|
|
Post by dosamaniac on Jul 12, 2024 13:51:26 GMT
This is a photo (dt. late 1870s) of Indians in the process of taking bath in the historic Lal Dighi (literally meaning Red Pond) in front of the newly opened Kolkata GPO edifice. Worth noting is the absence of the iconic clock known for its loud chiming sound, below the dome, which was installed only in 1896. Lal Dighi is famous for the Battle of Lal Dighi fought on Jun 18,1756 between the forces of Siraj ad Dawla of Murshidabad and East India Company led by Robert Clive.
British Library Shelfmark: 897/1(55)
|
|
paul1
Member 
Posts: 1,207
|
Post by paul1 on Jul 12, 2024 15:22:29 GMT
Clive was the first British Governor of the Bengal Presidency - C18, and he's been widely credited for laying the foundation of the British East India Company rule in Bengal - he is also known as 'Clive of India'.
Courtesy of the internet .................... "The pond is said to have acquired the name during the festival of holi when the tank became red or crimson in colour.
Due to years of negligence the pond has lost its former charm and attracts very less crowd these days. However, one of the perks of a visit to the pond is a magnificent view of the Kolkata General Post Office (GPO), the Reserve Bank of India building and also the iconic Writers Building. The state government has also been pumping in money to renovate the area and restore it as a tourist attraction. Take a trip down history or capture the panoramic views of the city’s skyline—a tour of Lal Dighi will fill you with a sense of wonder." I have a feeling I'm not going to be able to get there :-)
|
|
|
|
Post by dosamaniac on Jul 14, 2024 9:43:00 GMT
paul1, Lal Dighi unfortunately has now become a lovers' garden. 
The most interesting thing that however still exists at the Lal Dighi is the statue of Lakshmishwarsinh Maheshwarsinh Khandwal (1858−1898), ruler of Darbhanga state (1860−1898) at the SW corner, who was depicted on the FDC issued with the set of 5 Indian stamps on the Madhubani Paintings of Mithila on Oct 15,2000.
|
|
|
|
Post by dosamaniac on Jul 14, 2024 9:46:39 GMT
This is an important building in the Indian postal history, located in Kolkata at 39B Lower Circular Road (now Acharya Jagadishchandra Basu Road), opposite to the "haunted" South Park Street Cemetery, now hardly visible, hidden behind the trees, that housed the 5 Base Postal Unit RAF/RAF Base Post Office 5 from Nov 11,1943 to Sep 18,1946. 5 BPU was the most important mail center of RAF in India in WW2 as it covered the RAF operations in Myanmar sector as well as the entire Eastern India (later part of the heavy workload was shifted to 8 BPU RAF in Imphal).
|
|
paul1
Member
Posts: 1,207
|
Post by paul1 on Jul 14, 2024 9:54:31 GMT
thanks dosamaniac - presumably our love of 'old India' is the result of the British presence there over a very long period of time - and there's nothing like faded glory to seem romantic and appealing. I remember as a young child listening to the radio at Sunday lunch time (in the U.K.) when they broadcast programmes aimed a providing a service for military personnel overseas - they provided a link between families remaining in the U.K., and serving members overseas. I remember hearing expressions relating to BPU which I think had something to do with British Forces Broadcasting Service (for radio).
|
|
