New Delhi: Clock towers built during the British era are still present in almost every city of the country. They were once the pride of the cities, but today they are dilapidated. During the British rule, these clock towers used to be the center of the cities. Here the clock hands used to move along with time. People used to see the time in the big clock hanging on the clock tower. According to this, the shift of British officers and employees used to change. These historic clock towers remind us of the old times and give passersby a chance to stop and think. These old clock towers are being revived in Kolkata. Old memories are being refreshed. People are able to hear the centuries-old sound of the clock towers.
The sound of the bell tower resonated after a decadeRecently, a traffic policeman stopped near Kolkata's St. Andrews Church, which is made of white marble. There he heard a familiar sound. This clock, which had been stopped for ten years, was echoing throughout Dalhousie Square. This clock was built by James McCabe Royal Exchange of London in 1835. He said, “I am able to hear this sound after many years.” These clocks have started working again, but their repair has cost a lot, about 3 lakh rupees on one clock tower! To meet this expense, people collected donations among themselves.
The clock had been out of order for over ten years, its silence a contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city. But thanks to a group called 'Kolkata Restorers', which comprises of people who love the city, the clock is now back in working order, adding to the beauty of this historic area.
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Repairers from Kolkata have called in expert Swapan Dutta and his son Satyajit to restart the clocks. Together, they are repairing the stopped clocks one by one. The father-son duo maintains many famous clocks, including the 1938 clock installed on the banks of the Ganga near Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar. Another clock, installed 161 years ago by Maharaja Jagat Singh in the Government Senior Secondary School in Kapurthala, is still working due to their hard work. They also maintain the 1924 clock installed in the Patna Secretariat.
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How do you fix century old clocks?
Swapan says, 'It is a labour of love to repair and maintain mechanical watches, most of which are British or German. Though they have stood the test of time, some parts wear out and need to be replaced. We replace worn parts, repair broken parts, repair the dials and interlocking systems of these watches to refurbish them and make them vibrant again.'
Dutta family is repairing a 200 year old clock
The Dutta family's clock-making tradition spans five generations and nearly 200 years. It began with Swapan's great-grandfather Dharani Dhar Dutta. Swapan says, “His grandfather used to repair big public clocks and clocks in the houses of the rich. The rhythmic ticking of clock hands reverberates in their workshop located in Madan Gopal Lane near Kolkata Medical College and Hospital.” This is a proof of the Dutta family's dedication to their work.
Engaged in repairing old clocks all across Kolkata
Kolkata Restorers, a group of people from different walks of life, is on a mission to revive forgotten memories of Kolkata's past. It started with a plan to illuminate some prominent buildings in the city, but after seeing broken clocks, they became passionate about doing something. “When we illuminated a building, it highlighted the flaw of the broken clock even more. So we thought we should work on clocks as well,” says Mudar Patheria of the group.
Crowdfunding has been very helpful in their efforts. It helps them raise money for repairs, which can sometimes go up to over Rs 3 lakh. They have so far successfully fixed clocks at the Sacred Heart Church in Dharmatala and are also working on clocks at the Holy Trinity Church and Magen David Synagogue. Next on their list are the clocks at Our Lady of Dolours Church in Sealdah and the GPO, which have been broken for years.
