Ghats of Kolkata… Revisited: Chhotey Lal Ki Ghat

Chhotey Lal Ki Ghat: Circa 1900s

Amongst all the Ghats of Kolkata that we get to see today, most were built as an act of philanthropy. While some were constructed in memory of departed souls a few for the utmost unexpected reasons. Chhotey Lal Ki Ghat — located a few hundred yards to the south of Howrah Bridge, or, Rabindra Setu — tells one such fascinating tale.

            Chhotey Lal Durga Prasad was a fairly successful practitioner of law at the Calcutta High Court. His wealth and fame swelled up over time. However, despite possessing all the material good things in life he had one regret — absence of a son, who would inherit his riches along with the law firm.

            Legend has that Chhotey Lal Durga Prasad would often come to visit a small temple of Lord Shiva where the Ghat stands today. It was here that one day he met a faqir, or, a Muslim ascetic. Out of his desperate state of mind Prasad approached the ascetic and told him about his unrequited wish.

            The faqir, on hearing Chhotey Lal Durga Prasad’s longing told him to build a ghat at the place and offer his prayers to Lord Shiva. What followed cannot be explained by any letters of science but remain true — Chhotey Lal’s wife a few months after that chance meeting gave birth to a son.

            As part of his promise Chhotey Lal did built the Ghat along with refurbishing the temple. A Hindu by faith, Chhotey Lal did not forget the Muslim ascetic whose words changed his life.

            The Ghat is a unique example of marriage of Islamic and Hindu architecture — definitely a sterling case the ‘unity in diversity’ that India personifies — in every sense. This ghat with all its beauty and splendour is what we know as the Chhotey Lal Ki Ghat. In recent times, several prominent scenes of the Hindi mainstream film ‘Gunday’ were shot at the steps and on the structure of Chhotey Lal Ki Ghat.

Chhotey Lal Ki Ghat: Today