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Health, sustainability, music, tech, entrepreneurship and more at The CCU Festival

November 1st, 2022

Make Calcutta Relevant Again gives a sneak peek of the first CCU Festival on October 29

October 29, 2022

Will Calcutta ever be relevant again?

October 19, 2022

Let's never teach our young generation to not be ambitious: Meghdut RoyChowdhury

September 30, 2022

The minds behind The CCU Festival on what to expect from the October 29 event

October 27, 2022

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City of Nobel Minds

@debanjanchakrabarti @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast debanjan chakrabarti British council india calcuttan proud Nobel laureates kolkata history heritage ]

A City Repositioned

@debanjanchakrabarti @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast debanjan chakrabarti British council india calcuttan proud Repositioned ]

Happy birthday @rewant17 !
Be it breaking down food culture or simply celebrating the joy of eating, we loved having you on the Make Calcutta Relevant Again podcast. Here’s to more good conversations and even better meals! 🫶🏻

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast rewant lokesh sienna happy birthday food culture ]

Winter Nights with Sharadindu’s Stories

@debanjanchakrabarti @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast debanjan chakrabarti British council india calcuttan satyajit ray sharadindu bandyopadhyay ]

Satyajit Ray defines my childhood

@debanjanchakrabarti @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast debanjan chakrabarti British council india calcuttan satyajit ray books childhood ]

A proud Calcuttan, through and through. ❤️🌆

Watch the full episode on the Make Calcutta Relevant Again YouTube channel!

@debanjanchakrabarti @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast debanjan chakrabarti British council india calcuttan proud bangali YouTube teaser ]

On Netaji’s birth anniversary, artist Ranjit Das restored a poster-covered junction box outside his house, through Mudar Patherya and The Kolkata Restorers. It’s part of something he’s been doing for a while now — finding time to care for the city in small, almost invisible ways.

We’re indebted to people like him, who keep the city alive in ways that rarely make the news.

[ make calcutta relevant again mudar patherya kolkata restorers netaji subhash chandra bose birth anniversary restoration project kolkata heritage ]

The Bengal Narrative.

@pubarun.basu @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast pubarun basu photography environmental awareness bengal narrative ]

Reimagining what already exists!

@mudarpatherya @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast mudar patherya Calcutta illumination project kolkata heritage sites collaboration ]

The Ram Tattoo.

@pubarun.basu @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast pubarun Basu photography environmental awareness chattisgarh human connections ]

They were always our people.

@pubarun.basu @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast pubarun basu photography environmental awareness empathy land ]

We're missing this feeling!

@pubarun.basu @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast pubarun basu photography environmental awareness ghats kolkata ]

When I tell a new person I am Bangali, more often than not they follow it up with the question “oh you must love fish”
And while that statement sometimes irritates me because fish is not the entirety of our diets, fish definitely makes up for most of my body weight.

This event is an ode to that. I am passionately adding some element of fish into every single dish (barring the dessert) and I will turn you into a meccho Bangali - if you are not one already.

I wrote this menu one morning just after a trip to Lake Market fish bajaar, and I could not be more excited to eat every single of these dishes myself.

Click the link in bio to book your seat! 🤤

[ make calcutta relevant again sohini banerjee fish cuisine bengali dinner pop up supper club offbeat CCU up there cafe book your seats end of winter ]

Few festivals shape a city the way Durga Pujo shapes Calcutta. The Durga Pujo Panel at Startup Carnival brought culture into the startup conversation, exploring how Bengal’s biggest festival continues to shape businesses, brands, and creative opportunities.

Listening to these perspectives was a reminder that tradition and innovation don’t sit apart, but grow best when they move together.

[ durgapujo pujopanel startupcarnival makecalcuttarelevantagain technoindiagroup pujo ]

Listening to people who are actually building in the food space always hits different. Startup Carnival brought together diverse voices from across the ecosystem, sharing real experiences on building brands, navigating challenges, and staying rooted in purpose in a fast-moving industry.

Such a thoughtful exchange on what it truly takes to grow in food, from vision and consistency to community and collaboration!

[ startupcarnival restauranteurs makecalcuttarelevantagain technoindiagroup panelists conversation restaurantbusiness pitch ]

The story is about the experiences!

