The Bengal chariot: Wheels of time

The Mullick family of Marble Palace continues to celebrate their archaic Rathyatra with unchanged fervour

- Sudipto Basu

Marble Palace at 46 Muktaram Babu Street is Raja Rajendra Mullick's abode and an art gallery of chosen Victorian artefacts on a sprawling estate housing a water body with cemented borders, a private zoo which was the first one in India, fountains, garden sculptures and a temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath.

The temple serves as home to Lord Jagannath and has a long history of its own. The grandeur of the palace notwithstanding this temple can be called the predecessor of this opulent architecture which even hosts a Rathyatra.

The effigy of Lord Jagannath was brought home to the family of the Mullick's by one of the forefathers of the family, Nilmani Mullick, son of Ganga Bishnu Mullick and father to Rajendra Mullick. Nilmani Mullick inherited the idol from his maternal family or the maiden home of his mother, which was the family of Ganga Bishnu's in-laws. Nilmani consecrated the idol in a temple specially built for Lord Jagannath beside a small water body at the Chorbagan locality of north-central Kolkata. Nilmani was married to Hiramani Dashi, both of whom started ceremonial worship of the Lord.

Rajendra was born on 24 June 1819. Little Rajendra grew up to be an exceptionally talented child under the efficient supervision of his mother Hiramani and the able guidance of Sir James Weir Hogg. After Rajendra reached the threshold of adulthood, he expressed his desire to establish an institution of art gallery. James Hogg in consultation with Hiramani and respected syndicate members agreed to that and undertook the construction of the same. Thus, the Marble Palace was built between the years 1830 to 35. Soon after, Rajendra gained ownership of the land adjoining the palace building and initiated the development of it which saw the beginning of Lord Jagannath's chariot festival.