Mudar Patherya, an LMP Promisor, has pledged to dedicate half his wealth to philanthropy and continues to live this commitment through his work in Kolkata. From restoring heritage buildings to rejuvenating public spaces, he has been at the forefront of citizen-led urban renewal. A former cricket journalist turned communications consultant, he also founded Kolkata Gives to connect donors with grassroots NGOs, ensuring that giving creates tangible impact.

Every Indian city has a soul. But Kolkata? It has character. You can feel it in its buildings—weather-worn, sometimes forgotten, yet still quietly standing with pride.

My journey with these buildings began as a young man walking the bylanes of the city. I’d often pause at a forgotten facade, some hidden cornice, or a crumbling dome—details most might walk past. But I’d find myself lingering, drawn to their charm. These weren’t monuments. They were part of the everyday city. And yet, they told stories, if you were willing to see them not as relics, but as possibilities.

That’s how it began. One evening near Maniktala Market, I noticed a dome that had faded into its background. I thought: let’s paint it. But as night fell, the work disappeared into the dark. That’s when a small idea turned into something larger: What if we lit it instead?

That single decision changed everything. Light brought the structure to life. Not just for me, but for everyone who passed by. It wasn’t just a building anymore—it was a beacon.

The early days weren’t easy. There was no roadmap. No large backing. Just the belief that if we could bring light to one building, we could change how people felt about their city.

The first step was trust. Convincing homeowners that I wasn’t after publicity or possession took time. But when they saw that all I wanted was to care for the building as if it were my own, doors began to open—quietly, generously.

Funding came the same way. From people who believed in the spirit of the idea. People who had seen our work elsewhere, who understood that this was about something deeper than aesthetics. After the first project, the second followed—completed within the same budget. When I sent “before and after” photos to donors, many replied with genuine surprise. That surprise soon turned into long-term support. They could see the difference. It mattered.

Lighting Up Kolkata, Building a Movement

This work has grown into a community—lighting designers, scaffolders, photographers, historians, electricians, donors. People with skill, and people with heart. We call ourselves The Kolkata Restorers. But more than a name, it’s a belief: that we can make a difference, building by building, night by night.

In 2024, 163 donors—individuals, companies, charitable foundations—came together with one shared belief: that our city’s heritage deserves care. In a single year, we completed 59 illumination projects. It was more than we had ever imagined, and yet it felt like just the beginning.

Each site had its own rhythm. We lit up 22 places of worship, each with a different architecture, history, emotion—Maghen David Synagogue, the Greek Orthodox Church, among others. We illuminated 26 government buildings—the General Post Office, Eastern Railway HQ, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, and Raj Bhavan, which was completed in five careful phases. At St. Paul’s Cathedral, we used dynamic, energy-efficient lighting that didn’t just show the building—it transformed how it was experienced.

Beyond buildings, we restored what time had tried to erase. Six public clocks and four striking mechanisms at sites like Hazarduari Palace and Sacred Heart Church. Two domes. Over 1,300 plaques in the South Park Street Cemetery. The broken stained glass of the Royal Insurance Building, brought back to colour.

We chose buildings based on historical importance, architecture, scale, and placement—especially in heritage-dense areas like BBD Bagh. Iconic structures that define the Kolkata skyline. And every decision was rooted in purpose: all lighting is permanent and energy-efficient. Every project is crowd-funded, zero-budgeted, audited. No logos or plaques. No names on walls. Just light—and the work itself.

What began as restoration has turned into a form of silent celebration. A growing number of citizens now slow down at night to take in the lit buildings. Some ask around: “Who’s doing this?” They assume it’s the government. Or the building owner. That anonymity brings its own kind of joy.

The Road Ahead

We’ve learned a lot this past year. That people will support a cause if it’s honest, transparent, and tangible. That scale isn’t what earns trust—integrity is. That real change doesn’t begin with plans; it begins with people showing up.

At the same time, we’ve been reminded how much more there is to do. What we’ve achieved so far may only be 10 percent of what’s possible. That’s not discouraging—it’s energising.

For 2025, the path is clear. Illuminate at least 100 new facades. Go beyond light, into painting and restoration. Launch Kolkata’s first Lighting Festival, to create shared spaces for performance and storytelling. Bring in artists and make heritage not just something to preserve, but something to participate in.

This isn’t a project. It’s a way of showing love. For a city that has given us so much. For structures that stood through time. For stories that still deserve to be told in light.

India by Night

What started here doesn’t have to stay here. We imagine a future—India by Night. Where India’s built heritage is seen not just in daylight, but in moonlight and lamp glow. Where a lit building is the beginning of a lit street, a lit memory, a lit movement. India by day may be tropical, chaotic, overwhelming. But India by night? It could be a different world—mysterious, beautiful, dreamlike. If we can unlock that magic, we could redefine urban tourism and civic pride. 

With this, we’re ready to shine a light—on our buildings, our history, and maybe even on ourselves.