tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67574072456070711232024-03-18T09:23:28.627-07:00Heritage structures of BengalIt is a humble effort to highlight the different kinds of heritage structures in West Bengal as well as Kolkata. Parthasarathi Mukherjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12306146780905101933noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757407245607071123.post-55338082060604162932015-01-18T04:46:00.002-08:002016-02-15T06:06:45.944-08:00Great Eastern Hotel- a great history to remember<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Great Eastern Hotel- "the jewel of the East"</h2>
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The famous Sepoy Mutiny was still sixteen years to go.<br />
Bahadur Shah Jafar was still the emperor of Mughal Dynasty.<br />
The East India Company was very much on their way to rule India, the vast country.<br />
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It was only at this segment of time the great hotel was established in 14th November 1840 by David Wilson at the 1-3 Old Court House Street close to the Tank Square in Calcutta. Initially it was named as Auckland Hotel but was just popular as locals were calling it as 'Wilson's Hotel'. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzi0XnQgUv3j5TygIY_i41mEagfGrzEvpE8or_RY1mbtBJm6C1KZjtG62Kwry6ew2TFNDfd2-h1J2af-Vstk8dPYQgIzSVzuxOgLdngdUcor5Jyrzoz-39iZ6Sb6Dzm_5o3mS8NofnJOu/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzi0XnQgUv3j5TygIY_i41mEagfGrzEvpE8or_RY1mbtBJm6C1KZjtG62Kwry6ew2TFNDfd2-h1J2af-Vstk8dPYQgIzSVzuxOgLdngdUcor5Jyrzoz-39iZ6Sb6Dzm_5o3mS8NofnJOu/s1600/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The above photograph was captured between 1850- 1870 & is preserved in Victoria & Alburt Museum. </h4>
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The road in front of the hotel is the Old Court House Street. The Dalhousie Square was known as Tank Square in those days & it was the central business district of the city. A good quality hotel nearer to the Writer's Building, Government House was much needed to accommodate the officials, businessman etc.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NB-TgEVDgEIAW4NcVlbZjGdE1AkdW4l6pn-BwGYU-R32NlTmebUY8TdYqIiz73IzO0ZDhoFfaZzRwUQ1l_xQebytO3TI1SA9Iy9pSx0ycLHCz9rZeh1LGFy04rBmWOn0fA6_6Ls507TU/s1600/225px-George_Eden,_1st_Earl_of_Auckland.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NB-TgEVDgEIAW4NcVlbZjGdE1AkdW4l6pn-BwGYU-R32NlTmebUY8TdYqIiz73IzO0ZDhoFfaZzRwUQ1l_xQebytO3TI1SA9Iy9pSx0ycLHCz9rZeh1LGFy04rBmWOn0fA6_6Ls507TU/s1600/225px-George_Eden,_1st_Earl_of_Auckland.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">George Eden, the 1st Earl of Auckland</span></h4>
The hotel was named after George Eden, the 1st Earl of Auckland who was the Governor General of India (1836- 1842). Actually David Wilson was a confectioner by profession and had a bakery at the site of the hotel at first. Later on, after opening the Hotel, the bakery was included and became an integral part of it. The breads and cakes of Great Eastern hotel won the taste buds of Calcutta and continued to do so for more than a century.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9TNcnmlndYYfu_gywIxPmvBmMZy72n9PhFFWrbPICF016fUqVsx5IUVOP_2o2mZLwQ_qU2T1VM9Z7WHv0TqNWyd49unrr5nr74enzLQIXiyaLbGcGUcc2-BAdxUBoYXwdhQcKj8Q3CB7/s1600/Great-eastern-hotel+1865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9TNcnmlndYYfu_gywIxPmvBmMZy72n9PhFFWrbPICF016fUqVsx5IUVOP_2o2mZLwQ_qU2T1VM9Z7WHv0TqNWyd49unrr5nr74enzLQIXiyaLbGcGUcc2-BAdxUBoYXwdhQcKj8Q3CB7/s1600/Great-eastern-hotel+1865.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The above photograph was captured by Samuel Bourn in 1865</h4>
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From the above photograph it is clear that by 1865, the building was already known as The Great Eastern Hotel & not as Auckland Hotel. Initially, it was opened with one hundred rooms. </div>
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In the 1860's, the company was renamed. Earlier it was D Wilson & Co and it became Great Eastern Hotel Wine & General Purveying Co. </div>
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In those days, people used to come directly from port. In those days, The Great Eastern Ship was very famous as they used to have regular voyage from England to Calcutta. David Wilson was not an ordinary businessman but a visualizer. He felt that an identical name with the ship could be a success story for a new hotel. An unique marketing strategy! He did not have an MBA degree from any prestigious institution. </div>
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In those days, the hotel put advertisements in popular newspaper like Englishman. </div>
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History says., Mark Twain the great American author stayed in this hotel for a few days. It was a not pleasant experience for him as it was raining and the author was suffering from asthma. </div>
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Apart from that, Mahatma Gandhi,Queen Elizabeth, Nikita Krusuchav ( the Russian premier ) stayed here. </div>
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King of Coachbehar, King of Burdwan, King of Travankore had their special suits here booked throughout the year. Special attendants of these prestigious guests were appointed in the hotel round the year. They used to were special uniforms with King's emblem on their coats. It was a popular destination in Calcutta for the tourists and businessman and also to the dignitaries as well. </div>
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Parthasarathi Mukherjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12306146780905101933noreply@blogger.comOld Court House Street, Lal Dighi, B B D Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001, India22.5690038 88.349385622.5653383 88.3443431 22.5726693 88.3544281tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757407245607071123.post-72987613176873560752014-01-05T03:40:00.001-08:002015-02-20T04:22:19.716-08:00The Jewish connection & the elegant mansion <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Esplanade mansion </span></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSqqM29DYG-McyhYze10cT0VPxOYnfeex_0zvCVeTKMDQrOf-OogiFBZbmGIKKj_1fMOcMOumwHW8qK1vn_UqsQSsYC6mQkgTnjsZkkJOdysEp-y9HnRuTepnkA-RAsLjGXaYaJOobF4y/s1600/esplanmade+mansion+calcutta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSqqM29DYG-McyhYze10cT0VPxOYnfeex_0zvCVeTKMDQrOf-OogiFBZbmGIKKj_1fMOcMOumwHW8qK1vn_UqsQSsYC6mQkgTnjsZkkJOdysEp-y9HnRuTepnkA-RAsLjGXaYaJOobF4y/s1600/esplanmade+mansion+calcutta.jpg" height="253" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Esplanade Mansion </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Esplanade Mansion is undoubtedly one of the majestic and beautiful structures of Kolkata. Thus it attracts tourists and enthusiasts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was in 1910, the gorgeous structure was built at the crossing of Esplanade Row (East) and Old Court House Street. Elias David Joseph Ezra, the well known Jewish businessman was the builder. Elias David Ezra also built Magen David Synagogue at Barabazar and Chowringhee Mansion which is adjacent to the Asiatic Society building at Park Street. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BIfF5lzHKSRYuMujdw_JbrCq95Xf4U5sexRuyiF_8MV0Y16oHFp7wUw5MjSBCRB5lNW9ngYMGPf6nbeYYhmpDWm-n3xapPC42E069d3JDM7XetpE-ec2y13qGAAkExalMHogsw7v-83p/s1600/curzon-gardens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BIfF5lzHKSRYuMujdw_JbrCq95Xf4U5sexRuyiF_8MV0Y16oHFp7wUw5MjSBCRB5lNW9ngYMGPf6nbeYYhmpDWm-n3xapPC42E069d3JDM7XetpE-ec2y13qGAAkExalMHogsw7v-83p/s1600/curzon-gardens.jpg" height="194" width="320" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Originally built for residential purpose, the magnificient structure was used by the Americans later on. It was leased out to the American Government during the WW2. The American Library in Calcutta was in this building. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During the shooting of The Philosopher's Stone (Parash Pathar- link- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU_3l9hi_Oc&index=3&list=PL4B322308A647A447" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU_3l9hi_Oc&index=3&list=PL4B322308A647A447</a>) in 1952, Satyajit Ray placed his movie camera at the roof of this building. </span></div>
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Parthasarathi Mukherjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12306146780905101933noreply@blogger.comEsplanade Mansion, Sido Kanhu Dahar, Chowringhee North, Bow Barracks, Kolkata, West Bengal 700069, India22.5664418 88.34874960000001922.5659838 88.348119100000019 22.566899799999998 88.349380100000019tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757407245607071123.post-77897950255148057222013-05-30T01:50:00.000-07:002024-03-15T09:50:56.116-07:00Royal Insurance Building- a must to the visitors <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Royal Insurance Building</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Pfz0SqlEQXzXnJwdMhNL24Xy69mIU4Co0qvhILRQW0JhNWO48XayqMu-zdcCKa4BVWwgkoIUuUmHkUsGS4i1Lnk0ht8ybQfQvMDp1ipqy8w6Gc-6dVGfYEcvGhSlOHM3S9x0DFKrEW4n/s1600/r+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Pfz0SqlEQXzXnJwdMhNL24Xy69mIU4Co0qvhILRQW0JhNWO48XayqMu-zdcCKa4BVWwgkoIUuUmHkUsGS4i1Lnk0ht8ybQfQvMDp1ipqy8w6Gc-6dVGfYEcvGhSlOHM3S9x0DFKrEW4n/s1600/r+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Royal Insurance Building from the Eastern side</b></div>
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This is one of the main attraction among foreigners in Kolkata. Located at the opposite of the General Post Office building. <span style="font-weight: normal;">The architects were William Banks Gwyther and Edward Thornton</span>. <br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBl1qd_zZrXlhXP6roJohF5qGvP-XQZR8chzOERCSfrUniXI8T70TxSICiCLa625RuuieQJtcWg97mVNXw0YhXqdQxc5ZJSUTIeStODGdMbKswpk9jxFSXKifLX6N1bU3JwIzbwes_tBec/s1600/Hare+Street,+Calcutta+(Kolkata),+looking+towards+the+River+-+1878-tiltshift.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBl1qd_zZrXlhXP6roJohF5qGvP-XQZR8chzOERCSfrUniXI8T70TxSICiCLa625RuuieQJtcWg97mVNXw0YhXqdQxc5ZJSUTIeStODGdMbKswpk9jxFSXKifLX6N1bU3JwIzbwes_tBec/s1600/Hare+Street,+Calcutta+(Kolkata),+looking+towards+the+River+-+1878-tiltshift.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>The photograph was taken in 1878 </b></div>
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The above photograph around Tank Square looking towards the river was taken from the rooftop of the Telegraph Building (Dead Letter Office) in 1878. GPO is at the far top corner. Royal Insurance Building was nowhere in the picture as in the left of GPO. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tmzn2BbOftuyt7CjaEq_piE2esNlbi5y0FzNZdWBnT3hpxL9c_IHjCgT2IzlYM80dsVF0CQXDIOQg21EivnDBIqzlxYcqwD_VvUmTYnziBXpkzXXcmIk2gPm5-86VGWdnvCv_02pk2ej/s1600/General+Post+Office+(GPO)+-+Calcutta+(Kolkata)+1875.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tmzn2BbOftuyt7CjaEq_piE2esNlbi5y0FzNZdWBnT3hpxL9c_IHjCgT2IzlYM80dsVF0CQXDIOQg21EivnDBIqzlxYcqwD_VvUmTYnziBXpkzXXcmIk2gPm5-86VGWdnvCv_02pk2ej/s640/General+Post+Office+(GPO)+-+Calcutta+(Kolkata)+1875.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>The GPO Building</b></div>
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The above photograph was taken 1875 when the Royal Insurance Building was not constructed. The small building at the left of the GPO is clearly visible. This particular building was demolished to construct Royal Insurance Building in 1905. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-3G7Q0bkaSoPw93lF3x3weGYpXKyYGlt2LMuAuybsgS6Psws-YDLRalKyW9lWNOaxd6epnf_GPQkZMlGWjM5XKztnq8XM1Dljvp8Ml-TCW_7ybQLfRIlwrVHgootm18nKTL0Lt0vYZdL/s1600/The+Royal+Insurance+Building.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-3G7Q0bkaSoPw93lF3x3weGYpXKyYGlt2LMuAuybsgS6Psws-YDLRalKyW9lWNOaxd6epnf_GPQkZMlGWjM5XKztnq8XM1Dljvp8Ml-TCW_7ybQLfRIlwrVHgootm18nKTL0Lt0vYZdL/s400/The+Royal+Insurance+Building.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCffMk_SJeqrPG2Al_K3vPP0ZzKma6cU5TNFiiuDpGR8_wtVBEJuo47K1kC_rqPef2gDpRDHoaZaB9xEeR54p99soY5HBXF02myqaRwicDBRQXP3MmmUL8flV3UUhcdp3EZuuRzMibcVi/s1600/r+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCffMk_SJeqrPG2Al_K3vPP0ZzKma6cU5TNFiiuDpGR8_wtVBEJuo47K1kC_rqPef2gDpRDHoaZaB9xEeR54p99soY5HBXF02myqaRwicDBRQXP3MmmUL8flV3UUhcdp3EZuuRzMibcVi/s1600/r+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>The main entrance with royal decoration at the top</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b></div>
