Govindaram Mitra & Mahratta Ditch

Juthika Dey

Gobindaram Mitra

Gobindaram Mitra was the first person appointed to ‘Deputy Zamindar or Black Zamindar'. One such East India Company employee who is not a member of the company’s President’s Council was separately assigned the responsibility of collecting revenue from Kolkata. A position known as “Deputy Zamindar,” or Black Zamindar as the British referred to them. From 1720 to 1756, or over 36 years, he served in that capacity. The House of Mitras of Kumartuli was founded by him. Gobindaram Mitra was originally from Chandanpukur, also known as Chandanpur, which is close to Barrackpur.

Gobindaram Mitra and his son Raghu Mitra were the most notable among the 16 commissioners appointed for distribution of the money that, as a part of the peace treaty, Nawab Mir Zafar had to pay as compensation for the loss suffered by the British, Armenians, Greeks and Indians from the attack of Kolkata (then Calcutta) by NawabSiraj-ud-Daulah.

He owned a massive “Bagan Bari” (which literally means ‘Garden House’) on the eastern side of Upper Circular Road (today Acharyya Prafulla Chandra Road). The “Mahratta Ditch” alignment had to be modified around this location in order to incorporate it within Kolkata’s limits. As a result of this diversion, despite its location in North 24 Parganas, this region is still part of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Interestingly, if there is any lawsuit in this area, it is heard directly at the High Court in Calcutta, rather than in the inferior courts of Sealdah or Alipore.

 

Mahratta Ditch

“Khoka ghumalo para juralo BARGI elo deshe , bulbuli te dhan kheyeche khajna debo kise”

We Bengalis have heard this little rhyme from our parents or elders in our childhood before going to bed. Alivardi Khan was the Mughal representative in Bengal. Alivardi Khan defeated and killed Sarfaraz Khan and became the Nawab of Bengal. Sarfaraz Khan had a fierce rivalry with his brother Rustum Jung. To take revenge on the new Nawab, Rustum Jung invited Januji, the son of Maratha prince Raghuji Bhonsle (ruler of Nagpur), to attack and loot the eastern part of the country including Bengal and Odisha.

 

The Marathas’ main aim was to seize Alivardi Khan’s lands and wealth through risk and conflict. While the Mukwah Tannah Fort (now part of the Botanical Gardens), the Hooghly and many parts of northern Orissa were occupied by the Marathas and Rustum Jung, Alivardi Khan continued to face the constant threat of becoming a grave concern. The British, sitting on the other side of the river and recovering from the Great Storm of 1739, had little time to plan how to defend themselves against western attacks.

Because of popular knowledge, the British obtained permission from Alivardi Khan to dig a trench around their territory, including their offices, residences and private quarters of Umichan and “Black Member of Parliament” Gobindaram Mitra. Within six months, 3 miles were dug, but fortunately or perhaps unfortunately, the Marathas never came to Calcutta and the trench or “ditch” remained in Calcutta.

 

By the order of Marquess of Wellesley the ditch was filled up with all filth and garbage of Kolkata back then . This Ditch today runs from Baghbazar (Perrin’s Point) to Entally near corporation street , forming the Circular Roads ( Upper and Lower Circular Road) . The Ditch was previously planned to extend up to Gobindapur but that was stalled, though the present day Bhowanipur Bridge under Tolly Canal is termed as “Maratha Ditch” .

 

Today the name “Maratha Ditch” can be found only in a small lane called “Maratha Ditch Lane” connecting the parallel lanes “Nandalal bose lane” and “Pasupati bose lane” in Baghbazar , Kolkata .

Mahratta Ditch

Present Day

*Student, 2016