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In the year 1840 Delhi Kali Bari was constructed near bank of Yamuna river by Nilmoni brahmachari. Ms Amita Malik, film journalist mentioned in The Statesman that first Durga Puja was celebrated in 1842. Those days around sixty Bengali Hindus
migrated from Calcutta and settled in Shahajanbad (Old Delhi) area. Later on Dr. Hem Chandra Sen initiated shifting of Kali temple to Roshanpura area The temple was finally shifted at tiny hutments adjacent to railway lines in Tis Hazari. In 1899 local residents of walled city opened Bengali Boys School for their children. The famous Kashmiri Gate Bengali Club was formed in 1925. The city of Old Delhi is as full of surprises as a good treasure-hunt.
In 1912 the British decided to move their Indian capital from Calcutta to Delhi. By 1930 Lutyen's Delhi covering Raisina Hill was completed and one thing we can proud of Lutyen's Delhi - the buildings of India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, North Block, South Block, Connaught Circus, Gole Dak Khana and Gole Market Bhavan.
In 1919/1920 employees of Delhi Audit and Delhi P.W.D shifted from Timarpur to newly constructed Government quarters at Gole Market, New Delhi. In 1921 A.G.C.R. Calcutta office was shifted to New Delhi. Families of shifted employees started living in newly built government quarters at D.IZ area. The quarters were in blocks called 'Squares' named after British monarchs and viceroys with an occasional Indian name like Ganesh Place, Ranjit Place. Handful of Bengali local residents started Durga Puja in 1921 at Dalhousie Square lawn. For children of those families, Raisina school was opened in 1925 in Willingdon Hospital premises.
The story of 'Nana Ronger Dinguli' unfolds the socio-religious activities and history of Bengali community in Delhi since 1840 afterwards. The book has 322 pages with ninety rare photos.
About the author
Probir Kumar Ghosh am a retired officer from Government PSUs and presently busy with writing Delhi's history. Born in Lutyen's Delhi in late fifties and witnessed ups and down of New Delhi. Retired in 2017 and wrote three books about the history of Bengali community in Delhi.