@pubarun.basu @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast pubarun basu photography experiences father son relationship legacy guru ]

Human connection over assignments, always.

@pubarun.basu @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast pubarun basu photography ethics human connection empathy awareness photographer ]

A confident pitch, sharp clarity, and a well-earned win 🚀
Congratulations to Quekey for taking the top spot at the Startup Carnival pitching session.

Startup Carnival is about giving promising ideas the space to be tested, challenged, and celebrated, and Quekey made the most of that stage. Wishing the team continued momentum as they take this forward.

[ make calcutta relevant again techno india group startup carnival 5 pitch investors entrepreneurship innovation quekey ]

Congratulations to LovethyNature on being named First Runner Up at the Startup Carnival 5!

Startup Carnival is about giving early ideas a real stage, where founders are heard, questioned, and encouraged. LovethyNature’s pitch reflected thoughtful intent and careful thinking, and we look forward to seeing how their journey unfolds.

[ make calcutta relevant again techno india group startup carnival 5 pitch investors entrepreneurship innovation sustainability winner ]

Congratulations to Greenmentor on being named Second Runner Up at the Startup Carnival 5!

Startup Carnival is about giving early ideas a real stage, where founders are heard, questioned, and encouraged. Greenmentor’s win stood out for its clarity and purpose, and we’re excited to see how they build from here.

[ make calcutta relevant again techno india group startup carnival 5 pitching session networking winners pitch ideas investors ]

Commissioned in 1874, the New Market clock tower was slowly forgotten, even as the market around it was restored.
This is the story of how citizen initiative, careful conservation, and public-private collaboration brought it back... on time, and with intent.

[ Restoration mudar patherya Calcutta illumination project new market clock tower heritage kolkata ]

River problems remain unsolved!

@pubarun.basu @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast pubarun Basu photography environmental awareness ganga river problems ]

Problems we need to focus on more!

Watch the full episode on the Make Calcutta Relevant Again YouTube channel!

@pubarun.basu @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast pubarun Basu photography environmental awareness ghats india ]

Why are people not collaborating enough?

@mudarpatherya @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast mudar patherya Calcutta illumination project kolkata heritage sites collaboration fundraising ]

From ₹20,000 to ₹5 lakhs.

@don.liu_official @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast monica liu don of Chinatown Chinese cuisine food entrepreneur tangra kolkata bars ]

মাগো!! 🦢😥🙏🏻

Animated by: @bongvinci

[ make calcutta relevant again saraswati pujo bangali bengali celebration festival knowledge ]

The strength of One Rupee.

@mudarpatherya @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast mudar patherya Calcutta illumination project kolkata heritage sites collaboration fundraising ]

Tangra's Chilli Chicken Secret.

@don.liu_official @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast monica liu don of Chinatown Chinese cuisine food entrepreneur tangra kolkata ]

Collaborative Initiatives make everything better.

@mudarpatherya @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast Mudar patherya Calcutta illumination project kolkata heritage sites collaboration fundraising GRIRR ]

When a city takes care of itself!
New Market is renewed by the people who belong to it. 💛

[ make calcutta relevant again new market golghar maintained sanitation work care ]

If collaboration is there, money is not a problem!

@mudarpatherya @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast mudar patherya Calcutta illumination project kolkata heritage sites collaboration fundraising ]

Net Worth and Network?

@mudarpatherya @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast Mudar patherya Calcutta illumination project kolkata heritage sites network ]

The Light Story!

@mudarpatherya @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast mudar patherya Calcutta illumination project kolkata heritage sites buildings ]

Humanity comes first, always!

@don.liu_official @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast monica liu don of Chinatown Chinese cuisine food entrepreneur kolkata beijing restaurant humanity Covid empathy ]

Calcutta needs listening.

That’s what we at Make Calcutta Relevant Again try to do.
Pay attention, ask better questions, and share stories that already exist but don’t always get the space they deserve.

If you believe Calcutta’s stories deserve to be told thoughtfully,
walk with us. Share this. Start a conversation.

Let's Make Calcutta Relevant Again.

[ make calcutta relevant again kolkata ]

Lack of Money or Lack of Collaborative Working?

Check out the new episode on the Make Calcutta Relevant Again YouTube channel!

