The Man Who Raised Calcuttađ§ĩ
It may sound peculiar, but what if we were to say that a single man is responsible for the birth of almost the majority of the marvels of Calcutta, and many more? Yes, this is the story and journey of a genius who went largely uncelebrated.
It may sound peculiar, but what if we were to say that a single man is responsible for the birth of almost the majority of the marvels of Calcutta, and many more? Yes, this is the story and journey of a genius who went largely uncelebrated.
In the 19th Century, in Kolkata, hailing from a very small place far away called Bhyabla near Basirhat, this boy always harbored dreams of becoming an entrepreneur. However, during those days, society held the perception that those who were weak in academics
and couldn't pursue anything fruitful would end up as businessmen. Moreover, he lost his father at a very young age. His inclination towards machines and mechanisms led him to IIEST Shibpur, which, during those days, was attached to Presidency College.
Health issues hindered him from completing the final examinations, and thus the course remained unfinished, leaving him behind. He became determined to start his own business rather than apply for clerical jobs. Alipore Zoo was under construction at that time,
under the supervision of a foreign chief engineer of the corporation. One day, while passing by, the boy noticed that the English engineer couldn't effectively communicate his requirements to the local workers and masons and was shouting aimlessly.
He quickly approached him and asked him in English about his needs and vision. The Engineer explained, and the boy grasped it in a minute, then proceeded to instruct the local team of workers, and the work progressed swiftly.
The Englishman was amazed at this boy's skill; he asked for his name and background. That boy was Sir Rajendra Nath Mookerjee. The Englishman instantly offered him a bigger project and proposed that he oversee the upcoming water supply and management project at Palta,
giving him 24 hours to make a decision. This was Rajendra's turning point in his life, and he took the risk without ever looking back.
After successfully delivering that project, he was also offered the opportunity to mentor water supply projects in prominent cities like Lucknow
After successfully delivering that project, he was also offered the opportunity to mentor water supply projects in prominent cities like Lucknow
Allahabad, Agra, and Kanpur by the government. Rajendra continued to rise in fame. Coming from the same background, he had a strong grasp of the technical aspects as well. Despite displaying great ability, Rajendra felt that he was marginalized in some places for being a native
and competing with foreign farms. So, he established his own farm. Initially lacking the necessary capital, he accepted an offer to partner with Sir Thomas Martin in the renowned Martin and Company in the 1890s. When Sir Martin passed away,
Rajendra became the sole senior partner and owner of the company, eventually taking on massive projects one after another. He soon acquired the esteemed Burn Company, merging them to form Martin and Burn Company. He became one of the foremost industrialist engineers in the
nation with international renown. Martin and Burn Company is associated with the majority of the architectural marvels in the city. This includes the dazzling Victoria Memorial, the grand Dakshineshwar & Belur Math temple, Tipu Sultan Mosque, Gardenreach Shipbuilder, Shahid Minar
and even the Hooghly Dockyard, along with the important State Assembly building and numerous heritage offices in the city. Most notably, the Howrah Bridge and station are also the brainchild of Rajendra and his group of remarkably skilled creators. Almost every noteworthy old
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