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It took Rs. 50000 to construct this building and took three years to complete it to the public. </div>
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Indian insurance sector during the British Raj were dominated by the British Insurance companies. On the opposite side of Lall Dighi (Red Square or Tank Square) the Standard Life Assurance Building is still exists with poor condition. (<a href="http://www.heritagestructurewb.blogspot.in/#!http://heritagestructurewb.blogspot.com/2012/05/standard-life-assurance-building-one-of.html" target="_blank">http://www.heritagestructurewb.blogspot.in/#!http://heritagestructurewb.blogspot.com/2012/05/standard-life-assurance-building-one-of.html</a>)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2uL-ctr6jvUYIbiberUDGT-UWBej-rBblFHnlhvWABJhyphenhyphenSXdOpmnM77LZffkZAl_YybmScEcQv4MJXOGsjng3fC4TagLPthOT_7fb2WKu__aUQRwrcaPsMJLI5aiUse2XQ3jLgb8VS1h/s1600/Royal-Insurance-Building+1914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2uL-ctr6jvUYIbiberUDGT-UWBej-rBblFHnlhvWABJhyphenhyphenSXdOpmnM77LZffkZAl_YybmScEcQv4MJXOGsjng3fC4TagLPthOT_7fb2WKu__aUQRwrcaPsMJLI5aiUse2XQ3jLgb8VS1h/s1600/Royal-Insurance-Building+1914.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Taken in 1911 along the Lal Dighi, Royal Insurance Building to mark the visit of King George V </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aEFPXnUgNv8vE16svG6zWcuI9ZfMtxjFPgfdkww8fn9-an0Z5v0daQ8H6hE8b0DkWSetoANjUoQXpSJk6CyxjFn_sGA9_DoEhvLsa42J79PkbiakRtmULgSQhZ_boz97aZZc04kQy1yG/s1600/r3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-aEFPXnUgNv8vE16svG6zWcuI9ZfMtxjFPgfdkww8fn9-an0Z5v0daQ8H6hE8b0DkWSetoANjUoQXpSJk6CyxjFn_sGA9_DoEhvLsa42J79PkbiakRtmULgSQhZ_boz97aZZc04kQy1yG/s1600/r3.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>The logo of the Royal Insurance Company</b></div>
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Lord officially opened it to the public. It was built on the site of the New Oriental Bank Corporation. The intricate design in the plastered surface of the outer wall specially at the top of the main entrance opposite of GPO is simply a marvel. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNhFXeXOGM3Sshl8SWWbE0htkcGZuM7tO8QyIPAdouP1fZUgt0UAVe8Jx6xg1h5JB3cFiJE3nWgC04LR3DROyj_UkLXFDz3ASukST1daXNFtJkEK2y-9BbEop32bTDhswiAq0IkpCm62m/s1600/ganga+n+december+celebration+243(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNhFXeXOGM3Sshl8SWWbE0htkcGZuM7tO8QyIPAdouP1fZUgt0UAVe8Jx6xg1h5JB3cFiJE3nWgC04LR3DROyj_UkLXFDz3ASukST1daXNFtJkEK2y-9BbEop32bTDhswiAq0IkpCm62m/s640/ganga+n+december+celebration+243(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<b>The tower </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFyyuQskJfm2qYhdw2s8cOw1RFMocPT9beXI5V8kLdpUz1_3_53G6LOzca0SnsLlJYAjFKcXBxKjSysbWrbRz13ZbigERNXzFP2HklGm65hKqwwN_5i20z6aIBzuPxt8geiHoRNO-vxwz/s1600/ganga+n+december+celebration+226(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFyyuQskJfm2qYhdw2s8cOw1RFMocPT9beXI5V8kLdpUz1_3_53G6LOzca0SnsLlJYAjFKcXBxKjSysbWrbRz13ZbigERNXzFP2HklGm65hKqwwN_5i20z6aIBzuPxt8geiHoRNO-vxwz/s640/ganga+n+december+celebration+226(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<b>Entrance to the Royal Insurance Building</b></div>
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Parthasarathi Mukherjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12306146780905101933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757407245607071123.post-47014948727299427802013-03-10T05:53:00.002-07:002020-09-10T21:32:49.267-07:00The Treasury Building & Spence's Hotel: the connection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The Treasury Building, Calcutta </span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEYpPYlh5Sj1bR-n5P5l9Co7r8tFMUNYEYQMjPdBHqb4KLyp8uYU08gKL20qohR3WHo2DPiTxa_Q7gpTxEb2KkjVwrZ9DU76DCmyCyXGPxcIOnQkufCtw3EnBDEDVQuCMC2vWJrnjULL8/s1600/treasury+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEYpPYlh5Sj1bR-n5P5l9Co7r8tFMUNYEYQMjPdBHqb4KLyp8uYU08gKL20qohR3WHo2DPiTxa_Q7gpTxEb2KkjVwrZ9DU76DCmyCyXGPxcIOnQkufCtw3EnBDEDVQuCMC2vWJrnjULL8/s1600/treasury+1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Treasury Building from the South- Eastern corner </b></div>
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The Treasury Building is located near the High Court Building and just adjacent to the Town Hall. The exact location is the crossing of Esplanade Row (West) and the Government Place (West). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifR2wZc8I6u0hE9LnerE_N4ctqSQcJDQC5knyOdjwaLKZTupYeOnUWu_w1nrDbkajFL4_YhyFtYvY6mzVgWT_3H2_7MOTDJK7ap1X03xHTrtKOTpVhP-sRUhh8WAgWvWvACl8gw1GGN_Iu/s1600/esplanade+row.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifR2wZc8I6u0hE9LnerE_N4ctqSQcJDQC5knyOdjwaLKZTupYeOnUWu_w1nrDbkajFL4_YhyFtYvY6mzVgWT_3H2_7MOTDJK7ap1X03xHTrtKOTpVhP-sRUhh8WAgWvWvACl8gw1GGN_Iu/s1600/esplanade+row.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>A sign at the outside wall of the Treasury Building </b></div>
This gigantic and beautiful architecture was constructed between 1882 to 1884 during the tenure of Lord Ripon who was the Governor General of the British India. E J Martin was the architect and the Executive Engineer C J Mills was in charge of the entire construction.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMmrW7ryBEdWwbdLC0W7vKxzpN2MGGBnMfMRCStL6kn8FaRMkzfy4TA754OjnAmtZBB9FGHtUgBjXQRrkGtN8xb7thWI7oYmeLVFs-lji3UaP4EhR46noqc_2VDb_25tCUpHI77-J-TpK/s1600/treasury+building+manequene.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMmrW7ryBEdWwbdLC0W7vKxzpN2MGGBnMfMRCStL6kn8FaRMkzfy4TA754OjnAmtZBB9FGHtUgBjXQRrkGtN8xb7thWI7oYmeLVFs-lji3UaP4EhR46noqc_2VDb_25tCUpHI77-J-TpK/s1600/treasury+building+manequene.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>At the Western outside wall of the Treasury building</b></div>
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The red brick structure was built on a classical quadrangular plane. It has tall windows with beautiful arches, matching sets of Corinthian pillars and railed roofs with pair of phoenixes at intervals. The decorative tablets, arching gateways and beautiful mansards at each end of the long cloisters running along quadrangles making it gracefully gorgeous. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIp2j0QTCAc7-XGD7ZE-84CVd5okDQjqkRgGMqsJ3FoEEaPEYmQhNAk9xTVgoMvwHc2cdlsWbB6qfNo8RSoicw_QyDM4ej0VMxWb-ywgD214UthBmSCoJFzHj6Zf3OxmTbbVrlohI3jadN/s1600/treasuryb+building+from+the+back.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIp2j0QTCAc7-XGD7ZE-84CVd5okDQjqkRgGMqsJ3FoEEaPEYmQhNAk9xTVgoMvwHc2cdlsWbB6qfNo8RSoicw_QyDM4ej0VMxWb-ywgD214UthBmSCoJFzHj6Zf3OxmTbbVrlohI3jadN/s1600/treasuryb+building+from+the+back.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Treasury building from the South West </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7gy_EnIpq1pNYHiLgFXNLSbe43Wb_tNpqQ0NXw_PF9fokXrRPEFcFYS-gI_TUM7dEOKc3KDwvpMRlJQpJlvtnb1-1RGKqmu7q9nJQOidyxXeddbi_PFWS_8QsWK-ibciTTNckIdkDjlv/s1600/treasury+building+keystone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7gy_EnIpq1pNYHiLgFXNLSbe43Wb_tNpqQ0NXw_PF9fokXrRPEFcFYS-gI_TUM7dEOKc3KDwvpMRlJQpJlvtnb1-1RGKqmu7q9nJQOidyxXeddbi_PFWS_8QsWK-ibciTTNckIdkDjlv/s1600/treasury+building+keystone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Keystone at Treasury building </b></div>
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Originally it was meant to acomodate the offices of the finance department of the British India. Now it housed the main office of the Principal Accountant General (audit & accounts), Government of West Bengal. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpipFSV2W2MKHdI3kC0jIcd5v7EBFIrzpqtiYtA2FgGvkm192qF4u9ilB_Cio9ldzNjpZnuiUKN1C8iHhruwh0Tanv9lQuZ0u3OQBhK5ykdBe5tYDx23HSoxtdbx_77Fe8w2N-V-WywPE/s1600/aaa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpipFSV2W2MKHdI3kC0jIcd5v7EBFIrzpqtiYtA2FgGvkm192qF4u9ilB_Cio9ldzNjpZnuiUKN1C8iHhruwh0Tanv9lQuZ0u3OQBhK5ykdBe5tYDx23HSoxtdbx_77Fe8w2N-V-WywPE/s1600/aaa.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Entrance at the Southern side</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivH3fZ2pO3d4kuKOX0zImcdeUBrfpZIsX1dtt7ybvImw5d7ecGlIWInZWi4ju2o_nTdh4b2muAiUN0YYylVEq1HTvv5JjlO5oup4veMhQtvJdeowg2RVKIB6HWgfM6ek-xT3G0Hc8pjHQV/s1600/plaque.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivH3fZ2pO3d4kuKOX0zImcdeUBrfpZIsX1dtt7ybvImw5d7ecGlIWInZWi4ju2o_nTdh4b2muAiUN0YYylVEq1HTvv5JjlO5oup4veMhQtvJdeowg2RVKIB6HWgfM6ek-xT3G0Hc8pjHQV/s1600/plaque.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Restoration work was done by the Central Public Works Department. </div>
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Actually it was the site where the Spence's Hotel was located. Spence's, the first ever hotel in Asia was opened to the public in 1830. To accomodate large number of regular visitors in the city the hotel constructed. The Government accquired the land to accomodate government offices. It was considered definitely the best in Calcutta. The Spence's was shifted to Wellesley Place near the Governnor's House later on. The photograph below was taken by Fredrik Fiebig in 1851 along the Clive Street looking South. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiR8-2mFyY8vlfpcpzcZB8qgfQcc0KzfnXkeCLJ8aiwdaEm-ncoUzwLIPqod3ckoKg2oYGr4ovI9r_zKe3VnWSQzWJ0WD967tLi62gBfYIZ8J85Hvu2ZQNi34LMXG6CYCBQw5hPsPhk0m/s1600/spences+1+GOVT+PLC+WEST.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiR8-2mFyY8vlfpcpzcZB8qgfQcc0KzfnXkeCLJ8aiwdaEm-ncoUzwLIPqod3ckoKg2oYGr4ovI9r_zKe3VnWSQzWJ0WD967tLi62gBfYIZ8J85Hvu2ZQNi34LMXG6CYCBQw5hPsPhk0m/s400/spences+1+GOVT+PLC+WEST.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>The Spence's Hotel from the Government Place (West), Photo- Fredrik Fiebig (1851). </b></div>
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There is a reference to Spences Hotel in Jules Verne's 'The Steam House' dated 1880. The author writes ''...before dawn, on the morning of our start, I left the Spences Hotel, one of the best in Calcutta which I had made my residence ever since my arrival''. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">But did he really stayed here? But still there is no other reference, so far. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUZ2K-a5mDwDhlX2XvEVc_D0nV3rTp8ESzGvJ418MUKDCXR-Od8dKCm8jhu8K8LXd4stqr_cMNlH25KQ28mvmKKUj62WOzechmXK3tCBBINYJ7PwQ171MCDLCA7lbyCktT2e4tTq6plzk/s1600/spence's+hotel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRUZ2K-a5mDwDhlX2XvEVc_D0nV3rTp8ESzGvJ418MUKDCXR-Od8dKCm8jhu8K8LXd4stqr_cMNlH25KQ28mvmKKUj62WOzechmXK3tCBBINYJ7PwQ171MCDLCA7lbyCktT2e4tTq6plzk/s400/spence's+hotel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Spence's Hotel and St John's Church at the far end</b></div>
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The above photograph was taken by John Constantine Stanley (British, 1837- 1878) somewhere between 1858 to 1861. Only a few photographs have been found so far. Spence's Hotel was was shifted to Wellesley Place near Government place. Chowringhee, the popular novel written by Shankar ( Manishankar Mukhopadhyay) was based on this famous hotel which was located at Wellesley Place. </div>
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Parthasarathi Mukherjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12306146780905101933noreply@blogger.comB B D Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal, India22.567803610606131 88.34603190422058122.567689110606132 88.345874404220581 22.567918110606129 88.346189404220581tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757407245607071123.post-37015848209199341382012-12-06T03:41:00.001-08:002016-01-27T05:24:18.480-08:00Dead Letter Office : the graveyard of untraceable letters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Dead Letter Office, Calcutta </span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiHCPD0mankC70RT67ko73r4kff68sgImbsXzyT7qYrxR9ktGZpWbxFLYXNYDZNQYZPCQPLeDUcj_9NwRPfzl7CfA1juSVa7au_eZaWCpY55DQO7Wg-9plxJCFbf2-T11yr4pWodJq0Q8/s1600/Telegraph+Office,+Calcutta+(Kolkata)+-+1878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiHCPD0mankC70RT67ko73r4kff68sgImbsXzyT7qYrxR9ktGZpWbxFLYXNYDZNQYZPCQPLeDUcj_9NwRPfzl7CfA1juSVa7au_eZaWCpY55DQO7Wg-9plxJCFbf2-T11yr4pWodJq0Q8/s400/Telegraph+Office,+Calcutta+(Kolkata)+-+1878.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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( Taken in 1878. The bus terminus at BBD Bag at present was certainly not there. Not even the tall UBI Bank building standing just behind this heritage structure)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSmzj1Xge5XDX2cIxFOcGl6RZVW3IKE4I-4S-lVIM3n2uFdYkwgSAbe7f0DQLL_aV_Y5kiko4iSobiUjOsNE2La3yVjNMH9a2WhsXqbw8RdIVdoCFl_iNQf2bLIRbifZBk_4fcsRyLi-R/s1600/Old+Court+House+Street,+Calcutta,+an+albumen+photo+by+Bourne+and+Shepherd,+c.1880's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSmzj1Xge5XDX2cIxFOcGl6RZVW3IKE4I-4S-lVIM3n2uFdYkwgSAbe7f0DQLL_aV_Y5kiko4iSobiUjOsNE2La3yVjNMH9a2WhsXqbw8RdIVdoCFl_iNQf2bLIRbifZBk_4fcsRyLi-R/s400/Old+Court+House+Street,+Calcutta,+an+albumen+photo+by+Bourne+and+Shepherd,+c.1880's.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
