At an informal discussion at ICOMOS the idea of Kolkata Maidan as a serious environmental concern has been initiated by Mallika Jalan. This issue was further supported by Anjan Mitra as a theme for elaboration during the World Heritage Celebration. ICOMOS approached Indian Museum for providing the venue and logistic support for hosting the event on 18thof April- World Heritage Day. Since it resonates with this year’s theme of Environment and Democracy of Public Space, the Director of Indian Museum agreed to host the event.
Anjan Mitra of ICOMOS with the help of his team delivered a PowerPointPresentation on the subject:
“Garer Math- Maidan
Calcutta’s Past- Kolkata’s Future”
This is almost an approach paper identifying the morphology, Historic Values, Associated Memories alongwith subsequent encroachments, current development practices and the urban concerns and issues surrounding Maidan today. To position Maidan as the central public place of Kolkata – Anjan Mitra further compared the Maidan with two important international benchmarks – Hyde Park,London, UK and Central Park, New York City, USA. These case studies elaborated on how these two cities are celebrating and safeguarding their most Important public space. The presentation ended with the following question for the citizens of Kolkata –
Where we want to go with Maidan? What would be its Fate?
This event has been attended a various cross section of the society and intelligentsia of Kolkata and was successful in provoking an interesting debate and discussion. This will hopefully paving the way for further public discourse on the subject and the identification of future trajectories of engagement and interactions with the Maidan.
ICOMOS-INDIAN MUSEUM EVENT ON WORLD HERITAGE DAY AT 18thAPRIL, AT CONFERENCE ROOM, INIDAN MUSEUM.
At an informal discussion at ICOMOS the idea of Kolkata Maidan as a serious environmental concern has been initiated by Mallika Jalan. This issue was further supported by Anjan Mitra as a theme for elaboration during the World Heritage Celebration. ICOMOS approached Indian Museum for providing the venue and logistic support for hosting the event on 18thof April- World Heritage Day. Since it resonates with this year’s theme of Environment and Democracy of Public Space, the Director of Indian Museum agreed to host the event.
Anjan Mitra of ICOMOS with the help of his team delivered a PowerPointPresentation on the subject:
“Garer Math- Maidan
Calcutta’s Past- Kolkata’s Future”
This is almost an approach paper identifying the morphology, Historic Values, Associated Memories alongwith subsequent encroachments, current development practices and the urban concerns and issues surrounding Maidan today. To position Maidan as the central public place of Kolkata – Anjan Mitra further compared the Maidan with two important international benchmarks – Hyde Park,London, UK and Central Park, New York City, USA. These case studies elaborated on how these two cities are celebrating and safeguarding their most Important public space. The presentation ended with the following question for the citizens of Kolkata –
Where we want to go with Maidan? What would be its Fate?
This event has been attended a various cross section of the society and intelligentsia of Kolkata and was successful in provoking an interesting debate and discussion. This will hopefully paving the way for further public discourse on the subject and the identification of future trajectories of engagement and interactions with the Maidan.
