McCluskieganj: A Place to Remind the Colonial Past

My visit to McCluskieganj was quite refreshing after the constant lockdown and continuing Work from Home in Ranchi, the town where I live now. The distance between Ranchi and McCluskieganj is around 70 KMs.

Place to Stay, there are others besides this

Anglo-Indian Bunglow

Interior of the Bunglow 1

Interior 2

Interior 3

I was accompanied by my two colleagues from Amity University Jharkhand on 17th January 2021. The place appeared to be a space where time can be revisited, the colonial times. The legacy of Britishers was visible everywhere. It was an Anglo-Indian colony before. Now it is a tourist spot with new constructions built by the tourism department, Government of Jharkhand.

New construction

Renovated Bunglow

Dining Space for Tourists

Another Bunglow in the Woods

The greenary around was quite fascinating. Three of us walked down the road amidst the jungle. We enjoyed the scenic views of the place.

If you are in Jharkhand, you must visit McCluskieganj. The name is enough to tell the story - McCluskie + ganj, Anglo + Indian name!

With Dr. Rahul Kumar

With Dr. Ravi Bhushan

Ghost Town: A Poem

Ghost Town

I wandered and wondered

why the roads were deserted?

Birds soared high as if they never could,

humans were confined as if never could. 

Far and far in the town

the usual clamour was lost.

The only folks seen

were those who once left the town!

Forced to return they seemed,

their faces were pale and grim.

Every human I saw that day,

told a story of long painful journey.

They had left their own home

to find a better vista of dreams!

Did they ever wish to return?

Did they want to destroy dreams?

Nobody left glimmering towns

to relocate, to return, to rebuild.

Unwelcoming their own place had become

for they were deemed to be carrier of doom!

The fear, the cynicism, spread

Faster than the looming deaths!

They appeared to believe as I did

that their sojourn will be warring.

Hapless their journey was

but hopeful were those steps into the ghost town!

© Suraj Kumar Saw