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Superimposing Google earth image on a
Plan of Calcutta 1857by Fedrick Walter
Simms, Con. Engr.to Gov of India
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History says that Armenians in Calcutta
were very numerous already in Captain Alexandar Hamilton time who spent his
time from 1688 to 1723 AD in Calcutta. Armenitola in Barrabazar where initially Armenian’s stayed. Armenians mainly trades Indian Spices and Tea
etc from India. They had trade agreement with East India Company. There was Armenian Tea Warehouse on Strand Road. One of the major contribution of Armenians towards the city was Armenian Ghat.
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Detailed map of Armenian Ghat
compiled from old maps. |
Armenian Ghat on River Hooghly has a long interesting history to tell. Today peoples know Armenian ferry Ghat as Armenian Ghat though ferry ghat has hardly any connection with Armenian Ghat. Peoples may be used to call ferry ghat as Armenian Ghat.
It’s said that, originally this ghat was built by Manual Hazar Malian, an Armenian who added steeple in Armenian Church in 1734 AD. After whom this ghat known as Armenian Ghat. Location of Armenian Ghat was on Strand Road at the north side of old Motilal Seal Ghat and just south of Raja Woodmount Street. In
today’s perspective, present Circular Railway line was the river bank line in
that time and East Indian Railway Station was on the site of erstwhile Strand
Warehouse. There was a hackney Carraige stand just beside of E.I. Railway Station at Armenian Ghat. Beside Hackney carraige Strand Armenian Bathing ghat was there. As you seen above, a map of 1858 AD superimposed with current google earth imagery, just for a comparative study in present scenario.
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Esq. John Baghshaw (1784-1861)
Courtesy Harwichabddoyercourt.co.uk |
Chandpal, Colvin’s, Police, Coila, Smithson’s, Armenian,
Babee Ross’s, Burraah Bazar, New Mint and Baboo ghat is used as public ferry
jetties. There is steamship service from Armenian Ghat to Ghatal. Upto 1847 AD there was no fixed regulation, no
fixed fares, and no registration of boats for public ferry. These ferry boats
frequently fall in accidents being overloaded, by which great loss of life and
property was sustained. The wife and elder daughter (Rebecca Baghshaw,37 years
and Catharine Baghshaw,16 years respectively) of Esq. John Baghshaw (1784-1861,
an East India Company Merchant and head of the firm Baghshaw & Co. of
Calcutta,) drowned by the upsetting pinnace near Armenian Ghat on 19th
Oct 1820. An Ayah and some Dandies are also stated to have perished by this
accident. These incidents reported in The Asiatic Journal and monthly register
for British India in Vol-XI Jan-June 1821. The mortal remains interred at South
Park Street Burial Ground with memorial plaque.
From 15 August 1854, East India Railway Co.
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Etched on stone,
at Howrah Station
old complex. |
started
railway services from, Howrah to Hooghly. From 1854 to 1874, East India Railway Co had passenger
Station at Armenian Ghat from where passengers booked their tickets and fare
covered the ferry to Howrah. Passengers were ferried through the launches
run by the East Indian Railways to the Howrah Station to board their train.
This system of Conduit of passengers, however become dysfunctional with the
commissioning of the floating Howrah
Bridge on 17.10.1874.
After then its landing stages used for ferry only when floating bridge opened
for passage of ships.
Kolkata side riverfront
land from Chandpal Ghat to Aihiritola Ghat made over to Port Commissioners in
1874 except land of East Indian Railway Station at Armenian Ghat. Upto 1876,
East Indian Railway Station area not handed over to Port Commissioners even
though Port Commissioners Tramways has been laid from Baghbazar to Armenian
Ghat and also inside the jetty enclosures, but the connection of the jetty with
the inland wharfs and East Bengal Railway lines is barred by objection raised
on the part of E.I. Railway to allow Commissioners tramways passes through the
Armenian Ghat Station. Its pertinent to mention here that East India Railway
Station and Armenian Ghat Station is different entity. Administration Report of
1876-77 of the ‘Commissioners for Making Improvements in the Port of Calcutta’ tells
interesting facts how Armenian Ghat site, Armenian Ghat Station made over to Port
Commissioners on certain terms and conditions. “When the strand bank was made
over by Government, a reservation was made of that piece of land whereon the
station of the East Indian Railway Company is erected and built. It was then
supposed that on the construction of the Hooghly Bridge being completed, and
communication thereby opened with the railway station at Howrah, that piece of
land would be no longer required by the Railway Company, and would then be given
up by them, In a note by Lieutenant-Colonel F. S. Taylor, Consulting Engineer
to the Government of India, dated 5th February 1876, it is observed that,
" on the completion and opening of the Hooghly Floating Bridge, the
passenger station at Armenian Ghat was closed, but the landing-stages are still
used to a limited extent, chiefly when the bridge is opened for the passage of
ships." Colonel Taylor suggested that “the site be now restored to
Government for transfer to the Port Trust, who can utilize it most
advantageously ; " but, he stated, "the Agent and the Board of
Directors are desirous of retaining it as an office for the Traffic Manager,
East Indian Railway Company." Colonel Taylor was also of opinion that
" the interests of the public will best be met by "leaving the
landing-stage and approaches to Armenian Ghat in the hands of the East Indian
Railway Company, and transferring the remainder of the site to the Port
Commissioners, on condition that compensation be paid by the Commissioners to
the Company for the buildings surrendered, and that the Port Commissioners
construct a new approach road and remove a portion of the covered way as shown
on the plan."
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| Armenian Warehouse of Kolkata Port Trust |
After 1874, Strand Bank land reclaimed part by part,
Strand Bank Road constructed, Commissioners tram lines layed. Later Armenian Ghat site made over to Port Commissioners. A big warehouse namely Strand warehouse was
constructed on the site of EI Railway station shed. After construction of Strand Bank Road, on
Riverside a warehouse was erected by the Port Commissioners which named as
Armenian Warehouse. Though in 2010, Strand warehouse was gutted in a devastating
fire but Armenian warehouse still exist and carries legacy of Armenian Ghat.
Find This Place on Google Map.
Information Source:
Kolikata Darpon 1 By Radharomon Mitra
Administration Report of 1876-77 of the ‘Commissioners for Making Improvements in the Port of Calcutta’
Story of Ghaut of River Hooghly Published By Kolkata Port Trust.
Third Report of The Committe appointed by The Right Honorablev the Govenor of Bengal..1847
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