About the Book
Book: Harry Hobbs of Kolkata and Other Forgotten Lives
Author: Devasis Chattopadhyay
Publisher: Niyogi Books Private Limited
Price: Rs 595 Pages: 316
Devasis Chattopadhyay takes you through nine compelling stories of forgotten lives that shaped the cultural and historical history of Kolkata, writes Abhi Singhal
Harry Hobbs of Kolkata and Other Forgotten Lives is a compelling and richly detailed collection of nine meticulously researched stories that uncover the hidden aspects of Kolkata’s past, many of which are unknown even to the city’s residents and historians. Drawing on obscure and forgotten sources such as dusty old files, yellowed newspapers, private family papers, memoirs, and government archives, this book brings to life the untold stories of Kolkata’s lesser-known figures and the city itself.
The book deep dives into the fascinating history of Kolkata, providing an unexplored jist of the city’s origins. Some historians believe that Kolkata is mentioned in the Mahabharata, while others trace its roots back to the Mauryan and Gupta periods. The author, Devasis Chattopadhyay, then traces the transformation of the city into a metropolis, paying particular attention to its growth and changes in the 19th century. This period, marked by significant social, cultural, and economic shifts, is expertly and theoretically woven into the narrative.
Chattopadhyay focuses on the lives of protagonists who were often overlooked by mainstream history as the middle and junior civil or military officials, puisne judges, and a wide array of other fascinating individuals. These include an opera impresario, an entertainer, a piano tuner, a mercenary, a hotelier, a writer, a publisher, a lawyer, and even a real-life police detective turned crime writer. These characters, often forgotten by history, made remarkable contributions to the fabric of Kolkata during a time of upheaval and change.
The book reflects on a significant period of transformation, when Kolkata’s unique and syncretic identity was shaped, in part, by European and American settlers. It was an era when many of the things we now take for granted like the social norms, institutions, and innovations that were still in their infancy. Yet, the individuals featured in the book were instrumental in creating the cultural and historical landscape of the city. Chattopadhyay’s narrative uncovers these hidden histories, offering a fresh perspective on Kolkata’s past.
One of the key figures in the book, Harry Hobbs, is also featured in the author’s earlier work Scoundrels and Scroungers, where Hobbs noted that the principal cause of men’s downfall up until the end of the 19th century was drinking. In his writings, he provides intriguing glimpses into a Kolkata of the past the one where European women worked as barmaids and a thriving but largely unspoken subterranean slave trade flourished. This was also a time when wealthy Bengali Babus kept European concubines, and attending English theatre performances or listening to Italian opera was a common pastime among the city’s elite.
The book is divided into nine chapters, each focusing on a different historical figure: Major Harry H. Hobbs, The Shakespeare Family, Isaac Henry Townley Roberdeau, Richard Reid, Colonel Percy Wyndham, Shirley Tremearne, Henry Thoby Prinsep, David Nunez Cardozo, and others. Through these vivid and captivating stories, Harry Hobbs of Kolkata and Other Forgotten Lives provides a nuanced and fascinating portrait of Kolkata as a city in transition, shaped by diverse influences and inhabited by characters whose contributions to its rich history have long been forgotten. Chattopadhyay’s work offers an enriching journey into the heart of Kolkata’s past, illuminating the hidden lives that have shaped the city we know today.
