Hornbill Festival and Brahmaputra Expedition

Kolkata, formerly known as ‘Calcutta’ until 2001, serves as the capital of West Bengal and is India’s third most populous city, home to around 14.1 million people. Established as a trading post by the East India Company in the 17th century, it remained the nation’s capital until 1911 and still functions as a significant regional center, though it faces well-documented challenges.

The city’s prolonged economic stagnation since Independence is frequently linked to its 34-year period under the world’s longest-running democratically elected Communist administration. Kolkata’s progressive political landscape is deeply intertwined with its vibrant intellectual tradition. The Bengali Resistance of the 19th and 20th centuries was instrumental in India’s struggle for Independence, and the city has fostered liberal movements in cinema, art, and literature, producing several Nobel Laureates.

Kolkata’s lively cultural scene is set against an architectural backdrop shaped by over two centuries of colonial rule. The Victoria Memorial, constructed to honor the British Raj at its height, stands as the city’s most imposing landmark—a grand fusion of British, Mughal, Deccani, Moorish, and Venetian architecture, with marble domes rising above the Hooghly River, surrounded by ornamental lakes and parched maidans.

The Pandaw Cruise Company has seventeen beautifully crafted ships in operation, across India and Southeast Asia, all built themselves. Each ship, hand-finished in brass and teak by traditional craftsmen, is itself an object of great beauty. Whilst luxury and comfort are ever-present, it is the colonial-era character and friendly atmosphere that predominate the ships. All of Pandaw's ships have ultra-shallow drafts and can travel to remote areas, which are unreachable by other passenger-carrying vessels, let alone overland.

Although initiated by the state government, the Hornbill Festival truly belongs to the people, serving as a gathering where all Naga tribes—each with distinct languages, rituals, attire, and histories—unite in celebration. Named after the majestic Indian hornbill, a bird revered in Naga folklore as a symbol of courage, unity, and honor, the festival draws its strength from the traditions and stories handed down through generations.

More than just a cultural showcase, the festival is crucial for promoting inter-tribal bonds and educating younger generations. With many Naga youth living and studying outside the state, the Hornbill Festival provides a meaningful reason to return home, reconnect with elders, and revive traditions that might otherwise fade. It functions both as a celebration and a living classroom, sustaining identity and kinship through shared experiences.