Calcutta in 1945
Rare snaps of my favourite city from my collection:
Calcutta street scene, 1944."Heart of Calcutta's ""business district,"" 1945. This is the home of Whiteaway and Laidlaw, an excellent department store. It carried well-made British clothing and accessories along with the best of available Indian merchandise. It was the ""Times Square"" of Calcutta on Chowringee Road.
Streetside stall on Bentinck Street, downtown area of Calcutta, 1945
Traffic on Hooghly River bridge from Calcutta to Howrah Station, 1945"
Calcutta traffic officer at major city intersection. His ""sandwich board"" carried the order to ""STOP"" or to ""GO"" depending on which way he faced. He also used hand and arm signals to enforce the sign. His cap was brilliant red and his jacket and pants were white. Leggings were tan. He stood on the cut-down steel drum, a real figure of authority, 1945."
American combat veterans boarding troopship in Calcutta harbor for trip home after end of WWII, fall 1945. Trip required almost three months, including stop at Ceylon. Route was up through Suez Canal, the Med. Sea and across Atlantic. These images made with cheap camera, so not as sharp as could be desired, but they are authentic." 
Calcutta street scene, 1944."
Tram terminal at the Esplanade, Chowringhee Road, ""Downtown"" Calcutta, 1944"
Busy Calcutta Street scene, 1945.
Calcutta street scene, 1944."Heart of Calcutta's ""business district,"" 1945. This is the home of Whiteaway and Laidlaw, an excellent department store. It carried well-made British clothing and accessories along with the best of available Indian merchandise. It was the ""Times Square"" of Calcutta on Chowringee Road.
Streetside stall on Bentinck Street, downtown area of Calcutta, 1945
Traffic on Hooghly River bridge from Calcutta to Howrah Station, 1945"
Calcutta traffic officer at major city intersection. His ""sandwich board"" carried the order to ""STOP"" or to ""GO"" depending on which way he faced. He also used hand and arm signals to enforce the sign. His cap was brilliant red and his jacket and pants were white. Leggings were tan. He stood on the cut-down steel drum, a real figure of authority, 1945."
American combat veterans boarding troopship in Calcutta harbor for trip home after end of WWII, fall 1945. Trip required almost three months, including stop at Ceylon. Route was up through Suez Canal, the Med. Sea and across Atlantic. These images made with cheap camera, so not as sharp as could be desired, but they are authentic." 
Calcutta street scene, 1944."
Tram terminal at the Esplanade, Chowringhee Road, ""Downtown"" Calcutta, 1944"
Busy Calcutta Street scene, 1945.
2 comments:
The ONE thing that caught my eyes more than anything else are the spotlessly clean roads. How I wish...we still had responsible and clean citizens walking the streets here today...phew!!
ITS Lovely Collection! The city was so clean & perfect at those times. Gone are the days!!!!!!!!!!!
Post a Comment