Unearthed debris throws light on Kochi’s colonial past
The Hindu
Fancy a local antiques roadshow? Meet the history enthusiasts rummaging through debris, unearthed as part of public works, to collect objects that throw light on Kochi’s past
“We have found coins, tobacco clay pipes, stoneware, earthenware, glass, roof tiles, corded pottery, skeletal remains of humans and animals, bangles, stones, shards of Chinese porcelain dating back to Ming dynasty (1368 to 1644),” says artist and history enthusiast Raigon Stanley.
He along with Thaha Ibrahim, who is involved with Kochi’s Jewish history, and Siddique Tajee, owner of an antiques store in Jew Street found various items in the debris dug up after the Cochin Smart Mission Pvt. Limited (CSML) began infra-enhancement work in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry.
The restoration and redevelopment of the decades-old Calve College Government school, a landmark that occupies a prominent place in the city’s history is nearing completion. The Puducherry Smart City Development Limited (PSCDL), which has taken up the restoration, has planned to complete the work by the first week of July. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is the architectural consultant for PSCDL, while Puducherry Technological University (PTU) is the structural consultant. The work commenced in August 2021 and costs ₹4.75 crore.