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The present Writers' Building
in Calcutta was first started as early as 1690. Within the periphery of the old
fort, the junior writers or clerks of the East India Company used to stay in mud hovels. So it came to be known as the
'Writers' Building'. On 25th June, 1695, these hovels were destroyed by a tempest. Then, the second
Writers' Building was constructed inside the old fort. In 1706, the new
one-storeyed brick-built building was built. The other Writers'
Building stood at the place where the G.P.O. or Fairly Place stand
today.
The vacant land for the required construction was then given by the collector of Calcutta to Thomas Linas for construction of dwelling places for the writers of the Company. The preliminary works of the present
Writers' Building or 'Mahakaran' was finished in 1780. Later, Barwell,
the friend of Hastings and a member of the Committee, became the owner of the house. His
children, handed it over to a trustee board which in turn was again rented to the Company. The Britons started using this house for private business and for fun and frolics. So the
Company began to impose many restrictions on them which resultantly made the house vacant. In
fact, the Fort William College was established here in 1800. The College was however shifted from there in 1830. In 1836, Lord Bentinck prohibited the indiscriminate use of the house for private affairs. Between 1877 – 1882, Lt. Governor Ashley Eden founded the linchpin of the Government Department at this place. The present gigantic building
covers 2.8 acres of land. It is 235 yards in width. A cluster of thirteen
four-storeyed buildings, the 'Mahakaran' stands on 10 acres of land. About 6000 employees work here at present. The ministers have their official departments
allocated in this house.
There is a record office in the 'Mahakaran' which preserves all records and important documents of the
Government of West Bengal from 1834 onwards.
The Writers' Building is a classic instance of Gothic architecture. Over the main entrance there is an
iron pillar. Previously, an effigy of Britannia was put up in this place. Four symbolic idols are found on
top of the floor signifying science, cultivation, commerce and justice.
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