Yesterday Again: Cities Decide Time Cannot Stand Still, Let Historic Clocks Tick | India News – Times of India

In Kolkata, a city where the past is revered and the future is eagerly awaited, the passage of time finds a delicate balance between the ticking of modern clocks and the resonating bells of British era public clocks. High on stately buildings, these clocks to mark the pulse of everyday life.
This historical clocks a sense of nostalgia, inviting passersby to pause and reflect. A traffic policeman recently stopped in the shadow of the pristine white St Andrew’s Church, struck by a familiar sound – the rhythmic gongs, not sounded for more than a decade, streaming across Dalhousie Square. “This is the sound I hear after so many years,” he said.
Repairs can cost ₹3L per clock, crowdfunding makes it all possible
A traffic policeman recently stopped in the shadow of the immaculate white St Andrew’s Church was struck by the familiar sound of the rhythmic gongs of a clock made in 1835 by James McCabe Royal Exchange in London.
The chiming mechanism of the clock had fallen silent more than a decade ago, its silence contrasting with the incessant flow of life. Thanks to the concerted efforts of Kolkata Restorers, a collective of citizens united by a shared passion for their city, the clock has now come back to life, adding to the appeal of the historic area.
Guardians of Time:
Kolkata Restorers is involved restoration specialists Swapan Dutta and his son Satyajit work to revive broken clocks, one chime at a time. One of the notable timepieces the father-son duo maintains is a clock on the banks of the Ganga at Har ki Pauri in Haridwar, which dates back to 1938. Another, a four-dial clock at the Government Senior Secondary School in Kapurthala, which was installed 161 years ago by Maharaja Jagjit Singh, owes its continued operation to their meticulous care. They also maintain a clock at the Patna Secretariat, which was installed in 1924. “Repairing and overhauling a mechanical clock is a labour of love,” Swapan said. “Most of these clocks are of British or German origin. Though they have stood the test of time, some parts inevitably wear out and need to be replaced. We replace bushings, fabricate missing parts, repair alignments and properly adjust the teeth and interlocking systems to bring these clocks back to life.”
The Duttas’ clockmaking lineage spans five generations and nearly 200 years, starting with Swapan’s great-grandfather Dharani Dhar Dutta. “He repaired large public clocks and grandfather clocks in aristocratic homes,” Swapan said. Their workshop on Madan Gopal Lane near Kolkata Medical College and Hospital displays the rhythmic ticking and tocking of mechanisms, a tribute to the Duttas’ dedication to their craft.
Sign of their hands:
Kolkata Restorers, comprising people from different walks of life, is on a mission to revive the forgotten melodies of Kolkata’s past. It started with a plan to illuminate some prominent buildings in the city, but the sight of dysfunctional clocks spurred them into action. “When we illuminated a building with a clock, it amplified the imperfection of the dysfunctional clock. So we felt we should work on the clocks,” recalls Mudar Patheria, a member of the group.
Crowdfunding has been instrumental in their efforts, raising contributions to cover repair costs, which can run into the tune of over Rs 3 lakh. They have successfully restored bells at Sacred Heart Church, Dharmatala, and are working on other bells at Holy Trinity Church and Magen David Synagogue. Next on their radar are bells at Our Lady of Dolours Church in Sealdah and the GPO, which has remained silent for years.
Architect Abin Chaudhuri, another member, stressed the importance of preserving the historic Dalhousie Square area, where St Andrew’s Church stands. “Dalhousie Square includes Writers’ Building (from where the British ruled India for two centuries); GPO (India’s first general post office); and Old Telegraph Office (known as Dead Letter Building because it stores letters that were never delivered for one reason or another)…” Chaudhuri said.
According to direct tax advisor Miraj Shah, the goal was to add value to the city rather than complain about things the government or municipal body was not doing. “It’s a testament to the fact that a little money with the right intention, time and effort can bring about change,” he said.
Chimes of time:
Public clocks in the urban landscape serve as timeless custodians of history. Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Port, formerly Kolkata Port Trust, maintains three historic clocks. The first, at its headquarters in Dalhousie Square, was established in 1877 by Flerken Smith & Sons. The second, at Indenture Memorial in Kidderpore Port, was made in 1899 by Cooke & Kelvey of London. The third, at Netaji Subhas Dock, was made in 1928 by Flerken Smith & Sons and has served as a timekeeper for almost a century.
In Darjeeling, the iconic tower clock at Capitol Hall, the historic seat of Darjeeling Municipality, reflects the unchanging flow of time. Originally installed by GT Gent and Co of the UK in the 1920s, it was damaged in a fire in 1996 and later restored by the Rotary Club of Darjeeling. These timeless guardians bow under the weight of history, like Dali’s flowing clocks, but endure like Pink Floyd’s haunting melody capturing the seconds, minutes and hours: “Ticking away the moments that make a dull day.”
(inputs from Roshan Gupta, Siliguri)