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Memorial of Daulat Hossain, Park Circus
Memorial of Daulat Hossain
Park Circus
Shaikh Daulat Hossain the name is definitely unfamiliar. He is no celebrity but a memorial stands in his memory in a remote corner of Park Circus. Strangely the memorial also seems to be have been forgotten. It lies is utter neglect and is heavily encroached upon.
Shaikh Daulat Hossain was shot dead by dacoits in Park Circus area when he tried to prevent their decoity attempt. He died on the spot on 7th October 1932 aged only 18.
Nafar Chandra Kundu Memorial, Chakraberia Road (South)
Nafar Chandra Kundu Memorial
Chakraberia Road (South)
Nafar Chnadra Kundu, the name is quiet likely to sound unfamiliar because he is no celebrity he is just a common man on the street who did something extraordinary 114 years ago (in 1907). Although no longer remembered but his act of extraordinary courage was enough to turn him into a legend and an icon which today’s India needs more than ever.
It was the month of May 1907 Nafar Chandra Kundu was walking down the streets of Chakraberia when heard shouts and desperate plea for help. He noticed a small crowd had gathered round a open manhole and the screams came from inside the manhole.
Birding Hot Spots in and around Kolkata
Birding Hot Spots in and around Kolkata
Backyard Birding
Ever since the outbreak of Covid 19 travelling has taken a back seat. This has been a big psychological blow for trvallers like us. Being confined at home is the greatest curse for a traveller and travel writer.

Birding Hot Spots in and around Kolkata
Top left to right: Rufous Treepie, Central Park, Salt lake; Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Rabindra Sarobar; Black Rumped Flameback Woodpecker, Salt lake Canal Side; Asian Openbill Stork, Baruipur
Below: Lesser whistling duck, Santragachi
But we soon got adjusted to our new lifestyle. As a teacher, I was busy with my online classes and decided to spent the evening on my Salt Lake residence rooftop. Soon I got attracted by my feathered guest. With a bit of google search, I soon started identifying them. Soon I started documenting and photographing the birds with my 11 year old daughter Rupsha assisting me with a pair of binoculars.
Headquarters of South Eastern Railway (SER), Garden Reach, formerly Bengal Nagpur Railway (BNR)
South Eastern Railway (SER) Headquarters, Garden Reach
formerly Bengal Nagpur Railway (BNR)
The opening of the Mumbai-Thane line in 1853 marked the beginning of railways in India. The Bengal Nagpur Railway (BNR) was formed in 1887 for the purpose of upgrading the Nagpur Chhattisgarh Line and then extending it via Bilaspur to Asansol, in order to develop a shorter Howrah-Mumbai route than the one via Allahabad.
The BNR main line from Nagpur to Asansol was opened for goods traffic on 1 February 1891. It was only after Kharagpur was linked from the west and the south that it was connected to Howrah in 1900.
Lockdown Memories Continues, Wildlife Photography from Rooftop
Lockdown Memories Continues
Wildlife Photography from Rooftop (Part 2)
Also see: Lockdown Memories (Part 1)
Lock, unlock, lock… and the process goes on and on. It has been over four months since the lockdown started on mid-March 2020 and things are yet to come to normal. We have got adjusted to our modified routines. I still spend a couple of hours in the evening spotting and photographing birds and other wildlife from my residence terrace in Salt Lake, Kolkata.

Oriental magpie Robin
I uploaded my first blog post in mid-June and the list of wildlife spotted was as follows:
- Chestnut Tailed Starling or Grey Headed Myna (কাঠ শালিক) (Sturnia malabarica)
- Red Vented Bulbul (বাংলা বুলবুল) (Pycnonotus cafer)
- Oriental Magpie Robin (দোয়েল পাখি) (Copsychus saularis)
- Purple Sunbird (দুর্গা টুনটুনি) (Cinnyris asiaticus)
- Black Hooded Oriole (কালোমাথা বেনেবউ) (Oriolus xanthornus)
The second phase continued with the spotting of more birds and other wildlife, this new list includes:
- Coppersmith Barbet (ছোট বসন্ত বৌরি) (Psilopogon haemacephalus)
- Blue Throated Barbet (বড় বসন্ত বৌরি) (Psilopogon asiaticus)
- Rose Ringed Parakeet (সবুজ টিয়া) (Psittacula krameri)
- Indian Flying Fox (বড় বাদুর) (Pteropus medius)