Disturbing Emotional: Kolkata’s cultural identity has suffered a serious setback with the mysterious disappearance of blue plaques from three historic structures. These plaques, installed by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to denote Grade I heritage status, were stolen within months of installation. The affected sites include the Circular Road Baptist Chapel on AJC Bose Road, built in 1821, and two temples in Behala—the Dwadash Mandir of 1852 and the Sanjher Atchala temple dating back to 1608.
These structures stand as reminders of the city’s layered past, representing architectural, spiritual, and cultural continuity across centuries. Their plaques, meant to highlight their heritage importance to the public, are now gone—raising concerns about both the city’s cultural memory and the ability to safeguard it.
KMC officials believe the thefts were motivated by scrap value, with suspicions pointing to individuals struggling with substance addiction. Each plaque cost around ₹3,000, and more than 540 plaques were installed across Kolkata’s Grade I heritage sites in a civic project costing ₹16.2 lakh. While the plaque at the Baptist Chapel has already been replaced, the two in Behala remain unmarked, as the civic body has run out of stock and must float fresh tenders. This bureaucratic delay has left the historic temples without their identifiers, diminishing the visibility of their heritage importance in the eyes of residents and tourists. Heritage enthusiasts fear this could slowly erode awareness of the sites’ legacy. (INTACH on heritage conservation)
The KMC’s heritage department has reported the matter to the police, and investigations are underway. Meanwhile, the theft has triggered a debate among conservationists about the fragility of heritage preservation efforts in Kolkata. The plaques are more than just markers; they serve as educational tools and symbolic acknowledgments of the city’s architectural legacy. Without them, heritage sites risk fading into obscurity in a rapidly modernizing urban landscape. Activists stress that while restoring plaques is essential, ensuring security and community involvement is even more critical to prevent repeat incidents. (UNESCO on safeguarding heritage)
Disturbing Emotional: When Plaques Vanish, Memory Weakens
The theft of blue plaques exposes a larger problem—the lack of an emergency mechanism to protect heritage identifiers. At a modest cost of ₹3,000 each, these plaques may appear replaceable, yet their symbolic and cultural worth is immeasurable. Structures like Dwadash Mandir and Sanjher Atchala temple carry centuries of tradition, but without visible markers, their historical importance can easily be overlooked by younger generations. Experts argue that the loss is not just material but psychological, as plaques create public recognition of a site’s value. Until they are reinstalled, these two temples remain vulnerable to neglect in terms of heritage awareness.
What complicates the matter further is the procurement process. Civic authorities admit they lack spare stock of plaques, which delays reinstallation. A new tender process is needed—one that will take weeks, if not months, to complete. Heritage activists worry that such bureaucratic delays are at odds with the urgency of cultural preservation. Suggestions have been raised to adopt stronger metals, anti-theft fittings, or even QR-code based digital alternatives that can provide heritage details to visitors, making plaques less prone to theft while still promoting public knowledge. (British blue plaques scheme)
Preserving Identity Through Protection
The missing plaques are a stark reminder that safeguarding heritage goes beyond restoring buildings—it extends to preserving their stories in visible, accessible ways. Experts suggest a citywide vulnerability audit of heritage identifiers, coupled with community participation programs where local residents act as watchdogs. Installing surveillance around sensitive sites, creating public awareness campaigns, and using digital backups can all form part of a holistic strategy. Kolkata’s blue plaques were designed to celebrate its identity as a historic city of temples, churches, and colonial-era marvels. Their theft represents not just a logistical failure but a symbolic loss, and unless robust measures are put in place, the city risks allowing its history to be stolen piece by piece.
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