Preserving the heritage

Kolkatta might have changed its name but it remains the same. And for us the city immediately brings up a picture of trams, sweets and literature. With so many of our great writers, authors, art, actors, singers, composers coming from this state, the state of Rabindranath Tagore, it seems as though literature is something everyone born there is genetically endowed with.

That’s why it seemed very apt to know that the city has got its first library on wheels and not on a bus, but on a tram! This tram will run through College Street – passing through 30 education institutes, coming from Esplanade to Shyambazar, which is one of the oldest tram routes of the city.

The aim is to get students to hop on and explore the city’s rich heritage and literature at the same time. There will 25 stops along the 5km route, with five of them on College Street. 

This is a 32-seater library and one can get access to many books, magazines and material necessary for preparing for the competitive exams like GMAT, GRE and WBCS. It is air-conditioned and there is also wi-fi access. The tram could soon become the fav place for book launches and book reading sessions, with one such literature event planned for Nov.

Its beautiful that the tram, which first started in 1902 continues to run today and combining it with books – that’s a brilliant combination. A great way to preserve the heritage while getting the new generation to be a part of it.