One of Bengal’s timeless contributions to children’s literature is Upendrakishore Roychowdhury’s story ‘Goopi Gyne Bagha Byne’, where ghosts bestowed fantastic powers on two simple village boys.
The owners of a hotel to be inaugurated on Robinson Street today are hoping for a similar miracle, and it seems to be a real possibility, with the skeletons of the De family still very much alive in public memory!
The Aauris Hotel will be inaugurated by legendary Olympian Milkha Singh, and prominent Tollywood actor Raima Sen will be present at the inauguration.
“Even a few months ago, very few actually knew of this place. The skeletons case catapulted Robinson Street to world headlines. The location is definitely an advantage,” Ankur Siddiqui, general manager of Aauris, told HT.
The hotel is just across the narrow Robinson Street and anyone coming out of it will be facing the De residence. In fact, some of the hotel’s rooms seem to offer an unhindered view of the house.
“No one knew of Robinson Street, even in Kolkata. But after the discovery of the skeletons, almost everybody knows the name. It will surely translate into business for the hotel,” Anil Punjabi, regional chairman of Travel Agents’ Federation of India, said.
In June, the De residence attracted thousands of curious onlookers who wanted to catch a glimpse of the house where Partha De and his father Arobindo lived for six months with three skeletons, including one of Debjani, Partha’s sister and Arobindo’s daughter, before Arobindo committed suicide and the bizarre story came to light. The house triggered so much interest about ghosts and spirits that Paranormal Research Society, a city-based body, firmed up plans to guide tourists on spooky trips to select ‘haunted places’ across Bengal for a “hair-raising experience”.
{{/usCountry}}In June, the De residence attracted thousands of curious onlookers who wanted to catch a glimpse of the house where Partha De and his father Arobindo lived for six months with three skeletons, including one of Debjani, Partha’s sister and Arobindo’s daughter, before Arobindo committed suicide and the bizarre story came to light. The house triggered so much interest about ghosts and spirits that Paranormal Research Society, a city-based body, firmed up plans to guide tourists on spooky trips to select ‘haunted places’ across Bengal for a “hair-raising experience”.
{{/usCountry}}Whether Hotel Aauris can provide such excitement remains to be seen!