McCluskieganj is a small hilly town in Jharkhand State, India, about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of the capital, Ranchi. The town used to have a significant Anglo-Indian community.[2] It is now a tourist place for its British era old mansions, hills and streams.[3][4]
McCluskieganj | |
|---|---|
| Nickname: mini London | |
  McCluskieganj Location in Jharkhand, India  McCluskieganj McCluskieganj (India) | |
| Coordinates: 23°38′N 84°56′E / 23.64°N 84.94°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Jharkhand |
| District | Ranchi district |
| Block | Khalari |
| Established | 1933 |
| Founded by | Ernest Timothy McCluskie |
| Elevation | 450 m (1,480 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 3,000[1] |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Nagpuri, Hindi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 829208 |
| Vehicle registration | JH |
History
editErnest Timothy McCluskie, the Anglo Indian businessman from Kolkata visited the place and was impressed by the environment and climate of the area. He decided to build a town for Anglo Indian and purchased the lands from king of Chotanagpur, Udai Pratap Nath Shah Deo.[5] In 1932, he sent circulars to nearly 200,000 Anglo-Indians in India inviting them to settle there.[6] It was founded by the Colonisation Society of India in 1933 as a homeland or "Mooluk" for Anglo-Indians. Anglo-Indians could buy Shares in this co-operative, the Colonisation Society of India - which in turn would allot them a plot of land.[7] It became home to 400 Anglo-Indian families within ten years.[8] Of the nearly 300 original settlers, only 20 families remain, as most of the Anglo-Indian community left after World War II.[6]
Now, the population of the town is around 3000.[1]
Geography
editMcCluskieganj is located at the distance of around 60 km North West from state capital of Jharkhand, Ranchi in Khelari block. It is located at alltitude of 450 metre.[9] It is located near the Dugadugi river which is a tributary of Damodar River.[10] Jhunjhunia waterfall located near Macluskieganj.[11]
Climate
editThe climate of McCluskieganj is ideal with low humidity. McCluskieganj witnesses frost during winter which cover grass, vehicles and roofs.[12] During cold wave, It records temperature around freezing points. In 2013, it recorded 1.5 °C in month of January.[13][14]
Infrastructure
editEducational institution
editTransport
editNational Highway 39 (Ranchi-Daltonganj), an important roadway in the Ranchi district, passes near McCluskieganj.[23] McCluskieganj railway station is located in McCluskieganj.[2]
Attractions
editMcCluskeiganj Gurudwara and Temple: lying in the same complex is a place of integrity and shows the brotherhood of India.
McCluskeiganj Mosque: It is beside the Gurudwara and Temple complex.
St. John's Church: A historical place built by Anglo-Indians during British rule.
In popular culture
editThe town was the inspiration for the Hindi novel Maikluskiganj (मैकलुस्कीगंज) by journalist-writer Vikas Kumar Jha, which was translated into English by Mahasweta Ghosh in 2005.[24]
McCluskieganj is also the setting for the 2016 film A Death in the Gunj, which is Konkona Sen Sharma's directorial debut, and set in 1979.[25]
References
edit- ^ a b "Don't write off McCluskieganj yet, says lone MLA". telegraphindia. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ a b "McCluskie's frown: An Anglo-Indian 'mooluk' transforms nostalgia into capital". telegraphindia. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ "McCluskieganj, Tagore Hill and more: Places you must visit when in Ranchi". Hindustantimes. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ "Tourist spots popular choice for pre-wedding shoots amongst Ranchiites". daily pioneer. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ "दुनिया की पांचवीं सबसे लंबी राजतंत्रीय व्यवस्था, डॉक्यूमेंट्री के बहाने नागवंश की याद". outlookhindi. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
- ^ a b Deep Blue Ink -> Writing -> Features
- ^ Kohli, Namita (25 December 2016). "A quiet Christmas at the Ganj - Hindustan Times". Retrieved 25 December 2016 – via pressreader.
- ^ Memory, identity and productive nostalgia: Anglo-Indian home-making at McCluskieganj - Dr Alison Blunt Department of Geography Queen Mary College, University of London Mile End Road London E1 4NS
- ^ "McCluskieganj". tourism.jharkhand. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ Nina Mukerjee Furstenau (2021). Green Chili and Other Impostors. University of Iowa Pres. p. 192. ISBN 978-1609387983.
- ^ "It's a Nature's Hidden Jewel! Take a Look at the Jhunjhuniya Waterfall in Mccluskieganj". latestly. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ "Celsius hits new low in Ranchi". telegraphindia. 24 December 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ "Jharkhand in grip of intense cold wave again". pressureader. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ "People stay indoors as cold wave sweeps through state". timesofindia. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ "ADARSH HIGH SCHOOL MACLUSKIGANJ". school.org. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ "McCluskieganj: The burden of history". hindustantimes. 25 December 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ "JAHNAVI SARASWATI SHISHU VIDYA MANDIR, MCCLUSKIEGANJ, RANCHI, JHARKHAND". vidyabharatialumni. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ "St.Teresa's Primary School". justdial. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ "Janet Academy". indiapl. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ "DELHI PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, MCCLUSKIEGANJ". nacfun. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ "McCluskieganj Inter college". justdial. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ "MCCLUSKIEGANJ INTER COLLEGE". mickhalari. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ "District Census Handbook Ranchi, Census of India 2011, Series 21, Part XII A" (PDF). Page 15 Transport. Directorate of census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- ^ O'Yeah, Zac (3 October 2015). "Book Review – McCluskieganj: The Story of the Only Anglo-Indian Village in India". The Indian Express. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ^ Vats, Rohit (21 July 2017). "A Death In The Gunj movie review: Konkona Sensharma makes a brilliant debut". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
External links
edit
- Time Magazine story about McCluskieganj
- Mccluskieganj (MINI London) Facebook Account
- McCluskie's Ganj: The Lost Home of The Anglos (2014): short video documentary on McCluskieganj by Dhiraj Singh