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A Drive towards The Conservation of City’s Rich Heritage & Culture with more than 100 Graffiti
Kolkata, 8th April 2023: In recent times, street art and graffiti has received increased attention within the field of heritage, cultural values, conservation, ideas, preservation, memory, identity, power and place making. Keeping an eye on it, Rotary Club of Calcutta in association with Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port and ArcVac Forge Pvt Ltd have joined hands for a special initiative ‘River of Reverence- A Mega Graffiti Heritage Conservation Project with an aim to preserve and protect the precious heritage and culture if Kolkata’s Riverside. The occasion witnessed the gracious presence of Shri Gautam Chakraborti, former Adviser Security & Hony Heritage Adviser SMP; Shri Raj Kumar Agrawal, President Rotary Club of Calcutta; Shri Rajkumar Chhajer, Chairman ArcVac Forge Pvt Ltd, Shri Anand Sharma Secretory Rotary Club of Calcutta, Shri Partha Mukherjee, Projects Chairman Rotary Club of Calcutta & other dignitaries.
As part of Kolkata beautification, a total 1.23 km riverside wall will be painted by a group of young, dynamic groups of artists led by Shri Sayan Mandol. The boundary walls of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust on Strand Road, will be decorated with around 100-odd graffiti as a part of city beautification and also to create awareness about the city’s rich culture, history and heritage. The initiative has been taken by Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust along with the Rotary Club of Calcutta. The entire riverside road between the Fairly Place and Brabourne Road crossing on Strand Road will showcase the graffiti presentation and enlighten the history along with important landmarks of Kolkata through wall paintings.
Present on the occasion, Shri Gautam Chakraborti, former Adviser Security & Hony Heritage Adviser SMP said, “The Kolkata Street art is intriguing. The city’s attitude towards life is exhibited through art, the language is stronger and louder that speaks about a range of issues. ‘River of Reverence- A Mega Graffiti Heritage Conservation Project will make the city eye-catching and surreal. In between the 1.23-kilometre wall, two heritage gates are situated and the project would restore both of them.”
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rajkumar Agrawal Rtn, President, Rotary Club of Calcutta, said, “Protecting the heritage of the city is challenging. Now is the time to come together, connect people visually and create harmony with the environment. Rotary Club of Calcutta with Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port and ArcVac Forge Pvt Ltd has taken a very good initiative in protecting the riverside walls. Rotary Club of Calcutta always took active participation in preserving and acknowledging the Heritage and forbidden history of the city and a couple of months back we have successfully completed the refurbishing of the Champatala Ghat.” “But at the end of the day it’s the responsibility of the local dwellers to maintain it properly. This will lead the future generation to enjoy the heritage and culture of Bengal as well” added Shri Anand Sharma Secretory Rotary Club of Calcutta.
Further adding, Shri Rajkumar Chhajer, Chairman ArcVac Forge Pvt Ltd, said, “About 100-odd graffiti will be painted. The walls have about 265 frame-like structures and they will be painted. This is our CSR activity and we are expecting the whole project including refurbishing the Heritage structures by the riverside would take about three months to complete.”
Some incredible young minds and artists will be seen as a part of this project. After the completion, it will be the responsibility of the civilians to protect and preserve the heritage and beautification of the city. Let’s celebrate and be a part of ‘River of Reverence’– A Mega Graffiti Heritage Conservation Project.
