Amar Para Golf Green

Srishti Lakhotia

Kolkata thik erokomti noy. Kolkatar charidike ekta prachir ache, shey prachirti ekhane nei (Kolkata is not quite like this. There is a wall all around Kolkata; that wall isn’t here)”. The words muttered by Soumitra Chatterjee’s Asim in Satyajit Ray’s ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ (1970) hold true for one of the oldest ‘societies’ in the city. Golf Green — developed by West Bengal Housing Board in 1975 — stands out by refraining from building boundary walls to alienate itself from neighbouring refugee colonies.

Divided from the Royal Calcutta Golf Club by a running wall, this neighbourhood refused to isolate itself from the settlements that emerged in the 1940s and 50s with the influx of refugees from East Bengal.

Golf Green may now be transitioning with 12-storey towers, cafes, and IT professionals replacing govt employees but residents agree over retaining its ‘slow-paced’ life, fascination for adda at Central Park, and stellar cultural programmes.

A housing society without borders

Golf Green Urban Complex did not exist before 1975. In its place was a vast, vacant expanse of trees and muddy ponds — an unused golf course belonging to royalty. The grounds became football fields for local boys.

Between 1967 and 1972, it turned into a hideout for young men associated with the Naxalite movement. Crime-ridden and plagued by the golf club’s financial troubles, the land was sold to Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority in 1972. A year later, West Bengal Housing Board was established and decided to build a residential society — initially targeted at high-income groups, later expanded to middle- and low-income buyers.

A bungalow here priced over Rs 1 crore has far more takers today than in 1979. Samir Roychowdhury, a septuagenarian who bought a first-phase flat for less than a lakh, recalled, “Applications were fewer than the constructed units, so we could select what we wanted. The situation changed two-three years later, when flats were allocated by lottery.” Scientist Shantanu Paul attributed this slow start to the land’s dark past, secluded environment, and the traditional Bengali hesitation toward flat culture.

Dotted with four-to-five-storey buildings and bungalows across seven phases, the society long carried a pale yellow govt quarters vibe. Towers were neatly arranged around parks while arterial roads looped into landmark Central Park, opening the close-knit complex to self-settled refugee colonies like Bijoygarh, Jadavpur, Poddar Nagar, and Arabinda Nagar.

Public works minister Jatin Chakraborty’s advice in 1980 still rings clear for early buyers: “It’s better to live side-by-side as neighbours without a wall between you.”

No puja without cultural events

“It isn’t a typical barowari puja,” said dancer Sugata Roy, who moved to Phase 1 in 1980. Bhog is prepared by neighbourhood women, and the community observes Shodashopachara Puja, covering 16 detailed aspects.On Navami, everyone gathers for Pungti Bhojon — a traditional community feast. The four days of puja are defined by renowned artistes performing, directing plays, or judging poetry contests. Kanishka Bishi, son of writer Pramathanath Bishi, served as cultural secretary for Phase 1 from 1984 to 1990.

Golf Green’s celebration of Basantotsav (Spring Festival) became another talk of the town, with it even being featured on TV.

Artistes like Kabir Suman and the band Bhoomi performed here early in their careers. Other prominent residents, like Chinmoy Roy, Sujit Mukherjee, and Rabindra Sangeet singer Rama Mondal contributed. “We staged dance-dramas directed by local theatre figures like Sumit Samaddar,” Roy said.

Culture thrived due to the long list of luminaries associated with Golf Green. Actors Soumitra Chatterjee and Rabi Ghosh lived in Phase 1 while author Mahasweta Devi owned a flat in Phase 4, which often inspired the surroundings depicted in her works.

Meet you for adda at Central Park

Adda at Central Park remains a constant. Initially a muddy pond, the park was developed after the 1980s, forming the “lungs” of an otherwise densely concreted area. Every morning and evening, 700 to 800 people walk here.

The park is maintained by the Central Coordination Committee, which generates revenue by hosting film shootings and events. Additionally, every block features a children’s “tot-lot” park while the CS ground hosts local football and cricket matches.

From ownership to cafe culture

The periphery along Uday Shankar Road, lined with Phase 1 bungalows, has spearheaded change in this quiet enclave. Originally built like cozy houses with small front gardens and single garages, these properties stood out for the embellishments added by owners over time. With evolving lifestyles, the ground floors of these bungalows have increasingly been converted into commercial spaces, subleased to quaint cafes. Their layout, balconies, and repurposed rooms serve as a reminder of spaces once occupied by families who have since relocated.

This boutique cafe revolution began around 2017-18 with Travelistan Cafe — Kolkata’s first travel-themed cafe. Soon, outlets like Blue Tokai and Hatari joined the strip.

“New buyers are mostly young working professionals,” said Arindam (Saibal) Raha, general secretary of Golf Green Central Coordination Committee. “We maintain strict standards — rentals are limited, and rowdy late-night disturbances aren’t tolerated.”

The once borderless society now faces anxiety with the majority of its elderly population facing security trouble due to scattered incidents of robbery and road accidents. “We are being forced to fence up and put security kiosks at important points to avoid entry of anti-socials,” a resident said.

Despite it all, Golf Green’s core remains intact. Nestled amid colonies, the society retains its love for adda, vibrant festivals, and neighbourhood warmth anchored around Central Park. “It’s a place you come to for slow-living,” has somewhat become their motto.

Residentspeak

• “Every three months, we hold a Senior Citizens’ Meet, where 150-200 residents share memories, sing, and show off skills” — Arindam (Saibal) Raha
• “When I moved in, Central Park was an undeveloped plot with a pond. It has now become a meeting place, jogging space, and an adda point” — Shantanu Paul
• “During a recitation competition when I was around five, actor Robi Ghosh came as a judge. We also frequently saw Soumitra Chatterjee taking his morning walks” — Sugata Roy
• “If you want a fast pace, Golf Green is not for you. If you want glamour, Golf Green is not for you. But if you want to slow down, this is the place” — Indronil Bhowmick

Pics: Subhojyoti Kanjilal