During one of my walks in the Dalhousie
area, the heart of the Kolkata's business centre, I came across the
Metcalfe Hall at the juncture of Strand Road and Hare Street. It was
built between 1840-44, was designed by the city magistrate C.K.
Robinson and was named after Sir Charles Metcalfe, who officiated as
the Governor General in 1835-36 during the interval of the departure
of Lord Bentinck and arrival of Lord Auckland, in honour of his
efforts towards a free press. The architectural showpiece is said to
be inspired by the Tower of Winds in Athens. Thirty lofty Corinthian
columns supporting the massive entablature gives it a classical Greek
look.
The Imperial Library was inaugurated here by Lord Curzon in 1903 and later on it evolved to National Library and shifted to Belvedre.
On the eastern side is a huge portico
with wide stairs leading to the hall. The building has been renovated
recently by the Archaeological Survey of India and is being prepared
to use it as a museum, supplementing the Indian Museum at
Chowringhee. When I visited some terracotta tablets and brick samples
were exhibited but renovation was still going on in the interiors.
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