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Amitabha Gupta

@amitabho58

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A Travel writer and photographer with a background of corporate branding

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Across West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar, mysterious brick towers still rise from fields, forests and hilltops. For years, many were mistaken for watchtowers, church towers and even relics of local battles.

Even more remarkably, they were built in a straight line from Fort William in Calcutta, then the capital of the Bengal Presidency, to Chunar near Varanasi, a distance of 694 km.

Their real story is far more unusual.

These were Semaphore Towers, part of an early communications network built by the British East India Company long before the electrical telegraph arrived in India.

The towers were constructed in a line running from Fort William in Calcutta to Chunar near Varanasi. According to one estimate, there were around 45 towers, positioned roughly 9.5 to 13 miles apart so that each remained visible from the next.

Atop each tower was a semaphore apparatus with movable indicators. Operators used telescopes to read signals from the neighbouring tower, then repeated them onwards. On a clear day, a message could travel from Calcutta to Chunar in just 50 minutes.

The idea had its origins in Revolutionary France, where Claude Chappe developed the semaphore telegraph in 1792. The British soon adopted the technology, and in India, Sir George Everest was tasked with surveying the Calcutta-Chunar route in 1817.

The system was mainly intended for military communication and never became a public service. The Calcutta-Chunar line was eventually abandoned in 1828, and the arrival of the electrical telegraph in India in 1850 sealed the fate of semaphore communication.

Today, several of these towers survive, often in ruins, as remarkable reminders of a forgotten experiment in sending information across hundreds of kilometres, one visual signal at a time.

Read the fascinating story of India’s forgotten Semaphore Towers on Live History India by LHI Contributor Amitabha Gupta @amitabho58

Images by @amitabho58

#livehistoryindia #historyofindia #storiesthatmakeindia
[history, history series, telegraph towers, semaphore towers, west bengal, jharkhand, varanasi]

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Wiki Loves Monuments 2025 in India photography competition is back. The prizes are bigger now. Have you participated yet? Competition closes September 30.

#wikilovesmonuments #westbengalwikimedians #photocontest #photocompetition #photographycontest #photographycompetition #heritage #wiki #wikimediacommons #heritagephoto #heritagephotography #indiaphotocontest #photocontestindia

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Sudhui Uttam by Kolkata Kothakatha at Nehru Children’s Musium, Kolkata

@amitabho58
@subhabrataghose
@priyodorshi_m

07.09.2025

#uttamkumar #kolkatakothakatha #bengalifilmindustry

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✨ What a day to remember! ✨
Our 10th Anniversary Celebration at @itcroyalbengal was nothing short of magical – a true reflection of a decade-long journey of passion, creativity, and community. 💫

The evening began with an outstanding panel discussion where some of the finest voices came together to share insights, stories, and their love for the art of photography. The energy in the room was inspiring, filled with laughter, ideas, and the spirit of togetherness that has defined Calcutta Instagrammers since day one. 🎙️📸

Adding to the grandeur was our one-of-a-kind photo exhibition, a vibrant showcase of moments, memories, and perspectives curated over the years on our platform. Every frame spoke of Kolkata’s soul, its people, and the journey of countless storytellers who have grown with us. 🖼️❤️
From heartfelt conversations to nostalgic throwbacks and sparkling celebrations, the night was an ode to creativity, camaraderie, and the city we love. 🥂✨

Here’s to 10 beautiful years and to many more chapters of storytelling together! 🌟

#CalcuttaInstagrammers #10YearsOfCI #Kolkata #PhotographyCommunity

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🎉 A decade of excellence! What an incredible evening celebrating @ig_calcutta's 10th anniversary at ITC Royal Bengal! @itcroyalbengal

As a day-one supporter, witnessing CI's journey from inception to becoming Kolkata's digital ambassador has been truly inspiring. Their consistency in showcasing our city globally through stunning photography is unmatched! 📸

Had the honor of inaugurating their exhibition alongside fellow photographers Amitabha Gupta, Rangan Dutta, Preeti Roychoudhury, Debarshi Duttagupta, and Indrajit Lahiri. The showcase of 15 remarkable photographers was simply breathtaking! ✨

The evening was made even more delightful by the august gathering of old friends - those precious souls we don't get to meet regularly but whose presence instantly fills the heart with warmth! 💫

The evening also featured an engaging panel discussion on social media's impact - perfectly fitting for a platform that's transformed how we see and share Kolkata!

