This paper takes the case of Calcutta in India to problematize the current conceptualization of postcolonial cities in south and southeast Asia as pure aftermaths of colonial drivers of spatial change. Instead, it posits that conflicts and compromises in a colonized setting led to the development of water-based ecosystem services in amphibious cities which influenced postcolonial urban development. Amphibious cities like Calcutta continue the colonial legacy of dominance over natural resources by treating waterscapes as dry land and filling them up. By acknowledging the key roles played by the water resources in Calcutta, the proposed model highlights the transition of the eastern wetlands from saltwater marshes to sewage-fed fisheries and the evolving role of canals in water management, navigation, and as a support system for the fisheries. Adopting the Commons perspective allows us to recognize the spatial patterns and practices historically shaped by the water resources and communities as providers of ecosystem services. Relying on archival materials including planning reports, official correspondence, maps, and newspaper articles, this paper presents an alternative model of the postcolonial city, moving away from its typical identity as an extension of the port and the central business district. This model adds value to these fringes as corridors and hubs of provision of ecosystem services like water management, wastewater treatment, navigation, and food generation, and identifies these zones as postcolonial urban commons.
