Transitions of Time: The Evolution of Calcutta to Kolkata Through Rahul Varma’s Eyes

This research delves into the allegorical representations of Calcutta’s transformation into Kolkata, utilising the allegorical framework defined by Dr. Chandramalli Sengupta in চিত্রকল্পের সন্ধানে: সত্যজিতের চলচ্চিত্র (Chitrakolper Sondhane: Satyajiter Cholochitra) published in 2023. Rahul Varma, an emblematic figure of the city’s evolving identity amidst its official renaming in 2001, is featured in Paramjit Bakhshi’s It’s Kolkata, Moshai, and not Kal-ka-tha from People Called Kolkata (2019), curated by Kamalika Bose. This study sheds light on how Kolkata’s evolving skyline, colonial-era clubs, vibrant street life, and sports rivalries serve as allegories for the city’s struggle between tradition and modernity, the persistence of colonial legacies, and the socio-political dynamics within its urban landscape. By applying Dr. Sengupta’s interpretation of the allegory, this investigation offers novel insights into the symbolic dimensions of urban transformation and the nuanced interrelations between cultural ethos, societal norms, and the urban fabric of Kolkata.