Huge congratulations to Sammya Brata @deckle_edge, Saikat Gupta @saikat_gupta, Anirban Dey @shuknoo_lonka, and the entire CI team for this astounding success! 👏

Here's to many more decades of putting Kolkata on the global map! 🌟

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The User Group has started digitising public domain books at the historic Federation Hall Library.

Photos by @sumitsurai Subhajit Dasbhaumik @amitabho58 and Biswarup Ganguly respectively.

#wikisource #GLAM #wikimedia #digitisation #librarylove #ebooks #freeknowledge #kolkatagram #federationhall #library #publicdomain #westbengalwikimedians

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You’re Invited! 📸🌧️
#CIturns10 - MEGA PHOTOWALK

Join us for a special Photowalk as we celebrate Calcutta Instagrammers’ 10th Anniversary and World Photography Day together a tribute to the vibrant streets and timeless charm of Kolkata. This year’s photowalk marks our 79th gathering, bringing photography enthusiasts, professionals, and hobbyists together to share their passion and capture the city’s essence through their lenses. Bring your gear, creativity, and enthusiasm!

📍 Location: Shobhabazar Rajbari

📅 Date: Sunday, 24th August 2025

⏰ Time: 10 AM onwards

📝 Note:

As it’s monsoon season, we request you to carry an umbrella or raincoat to stay comfortable during the walk.The event is free and open to all. All types of gadgets(Mobile devices/Camera/Action camera) are allowed. Follow our Instagram page @ig_calcutta for updates. You're Invited! 📸🌧️

Join us for a special Photowalk as we celebrate Calcutta Instagrammers’ 10th Anniversary and World Photography Day together a tribute to the vibrant streets and timeless charm of Kolkata. This year's photowalk marks our 79th gathering, bringing photography enthusiasts, professionals, and hobbyists together to share their passion and capture the city’s essence through their lenses. Bring your gear, creativity, and enthusiasm!

📍 Location: Shobhabazar Rajbari

📅 Date: Sunday, 24th August 2025

⏰ Time: 10 AM onwards

📝 Note:

As it's monsoon season, we request you to carry an umbrella or raincoat to stay comfortable during the walk.The event is free and open to all. All types of gadgets(Mobile devices/Camera/Action camera) are allowed. Follow our Instagram page @ig_calcutta for updates.

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KPC is still alive 🔥

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The king of this world…
P.C. @amitabho58

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The Largest Photography Competition in the World* is back.

Participate in the Wiki Loves Monuments In India photography competition to win attractive prizes!!!

Entry is free!

Link with all details in Bio.

* The Wiki Loves Monuments 2012 competition as per Guinness World Records.

Photograph by - Sharvari Mehendale CC BY-SA 4.0

#photographycompetition #heritagephotography #heritage #incredibleIndia #wikilovesmonuments #contest #competition

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🌞 rise from the top of @sunrise_hotel_sandakphu. Took a portrait after quite a long ⌛️. Friday 23rd February 2024 CE 5:45 AM IST, shot on my Nikon full frame. amartya_alu : thanks for asking me to take this frame. @amitabho58 : you inspired me to trek at this age. @priyodorshi_m : could not have been able to make the booking without you. Thanks to @sarkar_rohit126 , @sanudas1848 , @kumaresh.giri and @amin_kolkata (strictly in reverse order of seniority) for making this trip memorable. Badly missed @golokdebnath and @durjoy339 .

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🌞 rise from the top of @sunrise_hotel_sandakphu. Took a portrait after quite a long ⌛️. Friday 23rd February 2024 CE 5:45 AM IST, shot on my Nikon full frame. @amartya_alu : thanks for asking me to take this frame. @amitabho58 : you inspired me to trek at this age. @priyodorshi_m : could not have been able to make the booking without you. Thanks to @sarkar_rohit126 , @sanudas1848 , @kumaresh.giri and @amin_kolkata (strictly in reverse order of seniority) for making this trip memorable. Badly missed @golokdebnath and @durjoy339 .

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