Could you believe that Hastings, a Kolkata neighborhood, was once a Muslim burial ground? Hastings then became a “Coolie Bazar”. It housed workmen who built Fort William. Finally, Hastings transformed into a township. This township was for the Ordnance and Commissariat department people.
Today, we explore Hastings. This area sits between the Maidan and the Hooghly River. Hastings gets its name from Warren Hastings. He was the first Governor-General of Bengal. He governed from 1772 to 1785.
Originally, Hastings served as the city’s military area. Landmarks remain like Fort William and the Lascar War Memorial. The Ordnance Club and the Race Course are also here. In 1855, the Hastings Chapel was built for East India Company officers.
Hastings also connects to Vidyasagar Setu. This impressive bridge crosses the Hooghly River. It was completed in 1992.
Warren Hastings made significant contributions. He initiated the construction of St John’s Cathedral. He also started the Asiatic Society of Bengal and the Calcutta Madrassa.
Warren Hastings’s story is complex. He faced impeachment. Yet, history remembers him more kindly. He attempted cultural understanding. Hastings spoke Urdu, Bengali, and Farsi.
Belvedere House is near Hastings. Warren Hastings lived there. Mir Jafar Ali Khan gifted it to Hastings. The architecture reflects Italian Renaissance style. A famous duel occurred here between Hastings and Philip Francis. Legends even whisper of hauntings at Belvedere House. People claim to see Warren Hastings’s ghost. Some hear a carriage approaching. Others report a young boy’s ghost in the grounds.
Hastings House is another notable residence. Warren Hastings often spent his weekends there. Today, it is said to be haunted by Hastings himself. He reportedly searches for documents in a horse-drawn carriage.
Warren Hastings also had houses north of Calcutta. One was at Rishera. Another house was at Baraset. The Baraset house features a plaque. It reads, “In this house lived Lord Warren Hastings.” This is puzzling. Hastings was never granted a peerage.
Warren Hastings’s life had a defining moment. He fought a duel with Philip Francis in Belvedere’s grounds. Despite their hatred, Hastings showed compassion. He ensured Francis had time to re-prime his pistol.
Hastings, Kolkata offers layers of history and intrigue. It is a place where military history blends with tales of governors and ghostly legends. It is a testament to Kolkata’s rich past.