Kolkata: Auction is still held every Sunday in this 86 year old ‘house’

Russell Street in Kolkata is lonelier on Sundays than usual.

Offices are closed, vehicle movement is less.

In the afternoon there is a lot of activity in a warehouse-like building on this deserted road.

On going inside, we find out that an auction is going on here and bids are being placed.

There is a person who is sitting with a table and chair at a height of about 5 feet.

This person is taking bids along with telling the item number on the mic.

Right in front of him, on a big table, there were books, antique items, clothes, flower vases, cutlery, watches, telephones of yesteryear and what not.

People standing around this table are bidding loudly. As soon as an item is sold, the auctioneer gets the receipt cut by hitting it with a wooden hammer.

The name of the place we are talking about is ‘The Russell Exchange’. Built in the year 1940, this auction house is the oldest in Asia and is also the only traditional auction house in India, where auctions are still held.

The auction starts every Sunday at 11:30 in ‘The Russell Exchange’.

People coming here get a catalog which contains information about all the items put up for auction.

This catalog contains many items ranging from clothes, shoes, shirts, jeans pants, sarees and blouses to furniture, antique pieces, chandeliers, books, watches, lamps.

A total of 367 items were put up for auction on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

During the British rule, the Russell Street area was known for many auction houses.

But today here only ‘The Russell Exchange’ He is the one who has been conducting auctions every Sunday for the last 86 years.

Any person can go to this auction house without any entry fee or registration.

You have money in your pocket and you want to buy something, then come bid on the item of your choice and buy it if you understand, otherwise withdraw from the bid.

Similarly, if you want to sell some goods, then bring your goods, submit them to the auction house, and also tell how much amount you are expecting.

Anwar Salim, senior partner of ‘The Russell Exchange’, said, “Suppose it is your watch, then we advise you that it should not be sold for less than this. If you agree, then very good, if you want to sell for more than that, then write down that we will not sell for less than that. If the item is not sold for two weeks, then take it back. Our only interest is that the more it is sold for, the more will be our commission.”

According to Apurba Banerjee, who has been coming here continuously since 1986, “People are not told what amount is decided between the seller and the auction house.”

Rajib Banerjee of Durgapur has been coming to this auction house for many years. If the goods are sold for the amount fixed by the auction house or if the price is higher than that, then the goods are sold.

If the goods are not sold in the auction, then the goods are put in the auction again on the next Sunday.

Ibrar Ahmed Khan from Kolkata has been coming here for almost 50 years.

Ibrar told that the auction house earns from commission.

Suppose someone’s goods are sold for five thousand rupees, then this auction house will deduct its commission and pay it to the old owner.

Similarly, one percent commission is taken from the new owner of the goods.

Great filmmaker Satyajit Ray often visited this auction house.

Many furniture and antique items for set designing and props in Satyajit Ray’s films were bought or rented from here.

According to Anwar Salim, “Satyajit Ray Saheb used to come. He used to say that if you are not able to get material for the film then go to Russell Exchange. We are also mentioned in many of his books.”

Anwar Salim said, “We give furniture on rent to film makers, they build their own sets etc. Many of Mithun Chakraborty’s films have been made here.”

According to Anwar Salim, many actors and leaders have been coming to this auction house to buy goods. Salim mentioned the names of Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Maneka Gandhi and Kumari Shailaja.

Anwar Saleem, senior partner of The Russell Exchange, is the third generation to run this auction house.

Along with Anwar Salim, this auction house is also run by his younger brother Arshad Salim and sister Sarfaraz Begum Shamsi.

Arshad Saleem has been conducting auctions here since the age of 18.

Anwar Saleem mostly lives in London. He said, “I keep coming and harassing (my siblings) but they are the ones who take care of me. The next generation is not showing any interest in it.”

We also wanted to know from Anwar Salim about the future of this auction house. Anwar says, “Maybe a European auction house might collaborate with us.”

Anwar Salim told BBC about the history of this auction house. Anwar Salim says, “The entire property was known as ‘Golston Mansions’, which was owned by a person named Aaratoon. The place where ‘Rusal Exchange’ is today, there used to be a warehouse earlier. My grandfather, Abdul Samad, and Kaku Babu had given Rs 5000 as a token to take that place on lease.”

According to Anwar Salim, due to the presence of many auction houses on Russell Street and Park Street, this area had become famous for auctions, where most of the British, Maharajas and big landowners used to come.

In the 60s, it was common to organize auctions at the homes of diplomats who were transferred. This gave customers an opportunity to buy foreign goods.

“India had tight foreign exchange controls in the late 50s and 60s and our foreign exchange reserves were very low. Therefore, household goods could not be imported.”

Once upon a time, there used to be auction houses in Kolkata named Mackenzie Lyall & Co., Steiner & Co., Dalhousie Exchange, Chowringhee Sales Bureau Pvt. Ltd., D’Albert & Co. and Victor Brothers. All these are now lost in the pages of Kolkata’s history.

Located on Russell Street near Park Street, Kolkata, this auction house is not just a building but a living document of history.

This auction house stands up to the heritage of Kolkata, where the past still breathes.

Published by Collective Newsroom for the BBC.