Furiously Creative
The city of Kolkata was where literacy and artistic expression and thought was born in India. This has long been a city known for the revolutionary spirit and heritage of the country. Appreciation for literature and art has made Kolkata a very special and incredible place where new artists, writers and musicians are welcomed and embraced, in a furious manner. And as many large cities known fortheir appreciation for the arts, such as Chicago, Manhattan or San Francisco, they have a very strong community ties.
Meeting places such as community centers and clubs, cafes and five star Kolkata hotels, often have people meeting for discussions during breakfast or into the evening hours. Painters and writers and philosophers gather around tables to discuss the issues of the day, the world, their work, and their political and cultural views of society. In Kolkata, these discussions have gone into the streets, onto the walls as graffiti has become a popular way of expressing ideas. Nothing is held back, not witty and intellectual banter, nor slander that can be considered a bit outrageous, nor caricatures of political offices. It is a very intellectually free society.
Many of the buildings are regularly maintained to preserve the artistic integrity of the architecture. Motifs include styles from all periods of architectural history, from the Baroque era, to the Roman and the Mughal. Structures have been placed on the list of protected historical buildings. Some buildings are in a state of decay however, until those who are able, restore and renovate them. There are many museums of history and art, that celebrate the times in which various works were produced.
As well as with the appreciation of the visual arts, drama and theater and film are supported. Everything from main stream movie production to folk theater is celebrated. This appreciation extends to the world of high fashion, music and food as well. Many book fairs, music festivals and fashion shows occur each year, and the most popular and well respected works of the writers have been translated into various languages. New, pop music from India is finding its way in the world as well, fusions of the traditional with jazz or rock. This is a city like none other in India, and welcomes those in the world of the arts with open and anticipatory arms.