Archaeology Dept gets back Warren Hastings bungalow

LUCKNOW: After fighting for over 35 years, the UP State Archaeology department is all set to get possession of sprawling bungalow of Governor-General Warren Hastings in Chunar (Mirzapur) as the state government has finally agreed to hand it back to the department.
The historical bungalow was handed over to the PAC by the state home department way back in 1967.A Recruitment Training Centre (RTC) was opened there and since then the historical bungalow was in possession of the RTC which had carried out a few construction in the vicinity in gross violation of ASI laws.
The bungalow was a part of the famous Chunar Qila, which is situated South of Ganga river in Mirzapur. The Chunar Qila was first attacked by Major Munro in 1763 but the British forces could not occupy the entire qila as they had to march ahead. In 1781, the Qila was finally annexed by then Governor-General Warren Hastings.
Impressed by its strategic position, picturesque surroundings and greenery Hastings used a portion of the famous Qila as his residence and stayed there for few years in the building now known as Warren Hastigns bungalow. An inscription on the East wall of the bungalow confirms this.
The qila also houses a ''Sun Dial''. The watch is positioned such a way that it tells the exact time when sun rays roll over the stoney dials of the famous watch. After Hastings left the place in 1791, his bungalow was allowed to be used for the R-R (rest and recreation) of European forces. A huge iron water tank, which was used as Geyser, is a living testimony to this. Water used to be drawn into the iron tank from the river and then it was put on fire to warm it for bathing purposes in winters.
In 1815, a barrack was constructed and the entire Chunar Qila was converted into a jail for keeping prisoners. A Death Cell for hanging prisoners and an under-ground cell still remind how British Army had turned it into an infamous ghetto for Indian prisoners.
It was declared a historical monument in post-independent. But the state home department chose to hand over the famous bungalow to RTC and another building to the PWD which is still using it as guest house. Now the state archaeology department has taken up the issue afresh with the state home department which has finally agreed to vacate the bungalow from RTC and building from PWD.
"We hope to get it back very soon," claims K K Updhyaya, secretary, culture. The department has already began conservation of the Chunar Qila and has drawn up a blue-print for the restoration of Warren Hastings'' bungalow after getting it vacated from the RTC.