The Northern Cultural Frontier

Having established its significance as a prestigious means of the thoroughfare in the past, Amherst Street continues to bask in its old glory, having etched a place for itself I history.  Amherst Street was named after William Amherst, a British diplomat who was the Governor-General of India from 1823 to 1828. Initially, the road was called “Alms House” owing to the presence of the Alms House which was established by businessman Moti Lal Seal. The Alms House regularly fed approximately 500 people every day.

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Amherst Street is home to many scholars are two of Kolkata’s renowned educational institutions, the North City College and St. Paul’s College. Social Reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s house is also on this street, house no 85.  Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the founder of Brahmo Samaj. Together with Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Roy abolished child marriage and “Sati Pratha”, where a woman had to sacrifice her life by burning herself in the same pyre as her deceased husband. He also started the cult of widow remarriage. Currently, the street is named after Raja Ram Mohan Roy and called Raja Ram Mohan Roy Sarani.          

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Amherst Street is famous for the Amherst Street Women’s Police Station, the Holy Trinity Church, The Marwari Hospital ad Lady Dufferin Hospital.          

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Some of the renowned puja festivals are celebrated here like the “Chalta Bagan Lohapatty Durga Puja” and the “Jhamapukur Sarbojoin” Durga Puja.

 

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