inside sonagachi

The first subject of discussion was idols; Gandhi defended them, believing the masses incapable of raising themselves immediately to abstract ideas. Tagore cannot bear to see the people eternally treated as a child. Gandhi quoted the great things achieved in Europe by the flag as an idol; Tagore found it easy to object, but Gandhi held his ground, contrasting European flags bearing eagles, etc., with his own, on which he has put a spinning wheel. The second point of discussion was nationalism, which Gandhi defended. He said that one must go through nationalism to reach internationalism, in the same way that one must go through war to reach peace
Reverend C F Andrews

The room was everything I wanted in my photograph, but the Rajasthani prostitute in Calcutta’s (now Kolkata’s) infamous Sonagachi red light district threw me out before I could ask politely. Peach underwear was laid out on the right hand corner of the floral bedspread, a little temple was decked out to the left, above the doorway. There was a little dressing table, too, and soft light through pink curtains. She had the kind of back that shows off bone and muscle structure, and the light would, I know, have looked fantastic across it.

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