×
FREE ASSISTANCE FOR THE INQUISITIVE PEOPLE
Tutorial Topics
X
softetechnologies
Statue of Rana Pratap Singh Salim Manzil and Gauhar Jaan
The Haunted Hastings House - Captivating Calcutta
3217    Dibyendu Banerjee    01/02/2020

Situated along the Judges Court Road and considered as one of the impressive creations of the early colonial age, the Hastings House is said to be one of the haunted places in Calcutta. It was built in the late 1700's, to serve as the residence of Warren Hastings, the first de facto Governor-General of India during the period of 1775 to 1785. The two storey white building, which replicates simple cubical western architectural style of the British era, includes a hall and a number of rooms in each floor and is complete with a stone and black stair case. Much later, the building was developed as a government guest house by Colonel Curzon, the viceroy of India in the year 1901.For some time it was also used as a lodge for Indian princes visiting Kolkata. Much later, in the year 1954, the historic building was transformed into a college, namely 'Institute of Education for Women' which is affiliated under the University of Calcutta.

the haunted hastings house

It is said that the Hastings House is a haunted place and from time to time, many people had described veracious incidents of the existence of unnatural spirit in the house. In the mid of 1930s George Williams, a tremendous race maniac, used to live in the house. He had five horses and among them, a pearl white horse named Pride, was his most favourite and profitable pet. It won lots of races and brought money and fame for Williams. However, a time came, when Pride was no more a winning horse. During those days, it was a tradition to gun down those horses whose prime days had over and after a defeat in one Saturday race, Pride was found shot dead in the race track at night.

softetechnologies

After the incident, many people have reported having seen a pearl white horse running in the garden of Hastings House on Saturday nights. It was also reported that many of them have heard or seen the shadow like horse-drawn coach entering in the campus of the house. It was believed by many, every year Warren Hastings visits the house, as it emotionally related to his memory of sadness, pain and unhappiness. Former Reserve Bank of India's governor (1936-1943) Sir James Taylor spent a long time in the Hastings house with his family and they were also said to be disturbed many times by the spirit of Warren Hastings. In 1947, Lady Braid Taylor, wife of Sir James Taylor, in her interview to ‘Life’ magazine revealed her eerie experience in the Hastings House. History says, Hastings’ notorious wife and children had unnatural death in that house, which may also add fuel to the stories of a haunted house.

the haunted hastings house

Over the course of time, the Hastings House was converted into a public school. Thereafter, it was transformed into the official residence of the Resident of the Eastern States of India. After the independence of India, it housed the Post-Graduate Basic Training College in 1948 and subsequently in 1951 the building came to be used as the Women’s section of David Hare Training College, the renowned institution for the training of teachers of the Secondary Institutions of West Bengal.

softetechnologies

Gradually, with the considerable increase of number of women trainee teachers, the women’s branch of David Hare Training College was established in the Hastings House in 1954, as a separate Women Institution and named the 'Institute of Education for Women'.

the haunted hastings house
Statue of Rana Pratap Singh Salim Manzil and Gauhar Jaan
softetechnologies
Author Details
Dibyendu Banerjee
Ex student of Scottish Church College. Served a Nationalised Bank for nearly 35 years. Authored novels in Bengali. Translated into Bengali novels/short stories of Leo Tolstoy, Eric Maria Remarque, D.H.Lawrence, Harold Robbins, Guy de Maupassant, Somerset Maugham and others. Also compiled collections of short stories from Africa and Third World. Interested in literature, history, music, sports and international films.
Enter New Comment
Comment History
No Comment Found Yet.
Swami Vivekananda
Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man.
Swami Vivekananda
1216
57.24
Today So Far
Total View (Lakh)
softetechnologies
26/05/2018     43527
01/01/2018     36478
25/06/2018     35475
28/06/2017     34547
02/08/2017     32975
01/08/2017     27458
06/07/2017     27205
15/05/2017     26841
14/07/2017     22455
21/04/2018     21107
softetechnologies