GRSE under CSR undertook beautification of two iconic ghats on banks of River Hooghly
On August 6, 2025 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by GRSE and SMPK to undertake the beautification of two iconic ghats on the banks of the River Hooghly- the culturally revered Mayer Ghat at Bagbazar & the historic Suriname Ghat at Garden Reach.
GRSE under CSR undertook beautification of two iconic ghats on banks of River Hooghly
Kolkata (August 14, 2025): As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and its continued efforts to maintain and promote the rich heritage of Kolkata, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has undertaken the beautification of two iconic ghats on the banks of the River Hooghly- the culturally revered Mayer Ghat at Bagbazar & the historic Suriname Ghat at Garden Reach.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed on August 6, 2025, by Shri Rajeev Shrivastava, GM(HR&A), GRSE and Shri Santanu Mitra, Chief Engineer, SMPK, in the presence of Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE & Shri Rathendra Raman, Chairman, SMPK. Capt (IN) P Sunilkumar (Retd.), Director (Corporate Planning & Personnel) and other senior officials from GRSE & SMPK were present on the occasion.
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Mayer Ghat, located near Bagbazar in North Kolkata, is renowned for its spiritual and cultural significance. The ghat is historically associated with Ma Sarada, (the revered spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa), who used the ghat during her stay at her residence, Udbodhan. The beautification initiative will preserve and enhance this revered landmark, ensuring its upkeep for future generations.
The Suriname Ghat has immense historical significance. It is from here that the sail ship Lalla departed on February 26, 1873, for the Dutch colony of Suriname, with 410 indentured labourers and their families. That was the start of what is today known as the Indian diaspora in the Republic of Suriname.
As many as 34,304 Indians are known to have reached Suriname in 63 more ships that left the Suriname Ghat till 1916. Today, there are over 175,000 people of Indian origin in Suriname, forming over 35% of the total population of the country.
Read Also : Indian Oil’s Panipat Refinery Secures ISCC CORSIA CertificationThe Mai Baap Memorial at the Ghat and the sculpture of a man and a woman carrying ‘potlis’ on their heads, is a symbol of resilience that India and Indians have displayed over ages. When they left India, the men were allowed to carry two dhotis and two kurtas and the women, two saris. Some of them carried religious texts such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata with them. At that time, they were paid 25-pence a week. Today their descendants have made it big in the worlds of business, arts, sports and politics.
GRSE is not new to the Caribbean, of which Suriname is a part. In 2023, the shipyard delivered the Ma Lisha, an ocean-going, passenger-cum-cargo ferry to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana that shares its border with Suriname. This ferry, the first built for that country in India, is the largest and fastest in Guyana. Indentured labourers also travelled to Guyana from Kolkata to work in the sugarcane plantations.
The restoration and beautification of Mayer Ghat and Suriname Ghat will not only preserve two significant heritage sites but also serve as a powerful reminder of important chapters in India’s history, attracting visitors and fostering awareness of the country’s cultural legacy.
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