In a poignant clash between heritage and modern infrastructure, the nearly 100-year-old N C Ghosh Institute, once the cultural heartbeat of Khagaul in Patna district, has been largely demolished. The once-vibrant structure, nestled near the Danapur Railway Station, made way this week for an elevated road project linking Danapur to Bihta — a step forward in Bihar’s infrastructure, but a step back for its historical memory.
The demolition, carried out by government teams on Thursday, lasted over eight hours. By evening, what remained of the two-storey, red-brick structure were fragments of its proud past — twisted iron girders, shattered brick walls, and a haunting absence where once elegant ballrooms echoed with music during the British era and early decades of independent India.
From Theatre to Rubble
Originally built as a ‘railway institute’ by the East Indian Railway (EIR), the building was designed as a recreational and cultural hub for railway officers and staff. It later came to be known as N C Ghosh Institute, possibly renamed after Rai Bahadur N C Ghosh, who served as Divisional Superintendent in the 1930s. Though no formal construction date has been found, experts and local historians estimate the building to be around a century old.
Until a few decades ago, it hosted theatrical plays, lavish parties, and social gatherings, including grand Christmas celebrations during colonial times. In recent years, however, it functioned as a humble community hall, a faded reflection of its once-glorious role.
Ironically, the demolition follows centenary celebrations of the Danapur Division held just a few months ago, where Indian Railways paid tribute to its historical journey since its establishment in 1925. The celebration, complete with projection mapping and archival exhibitions, was held a stone’s throw from the very building now reduced to dust.
Locals Mourn, Authorities Move On
To the residents of Khagaul, especially older generations, the N C Ghosh Institute was more than just bricks and mortar. It was a symbol of the town’s unique identity as a railway settlement rich in British-era architecture and tradition.
“This place was part of our collective memory,” said Rajesh Kumar, a 68-year-old retired railway clerk who grew up watching plays there. “Now it’s just debris. Couldn’t there have been a way to preserve at least a part of it?”
The decision to raze the building had been made months ago, with authorities citing urgent infrastructure needs. The elevated road project aims to ease traffic congestion and boost connectivity between Danapur and Bihta, a move seen as vital for the region’s growth.
Another historic structure, the V N Sharma Institute — another red-brick colonial relic — located nearby, is also slated for demolition as part of the road’s alignment.
A Town with Tracks to the Past
Khagaul, once dubbed a ‘railway town’, still carries the legacy of its 19th- and early 20th-century urban planning. Beyond the now-lost N C Ghosh Institute, it is home to ‘Rail Sadan’ (the DRM’s residence), old railway schools, hospitals, chapels, and quaint railway colonies — most of them modest but steeped in history.
The Danapur Division, a key part of Indian Railways’ early network, was established on January 1, 1925. Its majestic headquarters was built in 1929, and the post of Divisional Superintendent was later redesignated as Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) in the 1980s.
Post-Independence, Danapur Division was integrated into Eastern Railway (ER), and later transferred to East Central Railway (ECR) with its headquarters at Hajipur in 2002.
Balancing Development and Heritage
While the elevated road is expected to bring tangible benefits in terms of connectivity and commerce, the incident has once again brought to the forefront the pressing need for heritage-sensitive urban planning.
“Not every old building can be turned into a museum, but selective preservation is important,” said a heritage architect familiar with the region. “We are losing character in our pursuit of concrete.”
As bulldozers make way for the future, the memory of the N C Ghosh Institute lingers, not just in dusty archives or fading photos, but in the hearts of a community watching its heritage vanish, one building at a time.
