We all know it as ‘Mahakaran’, but officially known as the ‘Writer’s Building’, which is the secretariat building of West Bengal, is the office of the Chief Minister of West Bengal and is located in the capital of West Bengal, Kolkata.
The name was designed by Thomas Lyon in 1777. It used to be the office for the writers of the British period. Though over the years, it has gone through several extensions.
1.In 1821 a 128 ft.-long verandah with Ionic style columns, each 32 ft. high, were added on the first and second floors. From 1889 - 1906 two new blocks were added, approached by iron staircases that are still in use. Writers’ acquired its Greco-Roman look, complete with the portico in the central bay and the red surface of exposed brick. The parapet was put in place and the statues sculpted by William Fredric Woodington in 1883 that line the terrace, were installed. The giant pediment at the centre is crowned with the statue of Minerva.
2.The terrace also contains several other statues and notable among them are four clusters of statues, christened 'Justice', 'Commerce', 'Science' and 'Agriculture', with the Greek Gods and Goddesses of these four streams (Zeus, Hermes, Athena and Demeter respectively) flanked by a European and an Indian practitioner of these vocations, adorn the building. The 150 meter long Writers' Building covers the entire northern stretch of the a water body locally called Lal Dighi in B.B.D. Bagh area.
3.Various departments of the West Bengal government are housed in this building. It is an edifice of great political significance and memories of the Indian Independence Movement. Writer's building is now being used as Chief Minister's Office and secretariat.
Writers' Building Timeline
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Yes I am proud of the Writers. It’s one of the oldest buildings and also a heritage of our city. Many political and financial discussions are made in this building by the government from years, and thus, it’s obviously important. When I cross the Writers, I stare it for a moment, it gives me a feeling that it’s the same building that has remained as a place for all decision making of the city since the British Period. And it still stands proud.
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