(taken along the Old Court House Street. St. Andrew's Church is at the far end, Horse driven Tram car is at the street, Writers Building is clearly visible between the Dead Letter office and the St. Andrew's Church)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Fojn1NQvIDCp0iHt-7MB3aN9Emh0NHyH7cMwaWJjo1lVACWBBWb4OBGGZ82mlyqfEiX4u_UemxrVlxlQarQzbs3o7zvmM9amqTGJwDvHifXGvbrXpAgYwAgPMFcgqQcHFu3eCqEpbDHt/s1600/Telegraph+Office.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Fojn1NQvIDCp0iHt-7MB3aN9Emh0NHyH7cMwaWJjo1lVACWBBWb4OBGGZ82mlyqfEiX4u_UemxrVlxlQarQzbs3o7zvmM9amqTGJwDvHifXGvbrXpAgYwAgPMFcgqQcHFu3eCqEpbDHt/s400/Telegraph+Office.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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(Telegraph Office or Dead Letter Office from the wikimapia) </div>
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Located at the corner of the Dalhousie Square and Laldighi (The tank) the three storied building is popularly known as Dead Letter Office. It was completed in 1876 during the tenure of Lord Lytton who was the Governor General of the British India.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMstNjHXEWqS1ZkgsQL2IdVi0APlX6kOcXV74gBbv8QNOJWSP9QYm68BJdgOr0fhuw9zySOUGAUbq0ZxjMN6N3nbSwv7IcPtCxH0UOKcenLd9bfb2kC3bqTJZSyxRuoDu0oVrI5fdaiRa1/s1600/kash+pujo+2012+022(a).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMstNjHXEWqS1ZkgsQL2IdVi0APlX6kOcXV74gBbv8QNOJWSP9QYm68BJdgOr0fhuw9zySOUGAUbq0ZxjMN6N3nbSwv7IcPtCxH0UOKcenLd9bfb2kC3bqTJZSyxRuoDu0oVrI5fdaiRa1/s1600/kash+pujo+2012+022(a).jpg" /></a></div>
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All the letters with untraceable address were consigned to this building. </div>
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Parthasarathi Mukherjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12306146780905101933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757407245607071123.post-36645000509944162212012-11-13T01:05:00.000-08:002016-01-27T05:23:17.984-08:00Commercial Library Building of Kolkata<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZu9Do0S_1jc19Gss_Qt-KHCOPcVzCRRPVsaMxgH4FJ5xM2mi5i_T2JHfa_QUlmrsxPnBAVLCazV8J0IzKSxOms-pX6ZvY_ZY-V-SNNeIkUZzD3-bgJ9l0Ev2WIz1KgtAdBOkCoEyn6MOw/s1600/IMG_5021(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZu9Do0S_1jc19Gss_Qt-KHCOPcVzCRRPVsaMxgH4FJ5xM2mi5i_T2JHfa_QUlmrsxPnBAVLCazV8J0IzKSxOms-pX6ZvY_ZY-V-SNNeIkUZzD3-bgJ9l0Ev2WIz1KgtAdBOkCoEyn6MOw/s400/IMG_5021(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Located at the crossing of Council House Street and Hare Street the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">gorgeously beautiful</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> structure was built in the year 1911 when the capital of British India was shifted to Delhi from Calcutta. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiTWdi5eNIN1M9g3Y8Zc7caYeZ-3g96qXeAt52Ja04ZRuMIQfF70BLlcrBrYIGDVV7fUH0TnrvQzoC68zJo1qyrsksJJg0QaohqKjDqd2VnQoHamsr0Xm3_nBGSGGDke5-w90Hk88b9x7/s1600/IMG_5029(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiTWdi5eNIN1M9g3Y8Zc7caYeZ-3g96qXeAt52Ja04ZRuMIQfF70BLlcrBrYIGDVV7fUH0TnrvQzoC68zJo1qyrsksJJg0QaohqKjDqd2VnQoHamsr0Xm3_nBGSGGDke5-w90Hk88b9x7/s400/IMG_5029(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lord Curzon, t</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">he Governor General of the British India established this building which was originally used as the office of the Imperial Department of Commerce and Industries in the undivided India. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3rq9lv2oDWHqaH9z0RjyF47OJw5RNasGL9OqS01p4LIJsgNhbgSlSuEsarFy7iegY-2QIns0dzVSAUHfYyZCuNh5z9r3_eJP49OWrWdXimXrraiN73yTPw80uybWOg9TwiLSAyKbkjFy/s1600/IMG_5020(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3rq9lv2oDWHqaH9z0RjyF47OJw5RNasGL9OqS01p4LIJsgNhbgSlSuEsarFy7iegY-2QIns0dzVSAUHfYyZCuNh5z9r3_eJP49OWrWdXimXrraiN73yTPw80uybWOg9TwiLSAyKbkjFy/s400/IMG_5020(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Officially it is known as Commercial Library of the DGCI (Director General of Commercial Intelligence). Actually the library was set up in 1914 and started functioning in 1916. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The large building with long circular pillars and triangular pediments with neo-classical features represents the authority of the British era. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is nicely maintained nowadays. But the history of this elaborate structure is not widely known and is not easily available. </span><br />
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Parthasarathi Mukherjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12306146780905101933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757407245607071123.post-67326128708981640642012-08-12T04:19:00.000-07:002016-01-27T05:15:19.196-08:00Greek connection through The Metcalfe Hall<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Metcalfe Hall</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Those who have already seen the ancient Greek temples in Athens, you may also find an interesting item in the Indian city of Kolkata (earlier Calcutta). Actually the Metcalfe Hall of Kolkata is visually similar to the Greek temples. The construction started in 1840 and the it took four years to complete. C K Robinson, the then city magistrate was the architect. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Named after Charles T. Metcalfe who was the acting Governor General of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> British India. The structure was built to honour his notable work in free press in India. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16.883333206176758px; text-align: center;">He also served as the Governor Genenral of Canda and Jamaica. </span><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16.883333206176758px; text-align: center;">(</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Metcalfe,_1st_Baron_Metcalfe" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16.883333206176758px; text-align: center;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Metcalfe,_1st_Baron_Metcalfe</a><span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16.883333206176758px; text-align: center;">). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNGgBZxrwa5_4GtYBZNhaAuPzBZLugKYYp9jkT24XmjkZ7bbCQDY2gcJ-7BYvRIRb-R1Vm0lI4zu_djepeUd6Tte8qYkkYuCsnYQsa2QsqTXDsR6cEKrTPqPQQXpMU3aI_765xft7yoVy/s1600/220px-Charles_Theophilus_Metcalfe,_1st_Baron_Metcalfe_by_George_Chinnery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNGgBZxrwa5_4GtYBZNhaAuPzBZLugKYYp9jkT24XmjkZ7bbCQDY2gcJ-7BYvRIRb-R1Vm0lI4zu_djepeUd6Tte8qYkkYuCsnYQsa2QsqTXDsR6cEKrTPqPQQXpMU3aI_765xft7yoVy/s1600/220px-Charles_Theophilus_Metcalfe,_1st_Baron_Metcalfe_by_George_Chinnery.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facing the river Hooghly on the West the building is resting on a solid basement and thirty Corinthian pillars. Because of these pillars the structure looks majestic. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwLQPIgZegOitrZh7BxP3o0wcJK7_WvbELHhE2bQFOxikWx8oWbLpsB8NEqIK8WOk0ihvohH3WAsOndUDfOlLrW5I44Obqh3HswJ1tNyO4mOnM1S90kurXoUJrE7s2sWg_Q7aDqkZOevp/s1600/Image0348(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwLQPIgZegOitrZh7BxP3o0wcJK7_WvbELHhE2bQFOxikWx8oWbLpsB8NEqIK8WOk0ihvohH3WAsOndUDfOlLrW5I44Obqh3HswJ1tNyO4mOnM1S90kurXoUJrE7s2sWg_Q7aDqkZOevp/s400/Image0348(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The entrance was originally through the western side over a giant flight of stairs which is closed at the moment. The people access the building through the large portico on the East. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv9bJrwguEA2rSG3nQvLvSSDzIslOCWgPI52UgHFXQbrMCIrxC5dBK7p6hTWhVAoYNJ584iHe3XXM-fiH2FjtRSwkfXAgrNA9PyblEfR4avSPFXMsw4J7hHud-o9Fw4xEHiPgIeVn9Pb9/s1600/Image0336(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv9bJrwguEA2rSG3nQvLvSSDzIslOCWgPI52UgHFXQbrMCIrxC5dBK7p6hTWhVAoYNJ584iHe3XXM-fiH2FjtRSwkfXAgrNA9PyblEfR4avSPFXMsw4J7hHud-o9Fw4xEHiPgIeVn9Pb9/s400/Image0336(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once the building housed the Imperial Library and it was opened to the public on 30 January 1903. In 1923 the Imperial Library was shifted from this building to 6, Esplanade East. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7KhiFbG0347e66BpKR7nWeghRUuL8IGglJWDBkbZRHBmxn-qHt6PiQFrVn9RyPmvHNe8i8cP-DOODf51qKjq1SxDbf-6UvIXXzGyH9ocDWgCcO0myrqwDE_GYWuAxeMz70phUQ8Ki_2q/s1600/Image0346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7KhiFbG0347e66BpKR7nWeghRUuL8IGglJWDBkbZRHBmxn-qHt6PiQFrVn9RyPmvHNe8i8cP-DOODf51qKjq1SxDbf-6UvIXXzGyH9ocDWgCcO0myrqwDE_GYWuAxeMz70phUQ8Ki_2q/s400/Image0346.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are two floors in the building. There is an wooden staircase to access the first floor. The annex building of the Asiatic Society is situated at the ground floor of Metcalfe Hall and a museum of the Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI) is on the upper. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcAC3q44iwuHdLVNkot6GMviMBQm1Zo3HjeegraMVNNKiK8iU8SS_CJT2C3ORQ2Ux5DJfFwTcwbOJ9EyNkVqR4rGfT62q_YnIyodTk-D_A9HJw_6Dtjd_mokuOGSvcFQS1CpWsOasKVsy/s1600/Image0337(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcAC3q44iwuHdLVNkot6GMviMBQm1Zo3HjeegraMVNNKiK8iU8SS_CJT2C3ORQ2Ux5DJfFwTcwbOJ9EyNkVqR4rGfT62q_YnIyodTk-D_A9HJw_6Dtjd_mokuOGSvcFQS1CpWsOasKVsy/s400/Image0337(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The museum is a small one with only some photographs of the Archaeological Survey Of India's conservation project in West Bengal as well as Eastern India. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">magnificent</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> structure was declared as heritage and restored in the late nineties. The two photographs of the restoration work is given below. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qGK2nws-sRrgepocyVy0aOi784WdXGIxmgqLD6DrqpVL4l9NkKrnshhWolsaTOx6ef5R1u4aYX02PAlKHRYrOcVeQA0xE5syRliRzq9_QIcTb8tJoAuEOiPoCTzZUEi0WeDBgYiFT0Sm/s1600/Image0338(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qGK2nws-sRrgepocyVy0aOi784WdXGIxmgqLD6DrqpVL4l9NkKrnshhWolsaTOx6ef5R1u4aYX02PAlKHRYrOcVeQA0xE5syRliRzq9_QIcTb8tJoAuEOiPoCTzZUEi0WeDBgYiFT0Sm/s640/Image0338(2).jpg" width="576" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW1O7uV-7Q3-GzJCvzPI9xXUyuByUc7eskOyyC4esBXkoIsSkJJIXwX78CFXyxJ5r4132NHNsAFV7cNENqmLVBKS_hK_4KNSVaKkrM2DMnFH0OWKZR3Lpx9o-E75ex20XxdWT_iltgsD0/s1600/Image0339(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW1O7uV-7Q3-GzJCvzPI9xXUyuByUc7eskOyyC4esBXkoIsSkJJIXwX78CFXyxJ5r4132NHNsAFV7cNENqmLVBKS_hK_4KNSVaKkrM2DMnFH0OWKZR3Lpx9o-E75ex20XxdWT_iltgsD0/s400/Image0339(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> Location-</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The building is located at the junction of the Strand Road and the Hare Street. Nearer to the St John's Church. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How to reach- </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nearest metro station is Chandni and it takes around 20 minutes walk to reach Metcalfe Hall. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>A few points to remember-</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can collect some memorabilia like souvenirs, books and others from the counter of the ASI. This can be a good gift item for your beloved ones.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ask for permission for photography inside the building. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Try to be there at the late afternoon as you will get the setting sunlight just at the front of the building. </span></li>
