McCluskieganj is a small hilly town in Jharkhand State, India, about northwest of the capital, Ranchi. The town used to have a significant Anglo-Indian community. It is now a tourist place for its British era old mansions, hills and streams.
History Ernest 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. In 1932, he sent circulars to nearly 200,000 Anglo-Indians in India inviting them to settle there.Deep Blue Ink -> Writing -> Features It was founded by the Colonization Society of India in 1933 as a homeland or "Mooluk" for Anglo-Indians. Anglo-Indians could buy Shares in this co-operative, the Colonization Society of India - which in turn would allot them a plot of land. It became home to 400 Anglo-Indian families within ten years.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 Of the nearly 300 original settlers, only 20 families remain, as most of the Anglo-Indian community left after World War II.
Now, the population of the town is around 3000.
Geography McCluskieganj is located at the distance of around 60 km North West from state capital of Jharkhand, Ranchi in Khelari block. It is located at altitude of 450 meter. It is located near the Dugadugi river which is a tributary of Damodar River. Jhunjhunia waterfall located near Macluskieganj.
Climate The climate of McCluskieganj is ideal with low humidity. McCluskieganj witnesses frost during winter which cover grass, vehicles and roofs. During cold wave, It records temperature around freezing points. In 2013, it recorded 1.5 °C in month of January.
Infrastructure Educational institution Adarsh High school, since 1985. Don Bosco Academy, since 1997. Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir, McCluskieganj, primary school since 1998. St. Teresa's Primary School. Janet Academy. Delhi Public International School. McCluskieganj Inter college, since 2012.
Transport National Highway 39 (Ranchi-Daltonganj), an important roadway in the Ranchi district, passes near McCluskieganj. McCluskieganj railway station is located in McCluskieganj.
Attractions McCluskeiganj 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.
Nakta Hill: Peak for trekking and to get a 360 degree panoramic view of the city.
In popular culture The town was the inspiration for the Hindi novel Maikluskiganj () by journalist-writer Vikas Kumar Jha, which was translated into English by Mahasweta Ghosh in 2005. The inspiration was liked by audience.
The 1967 Bengali film Chhuti was set in and around McCluskieganj.
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.
References
External links
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