McCluskieganj is a small hilly town in Jharkhand State, India, about northwest of the capital, Ranchi. The town used to have a significant Anglo-Indian community at one time but this has declined considerably.
History
It was founded by the Colonisation Society of India in 1933 as a homeland or "Mooluk" for Anglo-Indians. Anglo-Indians could buy Shares in this co-operative - The Colonisation Society of India - which in turn would allot them a plot of land. It became home to 400 Anglo-Indian families within ten years. In 1932 Ernest Timothy McCluskie, a businessman from Calcutta, the founder of the town, sent circulars to nearly 200,000 Anglo-Indians in India inviting them to settle there. Of the nearly 300 original settlers, only 20 families remain, as most of the Anglo-Indian community left after World War II. The town has lush green surroundings, dirt tracks and fresh air to breathe.
Places
Today, most of the old mansions have been converted to guest houses for tourists. Duga dugi River and Jagriti Vihar are some of the places to visit. A unique cluster of a temple, a mosque and a gurudwaradraws visitors from far off places. There is also a Don Bosco Academy in the town. A documentary was made about the town's community in 1993. McCluskie was a property dealer based in Calcutta. He used to visit some villages in the area for hunting, and even built a hutment at a place called Harhu. His friend PP Sahib worked as the manager of Ratu Shahansha's estate and it was he who convinced the Shahansha to lease out the land to McCluskie. Subsequently, in 1933, the Colonisation Society of India Limited was formed and the Shahnsha signed an agreement with it. It was decided that the Anglo-Indians could build their settlement in nine villages on land not occupied by the original rahiyats of those villages. It was also agreed that the settlers would not be allowed to acquire the rivers and the hills.
McCluskeiganj Gurudwara and Temple: lying in the same complex is a place of integrity and shows brotherhood of India. McCluskeiganj Mosque: It is just besides the Gurudwara and Temple complex. St. John's Church: A historical place built by Anglo-Indians during British rule.