@mudarpatherya @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast mudar patherya Calcutta illumination project kolkata heritage youtube channel ]

A good bengali from heart makes everything better.

@kcwac_official_page @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast sanjay mondal kcwac waste music community courage tangra blues band music ]

On one of Calcutta’s oh-so-cold evenings, Offbeat CCU felt warmer than usual... thanks to comforting plates, shared tables, and conversations that refused to end at dessert.

@smokeandlime’s supper club was a gathering—familiar flavours reimagined, stories exchanged between courses, and a rooftop that slowly settled into comfort, warmed by a soft playlist and a cozy bonfire. Just good food doing what it does best: bringing people together.

Until the next table is set. 💌

[ offbeat CCU smoke and lime chef sohini banerjee dinner pop up supper club bengali bangali menu fusion winter cold rooftop bonfire music retro cooking make calcutta relevant again food ]

Habit over comfort.

@don.liu_official @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast monica liu don of Chinatown Chinese cuisine food entrepreneur kolkata beijing restaurant ]

ছড়ায় ছড়ায় বিপ্লব! ✊🏻

কুমোর পাড়ার গরুর গাড়ি by Kolkata Creative Waste Art Center!

@kcwac_official_page @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast sanjay mondal kcwac waste music community courage tangra kolkata hope poem performance ]

Calcutta has always known where to gather. Turns out, the country’s noticing too! 🍸

To the minds and hands behind these bars — thank you for building spaces we keep coming back to. 💪🏻 @rajan_sethi @ritu.parna_ @discoveringice_ @chiragpunwani @rudradiptamukherjee

[ make calcutta relevant again kolkata bars ampm little bit sober conversation room nutcase district nightlife cocktail scene ]

Pithe puli aar ek raash anondo! 😋🍽️

[ make calcutta relevant again pithe puli poush Parbon mishti nolen Gur utshob bangali sweets memories happiness winters ]

She Ate It!

@don.liu_official @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast monica liu don of Chinatown Chinese cuisine food entrepreneur kolkata beijing restaurant hakka ]

Nobody wants a hot pot soup?

@don.liu_official @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast Monica Liu beijing restaurant hakka chinese food entrepreneur kolkata colonial mindset ]

Some of the most meaningful ideas begin at a dining table!

At Startup Carnival, Sohini Banerjee @smokeandlime shared her journey of hosting supper clubs from her home—using food to bring people together, spark conversations, and build a sense of community during an intimate fireside chat.

Now, that conversation continues at the very venue where it began.
Sohini’s upcoming dinner pop-up will be hosted at Offbeat CCU!

Come join her for an evening of delicious food, a thoughtfully crafted menu, and a dining experience that’s as exciting as it is warm. 🍽️

Time: 7:00PM onwards
Date: 15th Jan, 2026
Place: Offbeat CCU

🎟️ Tix in bio!

[ supperclubs firesidechat foodcommunity sohinibanerjee popupdinner offbeatccu makecalcuttarelevantagain startupcarnival 2026 ]

Hakka people are ALL over the world!

@don.liu_official @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast monica liu don of Chinatown Chinese cuisine food entrepreneur kolkata beijing restaurant hakka ]

Don of all time!

@don.liu_official @meghdutroychowdhury

[ make calcutta relevant again podcast monica liu don of Chinatown Chinese cuisine food entrepreneur kolkata beijing restaurant ]

What started as a gathering of ideas turned into a day of shared belief, bold conversations, and real momentum.

Startup Carnival 5 has reminded us why community matters... when founders, investors, institutions, and partners come together with intent, possibilities multiply.

We’re deeply grateful to our partners [ @gciione @foodkaseries @bbc.bengalbusinesscouncil @pointersbusinessforum @wealthappdistributors @d2cinsider @asmi_business_school ] for their trust and collaboration, to the investors who showed up with openness and curiosity, and to our panelists and speakers who shared their time, stories, and hard-earned insights so generously. Thank you for building this day with us.

From the MCRA team; it was a reflection of what we stand for: learning from each other, supporting one another, and growing together. We’re proud of what we created, and even more excited about what comes next.