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Parthasarathi Mukherjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12306146780905101933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757407245607071123.post-30653013840881102122012-07-11T05:17:00.001-07:002013-08-09T01:31:08.621-07:00Ypres connection to Kolkata<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Calcutta High Court</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFdleKWMpi3hyQMOiMYtR7MSNotKPKXloiEClxP_z2xmpa3iHukR1Yr7OGNMU-PDgkl0nehs9p973BW0BPqUNnyi_3KD0kFn4S9xDU2GyyK8Ih0_E6vkLyJdVtbeosETMtDvNneQAc9mw/s1600/High+Court+of+Calcutta+(Kolkata)++-+Mid+19th+Century+(Third+View).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFdleKWMpi3hyQMOiMYtR7MSNotKPKXloiEClxP_z2xmpa3iHukR1Yr7OGNMU-PDgkl0nehs9p973BW0BPqUNnyi_3KD0kFn4S9xDU2GyyK8Ih0_E6vkLyJdVtbeosETMtDvNneQAc9mw/s400/High+Court+of+Calcutta+(Kolkata)++-+Mid+19th+Century+(Third+View).jpg" width="640" /></a></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are from Belgium and particularly from the town of Ypres, here is some interesting information for you. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a connection between Ypres (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ypres">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ypres</a>) and Calcutta </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">(now Kolkata)</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">, one of the most populated city in the world at present. There are two buildings in the two cities which are visually similar. The buildings are Clothes Hall at Ypres and Calcutta High Court. Clothes Hall was built in 12 century and Calcutta High Court was constructed in the late nineteenth century based on the design of the Clothes Hall. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_5WmishboW2Zua4eV0o1bPF1aaMBfsCsICGYSd87ikdacE5o5hJvg7KAQESTpyyVpHM9IhqBY9eT66KcoGDnvDd7Z1uEVhLrpWFtnxzrMKRxPKfK26WbJ1Wr5nDSR9sYx0lxZOvuvz1V/s1600/00701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_5WmishboW2Zua4eV0o1bPF1aaMBfsCsICGYSd87ikdacE5o5hJvg7KAQESTpyyVpHM9IhqBY9eT66KcoGDnvDd7Z1uEVhLrpWFtnxzrMKRxPKfK26WbJ1Wr5nDSR9sYx0lxZOvuvz1V/s640/00701.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Town Hall of Ypress on fire in 1914</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ypres was a strategic township during the first world war. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clothes Hall, the massive structure was burnt down during the war <b>(above photo) </b>i</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">n 1914</span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the war, the entire township was reconstructed. Architects and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">t</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he local authorities came at Kolkata to get the design and the architecture of High Court building. They returned back and reconstruct the Clothes Hall with slight modification. The new structure at Ypres has already been declared as the UNESCO World Heritage site. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7Jm23t6V4IJ40fjfcXnekJa5wKlH2lkpHK1T6H57EedpUnsyzwuwYuektoTsN9Uj7KT3S0QimPgdLp8IzNfz12cTkCEr0bpiXljPzyP0SV9EmAS90EMQC_X3EsHjTWEId8LRpZh9rAdq/s1600/Image0319(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7Jm23t6V4IJ40fjfcXnekJa5wKlH2lkpHK1T6H57EedpUnsyzwuwYuektoTsN9Uj7KT3S0QimPgdLp8IzNfz12cTkCEr0bpiXljPzyP0SV9EmAS90EMQC_X3EsHjTWEId8LRpZh9rAdq/s1600/Image0319(1).jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>The large water tanks (see the photograph at the top) have already filled up</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Construction of the High Court building started in 1864. It took four years to complete and in 1872 the Calcutta High Court started to function in this building.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> Walter B. Granville was the architect. It is a smaller replica of the Clothes Hall of Ypress, Belgium. The High Court building was incomplete when the <b>photograph at the top </b>was taken. <b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Built in Gothic style of architecture the front of the building made off stone block. A grand colonnade is at the lower story of the south front. The capitals of the pillars are off </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">beautifully sculptured </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Caen stone. A tower is at the center of the south front which is 180 feet high and is little taller than the Ochterlony monument (popularly known as the <i>Shahid Minar) </i>at Kolkata.<i> </i>Main entrance is through the tower <b>(photograph- fourth from the top) </b>and the m</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ain stair is within it. There is a well maintained lawn inside the High Court building. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXNSU_mFj7IC2snIYzIQQ6blKPqx-GRTxh-uoG8g6xUvMl5bJ1gWPEs48OWYQlTETQduKaC-0rxNbHNjKnQdVCsj9yWzDoE_vBW8SlopCW9DIt9tzgb_ILhySYkF59ybkaWcSWVAj8yLX/s1600/Image0326(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXNSU_mFj7IC2snIYzIQQ6blKPqx-GRTxh-uoG8g6xUvMl5bJ1gWPEs48OWYQlTETQduKaC-0rxNbHNjKnQdVCsj9yWzDoE_vBW8SlopCW9DIt9tzgb_ILhySYkF59ybkaWcSWVAj8yLX/s640/Image0326(1).jpg" width="406" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tower from below the main entrance</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very few know that three Europeans used to stay</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in three different houses just </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">at the site where the High Court building finally constructed.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Longueville Clerk, William Macpherson and Sir James William Colvije were the three person. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvkUgXUIHfHC9ZnrYgPBqCnJajfAOZP_vv05P4wI8gl-zVywKwJgbdcza5Jl682_eLpfcsy7Mg9l2JxtImQMqIQ49Ac94RBjLZm5OlBnVTDKtUlKg8UVetKM9zDyHFbmXVFcwKPUKvPQj/s1600/Image0314(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvkUgXUIHfHC9ZnrYgPBqCnJajfAOZP_vv05P4wI8gl-zVywKwJgbdcza5Jl682_eLpfcsy7Mg9l2JxtImQMqIQ49Ac94RBjLZm5OlBnVTDKtUlKg8UVetKM9zDyHFbmXVFcwKPUKvPQj/s640/Image0314(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The judges lawn inside the High Court building of Kolkata </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Calcutta High Court is the oldest of all the High Courts in India. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sepoy </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mutiny in </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1857 necessitated rethinking on the administrators of India, reforms and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">recognition</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of the law courts did not lag behind. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Actually, it was established on 1st July 1862 as the High Court of Judicature at Fort William. It was under the High Court Act which was established in 1861 but the building was constructed later on. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><b style="background-color: white;"> </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_IvXkB_ibz5VvTuG4vvp3Smun3fKxzcuX5KIG0JyF8bn5dCglDdJkmUOGpxmCzJ5gnprFtNVWGz_43d7VIEdTIAc0VCtIrmkai6NiuN7b7QrFFcd5sHDKDEEkrsngqhMAt17Eh1X5x6A/s1600/Calcutta+(Kolkata)+High+Court+-+India+1890s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_IvXkB_ibz5VvTuG4vvp3Smun3fKxzcuX5KIG0JyF8bn5dCglDdJkmUOGpxmCzJ5gnprFtNVWGz_43d7VIEdTIAc0VCtIrmkai6NiuN7b7QrFFcd5sHDKDEEkrsngqhMAt17Eh1X5x6A/s640/Calcutta+(Kolkata)+High+Court+-+India+1890s.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Calcutta High Court, the above photograph was taken in 1890.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rAKYbqGEvaOGp-5ndceg-ONZMV95Dq4Bu-GKMNv6iXKvTHYOyckO_kZLhjHCc_FnldY5NMMf6qyMxbBVwQ4P7O0qBWofwSlCqB-J2-YeRJGkUCdE4S12G-VeO9oa4IgqPBPIWyajmn6d/s1600/ganga+n+december+celebration+162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rAKYbqGEvaOGp-5ndceg-ONZMV95Dq4Bu-GKMNv6iXKvTHYOyckO_kZLhjHCc_FnldY5NMMf6qyMxbBVwQ4P7O0qBWofwSlCqB-J2-YeRJGkUCdE4S12G-VeO9oa4IgqPBPIWyajmn6d/s1600/ganga+n+december+celebration+162.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The High Court building from the Western side. </b></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the years, the repairing and the maintenance was not up to the mark. The massive building got the heritage tag and so every repairing works had to be within the specified parameters. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgm8EKoGxXhYt7lQD9NKAz_4Q9FgtUZVOwIf3bzaaQ1FKFP29FMsH8LphKW5beRmOtUnciAG2hoWePNpa-dQQOshSNr6KgnheYNuSIxaWk2UZvphO8VVeAUuVITMXpr98gmuMtO5V070DU/s1600/(a).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgm8EKoGxXhYt7lQD9NKAz_4Q9FgtUZVOwIf3bzaaQ1FKFP29FMsH8LphKW5beRmOtUnciAG2hoWePNpa-dQQOshSNr6KgnheYNuSIxaWk2UZvphO8VVeAUuVITMXpr98gmuMtO5V070DU/s1600/(a).jpg" width="356" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The series of pillars with triangular arches </span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Unfortunately a lot of damage has been done. AC machines and ducts have been installed through the walls more than 30 years ago. That was the first damage. Recently in 2011 and 2012, the stone blocks of the veranda at the ground floor was replaced with thin marble tiles. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDoC-e0J5CI0t_sgTBKVP32ryqPsLW4z4Lx3-1x-fqVwwQgd0-7aEfNJIJMrs1mHx_On8LvQjYupdZDyB98CfWqztOil1RZmm9lZ_T-Z17tSiXXIMGg1nBZ6asFHHaJQ_YNqgnbpNBjUy/s1600/Calcutta+High+Court.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDoC-e0J5CI0t_sgTBKVP32ryqPsLW4z4Lx3-1x-fqVwwQgd0-7aEfNJIJMrs1mHx_On8LvQjYupdZDyB98CfWqztOil1RZmm9lZ_T-Z17tSiXXIMGg1nBZ6asFHHaJQ_YNqgnbpNBjUy/s320/Calcutta+High+Court.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Calcutta High Court (courtesy- LIFE</b> )</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the early days of the High Court building, there was a large tank just in front of the building. It was filled up later on to built a road there <b>(see the photograph at the top)</b>,. </span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What to see-</b></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Obviously the architecture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entry is not restricted inside the building and the court room but <b>photography inside the building is strictly prohibited.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How to reach- </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nearest metro station - chandni chowk. It will take around 15 to 20 minutes walk to reach at Calcutta High Court. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaG5SU69sv45UArJzDvxNJLrP64e0jnjbgFbfuFsIlEaVQJiQAVPX3i1ySo2VXXUDK1saRPuEy5hwiiynFjwXXWyzOUveBjyFKm2o03PKjeeQKy1ukp0RD-6PjB93vYmfb60HqydUdYAbk/s1600/Calcutta+High+Court+------+--------.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaG5SU69sv45UArJzDvxNJLrP64e0jnjbgFbfuFsIlEaVQJiQAVPX3i1ySo2VXXUDK1saRPuEy5hwiiynFjwXXWyzOUveBjyFKm2o03PKjeeQKy1ukp0RD-6PjB93vYmfb60HqydUdYAbk/s640/Calcutta+High+Court+------+--------.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(The building from wikimapia) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Location-</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Adjacent to the West Bengal assembly house and Netaji Indoor Stadium.</span></div>
