The square was named in the memory of lord dalhousie who was the governor general of india from 1847 to 1856. Kolkata is renowned for its compelling heritage that extends across literature, arts, cinema, music and theater. Review of the book city of joy by dominique lapierre. Previously being the national capital in the british era before independence, it has evolved as a commercial, cultural and educational center of east india. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Lesser known facts about kolkata, the city of joy times.
Kolkata tourism kolkata tourist places kolkata travel. Introduction kolkatakolkata, formerly known asformerly known as calcuttacalcutta, is the capital of the, is the capital of the indianindian state ofstate of west bengalwest bengal. It was an emotionally exhausting journey but well worth it. Kolkata is better known as the city of joy, but do you know it has other names such as city of palaces, and the cultural capital of india. City of joy won the christopher award in 1986, and was adapted into a 1992 film. Lesser known facts about kolkata, the city of joy the kolkata we know today is not the kolkata that once was. The hardships that the leading characters go through in the novel are gut wrenching and on more than one occasion almost made me cry. Kolkata is the city of my childhood so you will understand the feeling of intense joy that flows out of me when i speak of it. Many people believe the city of joy refers to kolkata but in this book, the city of joy is just an enligh transliteration of the slum ananda nagar. Short essay on kolkata worlds largest collection of. Crowds throng to kolkatas book fairs, art exhibitions, and concerts, and there is a lively trading of polemics on. Calcutta is nicknamed the city of joy after this novel.
A place where one can have all the fun in his own way. The plot in the book revolves around true events that had taken. Not merely a flight of gallic snarkiness, the title is a translation of anand nagar, the name of. My experience with kolkata is the best of all the places i have visited so far. To write this book, dominique lappier had to live in slum area in calcutta, india for about two years.
Calcutta is nicknamed the city of joy after this novel, citation needed although the slum was based on an area in its twin city of howrah. Perhaps, that is the reason why the city is so full of life in. Today i will give freereign to this emotion, bouncing back to the happy and tensionfree days i spent in kolkata. Howrah station is said to be the busiest station in india for its capacity, and capability of handling plenty numbers of unique trains on a daily basis. Also theres a novel the city of joy written by dominique lapierre and first published in 1985. Whenever people ask me, i say i live in delhi but i am from kolkata, said cj,who spends every christmas and new year in kolkata. Along with hinge r kachouri and cholar dal and mouth watering jelabi. Queen victoria rustled about in silks as dark as the soot on which her empire was maintained. French novelist dominique lapierre called his 1985 novel set in kolkata the city of joy. The title of the book city of joy is derived from translation of the name of slum in kolkatathen calcutta. Compared to its source material, the movie is a fairy tale.
Kolkata the city of joy as it is called, is also commonly considered as the paris of the east as theres a happy amalgamation of different cultures, styles and moods, coupled along with numerous forms of industries and commerce and politics. Kolkata is indias second largest city and is among one of the four metropolitan cities of india. I live in a beautiful ancient city known as kolkata. I sometimes feel calcutta of the poor and downtrodden doesnt change for ages even though the condition described in the novel has drastically changed with i. During british rule, kolkata was considered the worlds most fashionable city after london. City of joy by dominique lapierre india travel blog. Many people believe the city of joy refers to kolkata but in this book, the city of joy is. Summary after reading the astonishing, and the unknown facts about the city of joy, most of the people from the other states who were hesitating to settle in kolkata, will. Kolkata, formerly called, calcutta is the cultural capital of india, and a gateway to the eastern part of the country. The minister of culture probably never read the book, mr. City of joy starts filming, but calcutta still simmers the new york. Though the city will be very crowded during that time but seeing durga puja in kolkata is a lifelong memory to relish. Reillys images bear witness to this truly unique and marvelous city.
All you wanted to know about kolkata the city of joy kolkata is the capital of the indian state of west bengal. Kolkata,formally known as calcutta, where morning starts with hot tea in a matir bhar. The sociocultural background of people is rich in dance, drama, f. But for every bengali and the inhabitants of kolkata, it has been thus for innumerable decades. The erstwhile capital of british india, kolkata, is a beautiful collage of the english imperial culture and the traditional bengali way of life, interspersed with all the elements of a modern metropolis. The city has earned the nickname city of joy for its soulful. Kolkata, the city of joy, is a city that never ceases to amaze. To the city of joy, with love and laughs kolkata news. From the performance of mangal pandey in suburban barrackpore to the direct action day riots of 1946, formerly known as calcutta, now kolkata, has many stories to tell us about. The maidan literally, open field, also referred to as the brigade parade ground, is the largest urban park in kolkata in the indian state of west bengal. Being the british capital of india, the city has a history of over 300 years. Author discovery holidays posted on february 2, 2017 november 27, 2017 categories blog tags about kolkata, city of joy in india, famous travel agencies in kolkata, kolkata city of joy, travel agencies in kolkata, why kolkata is called city of joy. Kolkata holds international book fair, becomes city of. Set in kolkata formerly calcutta, the story is about the challenging lives of a polish priest, a young american physician and a local rickshaw puller.
