Asia Journal ’26 - #13

 

My day began with my making a presentation (preaching/lecturing?) on worship in the Bible to a meeting of pioneers (laypeople on the frontlines of evangelism). In the afternoon, after Biswajit and his family took me to their favorite Bengali restaurant we headed to the famous Indian Coffee House, and the largest book shops/stalls/stores/market I have ever witnessed – streets and streets and blocks and blocks of books!!!. These were places recommended by Rachel Davies as must-see in Kolkata. First, we had to experience the “adda” community and conversation in that spacious landmark. Then we were in awe as we traversed the crowds and the bookstores. We also experienced a cool drink at the Paramount. Wow! I

purchased works (Gitanjali) by Rabindranath Tagore, the great Bengali poet, and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. Also recommended by Rachel, was The Epic City: The World on the Streets of Calcutta. We are too often fed with the narrow view of that great city as one simply filled with poverty, and the cultural richness is ignored. To quote Rachel: “It’s the most vibrant, passionate and resilient place I’ve ever known.”