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Parthasarathi Mukherjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12306146780905101933noreply@blogger.comRd, B B D Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal, India22.5683242 88.343503822.5678662 88.342886799999988 22.568782199999998 88.3441208tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757407245607071123.post-64585910722787122092012-07-09T01:43:00.000-07:002013-03-20T05:40:55.344-07:00Kolkata's St John's Church- the church of White Mughal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">St John's Church, Kolkata</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">St John's Church</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cobQ2nnjxMNPoCy6jrNysJS7-P_oiwDGtgMv_ODuV4pI97D9lhCEvFNhJp46UcyBY-uO29XfbqWCI5zqqh2SbEUYFRuQxDetU7Xv87W0JmG5UuFCusZYWFkkZStnQrmZUriU6xLJf7ZH/s1600/St.+John's+Church+Calcutta+1850-+1870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cobQ2nnjxMNPoCy6jrNysJS7-P_oiwDGtgMv_ODuV4pI97D9lhCEvFNhJp46UcyBY-uO29XfbqWCI5zqqh2SbEUYFRuQxDetU7Xv87W0JmG5UuFCusZYWFkkZStnQrmZUriU6xLJf7ZH/s640/St.+John's+Church+Calcutta+1850-+1870.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are interested to know about St John's church of Kolkata, you need to know something else at first. Here is an interesting information.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Captain James </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Achillies Kirkpatrick (1764- 15th October 1805) was </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a colonel in the British East India Company's army </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Achilles_Kirkpatrick" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Achilles_Kirkpatrick</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">). He was a resident of Hyderabad. He was very much fond of Indo- Persian culture and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">popularly known as The White Mughal later on. He was converted to Islam and married </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Khair- Un- Nissah, </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a Hyderabadi noblewoman. Khair- Un- Nissah was the grand daughter of the Prime Minister of Hyderabad. James Achillies Kirkpatrick was in the news for his interracial marriage and for his mughal lifestyle which was unusual as a British at the time. William Dalrimple's famous book <i>White Mughals </i>(h<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Mughals">ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Mughals</a>) was written on the love affair and the interracial marriage of Kirkpatrick and </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Khair- Un- Nissah.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis615p1h4wocNy9sMqsLcO7A3JbjlB68ooDREeC_7BHf3so0X0gR1KjT4Ktd3DhG2Fikz9w1uDPJjn8ohM0AiJWVdGyYF5MXVJ7jNAqfWruZlxFkOND9jzVkLTDaz5pBSSwI6e0Ga_845_/s1600/James_Achilles_Kirkpatrick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis615p1h4wocNy9sMqsLcO7A3JbjlB68ooDREeC_7BHf3so0X0gR1KjT4Ktd3DhG2Fikz9w1uDPJjn8ohM0AiJWVdGyYF5MXVJ7jNAqfWruZlxFkOND9jzVkLTDaz5pBSSwI6e0Ga_845_/s320/James_Achilles_Kirkpatrick.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of the autumn 1801 controversy raised on Col. Kirkspatrick's inter-religion marriage with Khair- Un- Nissah. As Lord Wellesley became the new Governor General of British India, downfall of Col. Kirkpatrick started suddenly. Wellesley strongly disapproved British- India liaison. Kirkpatrick was asked to come to Calcutta, the then capital of India and was dismissed from his service later on. James Achillies Kirkpatrick, The White Mughal died in Calcutta due to ill health on </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15th </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">October 1805. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> There is a memorial of Colonel </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">James </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Achillies Kirkpatrick at </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">St John's Church, Calcutta. He was buried at North Park Street</span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cemetery but neither the cemetery nor the grave of Kirkpatrick exists now. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9O9XBlr9na_KEr_H0it1ItO4yVRE36Lky3qViRfCnVvJXGwx1CLGczsUrHcLGhCOt_8Py7NYixvXcRt2dVztBOt1ehmTc71mqck8NjrvdvdAXcggyv0LCABCjlXokR3hp9d9QAm8tt9E/s1600/IMG_5088(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9O9XBlr9na_KEr_H0it1ItO4yVRE36Lky3qViRfCnVvJXGwx1CLGczsUrHcLGhCOt_8Py7NYixvXcRt2dVztBOt1ehmTc71mqck8NjrvdvdAXcggyv0LCABCjlXokR3hp9d9QAm8tt9E/s400/IMG_5088(1).JPG" width="262" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are some other memorials also inside the church <b>(Above photo). </b>Marquees of Canning memorial is also here in this church. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4mc_AurUmxxeZLMdMBfJpkZVOu0OuxJeWSavQRuqimRBhizzcd9bvRnDgptsai-446DqeYmpmCZD3wgDDrDVDG6EOtqjbgu-R6lMym9VAshfmmSLB8qfLR-W97sJr0KLZkn_XEXiA70e/s1600/IMG_5049(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4mc_AurUmxxeZLMdMBfJpkZVOu0OuxJeWSavQRuqimRBhizzcd9bvRnDgptsai-446DqeYmpmCZD3wgDDrDVDG6EOtqjbgu-R6lMym9VAshfmmSLB8qfLR-W97sJr0KLZkn_XEXiA70e/s400/IMG_5049(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">It was one of the first public building erected by the British East India Company in India. The </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">the construction was started in </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">1784 and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">and opened to the public 1787. It took Rs. 30000 for construction which was raised by public lottery. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Maharaja Nabo Kishen Bahadur, the founder of Sovabazar Raj family donated the land. Warren Hastings, the governor general of East India Company in India laid the foundation stone on 6th April 1784. The plaque is still there. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobhOiy9K3j3McwRfJpEVN2Vslp-sDlt96bFvbYMI4uETkuFH4MBQqlebtbY7Tp3RHBz7EL0bnKgQK6W0u0fjDzbmcg7tpU_iTHKN2XWh0pbxeJNoXMzAKPiJXGPrx0HEjqRwTH1fapkB-/s1600/IMG_5076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobhOiy9K3j3McwRfJpEVN2Vslp-sDlt96bFvbYMI4uETkuFH4MBQqlebtbY7Tp3RHBz7EL0bnKgQK6W0u0fjDzbmcg7tpU_iTHKN2XWh0pbxeJNoXMzAKPiJXGPrx0HEjqRwTH1fapkB-/s320/IMG_5076.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKXlpyjeAlaf-Az2WeIKor_kJ-hNG6ThuGgbIwc8JHoUKD77nIb-vxWbU2CRwT57o0LfvimhgX2aVF8GS4z-8ZUBTM_HSRQTTQY61j1oyCyA6MRQ9BfnudxyE8f-7Wq5MXUDkH381lus7/s1600/IMG_5077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKXlpyjeAlaf-Az2WeIKor_kJ-hNG6ThuGgbIwc8JHoUKD77nIb-vxWbU2CRwT57o0LfvimhgX2aVF8GS4z-8ZUBTM_HSRQTTQY61j1oyCyA6MRQ9BfnudxyE8f-7Wq5MXUDkH381lus7/s320/IMG_5077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Millitary engineer </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">James Agg of Bengal Engineers </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">was the architect. It was almost a simple replica of St Martin's-in-the-field (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Martin-in-the-Fields">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Martin-in-the-Fields</a>) in London. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">I</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">t was built in neoclassical style. It was a combined structure of brick and stone. The spire is 174 feet high. It was built with stone blocks. Stone was not locally available building material at the 18th century. Stone blocks were collected from the medieval structures at Gour and were brought at Calcutta through the Hoogly river.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UcrRtgcfK-A9fTd2KuiZRAaKdckLkFUo5AMjHSzp2neVeXv7zvTtA8rFzsvKkHYux2Yec74yOaccC9-m0caY1Bz3uRLZSwpB7xqCaPjscEiYW3IfxS3eVSawJ3LmLrIjsl-sBYCEAXcI/s1600/IMG_5044(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UcrRtgcfK-A9fTd2KuiZRAaKdckLkFUo5AMjHSzp2neVeXv7zvTtA8rFzsvKkHYux2Yec74yOaccC9-m0caY1Bz3uRLZSwpB7xqCaPjscEiYW3IfxS3eVSawJ3LmLrIjsl-sBYCEAXcI/s400/IMG_5044(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhi799TrigOYHm66x6p0Y9iQHXVMJZrZ0GGzO8oY1uue0sGFArtYnTTRpfwhWvQmRxNk0nqH53F_lcz88a8mQKt2HtTA0_Ib7ArMNbPwu-hAkmxHI4jJs8FpVLiwpoLslZ3j0WHsdfZvKx/s1600/IMG_5047(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhi799TrigOYHm66x6p0Y9iQHXVMJZrZ0GGzO8oY1uue0sGFArtYnTTRpfwhWvQmRxNk0nqH53F_lcz88a8mQKt2HtTA0_Ib7ArMNbPwu-hAkmxHI4jJs8FpVLiwpoLslZ3j0WHsdfZvKx/s400/IMG_5047(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">The </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">veranda</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> was added only on 1811. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">The structure resting upon tall columns from inside as well as outside. The Blue- Green floor is a rare one. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Stones for the floor brought from the medieval structures of Gour. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyeY5mAmpz6aia8ltjtNO3BhUbp-S8hCGPekmDDw4Nt_zNyW9pT_jYpx6A-zuYEe-camo4sdTDMCnWAlt_Sov3btxDTSEHVGmIyumzyd3sNcVp1LKwOmUPD8QTknL4zXyEgnDbI4O9PCc/s1600/IMG_5087(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyeY5mAmpz6aia8ltjtNO3BhUbp-S8hCGPekmDDw4Nt_zNyW9pT_jYpx6A-zuYEe-camo4sdTDMCnWAlt_Sov3btxDTSEHVGmIyumzyd3sNcVp1LKwOmUPD8QTknL4zXyEgnDbI4O9PCc/s400/IMG_5087(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Stained glass windows definitely added some value to the structure. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">The interior is well maintained. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Pvm2eHVJWllNT7sK6vif2G45m8dqVisakzwclz_U0ue6jKS_oJfQEpxoAyjEq-V76WTN09gO-e-4ZuhcQ4Vk4YB2pXmBHnDSFf-4MOxsobuctCtlW9eF8gSiKpD1NxcuN2mdA4_5coVY/s1600/IMG_5082(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Pvm2eHVJWllNT7sK6vif2G45m8dqVisakzwclz_U0ue6jKS_oJfQEpxoAyjEq-V76WTN09gO-e-4ZuhcQ4Vk4YB2pXmBHnDSFf-4MOxsobuctCtlW9eF8gSiKpD1NxcuN2mdA4_5coVY/s1600/IMG_5082(1).JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Painting- </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a oil painting at the wall of St John's church. German born British painter Johann Joffany was the painter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>War memorial at the church's compound-(</b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Rohilla_War">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Rohilla_War</a>)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAznk4zIkdmdaR1eCOTtz_3oTL8l0fcuXy7BK0CQtmXO-DgTIr7NyWrMs7exDRAb-t1FvkqKeQVWqqNeWjVdt0oci02HlUSNm1zIjWI3NYtPIblTP_KEpqk086TvDZoZbcNj14MorBInuR/s1600/IMG_5053(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAznk4zIkdmdaR1eCOTtz_3oTL8l0fcuXy7BK0CQtmXO-DgTIr7NyWrMs7exDRAb-t1FvkqKeQVWqqNeWjVdt0oci02HlUSNm1zIjWI3NYtPIblTP_KEpqk086TvDZoZbcNj14MorBInuR/s320/IMG_5053(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPwh9l3WC1WRGCfqOyH8Vr_promViOzXw_dcHVdWofGf5k3EUOL232TukvnQXqlkZE9OvqhEIds_N6Ne_6H3l_V2Sro7gdGc6ZwMcFj1MjbQAO-v8RY20QDrcCgyvAhyphenhyphenvJ4zt_MOZNcz4/s1600/IMG_5055(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPwh9l3WC1WRGCfqOyH8Vr_promViOzXw_dcHVdWofGf5k3EUOL232TukvnQXqlkZE9OvqhEIds_N6Ne_6H3l_V2Sro7gdGc6ZwMcFj1MjbQAO-v8RY20QDrcCgyvAhyphenhyphenvJ4zt_MOZNcz4/s400/IMG_5055(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">There is a war memorial of second Rohilla war at the premises of the St John's church. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was built in the memory of seventeen military personnel of the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">British East India company </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">died in the second Rohilla war.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Job Charnock's mauselum- (</b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_Charnock">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job_Charnock</a>)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANwJppcSyWHozHRl9yGNeKNT7p2gO0-VrJWKiBY6Is2Zk02DFTVf7mDSm7s7X2ILcZL5Z3FcTBREpf69Q9-32YfPui1jclJYmqLe4bwAeViDRPyyoFyPTGbJAIKGLfkX9imyGp3lp76fI/s1600/IMG_5059(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANwJppcSyWHozHRl9yGNeKNT7p2gO0-VrJWKiBY6Is2Zk02DFTVf7mDSm7s7X2ILcZL5Z3FcTBREpf69Q9-32YfPui1jclJYmqLe4bwAeViDRPyyoFyPTGbJAIKGLfkX9imyGp3lp76fI/s400/IMG_5059(1).JPG" width="315" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Actually St John's church was built on a graveyard. Job Charnock who was believed as the founder of the city of Calcutta was buried here at the premises. At the North Western corner there is an octagonal structure on Moorish style. It was built by Job Charnock's son in law Charles Iyer. Charnock's wife and daughter was also </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">buried</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> here. The epitaph is in Latin. The entire structure is well protected and preserved.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Black hole memorial- (</b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hole_of_Calcutta">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hole_of_Calcutta</a>)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFF53v6aTHOZxC_mdDu9v0c0-lXstEHosw6QxMME4NogT1hKjlZUGro_AHbHoO525mBCwEd9oFpOJEm6hzU5P_hi4g985ATGHu103m84A2qXMMF9ml8jmVNbiH_HFM8BpcnItIAb3Crhj/s1600/IMG_5070(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFF53v6aTHOZxC_mdDu9v0c0-lXstEHosw6QxMME4NogT1hKjlZUGro_AHbHoO525mBCwEd9oFpOJEm6hzU5P_hi4g985ATGHu103m84A2qXMMF9ml8jmVNbiH_HFM8BpcnItIAb3Crhj/s640/IMG_5070(1).JPG" width="410" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Black Hole memorial is at the southern end of the premises of the church. It was built in the memory of much controversial Black Hole incident. It was not the original place where the Black Hole incident took place. The memorial was replaced and was relocated at the church's premises. This particular memorial was built by Lord Curzon in 1902. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What to see- </b></span></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the historical structures including the church. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The painting, memorials inside the church. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition, the lawn is beautiful. The atmosphere is cool and calm. </span></li>
