de familia Paul (Barun Kumar Paul, Anup Kumar Paul, Ashok Kumar Paul).

El timbre tradicional de la puerta todavía se usa allí

92B, Sovabazar street, Kolkata-700005

This is the address of a famous person, Mr.Butto Kristo Paul (B.K.Paul). He was the founder of the greatest medicine manufacturing company in Kolkata.

Butto Kristo Paul

One can always explore new things within or outside of one’s own place. For example, I have never been to this building before, which is situated in north Kolkata. The building is 158 years old but for me it’s a new place to explore.

B.K.Paul's house (now a heritage building)

I met Mr. Arindam Paul, fifth generation of B.K.Paul, who explained quite a bit about the history of the Empire. B.K.Paul was a resident of Shibpur & he came to north Kolkata at his uncle’s house when he was 12 years old. He started working in a homoeopathy medical shop & later his first medical shop was established in Kherapati Barabazar. This was the place where he started expanding his business. After that, every medical equipments like- medicine, surgical tools, etc belonged to B.K.Paul Company. He opened this medical shop inside the house in the year 1858 just 3 years after the construction of this heritage building.

Medical shop inside the building

The business moved to a new level when a medicine called Edwards Tonic was made & widely distributed. Still now it is used and sold here.

EDWARDS TONIC medicine

His son Harishankar Paul made the business global by expanding it to London.

Kolkata has a rich cultural heritage. But because of the pollution & poor maintenance, the city is losing its cultural charm. Previously there were some provisions for preservation and conservation of this heritage in the West Bengal Town and Country (Planning & Development) Act, 1979. Later in 1997 an expert Committee was set up in order to supervise the modification, enlistment and maintenance of all Heritage Buildings, Monuments, Precincts and sites within the purview of entire State of West Bengal. Accordingly the West Bengal Heritage Commission Act, 2001 has been enacted with effect from the 1st day of August, 2001.

163 buildings in Kolkata has been declared as Heritage Buildings so far, and documentation of around 200 buildings have been done out of identified buildings by the Expert Committee.

Presently the B.K. Paul’s medical shop is run by the fourth generation of Paul family (Barun Kumar Paul, Anup Kumar Paul, Ashok Kumar Paul).

The traditional doorbell is still being used today

Chandrabhaga Beach, Odisha

What is the global point of view on India?

India will be a super power and at the same time India is a dirty place. Well I agree and at the same time I don't agree.

There are some places in India where we can explore the strangeness of the beautiful nature and the most important thing- the clean environment. I use the term "strangeness" because I think that it can also exist in a place where there is less human intervention and nature seems to be more alive like life itself.

Chandrabhaga is a place situated along the east coast of India facing The Bay of Bengal where nature enjoys its freedom. When I was on the beach, the true surrounding beauty made me aware of not leaving any human impression there except the momentary footprints on the shore.

Footprints

We must follow simple regulations to save our world from demolitions like- not leaving plastics or bottles on the beach, avoid throwing packets of food on water etc. One of the reason behind the existence of this fresh environment is- there are no hotels near by this beach but they are situated 3km away in a place called Konark. In future I don't want any hotel business to run over there.

With the mild sound of waves falling on the shore, one can enjoy small fishing boats passing by. The ideal time to explore the glorious view, is during the sunset, where nature changes its color accordingly.

Sunset

Sunset (next day)

Future is unpredictable. I have always heard people saying-- "Those were the days far better than today".

Do you agree with this?

Well change is inevitable and we must learn not to interfere with the nature but rather maintain the pristine environment as much as possible.

3rd International sand festival,2013 at Chandrabhaga Beach

Barely 3Km from Konark temple, Chandrabhaga beach is now a place for a sand festival that happens every year (from 1st December to 5th December). The brand ambassador of this festival, Sudarshan Pattnaik, is an internationally acclaimed sand artist who started designing sculpt images on sand at the age of seven in Puri. As a matter of fact he is the inventor of sand art in India & the founder of "The Golden Sand Art Institute” which is first of its nature in India.

It was my first time to attend this sand festival & I was spellbound by the beautiful handmade art work of sand artists.There is something compelling about this art. Unlike paintings, music, movies, writings etc. these sand sculptures can't be preserved for long. On 1st December i.e. on the inauguration day, the theme was based on world heritage. Along with 25 participants from India, there were also participants from Italy, Canada, USA, Sri Lanka, Australia.

 

Next day, I went to the beach again & was surprised to see that all the models were reconstructed. I didn't know that each day had a different theme until one member of the festival told me. It had started with the theme of heritage & later on continued with the themes of environmental awareness like- save water, ecosystem, tourism, women's rights (is an important worldwide topic nowadays for safety issue) & culture.

I was not so lucky to be there on all the 5 days of the sand festival, though I was deeply captivated with the spectacular creativity.I am sharing some photos of the 2nd day (theme- SAVE WATER)  & the only way to preserve this striking artwork is through the lens of camera.

Next time I would love to spend 5 days on the beach to attend this festival so that I don't have to return with half filled enthusiasm.