The heritage of a place is more than a mere term. It lives in the buildings, food, lifestyle, streets, cultural performances and homes, be it abandoned lanes of forgotten paras or things ingrained in the psyche of an individual. For us Bengalis, the old buildings, old zamindar houses near New Market, and the streetside savory dish called phuchka, with a touch of tangy water and the delicious taste of mashed boiled potatoes, screams heritage more than anything else. The traces of the British rule are left behind in heritage buildings like Victoria Memorial, reminiscent of times both tumultuous and glorious in certain aspects.
The Marble Palace is an exemplary marvel, carved in still white stone. Heritage is a quintessential part of every individual, shaping the way we look at the very city we reside in. Memories of visiting the places which are historical, is the first lesson of history we ever receive as children. The cultural assets passed down in the form of poems, songs and texts which made the vernacular language famous throughout the world, are part and parcel of heritage too. The ancient Zamindar buildings are heritage passed down , yet left behind , dilapidated and abandoned.