</ul>
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Parthasarathi Mukherjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12306146780905101933noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757407245607071123.post-41808111146656054302012-06-11T06:42:00.000-07:002013-03-17T06:29:17.344-07:00General Post Office Building of Kolkata<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">GPO Building</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5HbLQBhqckaOwZxIKjmzVq2_bMBCBl607cfizNBd6sExSeZ84RfZsVvmlgIkLqlSGCbtdybWgXmpkZ1LVqPy4tf6klAri8AgR80XPNJbr8hI1l3im1SJkuDcAG71rWUOgY9WuAflt7Ex/s1600/gpo+1885+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="487" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5HbLQBhqckaOwZxIKjmzVq2_bMBCBl607cfizNBd6sExSeZ84RfZsVvmlgIkLqlSGCbtdybWgXmpkZ1LVqPy4tf6klAri8AgR80XPNJbr8hI1l3im1SJkuDcAG71rWUOgY9WuAflt7Ex/s640/gpo+1885+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The GPO (General Post Office) Building in Calcutta was built in 1864. Actually the infamous building is located at the site of the old fort william which was destroyed after Siraj Ud Daullah, the Nawab of Bengal seized Calcutta in 1756. It was believed that the 'black hole incident' took place here at the old Fort William. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Post_Office,_Kolkata">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Post_Office,_Kolkata</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A thin brass plate along the Eastern staircase of the GPO building </span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">marks the easternmost part of old Fort William building which was destroyed earlier <b>(see left).</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently a marble plaque has been put on the eastern side of the wall to mention the brass plate </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(see photograph). </b>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walter B. Granville was the architect of the building. A magnificent structure with 220 feet dome sup[ported with Corinthian pillars is a major attraction and almost one of the landmarks in Kolkata. It took Rs. 6,50,000 to construct the building. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZ7oEDDaS8tEckEnEcwQ2SdiDPVevz-heen4o_REiMwrnAxAEIklXtAZSIKKW0PcdqxiM9RfYhURGZp8j9jEzztOB5_UdEyCWQQL4y8B3Czf9Gzz0iW72lhKPe9ABoMrEeiZ-M0t26oVD/s1600/IMG_4914(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZ7oEDDaS8tEckEnEcwQ2SdiDPVevz-heen4o_REiMwrnAxAEIklXtAZSIKKW0PcdqxiM9RfYhURGZp8j9jEzztOB5_UdEyCWQQL4y8B3Czf9Gzz0iW72lhKPe9ABoMrEeiZ-M0t26oVD/s400/IMG_4914(1).JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The building housed the philatelic museum, the only this kind of museums in West Bengal till date. </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Address- </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25em;"><b>79-B Dalhousie Square</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Kolkata G.P.O., Kolkata700001</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Location- Near Writer's building</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in BBD Bag.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8pDgSAjxXrTfGTBu96KU3oUFufet3RbmLA_nO4HBrktFX0lE0ZqyWPKDYgG7QXrodq4gFkTyZHymJKOBZ_ElvRV5ZUckJRr7d84ixiRE_TwTDerPvuqdESxSJDEuN7wCmL-EVdCwJhdL/s1600/old+calcutta+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8pDgSAjxXrTfGTBu96KU3oUFufet3RbmLA_nO4HBrktFX0lE0ZqyWPKDYgG7QXrodq4gFkTyZHymJKOBZ_ElvRV5ZUckJRr7d84ixiRE_TwTDerPvuqdESxSJDEuN7wCmL-EVdCwJhdL/s1600/old+calcutta+1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What to see- </span></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The architecture. </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The postal museum is the another one. One can get a glimpse of the history of the Indian postal department. The old post boxes, postal stationaries of the British and Mughal era, and different kinds of postal items are the main attraction. </span></li>
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Parthasarathi Mukherjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12306146780905101933noreply@blogger.com079-B Dalhousie Square Kolkata G.P.O., Kolkata70000122.572777 88.347717122.558114999999997 88.3279761 22.587439 88.3674581tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757407245607071123.post-20902662019331510542012-05-30T06:25:00.000-07:002013-03-20T05:50:45.226-07:00Standard Life Asssurance Building - decaying history<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Standard life assurance building</span> </span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZSFkSUHEeuPhes4a5T-zTLrms4ggg70H5STWAwPJ1_W135uXyckylOhp10JpntW-wHCWu3OmC1AM6omxqapwteJDuz_T65iu6AddeN7Q22F0IbgvQpaQoUjUDX8gKboDa-JxF3SZJQEq/s1600/IMG_5006(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZSFkSUHEeuPhes4a5T-zTLrms4ggg70H5STWAwPJ1_W135uXyckylOhp10JpntW-wHCWu3OmC1AM6omxqapwteJDuz_T65iu6AddeN7Q22F0IbgvQpaQoUjUDX8gKboDa-JxF3SZJQEq/s400/IMG_5006(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6AlM_T3Owgm2HseoaKxYDBOdISB6jE3NXUcKm7j4kZZiIp8zqCNFeRvuewjwZjmPNse5jAGBawfIrIbacoUFcAOHaDcFXazH20ERuR54XNLAUq8HxXbTY-1-820j6XMV2VJtXmi17b-n/s1600/IMG_4946(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6AlM_T3Owgm2HseoaKxYDBOdISB6jE3NXUcKm7j4kZZiIp8zqCNFeRvuewjwZjmPNse5jAGBawfIrIbacoUFcAOHaDcFXazH20ERuR54XNLAUq8HxXbTY-1-820j6XMV2VJtXmi17b-n/s640/IMG_4946(1).JPG" width="448" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the most beautiful architecture of the British age in India was built in 1896. The construction started in February, 1894 and was completed two years later in May 1896. Mumbai based architect Fredrick W. Stevens (of Victoria Terminus fame) designed the building. Located at the southern corner of Lal dighee (formerly Tank Square) the building is poorly maintained. Though it has been declared as a heritage building, some of the portion has already been abandoned. Renovation is yet to start. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjweANBpwaW8dRJT1KrIar9IK4mgjVy8aBQv5cB6AnXvdxkFltcMXKx4fyPqeLF5KvWTier89jtQ-6BY9VUw6rt8xAugIQ3FquYA-VNyccuLK0tbCTX51UhNP4Da97Hn7m3JBhQ3C39pX/s1600/IMG_4945(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjweANBpwaW8dRJT1KrIar9IK4mgjVy8aBQv5cB6AnXvdxkFltcMXKx4fyPqeLF5KvWTier89jtQ-6BY9VUw6rt8xAugIQ3FquYA-VNyccuLK0tbCTX51UhNP4Da97Hn7m3JBhQ3C39pX/s320/IMG_4945(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzXcJ3carNFIvToC19tCFVtYHCtFXridnnaXTiH-dOkFh9JTY1FDhIuQV2cdTi18On-39qPCM2d3eYCr1YfqmuCC-ePz1GnZTQgns3ZHHvfZvCI3lzK62POunM-9ZUV2txBxFw_p2yahp/s1600/IMG_4928(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzXcJ3carNFIvToC19tCFVtYHCtFXridnnaXTiH-dOkFh9JTY1FDhIuQV2cdTi18On-39qPCM2d3eYCr1YfqmuCC-ePz1GnZTQgns3ZHHvfZvCI3lzK62POunM-9ZUV2txBxFw_p2yahp/s400/IMG_4928(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A building with multi domed tower at the Northern corner, beautiful figures in the triangular pediment in the middle cherubs (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherub">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherub</a>) </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with musical instruments in the upper windows. Most of the figures are still in good shape. Restoration of these figures which are basically delicate artwork is extremely difficult as the specially skilled masons and the artists specialist in these kind of work is rare. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVxEkQ8y8QQQgHMLQj52HJkIZog00K5ljym5aVh1RrSc5lvjDReP175G-LwuSEf-8L5JvgAYI16RROxAZGtgw4nglTJUwLjw-1kv6q_sSgV3birHJYB_9VHteAWAVnswnm02NAAc7CItT/s1600/IMG_4941(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVxEkQ8y8QQQgHMLQj52HJkIZog00K5ljym5aVh1RrSc5lvjDReP175G-LwuSEf-8L5JvgAYI16RROxAZGtgw4nglTJUwLjw-1kv6q_sSgV3birHJYB_9VHteAWAVnswnm02NAAc7CItT/s400/IMG_4941(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6VkMTkTFr3X5CQxPO2VqlTiiVZ5xGF5Xqf1K1TS5m63B-dJ4eaN7GelYVy1bfVZg1lR9i6ZhoyftApNPdMmrKVgM1oe3oyeUIrA-YX5fnPT4zeehtjkWdiN2iJmbbSfO24H-HRgQf42L/s1600/IMG_5002(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6VkMTkTFr3X5CQxPO2VqlTiiVZ5xGF5Xqf1K1TS5m63B-dJ4eaN7GelYVy1bfVZg1lR9i6ZhoyftApNPdMmrKVgM1oe3oyeUIrA-YX5fnPT4zeehtjkWdiN2iJmbbSfO24H-HRgQf42L/s1600/IMG_5002(1).JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The entrance at the north is through an arched gateway with a triangular pediment at the top. The building features the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">logo of the standard life's which is </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">based on the biblical parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1- 13) </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Ten_Virgins" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Ten_Virgins</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">There are two figures at the walls just below the archway and the main entrance of the building. One at the left of the archway is a young lady carrying a lamp and Grim Riper carrying a skull at the right. The two figures represents Life and Death respectively. This is the actual official logo of the company. Unfortunately these two figures are obstructed by the telegraph pole and the telegraph wires (above photos). </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The building actually housed the Life Insurance Company of Scotland which was established in 23rd March, 1825 in Edinburgh. In 1832, the organization changed its name to The Standard Life Assurance by Royal assent. The British insurance companies were reluctant to allow their policy holders to travel let alone live in the colonies due to the very high mortality rate.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">Standard Life pioneered insurance for British living abroad.</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">1846- establishment of the Colonial Life Assurance Company was specifically designed to handle business in the British colonies. They could offer attractive terms based on the colonial's more accurate assessment of </span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">mortality risk in the countries concerned. </span></li>
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<span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">Colonial Life Assurance Company merged with the Standard. After the merger they had their head office here in Calcutta in this building and had a similar building in Mumbai. The Mumbai building is still there and have the logo at the main entrance. <a name='more'></a></span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNA1j1_5Il3PElex-iT3fznX1set1kgmTowhD9-_T8X_8mGhMSHbneIDK_MozkenTUVXijegNoaDTqpfp4F9UNWlJQhUWO-7CMtrResksTmAo_IRgNhp-FTWqXrRwJCfF1saoIiYn1M9j/s1600/standrd+assurance+floor1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNA1j1_5Il3PElex-iT3fznX1set1kgmTowhD9-_T8X_8mGhMSHbneIDK_MozkenTUVXijegNoaDTqpfp4F9UNWlJQhUWO-7CMtrResksTmAo_IRgNhp-FTWqXrRwJCfF1saoIiYn1M9j/s400/standrd+assurance+floor1.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Above three photos- 1. Floor 2. Iron partition inside 3. Company name written inside of the building. </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Awareness</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- History of the building is little known to most of the people of the city. They do not even know the name of the building. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What to see-</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The architecture. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entry into this historical building may not be possible to tourists or interested person as there are several Government offices in it. </span></div>
