In a fitting tribute to Lady Ranu Mookherjee’s monumental contribution to Bengal art, her mansion on Ho Chi Minh Sarani is now being planned for conversion into a heritage hotel keeping its ‘original glory intact’.
Lady Ranu, who is remembered for her undying passion of art, music and culture, was instrumental for founding of Academy of Fine Arts, first when it was still housed at one corner of Indian Museum, and later when shifted to the present campus beside Rabindra Sadan. Though her fame was mainly because of her efforts for the cause of Bengal art, she was the wife of illustrious industrialist Sir Biren Mookherjee, son of Sir Rajen Mookherjee.
Sir Biren played a big role in the growth and development of IISCO (Indian Iron & Steel Company Limited) at Burnpur in 1920s, which was then the second biggest (after TISCO at Jamshedpur) integrated steel plant in the country. In fact at that time there were only these 2 steel plants in India. Incidentally, on Dec 24 the PM inaugurated IISCO’s long-awaited modernization (see my post, All steels’ week).
With so much pedigree to go for it, there is no doubt the mansion’s present owner, Aditya Poddar of Singapore-based Wellside Group of Companies, is a proud man. His project of over Rs.200 crore will not only be an attempt to add a hotel to it, but also ensure that the mansion doesn’t loose any of its rich heritage.
This is what Aditya Poddar has to say about his plan:
This is going to be Calcutta’s first restoration project proposed to be conserved as a heritage hotel. It is the best heritage city in the country and the venture can be a model project for property owners and developers here. Also, it is my way of giving something back to the city I was born and brought up in. See The Telegraph story.
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