March 30, 2022 , Evolution of College Street book hub.

This write-up is contributed by Mr. Sugato Roy.

Evolution of College Street book hub…

You will scarcely find a Kolkatan who has never visited College Street boi para; be it for purchasing rare books at mindboggling prices, or purchasing books at a heavy discount, just browsing through the innumerable titles in the countless bookstalls, purchasing second-hand books and having adda sessions at the iconic Coffee House or savouring some of the finest foods at Putiram and Kalika. College Street has the rarest distinction of being the largest book market in India and Asia as well as the largest second-hand book market in the world. For the literary world, bibliophiles,  the book worms and even countless tourists visit to College Street are like visiting a pilgrim centre. Some of the stalls date back over 150 years and stall hopping is a classic experience. The smell of old and new books, the fascination and the magnetism of this place is simply indisputable. One can rub shoulders with eminent literati of the city and while browsing some of the old books, can even lay hands on the first editions of legendary authors.

The start — The history of this 1.5 km stretch dates back to  1817, forty years before the Sepoy Mutiny. David Hare, the pioneering educationist started the Hindu College primarily for the students of the Hindu community. This was the period of Bengal Rennaissance that would change the shape of Indian history in the days to come.  The college was opened for the families of all those who wanted their children to go onboard and acquaint themselves with modern education. Hindu School was also established around that period. Lord Wellesley,  the Governor-General at that time planned the construction of roads in and around that area. Initially, the road was called the “Great Arterial Road “ before acquiring the present name.  The fabled Time Magazine in its Best of Asia issue published around  2007 listed College Street as one of the most important featured landmarks of India. 

Rare compliment — Smithsonian, the official journal ofthe Smithsonian Institute in one of its rarest reviews about College Street mentioned  —–a half a mile of bookshops and bookstalls spilling over onto the pavement, carrying first editions, pamphlets, paperbacks, in every Indian language, with more than a fair smattering of books in and out of prints from France, Germany, Russia and England.

Nothing can be of more admiration than this undeniable statement.

Current status —- Apart from homes to some of the iconic names in the publishing industry, some of the pioneering educational institutes of India that shaped the history of education are also situated in and around College Street. The University Of Calcutta, Presidency University, Calcutta Medical College, Sanskrit College and University, Hindu School, Hare School, City College, and the IISW&BM, the first institute in India imparting MBA are all located in and around this archetypal street. If you are walking down College Street at any time you will surely have an awe-inspiring and astounding feeling that luminaries like Tagore, Netaji, Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose, Babu Rajendra Prasad,  Amartya Sen,  Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Ritwik Ghatak, Governor Haren Mookherji, Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray and others also have been regular visitors in College Street.

You can almost feel and touch history here.

Other notable attractions —

 Apart from the pioneering educational institutes, if you are asked about other prominent attractions in the vicinity, without batting an eyelid the first answer will be the Indian Coffee House. The Coffee House is also a remarkable phenomenon in the history of Kolkata in all respects. This has always been the meeting place of distinguished film personalities, theatre personalities, actors, artists, poets, students, budding creative minds, romantic love birds and fireband student leaders. The College  Square Swimming Club just across the street is more than a century old coaching centre for all types of aquatic sports and upcoming potential swimmers who have made it big in the national and global arena. The University Institute Hall and Mahabodhi Society are two other very historic landmarks in the area.

Probably the best compliment of College Street is when people say that if you do not find a book on College Street, the chances are you will not find it anywhere. 

Mr. Sugato Roy

GRADUATE FROM ST XAVIER’S COLLEGE AND POST GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA, SPECIALIZING IN MARKETING MANAGEMENT AND ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT.  PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE OF 24 YEARS IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLISHING INDUSTRY.  HAS BEEN AWARDED FOR  LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLICITY MANAGEMENT.

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