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Parthasarathi Mukherjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12306146780905101933noreply@blogger.com3BBD Bag E, Lal Dighi, Kolkata, West Bengal, India22.571734270437698 88.350377082824722.569901270437697 88.347909582824713 22.5735672704377 88.3528445828247tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757407245607071123.post-15855257978676399962012-05-19T08:09:00.000-07:002016-01-27T05:13:59.577-08:00St Andrew's Church of Calcutta<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;">St Andrew's Church </span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVCqB-u30TQ4IKZT1eokBnZqxDcsOS8EwptaYYyyoe4mtWXEhDOwxhpkTOAf5JojCH5n4SPFfsUr8myWMeK2N6Puscwl12eRx7ZFc3Hc8Pwap1HU-zrR1gGY9r2jcOHU0NWNDZ-KK9RIF/s1600/St.+Andrew's+Church+at+Dalhousie+Square+-++Calcutta+(Kolkata)+1878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVCqB-u30TQ4IKZT1eokBnZqxDcsOS8EwptaYYyyoe4mtWXEhDOwxhpkTOAf5JojCH5n4SPFfsUr8myWMeK2N6Puscwl12eRx7ZFc3Hc8Pwap1HU-zrR1gGY9r2jcOHU0NWNDZ-KK9RIF/s400/St.+Andrew's+Church+at+Dalhousie+Square+-++Calcutta+(Kolkata)+1878.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(The above picture was taken in 1878 from the Old Court House Street)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">St Andrew's Church also known as the Kirk is the only Scottish church in Kolkata and was opened to the public only on March 8, 1818. The foundation stone was laid on November 30, 1815 by Marquis of Hastings. The Countess of Moira and the Countess of Loudon attended the stone laying ceremony. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 1835, the clock fitted to the tower. It was designed by M/s Burn, Currie & Co. It was also known as "<span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="405e3f9868ff39bc2680a20a0395c3b5c07c70cb" grtype="null" id="GRmark_405e3f9868ff39bc2680a20a0395c3b5c07c70cb_laat:0">laat</span> sahib ka <span class="GRcorrect" grphrase="405e3f9868ff39bc2680a20a0395c3b5c07c70cb" grtype="null" id="GRmark_405e3f9868ff39bc2680a20a0395c3b5c07c70cb_girja:1">girja</span>" (the church of the Governor). Probably the name derived from the fact that the foundation stone was laid by the wife of the Governor General, Marquis of Hastings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">St Andrew's Church was built just at the site of Old Court House which was demolished in 1792. The street just in front of the St Andrew's Church is known as the Old Court House Street. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRVItQA5FlD_DKHV5ierB012Xv9wla2bwoNvP-p782ok8Sg5HKA-q4XeBf_qOXWkIZApw1lG35v5pgMWKnlc9skb1A8w098UiiyUWFEd5E7pFx-BzLSiBM1NiyS4iiiuPmRnxSFwoOdeq/s1600/St+Andrew%2527s+Church%252C+Dalhousie+Square%252C+Calcutta%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRVItQA5FlD_DKHV5ierB012Xv9wla2bwoNvP-p782ok8Sg5HKA-q4XeBf_qOXWkIZApw1lG35v5pgMWKnlc9skb1A8w098UiiyUWFEd5E7pFx-BzLSiBM1NiyS4iiiuPmRnxSFwoOdeq/s320/St+Andrew%2527s+Church%252C+Dalhousie+Square%252C+Calcutta%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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St Andrew's Church, Writer's Building on the left</h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Address- 15 BBD Bag (North), Kolkata- 700001. West Bengal. (<a href="http://www.standrewschurch-kolkata.org/" style="background-color: white;">http://www.standrewschurch-kolkata.org/</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Kirk from the tank square </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">There was a story about the spire of the church. The first Bishop of Calcutta did not allow the erection of the spire, as he thought that only the Church of England had the authority to allow the construction of such church. Reverend Bryce, the priest of the church heard this he declared that he would not only have a steeple higher than the Cathedral Church of St John's but would also place on the top of it a cock to crow over the bishop. Bishop was deeply mortified. Later on Government declared that the entire building might be repaired by the public works department except the bird as it was a little bit controversial. The bird is still there. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTiGR-sK-DPiQfMxgG1nPgr0JaJYmfk64tniApS6_rcyxiEkBm_dUTrUlNEqKdGP5rmx4bbVraJU95xpxDEYctUdYBV4V48o2DQaietfhZFdjurOAuDH1cogYKN2hwp9_HZqtKvGunjfH/s1600/IMG_4882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTiGR-sK-DPiQfMxgG1nPgr0JaJYmfk64tniApS6_rcyxiEkBm_dUTrUlNEqKdGP5rmx4bbVraJU95xpxDEYctUdYBV4V48o2DQaietfhZFdjurOAuDH1cogYKN2hwp9_HZqtKvGunjfH/s320/IMG_4882.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The clock on the spire</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa_4gbhUs3e5FtlZxyDMt_MZBfSF7iIeP6lkr328xzeVP7i3n7aazHUk_rsTLnkrePJoYJhjEQIWg7jrgH-5tyfU9JNSn5ROk3IIFebgByBx7Nedh69pXZJO1X0BN-XqBbNBzfUnBpL19/s1600/IMG_4880(1)+st+andrews+with+tram.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa_4gbhUs3e5FtlZxyDMt_MZBfSF7iIeP6lkr328xzeVP7i3n7aazHUk_rsTLnkrePJoYJhjEQIWg7jrgH-5tyfU9JNSn5ROk3IIFebgByBx7Nedh69pXZJO1X0BN-XqBbNBzfUnBpL19/s400/IMG_4880(1)+st+andrews+with+tram.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Writer's building on the left</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5-BL6lOnWSDM03m1FPIpX3GWTGRcBPovfdWAj7XstMwL2A6ZXnmmbC6nfZ5x4upra98VSOq7lxWwu8zFreghbNsvUkm1kmsqhatm3PcSRmtO0sot3BRKfHRyZbr4h9zaa_xyjB5GjRuL/s1600/IMG_4892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5-BL6lOnWSDM03m1FPIpX3GWTGRcBPovfdWAj7XstMwL2A6ZXnmmbC6nfZ5x4upra98VSOq7lxWwu8zFreghbNsvUkm1kmsqhatm3PcSRmtO0sot3BRKfHRyZbr4h9zaa_xyjB5GjRuL/s320/IMG_4892.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The bird at the top of the spire</span></div>
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Parthasarathi Mukherjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12306146780905101933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757407245607071123.post-1759086461579670622012-04-22T05:47:00.000-07:002016-01-27T05:11:39.802-08:00The Currency Building of Kolkata<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Currency Building</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwopiuPoqAK4v9XLib7RFOxu89NHSs6BJ3syj8Yo597jIt_VBz_UWWoCNYAkcHV8QVz8_fnXceuJKK4uKkc5I3O_eLpvR0PV2TjQIIolcTS6TSPIVyio4YjA1_CtfnWQC8JU0hhhWxCMCw/s1600/Currency+Office+in+Dalhousie+Square+-+Calcutta+(Kolkata)+1878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwopiuPoqAK4v9XLib7RFOxu89NHSs6BJ3syj8Yo597jIt_VBz_UWWoCNYAkcHV8QVz8_fnXceuJKK4uKkc5I3O_eLpvR0PV2TjQIIolcTS6TSPIVyio4YjA1_CtfnWQC8JU0hhhWxCMCw/s400/Currency+Office+in+Dalhousie+Square+-+Calcutta+(Kolkata)+1878.jpg" width="400" /></a></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-align: center;">(</span><span style="text-align: center;">Currency Building </span><span style="text-align: center;">on the right. The photograph was taken in 1885. Saint Andrew's church is at the far end. The wrought iron portico in the front was not there in the picture. It was built later on.)</span></span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fSQA3D1QXJZ0E4HMeDCh6cgREeklyj_FwOpVCoWNHpHlpub68fXdinEoTsWahamzWiBPY9IQPKYsd8nVvEzv3JtiDxYUCH3s0EtzGyejaYDC8IpbTZnx9xjL4xnTwuvUNMYQdFN6_b4H/s1600/bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fSQA3D1QXJZ0E4HMeDCh6cgREeklyj_FwOpVCoWNHpHlpub68fXdinEoTsWahamzWiBPY9IQPKYsd8nVvEzv3JtiDxYUCH3s0EtzGyejaYDC8IpbTZnx9xjL4xnTwuvUNMYQdFN6_b4H/s320/bb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">An Italian architecture (the arches and the circular portion just above the arches are somewhat similar to the Currency building)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Built in the year 1833</span><span style="font-size: large;"> with Italian style this beautiful building was originally known as Agra Bank and Office of issue and Exchange of Government Currency later on. Once it was housed as the Reserve Bank of India till 1937. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was built when the Lord William Bentinck was the Governor General of the British India. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFYz0aedvUSH_9ZecWPOkEbHSQ6NIfTS1K_lBKfiBLAaafxhkxl0-pdCokC3J5QMIfxvvfEGetsJci5Gk6LCTiFPPzE4aiU6ybRN-anEXT7uqW5TuvmrBEpsAAuLyKDJ9oWg9pxYuw6b_/s1600/effct+curancy+vintage+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFYz0aedvUSH_9ZecWPOkEbHSQ6NIfTS1K_lBKfiBLAaafxhkxl0-pdCokC3J5QMIfxvvfEGetsJci5Gk6LCTiFPPzE4aiU6ybRN-anEXT7uqW5TuvmrBEpsAAuLyKDJ9oWg9pxYuw6b_/s320/effct+curancy+vintage+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The three storied building located just at the South- East corner of the Dalhousie Square. Large wrought iron </span><span style="font-size: large;">gates</span><span style="font-size: large;">, large brick arches </span><span style="font-size: large;">and </span><span style="font-size: large;">Venetian</span><span style="font-size: large;"> windows with intricate designs </span><span style="font-size: large;">are the main attraction of it. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The roof was arched with iron </span><span style="font-size: large;">joists. The floor was covered with marble and Chunar sandstone. The commissioner who was in charge of the office had his residence here in this building. Some portion of the upper floor was covered with Italian marble. The entrance to the residence was at the back and is still there. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9BCNI_JKr2Ise2HxFwvAqyPH0fSXIp6f59A43UqSFjPGmEZCTkAr3C9Bs8fiXHXmWwH4tsZkWYZOvj__pC2TyN9Gi9dNpO0__N62CXyqo6iI8Kv0xqhvfkA__30XRlY26uUP7fOb3q7y/s1600/Currency+Department+Calcutta+(Kolkata)+-+Mid+19th+Century.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9BCNI_JKr2Ise2HxFwvAqyPH0fSXIp6f59A43UqSFjPGmEZCTkAr3C9Bs8fiXHXmWwH4tsZkWYZOvj__pC2TyN9Gi9dNpO0__N62CXyqo6iI8Kv0xqhvfkA__30XRlY26uUP7fOb3q7y/s400/Currency+Department+Calcutta+(Kolkata)+-+Mid+19th+Century.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The above photograph was taken in 1885</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAs8YPwWvSf6ULSwx1dJXCj3J3CAroVYJRKqceT6DmbUYP0H4r4KBmQShdkd47Jns3hZV8SawsiMBGWzZ21Zjo_NihgNwHvDQ4tlAY7WeTuvOChaYYJA9sMsJm8e74WXOZ2HuoMo3IDwi4/s1600/IMG_4869(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAs8YPwWvSf6ULSwx1dJXCj3J3CAroVYJRKqceT6DmbUYP0H4r4KBmQShdkd47Jns3hZV8SawsiMBGWzZ21Zjo_NihgNwHvDQ4tlAY7WeTuvOChaYYJA9sMsJm8e74WXOZ2HuoMo3IDwi4/s400/IMG_4869(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Taken in 2012 from almost the same place where the above photograph was taken in 1885. Just compare the two photographs. </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTtAcn4718KM6KEfYR_c7-43FtEWbdcq6ioLjDdbVa3y9ehmsruzDundjAnQ2Qrv6BrKuGhfrCY3xvK7OojkhgF9Q-CNVyL1mhKEq-_1lZJWvOlHEwAm01WgJboVCspBU2Hc6aQg0TE9J/s1600/IMG_4874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTtAcn4718KM6KEfYR_c7-43FtEWbdcq6ioLjDdbVa3y9ehmsruzDundjAnQ2Qrv6BrKuGhfrCY3xvK7OojkhgF9Q-CNVyL1mhKEq-_1lZJWvOlHEwAm01WgJboVCspBU2Hc6aQg0TE9J/s320/IMG_4874.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQde0GdzMgS5XnJ4oIEGJdzIfqnAUKiHOxxqGv31rKIIEGBEouEhgCxnr9KITW0USgvMowHRxkWrpeTrFniagMT_5c9ntlKSqtdBrxma19AF27ufWTjpmKullPC1X0ez4VqKqRB1086_mD/s1600/IMG_4877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQde0GdzMgS5XnJ4oIEGJdzIfqnAUKiHOxxqGv31rKIIEGBEouEhgCxnr9KITW0USgvMowHRxkWrpeTrFniagMT_5c9ntlKSqtdBrxma19AF27ufWTjpmKullPC1X0ez4VqKqRB1086_mD/s320/IMG_4877.