BY AMRAPALI CHAKRABORTY
( The author is a first year student of B.Arch in Kolkata)
KOLKATA, 26 FEBRUARY – 2024
Mr. Neeraj Kumar, the Chief Post Master General of (CPMG) of West Bengal Postal Circle will unveil the logo of the celebrations of the 250 years of legacy of the historic General Post Office (GPO) at a function in Yogayog Bhawan on Tuesday .
On March this year, the GPO, located in City Of Joy is completing its glorious 250 years of heritage and legacy and is all set to celebrate its historic milestone with pomp and grandeur.
Not only in Kolkata, but the present GPO building located in BBD Bagh area is a heritage peoperty of the department of posts and is one of the oldest post offices in Asia. Kolkata GPO has also played a key role in carrying life saving materails through its iconic red parcel vans during the Covid -19 global pandemic breakout period.
Talking to The Travel and Tourism Times, Mr. Neeraj Kumar, Chief Post Master General of West Bengal has informed that the unveiling of the logo signifies the commencement of the week long celebrations, which will take place from 14 March to 19 March 2024, through a number of cultural events like philatelic and postal exhibitions in GPO campus and also in moving train, carriage cover from Howrah to Dakshineswar and Fairlie Place, across the river Ganga, release of special covers
and picture postcards , painting, photography and sculpture designing
contests, heritage walks and cultural programmes .
“These series of events will showcase the rich cultural heritage and invaluable contributions that Kolkata GPO has rendered to the community over the past 250 years and the far reaching changes witnessed by this grand monument,” added Mr. Neeraj Kumar.says The ceremony will be a memorable occasion and will be graced by esteemed dignitaries, postal department’s top officials, philatelists and members of the public.
On 31 st March ,1774, the General Post Office, commonly known as the GPO at Calcutta was established by Lord Warren Hastings at Form William, whose at that time the Governor General of India .
The old GPO Building was relocated on several occassions at various locations between the year 1774 to 1868 till the construction of the present GPO Building , and was opened to the public on 2 nd October 1868.
At a programme in Yogayog Bhawan in Kolkata tomorrow the logo of the 250 years celebrations will be unveiled by the CPMG of West Bengal, Neeraj Kumar along with CPMG of Kolkata, Sanjeev Ranjan, Postmaster General, Sashi Shalini Kujur and Post Master General , Supriyo Ghosh.
Posterity can know about the historic GPO Kolkata through one authtentic book penned by Mr. Basudeb Chattopadhyay.
In his book on Kolkata GPO – ‘A Jingle of Bells’- A Short History Of The General Post Office Kolkata, author Basudeb Chattopadhyay describes , “ The large illuminated clock on the eastern façade of the building was purchased in 1896 at a cost of Rs.7000 from the manufacturer of the famous Big Ben of London. The completion of its construction marks a watershed in the postal history of Bengal. Instantly recognised as an architectural landmark . In 2000-2002, the authority undertook restorative repairs of the heritage building.The Postal Museum and Philatelic library set up by the GPO offers a glimpse into the past that has mingled almost imperceptibly with the present”.
The GPO building is notable for its imposing high domed roof (rising over 220 feet) and tall Ionic–Corinthian pillars. A postal museum that was built in 1884 displays a collection of artefacts and stamps. The Philatelic Bureau is located on the southwestern end of the building.
“Considerable sophistication ‘dominated by a corner dome and punctuated by huge rusticated pylons which are linked by Corinthian colonnades. The main chamber rises full height through the building and provides a grand setting for the tide of humanity that ebbs and flows beneath the dome,” he further said.
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