Writer’s Building

A prominent heritage site on the tourist circuit of the city, Writers Building is a 150-m-long monument that reflects the Greco-Roman style of architecture. The sprawling structure has 13 blocks, out of which six were added after India attained independence. The building is peppered with several statues of Greek gods, along with a sculpture of the Roman goddess, Minerva.

The building is located in the BBD Bagh area, one of the busiest parts of Kolkata. Legend has it that the area got its name after the incident of the shooting of Lt Col NS Simpson, who was the Inspector General of Prisons. As he was notorious for his brutal treatment of Indian prisoners, three revolutionaries, Badal Gupta, Dinesh Gupta, and Benoy Basu, disguised themselves as Europeans and shot the colonel. BBD Bagh was named after the initials of these three revolutionaries.

History of Writer’s Building

Built-in the 18th century, this historic building served the writers of the British East India Company. The building gets its name from there. Writers’ Building was designed by Thomas Lyon in 1777, on the site where St Anne’s Church was demolished due to the earthquake and Siraj-ud-Daulah’s attack on Calcutta.

As the first three-storeyed building in Calcutta, it has served as a site for students of Fort William College and Government College of Engineering and was occupied by East India Railway Company for a while.

One of the significant incidents that mark the importance of this heritage building happened on December 8th, 1930. Three Indians - Benoy Basu, Badal Gupta, and Dinesh Gupta dressed in European outfits stormed into the Writers’ Building and shot down Colonel N.G. Simpson who was a brutal inspector-general of prisoners. The successful operation led to the renaming of Dalhousie Square after the trio as B.B.D Bagh. You can easily locate the grand statues of the trio in front of the Writers’ Building pointing towards the building during the final moments of their mission.

Architecture of Writer’s Building

The architecture of the Writers’ Building is one of the finest of the colonial era. Originally in the 18th century, it had a main block, a rotunda, and five other blocks that stand to date and are considered heritage structures.
Over the years, it got several extensions with additions of blocks, verandahs, and corridors. The red brick structure is now a collection of 13 blocks in total which gives it a Greco-Roman look. Tall iron staircases, some of which are still in use, are a sight of magnificence.

The exuberant statues add value to the colonial structure. The statue of Minerva stands atop the center of the pediment. Other statues include the Greek Gods and Goddesses notably Zeus, Hermes, Athena, and Demeter.