In a first, outsiders get a glimpse of majestic Wajed Ali Shah palace
Dipawali Mitra | TNN | Feb 3, 2019, 08:45 IST
BNR House, the former palace of Wajed Ali Shah (L), Visitors check out artefacts on Saturday(R)KOLKATA: For the first time, a heritage awareness walk took guests and dignitaries to the palace of Wajed Ali Shah, currently known as the BNR House, on Saturday morning. Organized by Bespoken Architecture and Unique Legacies (BAUL) with the ministry of external affairs, in association with South Eastern Railway (SER) and IRCTC, the walk included buildings associated with erstwhile Bengal Nagpur Railway, currently known as SER.
A team of delegates, heritage enthusiasts, present and former railway officials and their families participated in the three-hour walk, conducted by chief heritage officer J K Saha, to get a glimpse of the rich heritage associated with SER. This is the second such heritage walk, the first being on December 8 where heritage sites associated with Eastern Railways were explored.
The first stop of Saturday’s walk was the SER headquarters built in 1906-1907. An example of Indo-Saracenic architecture with a dome and minarets, the red building houses the general manager’s office, which was the agent’s office before. The main attraction of GM Purnendu S Misra’s room was the vintage Burma teak table, chair, doors and Lund & Blackley clock, which has been preserved in its original glory. Another interesting thing about the headquarters was the heritage room, which had on display various artefacts like a vintage signalling system, a trunk-call operator and original shells manufactured at the Kharagpur railway workshop during WW-II. A letter from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose dated March 16, 1940, has also been preserved where Bose complimented the food and services of BNR.
Bangladesh deputy high commissioner Toufique Hasan said, “I love trains and this walk was enriching. We learnt about the history and growth of the railways.” Chief mentor of BAUL Samrat Choudhury said, “The aim of this endeavour was to reach various heritage roots through several routes.”
The walk ended on a high note as well, when the team entered House No. 11, the GM’s private residence, which was the palace of Wajed Ali Shah. The building was designed on the lines of the Metcalfe Hall. Misra’s wife Rashmi offered a tour of the house that is steeped in history. From cast iron and Burma teak staircases, oil paintings, chandeliers, wooden floors and furniture, it was a treat for the team to see how the Nawab of Oudh lived. The tour included a presentation on the construction and development of BNR.
Director of ministry of external affairs Kajari Biswas said, “The youth should get an opportunity to visit these places so a sense of owning develops among them.”
A team of delegates, heritage enthusiasts, present and former railway officials and their families participated in the three-hour walk, conducted by chief heritage officer J K Saha, to get a glimpse of the rich heritage associated with SER. This is the second such heritage walk, the first being on December 8 where heritage sites associated with Eastern Railways were explored.
The first stop of Saturday’s walk was the SER headquarters built in 1906-1907. An example of Indo-Saracenic architecture with a dome and minarets, the red building houses the general manager’s office, which was the agent’s office before. The main attraction of GM Purnendu S Misra’s room was the vintage Burma teak table, chair, doors and Lund & Blackley clock, which has been preserved in its original glory. Another interesting thing about the headquarters was the heritage room, which had on display various artefacts like a vintage signalling system, a trunk-call operator and original shells manufactured at the Kharagpur railway workshop during WW-II. A letter from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose dated March 16, 1940, has also been preserved where Bose complimented the food and services of BNR.
Bangladesh deputy high commissioner Toufique Hasan said, “I love trains and this walk was enriching. We learnt about the history and growth of the railways.” Chief mentor of BAUL Samrat Choudhury said, “The aim of this endeavour was to reach various heritage roots through several routes.”
The walk ended on a high note as well, when the team entered House No. 11, the GM’s private residence, which was the palace of Wajed Ali Shah. The building was designed on the lines of the Metcalfe Hall. Misra’s wife Rashmi offered a tour of the house that is steeped in history. From cast iron and Burma teak staircases, oil paintings, chandeliers, wooden floors and furniture, it was a treat for the team to see how the Nawab of Oudh lived. The tour included a presentation on the construction and development of BNR.
Director of ministry of external affairs Kajari Biswas said, “The youth should get an opportunity to visit these places so a sense of owning develops among them.”
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