| Writers' Building | |
|---|---|
| মহাকরণ | |
| Mahakaran-kolkata.jpg Main façade of the Writers' Building |
|
| Design and construction | |
| Owner | Government of West Bengal |
| Architect | Thomas Lyon |
| Engineer | 1889 |
The Writers' Building (Bengali: মহাকরণ Mahakaran) is the secretariat building of the State Government of West Bengal in India.[1] It is and is located in West Bengal's capital city of Kolkata. The Writers' Building originally served as the office for writers of the British East India Company, hence the name. Designed by Thomas Lyon in 1780, it received its impressive Corinthian façade, an example of the Neo-Renaissance style, in 1889. There is a statue of Britannia atop the main entrance.[2]
The building is located on the northern shore of the a water body locally called Lal Dighi in B.B.D. Bagh area. Various departments of the West Bengal government are housed in this building. It is an edifice of great political significance and memories of the Indian Independence Movement. Writer's building is now being used as Chief Minister's Office and secretariat.