Kolkata's Chinatown fights for school building

“When we objected, we were told there are so many living on the premises that it is difficult to adjust with the few existing bathrooms… We were shocked. We want our school back.”

“It is our community school. In 1960, it was exempted from any tax by the Governor. Since then, it has been a charity school run by locals.”

“I agree that the deployment should not have gone on for so long… If the local community had informed us, I would have tried to find a solution.”

“Out-migration is the real picture of Chinatown.”

“This (the CISF deployment) cannot go on forever”

“Pei May is the repository of our history and culture… Out of generosity our community gave that space, now it seems it has been totally encroached… Our fear is that it will disappear one day.”

“Many families who had students here have moved out. But they continue to contribute to keep Pei May running. It’s a matter of pride for them.”

“We believe there are deletions because many community members have moved abroad or to other parts of India.”

“There was panic before the exercise started, but it has all been conducted smoothly.”

“There are many who have died, or left, gone to China. But their names had remained in the list.”

“In 1962, the Sino-Indian War led to mass internments and the first major wave of out-migration. Since then many have died, or left, including for Canada and the US. We expected the deletions.”