A Doctor’s Mission to Preserve Kolkata’s Heritage: Dr. Parthasarathi Mukherjee’s Journey to Revive Forgotten Traditions

Dr. Parthasarathi Mukherjee, an internationally trained kidney specialist who returned from London, is not your typical doctor. Walking the narrow lanes of North Kolkata—Bagbazar, Sutanuti, Gangar Ghat, and Kumartuli—he personally guides people, showing them the hidden gems of the city. His family and friends were initially astonished by his unconventional mission, but Dr. Mukherjee remained steadfast in his belief: while medicine has its place, it is equally vital to safeguard and celebrate the heritage, history, and traditions of our beloved city, Tilottama. Without passing this legacy to the next generation, he warned, Kolkata would crumble into ruins, and the Bengali pride that defines our identity would fade forever.

Born into a prestigious Bagbazar family, Dr. Mukherjee founded the “Bengal Forum for Intellect and Culture,” an online platform uniting Bengalis from all over the world. He brought together descendants of aristocratic families, organizers of traditional pujas, and the heirs of great Bengali personalities. Driven by personal passion, he spotlighted centuries-old, yet neglected rural and urban festivals, urging people to rediscover their cultural significance.

Four years after the pandemic, he took the initiative to establish the “Best Banedi Pujas – Sharad Samman Hall of Fame,” aiming to preserve the legacy of aristocratic family pujas. Dr. Mukherjee personally guided UNESCO officials through these historical rituals, demonstrating how these traditional Banedi Pujas differ fundamentally from the theme-based Barowari Pujas. He compiled extensive archives on the ancestral homes of famous Bengalis that now remain forgotten. His simple message: “Stay well, stay Bengali.” Rejecting narrow labels like Hinduist, Marxist, or Feminist, he proposed a new idea—being proudly ‘Bangalibadi’.

Why did Dr. Mukherjee choose Bagbazar and Kumartuli as the heart of his efforts? In his own words, “This is the epicenter of our aristocracy and the very cradle of Bengali history.” From female terracotta artisans to the iconic sweet Rasgulla, from the ghats of Sutanuti to the traditional Jatra performances, from the original Barowari to theater, from the last Radio Sarai shop to roadside cutlets, from Madanmohan to the ancient Dhakeshwari Temple—this land bears the footsteps of countless great souls. “It is like an entire world within Kolkata,” he says.

Time and again, he has brought visitors from across India and abroad back to these alleys to show them the ‘real’ Kolkata. In multiple media interviews, he has urged UNESCO to designate the “Bagbazar-Kumartuli-Sutanuti” region as a distinct UNESCO Heritage Zone.

Perhaps one day, in 2025 or beyond, Dr. Parthasarathi Mukherjee’s dream will come true: receiving the prestigious “Best Bengali” award from New Delhi. Meanwhile, his legacy grows indestructibly—among generations of forty young Bengalis from across the globe who have developed a renewed love for the city. Smiles mingle with the aroma of Mitra Café’s cutlets and KC Das’s Rasgullas by the banks of the Ganges. A ray of hope for Bengalis in these difficult times, all thanks to a ‘Bangalipagol’ doctor who returned from abroad to serve his people.

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A Doctor’s Mission to Preserve Kolkata’s Heritage: Dr. Parthasarathi Mukherjee’s Journey to Revive Forgotten Traditions

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