Home Away from Home: The South Indian Walk

Since the early 1900s, young men from South India came to Kolkata in search of jobs. They gradually found their way to the southern part of the city which had just begun to acquire an urban character. Finding employment as typists and bankers, they eventually settled down with their families. Decades have passed and the city no longer provides the same job opportunities as before. However, some members of the community have chosen to stay back. Tucked in the lanes of South Kolkata are temples, community centres and eateries that recount the South Indian heritage of the city. The walk explores one such neighbourhood in South Kolkata and the stories of the South Indian community that made it their home.