Due to the tectonic shift between the 17th and 18th centuries, Hooghly and Saraswati, two major rivers in Bengal, changed their courses and the Saptagram Port had started to lose its importance and subsequently Kolkata Port gained prominence. After the British came to Kolkata, they realised the importance of the Hooghly River and Kolkata Port for trading purposes and in 1870 they created the Port Trust of Calcutta. Currently, known as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust of Kolkata, it is the oldest port among the 13 major ports of the country. It is not easy to narrate the 150-year history of this port in a few hours, but Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust in association with The Ganges Walk did a commendable job. The 29th Voyage Through Tide and Time – a heritage tour on land and water included 40-odd participants on Saturday afternoon. Curated by Gautam Chakraborti, former security adviser and present honorary heritage adviser of KoPT, the tour started at the Maritime Archives & Heritage Centre and was completed at Indentured Indian Labourers Memorial. “The six-hour journey was designed to showcase the importance and historic value of Kolkata and the port. The city was the capital of India till 1911 and has been a part of several historical events,” said Chakraborti.
Photos: Ashim Paul