Calcutta World War 2 Trail with Tathagata Neogi

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TRIGGER WARNING: Some ambient sounds are used to depict War sounds. 

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Tathagata Neogi, co-founder and CXO at Immersive Trails (https://www.immersivetrails.com) - a purpose-driven company that converts ethical, in-depth research into immersive experiences. 

Today's destination: Calcutta

Nearest Airport: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)

Nearest Railway Station: Howrah Railway Station (HWH)

Prerequisites:  N/A

Packing: Pack light and carry extra water as it can get hot during the day in the summers

Time of the year: Round the year on weekends, check the website for details

Length of the itinerary: 2-3 hours

Itinerary Highlights: 

• We start off the walk by setting context around the period during world war 2, important events around the world and in Southeast Asia and how Calcutta became a vantage point for both sides. 
• The first pitstop of the trail is at the New Market area, one of the busy hubs for locals to shop for their daily needs, and how this area was bustling with activity even in the 1940s. Tathagata also speaks of the ongoing air raid drills and sirens and how people didn't take them seriously. 
• We also discuss the Bengal famine and the lack of preparedness and empathy shown by the British government, how this was triggered and some last remaining silos with connections to the famine. 
• We also discuss the role of the local politicians during the famine and their vested personal interests, protests by students and mill workers. Some important pit stops include the Calcutta Municipality headquarters, Victoria Memorial, Mango Lane, Grand Hotel, Metro cinema, and Statesman House among others. 
• We also discuss the cultural influence the American troops brought to Calcutta including Coca-cola, the movies and ice cream! Tathagata also mentions the Calcutta key, the pocket-sized guide provided by the troops on tips to navigate Calcutta including cultural nuances.                                                                       

Links:

Link to Immersive Trail’s social media: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immersivetrails/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/immersivetrails

Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/company/immersivetrails

Link to website: 

https://www.immersivetrails.com/

Link to Wndr self-guided experiences app:

https://linktr.ee/wnderapp

Photo by Museums Victoria on Unsplash

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