@meghdutroychowdhury @indrajit_lahiri @samratseng @the_abs_diary @kamalinipaul @nishant.roastery @shiladityachaudhuri @sunilsahafitness @maitra_arijit @insiyatic @gouravsinha @offtothebeatccu

[ make calcutta relevant again techno india group startup carnival 5 2026 investors platform entrepreneurs offbeatccu durga pujo supper clubs panel discussion founders startups business ]

The crisp winter breeze is beginning to smell of mutton butter as Chef Sohini prepares for her first Supper Club of the season in Calcutta!

Seats are very limited. Bookings close tonight. Last chance, so hop onto the link in our bio 🎫

15th Jan | 7PM | Cafe Offbeat UpThere

[ supper club smoke & lime bengali fusion global bengal food community gathering winter menu music bonfire ]

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Innovators Over Coffee

Join us and 100s of other innovators over a coffee every month where we discuss startup, innovation, design, investment, and many more.

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Homebound.wav

Through homeBound, we’re looking to create a space where people can come listen to new sounds and experience nightlife with intention. You can expect genres from around the 🌎 like afrobeats, amapiano, kuduro, dembow, baile funk, etc. but also those close to home like south asian folk, qawwali, sufi etc.
Event announcement coming soon so peep this space for more info.

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With Love and Kindness Initiative

MCRA’s initiative goes beyond providing food; it’s about creating a space where love and kindness flourish. The shared laughter, the heartwarming connections—these are the moments that make life truly special.

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All featuring Make Calcutta Relevant Again

Start-Up Carnival

We've been focused on changing the narrative around #startupculture in the East for a while now and it feels so good when the entire #ecosystem lends it's support and shows up in hordes.

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Reshaping the future of Calcutta.

#makecalcuttarelevantagain is an initiative started with the focus on bringing back Calcutta's long-lost glory through culture, community, and commerce.

BECOME A MEMBER

What We Do

Support startups, businesses, individuals & events

Young people in Calcutta are eager to build something new and #MakeCalcuttaRelevantAgain helps them do that. We provide sponsorships to upcoming creators and help them showcase their work with top-notch mentors and industry experts who help them take their creations to the next level.

Our aim is to bring back Calcutta's Glory and not only bring it back but take it to the next level through constant disruption and innovation.

We want to make Calcutta even more relevant, and change its perception of a sleepy city that was the cultural capital to what it actually is; the bustling place full of change-makers shaking up the status quo.

STARTUPS

Our events like The CCU Festival and Innovators Over Coffee celebrate entrepreneurs and innovators from the city, we help you network with businesses, investors & creators from the city

BUSINESSES

Wanna set up your office in Kolkata? Wanna hire some great talents from the city? Wanna promote your brand through our newsletter? Don't worry we got you covered.

EVENTS

Have a fun event idea around culture & startups? Looking for sponsors & partners? Reach out to us today to find synergy and provide our support to make your event a success.

Our Values

Cultural preservation

Preserving Across All Mediums.

Kolkata is a city with a soul, where tradition and modernity coexist, and where every street has a story to tell.

We believe that Kolkata's cultural heritage is an invaluable asset that must be preserved and celebrated.

Innovation

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

-Steve Jobs

We encourage and support local entrepreneurs and innovators to create new products, services, and solutions that drive growth and innovation in the city.

Community

Community is not just a group of people, it's a shared identity, a collective purpose, and a shared responsibility.

We prioritize community engagement, working closely with local residents and businesses to create a project that reflects their needs and aspirations.

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COMMUNITY MEMBER

Network with the best bunch

Become a member

WHAT PEOPLE
ARE SAYING

I don’t know what lay ahead of us, but here’s to more such dreamers that resolutely say, “LET’s MAKE CALCUTTA RELEVANT AGAIN” and Proudly shout “ #BangaliByabshaKorbe “

-Sayan Chakrobarty, Founder WTF!

Always having each other’s backs and pushing the Kolkata Startup Ecosystem forward with my people. This is where I belong, this is where I’ve always belonged. It took me some time to match my crazies with your crazy but I am glad we are here now. In the next few years (sooner than you think)…we will Make Calcutta Relevant Again.

-Aishwarya Biswas, Founder Auli Lifestyle

"It was an amazing experience at Innovators Over Coffee to meet and network with budding entrepreneurs and get the feeling of emerging spirit of entrepreneurship in the hearts of young Kolkata!"

-Muqtadir, Founder Ezage