You can plan your visit during octobernovember when the festival called durga puja takes place. No longer identified with slums, destitution, and the inspiring work of mother teresa, the capital city of west bengal is widely referred to as the cultural capital of india and city of joy. Many people believe the city of joy refers to kolkata but in this book, the city of joy is just an enligh transliteration of. The incredible kolkata book fair is the largest nontrade book fair, and also the most attended book fair in the world. More than 23 lakh people visited the book fair over the 12 days, compared to approximately 400,000 at jlf over its five days this year. The incredible kolkata book fair is the largest nontrade book fair, and. After the frankfurt book fair and the london book fair, kolkata book fair is recognized as the worlds largest conglomeration of books and asias largest book fair. Lesser known facts about kolkata, the city of joy times of india. Calcutta, kolkata, the city of joy this is a city known by many names and colored in as many hues. City of joy is a novel by french author dominique lapierre, first published in 1985. Buy the city of joy book online at low prices in india the city of.
This is a short travel guide and a suggestive kolkata itinerary to prepare you for your first visit to the city of joy. Sanghvi said he believed kolkata was still the city of joy. Hyderabad to kolkata a flight to the city of joy kolkata has always fascinated me because of its rich cultural heritage and contemporary political issues. Located in kolkata, experience the grandeur of city of joy at anutham provides accommodations 1. Ten reasons why kolkata is truly the city of joy city of joy for the people of the world, kolkata had been nicknamed as the city of joy after the infamous novel by dominique lappierre in1985. There are reasons why this place is called the city of joy. When i was a university student, i read dominique lapierres novel, city of joy. Kolkata, the city nicknamed the city of joy is widely regarded as the cultural capital of india and as of 2019, six nobel laureates have been associated. Buy city of joy film tiein by dominique lapierre isbn. Kolkata itinerary firsttimers travel guide to the city. This large and vibrant indian city thrives amid seemingly insurmountable economic, social, and political problems. Although the book is not a reality novel, it is not a documentarystyle book also, but a little of. It is a city feeded in history, where the old and the new, the past and the present, come together in unpredicted ways and create a colorful culture that manifests.
Set in kolkata, india, it focuses on the trials of a young polish priest, father. A behind the scenes look at the residents of the anand nagar slum of calcutta, made famous by danny boyles slumdog millionaire. City of joy was subsequently filmed in calcutta by rolland joffe in. An excellent book on a calcutta kolkata slum named ananda nagar. India travel blog is a highly popular source of travelogues, travel tips and photography in india, photography in bangalore, along with travel information, travel guides and places to see in india. The city nicknamed the city of joy is widely regarded as the cultural capital of india and as of 2019, six nobel laureates have been associated with the city.
After breakfast proceed for a full day city tour visiting dalhousie square, flower market, howrah bridge, indian museum, victoria memorial, st. Deeply influenced by the people he encountered in kolkata, which has been nicknamed the city of joy due to the book, lapierre donates half the royalties from sales of the book towards the city of joy foundation that takes care of slum children in the city. Although poverty is certainly apparent, the selfmade middle class drives the citys core machinery, a nascent hipster culture thrives among its millennial residents and its dapper bengali gentry frequent grand colonialera clubs. Known as the city of joy, kolkata holds an important place in the economy, politics and culture of india. Locally, kolkata is regarded as indias intellectual, artistic and cultural capital. To truly appreciate the characters of city of joy, you have to read the book by the same name by dominique lapierre.
Kolkata formerly calcutta is a very old city in india. A priest goes to live among the poorest of the poor and this is the tale of how he adapted and what he learned. You really become involved in the lives of everyone. Experience the grandeur of city of joy at anutham, kolkata. As in many other indian cities, information technology became a highgrowth sector in kolkata starting in the late 1990s.
1227 1151 1216 276 658 825 1256 1535 51 1067 417 306 1050 203 278 693 117 1014 126 52 1228 545 421 482 76 57 1511 1377 385 119 900 884 230 1199 163 529 305 468 1294 681 1316 1330