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Bengal

A tour to find a slice of history in the dust of Dum Dum's past

Kolkata: A heritage walk and meet on the history of Dum Dum will be held on Friday as a part of celebrations of World Heritage Day, which falls on Thursday. Students from various schools, colleges and organisations will take part in the heritage meet and experts will provide them with valuable information on the importance these historical structures.

Deshkal and People's Green Society have launched the campaign titled Discover Dum Dum to promote this part of the city that boasts of a rich heritage. Moreover, a week-long programme has been chalked out to celebrate the World Heritage Day.

Dum Dum is one of the oldest cantonments of British India. Historically, it comprised Cossipore, Sithee, Belgachia and Tala areas under south Dum Dum, Dum Dum and north Dum Dum municipalities along with vast areas under Rajarhat and Bidhannagar police stations.

A rare historical document map of Dum Dum was recently published. Another rare document —British Dum Dum and Swadeshi Dum Dum (1747- 1947) —will be published shortly.

The heritage walk will start at 8am from Cossipore Gun and Shell Factory and this will be followed by the Heritage Meet at the Afgan Monument ground.

The event will be inaugurated by the director of Indian Museum, Rajesh Purohit.

The first country house of Lord Clive was built in Dum Dum. Clive stayed in the house from 1767- 69.

The house had a dancing hall on the first floor.

The two-storied building is situated on a hillock. The house of Mir Quasim and the century-old Jessop Company is also situated in Dum Dum. The Cossipore Gun and Shell factory was set up in 1801.

There are important institutions such as Paikpara Rajbari, Cossipore Club, Belgachia Villa of Prince Dwarkanath Tagore, the second Veterinary College and Hospital, the first Protestant Church set up in 1818 known as the St. Stephen Church and the first Catholic Church in Dum Dum known as the St. Patrick Church set up in 1822 and Dum Dum Ordnance Factory set up in 1846.

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