Ton, ton, ton… The needles of centuries old clock towers will move again, one clock will cost Rs 3 lakh, know how the preparations are going

New Delhi: The clock towers built during the British era are still present in almost every city of the country. They were once the pride of the cities, but today they have become dilapidated. During the British rule, these clock towers used to be the center of the cities. Here the needles of the clock would move with time. People would see the time in the big clock hanging on the clock tower. According to this, the shift of British officers and employees would change. These historic clock towers remind us of the old times and give the passersby a chance to stop and think a little. In Kolkata, these old clock towers are being revived. Old memories are coming back. People are able to hear that centuries-old sound of the clock towers.The sound of the bell tower resonated after a decade
Recently, a traffic policeman stopped near Kolkata’s St Andrews Church, which is made of white marble. There he/she heard a familiar sound. The clock, which had been out of order for ten years, was echoing throughout Dalhousie Square. This clock was made in 1835 by James McCabe Royal Exchange of London. he/she said, “I am able to hear this sound after many years.” These clocks have started working again, but their repairs cost a lot, about Rs 3 lakh for one clock tower! To meet this cost, people collected donations together.

The clock had been out of order for over ten years, its silence a contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city. But thanks to a group called ‘Kolkata Restorers’, which comprises people who love the city, the clock is now back in action, adding to the beauty of this historic area.

Kolkata restaurateurs took the initiative to revive old memories
Kolkata restorers have called in expert Swapan Dutta and his/her son Satyajit to restart the clocks. Together, they are repairing the stopped clocks one by one. The father-son duo takes care of many famous clocks, including the 1938 clock installed on the banks of the Ganga near Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar. The other clock, which was installed 161 years ago by Maharaja Jagat Singh in the Government Senior Secondary School in Kapurthala, is still working due to their hard work. They also maintain the 1924 clock installed in the Patna Secretariat.

How do you fix centuries old clocks?
Swapan says, ‘Repairing and maintaining mechanical watches is a labour of love, most of these watches are British or German. Though they have stood the test of time, some parts do wear out and need to be replaced. We replace worn parts, repair broken parts, reorient and bring these watches back to life by repairing their dials and interlocking systems.’

Dutta family has been repairing 200 years old clock
The Dutta family’s watchmaking tradition is five generations and almost 200 years old. It started with Swapan’s great grandfather Dharani Dhar Dutta. Swapan says, ‘his/her grandfather used to repair big public clocks and clocks in the houses of the rich. his/her workshop, located in Madan Gopal Lane near Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, reverberates with the rhythmic tick-tock of the clock hands.’ This is a proof of the Dutta family’s dedication to their craft.

Engaged in repairing all the old clocks of Kolkata
Kolkata Restorers, a group of people from different walks of life, is on a mission to revive the forgotten memories of Kolkata’s past. It started with a plan to light up some of the prominent buildings in the city, but they became passionate about doing something after seeing the broken clocks. Mudar Patheria, from the group, says, “When we lit up a building, it highlighted the fault of the broken clock even more. So we thought we should work on clocks as well.”

Crowdfunding has been a huge help in their efforts. It helps them raise money for repairs that can sometimes go up to over Rs 3 lakh. They have so far successfully fixed clocks at Sacred Heart Church, Dharmatala and are also working on clocks at Holy Trinity Church and Magen David Synagogue. Next on their list are clocks at Our Lady of Dolours Church in Sealdah and the GPO, which have been out of order for years.