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> The main entrance </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The iron portico</b><b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">Unfortunately CPWD (Central Public Works Department) had started to demolish it but they had to stop. They had a plan to build a <span style="white-space: nowrap;">high-rise</span> building on the particular site. But fortunately it was saved. In 1998 the entire structure was declared as a heritage building and a monument of national importance, thus a protected place. The ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) took the charge in 2003 but got the </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">possession</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">only </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">in 2005. They planned to repair and reconstruct the demolished portion of the structure. It was not an easy task to start. At first, piles of debris were removed and </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">scaffolding were placed. Then the work of the interior was started. </span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">The lime plastered surface of the inner walls, floors and the decayed wooden staircases had to be repaired with much care. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtclcsV_OSJWofkH0fpQQ_Y6GDL3dea4SbW7Rrh-G_U2EwZteK7dfbJPNkvAyLiISuPL_dmZqBzxxivQG0IiBlPxS1RiK0RNpWoAid9kIYeUkzAecoZZbR7Gx-JRD9jLI0Ee1ULCgPWJ0h/s1600/IMG_4865(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtclcsV_OSJWofkH0fpQQ_Y6GDL3dea4SbW7Rrh-G_U2EwZteK7dfbJPNkvAyLiISuPL_dmZqBzxxivQG0IiBlPxS1RiK0RNpWoAid9kIYeUkzAecoZZbR7Gx-JRD9jLI0Ee1ULCgPWJ0h/s400/IMG_4865(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GdQjiUSkpxGLhohVQD4cC-dzrira4sRo7ZrEyRCOOhyphenhyphenNcQjCxoQxEn2rqXWfbPUXLdveuz8SHNb_4kIWiOTeVWPhEFF-0J5Qr76oS97wcCx5RmZq88lzboeCDMmcx9KVBeBN1xLt7BkE/s1600/IMG_4870(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GdQjiUSkpxGLhohVQD4cC-dzrira4sRo7ZrEyRCOOhyphenhyphenNcQjCxoQxEn2rqXWfbPUXLdveuz8SHNb_4kIWiOTeVWPhEFF-0J5Qr76oS97wcCx5RmZq88lzboeCDMmcx9KVBeBN1xLt7BkE/s400/IMG_4870(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The scaffolding in the third floor </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">(Below- A portion of the third floor from the outside)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTW3dYCg1uf8WZuI10yYM6jmObcW3P-uwE9Rxs4LyUFL1VuN-JzJ1QRkvUT8Qyh13jAhvNAKI_5tgpIEdhfdMfFHR0MJvNLgzM-QtxWzS4dmdiSarsr-PsqL_MlTuYGnV9iawHN_mpoP7/s1600/IMG_4866(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTW3dYCg1uf8WZuI10yYM6jmObcW3P-uwE9Rxs4LyUFL1VuN-JzJ1QRkvUT8Qyh13jAhvNAKI_5tgpIEdhfdMfFHR0MJvNLgzM-QtxWzS4dmdiSarsr-PsqL_MlTuYGnV9iawHN_mpoP7/s320/IMG_4866(1).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The repairing work is still on but progress is much slower. The construction workers</span><span style="font-size: large;"> skilled in <span style="white-space: nowrap;">lime-mortar</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> are rarely available these days. ASI officials had to find them <span style="white-space: nowrap;">across</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> the state with much higher payments than the usual. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Both the exteriors and interiors adjacent to the R N Mukherjee road have already been repaired. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>In and around April- May 2012</u> - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The repairing work including the iron portico, the Western side (front) of the front has been started. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8C-1Vsef72TXtuQ5Uk6V8MtFh3nSzLLMmwD2ixfX5jPcvRlcF2JL7z42CE8ZOQw4xTTv2nHnxSBYyeRgWxnk9_8AQJMO8tKruFeTq4a6cfydBV3jTsjJSFN-6V-u9FRyPQnwvLmN4U0Av/s1600/IMG_4862(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8C-1Vsef72TXtuQ5Uk6V8MtFh3nSzLLMmwD2ixfX5jPcvRlcF2JL7z42CE8ZOQw4xTTv2nHnxSBYyeRgWxnk9_8AQJMO8tKruFeTq4a6cfydBV3jTsjJSFN-6V-u9FRyPQnwvLmN4U0Av/s320/IMG_4862(1).JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Presently the building housed the regional office of the ASI. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Entry is strictly restricted inside the building. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">(Below- three photographs from the ASI archive. Left- Inside of the Currency Building before renovation. Right- scaffolding placed. Bottom- triangular portion between the two inner arch.)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QFOC8UvXEHueEN6o3kYmijQNpUc2DNo1-6AwJF_rZMAlpGnnUoF1BdxlB_WOCP0k_KIUGYCvcq70hKHlDnM446AY5yd5yWSF4H3fbAe9Zb-ek-dfwqy0FIGkZrLH6383apvN0RSxKtPY/s1600/Image0340(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QFOC8UvXEHueEN6o3kYmijQNpUc2DNo1-6AwJF_rZMAlpGnnUoF1BdxlB_WOCP0k_KIUGYCvcq70hKHlDnM446AY5yd5yWSF4H3fbAe9Zb-ek-dfwqy0FIGkZrLH6383apvN0RSxKtPY/s320/Image0340(1).jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgth0-AH2HVA0xLzSHtLTYvYyu-O1KPDhKGMk8n8skWyGFgKgTlst9cQY_kCb2WLg0j5ZJeCriep5qBioUCwqvP466dmwn7qVvKKpzL__kqbowPOB-SJPBAbWmHiXT3-jKSKG4B52D74bGo/s1600/Image0341(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgth0-AH2HVA0xLzSHtLTYvYyu-O1KPDhKGMk8n8skWyGFgKgTlst9cQY_kCb2WLg0j5ZJeCriep5qBioUCwqvP466dmwn7qVvKKpzL__kqbowPOB-SJPBAbWmHiXT3-jKSKG4B52D74bGo/s320/Image0341(1).jpg" width="241" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJH1_sbMqVUEXnUvKE7S0I_Td64BFMg7AKpKJuzD8GJfWkCRjshI0mwTpklUlyOuBSZMUALBRBpWFatwnpkwP6Dedsr7A3jY70HxEZNQ38vb7g1acDbyRNkohDvxePFoxcpXswnBh7AQv/s1600/Image0343(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJH1_sbMqVUEXnUvKE7S0I_Td64BFMg7AKpKJuzD8GJfWkCRjshI0mwTpklUlyOuBSZMUALBRBpWFatwnpkwP6Dedsr7A3jY70HxEZNQ38vb7g1acDbyRNkohDvxePFoxcpXswnBh7AQv/s400/Image0343(1).jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What to see-</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">The architecture. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The conservation work which is obviously an experience to remember.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">Nearest metro station- Chandni. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">It is around 10 minutes walk from the nearest metro station. </span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38hDaiIm8iHxkdlGvy4hxkaQr2e4Tzc9zvQApxFUgpYW53GZ6amuK2HAKENcTEwGteNr5c30NQZl1Yb7Dus1rm3ybdUji5QoIVA49wrKVImxopsxVVxcSAw12-EQmIgRtdHOOd6xttUzf/s1600/kash+pujo+2012+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38hDaiIm8iHxkdlGvy4hxkaQr2e4Tzc9zvQApxFUgpYW53GZ6amuK2HAKENcTEwGteNr5c30NQZl1Yb7Dus1rm3ybdUji5QoIVA49wrKVImxopsxVVxcSAw12-EQmIgRtdHOOd6xttUzf/s1600/kash+pujo+2012+038.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Inside of currency building</b></span></div>
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Parthasarathi Mukherjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12306146780905101933noreply@blogger.comBBD Bag E, B B D Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal, India22.570446353916047 88.35022687911987322.568613353916046 88.347759379119879 22.572279353916048 88.352694379119868tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6757407245607071123.post-44495164523174442102012-04-22T02:13:00.000-07:002024-03-18T09:04:38.588-07:00Town Hall- the first meeting place for the Britishers in Calcutta<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">Lord Minto was the Governor General of British India. He took the charge on 31st July 1807. A few months later, on 1st December 1807, the foundation stone of the Town Hall of Calcutta was laid just at the eastern side of the High Court.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">The plaque in front of Town Hall </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;">The building was completed in 1813. The architect was Col. John Garstin, the then chief engineer of the city. </span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The official address of this elegant structure is </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"><i style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><b>4 Esplanade Row (west). Kolkata- 700001. </b></i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"> </span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Built in Roman- Doric style, the main front portion of the structure is standing on eight long brick pillars. The two storied building covers more than 1200 sq. meters. </span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana;">(taken in the year 1865)</b></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><b>(Above right- a copybook example of Roman- Doric architectural column, similar to the Town hall.)</b></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"><b><br /></b></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">There was no meeting place for the Britishers working in Calcutta at that time. So it was constructed as a gathering place for the Britishers in the city. Rupees seven lakhs was raised from lottery for the fund. A museum was built in the ground floor which was for the public and upper floor was restricted to the invitees only. </span></div>
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<li><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">22nd March 1814- the building was opened to the public. </span></li>
<li><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Some cracks were noticed in 1815.</span></li>
<li><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">In 1818 it was noticed that some of the pillars in the upper floor were found to be defective. It was repaired and Col. Garstin, the architect had to bear the cost.</span></li>
<li><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">Later on, in 1867, the then Calcutta Municipal Corporation became the official<b> </b>custodian of Town Hall. </span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">View from the upper floor veranda </span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">The backyard of the town hall </span></b></div>
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<li><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">The building was renovated and opened to the public in 1998.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b> </b></span></li>
<li><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">In 2002, the museum named Kolkata Panorama opened to the public in a new look. </span></li>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;">The museum depicts the making of the city of Kolkata (earlier known as Calcutta) which tells the story in audio- visual format. The entire socio economical and cultural history of the city is covered here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">The museum reamins open everyday from 11 in the morning till 5 in the evening. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIuT1VY85lSq_nxexn4L8aGDOF2zsMOhUBMF_ZgwQ5-MI8ePD8UKxqQXT7lNaSzNvWltrTcHwAW_hp5xvwv0cklksUKin7a5gD33HLjLCWDXxLr6Es2rHkwJdyAdjDV8aY53Ay3coOCwF/s1600/Image0308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIuT1VY85lSq_nxexn4L8aGDOF2zsMOhUBMF_ZgwQ5-MI8ePD8UKxqQXT7lNaSzNvWltrTcHwAW_hp5xvwv0cklksUKin7a5gD33HLjLCWDXxLr6Es2rHkwJdyAdjDV8aY53Ay3coOCwF/s400/Image0308.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Tickets-</b> Tuesday to Friday- Rs. 10.00 Saturday, Sunday and other holidays- Rs. 15.00</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Closed on Holi, Diwali and on every Monday.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Location-</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Adjacent to the main building of the Calcutta High Court. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn65tfqBkBJvhTaXAjSSrarPttDZ6rdgj9f_M2BwhbmygdmMwEtbVBTmZWoThpMnGPJccucLWIIH6x4gOvx4zZ9iop2sV1zWHw8tkRqSMpLaWGMV_oX01at9e2kP63YgqDNKI_A-qWo1b/s1600/Town+Hall+++Kolkata.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn65tfqBkBJvhTaXAjSSrarPttDZ6rdgj9f_M2BwhbmygdmMwEtbVBTmZWoThpMnGPJccucLWIIH6x4gOvx4zZ9iop2sV1zWHw8tkRqSMpLaWGMV_oX01at9e2kP63YgqDNKI_A-qWo1b/s400/Town+Hall+++Kolkata.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">(Location of Town Hall) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>How to reach-</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Around 20 minutes walk from the Chandni metro station. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Around five minutes walk from Babughat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Old photos courtesy- <i>www.oldindianphotos.in</i></span></div>
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Parthasarathi Mukherjeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12306146780905101933noreply@blogger.com0H89V+5X3, Esplanade Row W, B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001, India22.5678804 88.344921522.567849439741938 88.344887972387312 22.567911360258062 88.344955027612684