The old heritage buildings of Kolkata rise against the city’s skyline like the sturdy chords of an ancient chamber organ. The rise and fall of these architectural reeds lend the city its own music: a composition of memory, loss and renewal. The 109-year-old Royal Insurance Building in Dalhousie Square, facing the stately GPO, spent decades folded into the city’s bureaucratic routine. The building is reflective of early 20th-Century colonial commercial architecture, with strong Edwardian and Classical influences visible in its scale and ornamentation. But on March 27, the building assumed another personality altogether. Neon pink and blue lights washed over its creaking stairwells as flamenco dancers in high heels gathered on the steps, waiting to burst into performance.
Royal Insurance Building in Dalhousie , Kolkata
| Photo Credit:
Shreya Banerjee
This transformation was part of Kolkata Unforgettable, an experiential tourism initiative led by Shailaja Mundra and her daughter Vasudha Pachisia. Their idea was simple yet compelling.While exploring the city’s heritage structures, the organisers realised these buildings could function as “pre-made backdrops” for cultural experiences. The idea emerged from the reality that heritage owners often lack the financial incentive to maintain ageing properties. Their solution was to animate these spaces through fortnightly curated immersive performances that could generate both public interest and revenue.
