Anyone who has ever lived in, or visited, Kolkata will have their own opinions about what makes the city special, or what its most memorable symbols are. In true Kolkata style, fierce arguments are likely to break out about whether Victoria Memorial, or Howrah Bridge, or yellow Ambassador taxis, or hand-pulled rickshaws, or sedate tramcars embody the spirit of Kolkata.
What would you say if all this and more were to be captured in a box? For that is exactly what artist Uday Deb has done –taken all the most popular symbols of Kolkata and put them on a set of beautifully mounted, tastefully colorized fridge magnets.
The set of 16 magnets, each measuring 3 x 4 inches and with wooden frames, forms the set we call ‘Ek Baksho Kolkata’ (A Box of Kolkata). From the imposing steeple of St Paul’s Cathedral to the imperious waiter at Indian Coffee House, from the angel atop Victoria Memorial to the splendid façade of the GPO (General Post Office), from the fish market to Howrah Bridge, the collection effortlessly captures the distinctive spirit of Kolkata, all of it in a nostalgic, sepia tone.