Sanjeet Chowdhury, Photographs of Jewish Calcutta, is on exhibition in the Beth El-Keser Israel (BEKI) Art Gallery through the end of February.

Although only about 20 Jews currently reside in Kolkata (as it is now known), the city retains the traces of Jewish culture. Many monuments, including a cemetery in North Kolkata, where gravestones are occasionally written in three languages, remain. They are cared for by non-Jewish Bengalis, many of them Muslims. Nahoum’s, the Jewish bakery, remains one of the city’s favorites. 

Sanjeet Chowdhury’s photographs illustrate the diversity, poignancy and history of this Jewish culture. An independent photographer, filmmaker, and curator committed to representing the everyday, he is based in Kolkata. His photographic works have been exhibited in London, New York, Basel, and other cities worldwide. His video arts and films have been screened at international festivals in Washington, Berlin, Tel Aviv and Stockholm. He is currently involved in several book projects, among them an anthology of the culinary history of Bengal.

BEKI is located at 85 Harrison Street, on the corner of Whalley Avenue in the Westville section of New Haven. Gallery hours by appointment only; call (203) 389-2108 x114.