Rajendra Tower

Rajendra Tower (Hindi: राजेंद्र टावर), locally known as Tower Chowk,[1] is a historic clock tower in Gaya, Bihar, India.[2] Built sometime between 1910 and 1914 during the British rule by the-then collector George Oldhum, it was renamed as Rajendra Tower after the first Indian president Dr. Rajendra Prasad in 1981 by the administration of Bihar's Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra. The tower is widely considered to be the symbol of the city.[3]

Rajendra Tower
Rajendra Tower, August 2022
Alternative namesTower Chowk
General information
Town or cityGaya
CountryIndia
CompletedBetween 1910 and 1914

History

The clock tower was built during the British Raj by George Oldhum, the-then collector of Gaya district, which was under Bihar and Orissa Province sometime between 1910 and 1914. The clock tower gradually became symbolic for the city of Gaya. After the end of British rule in 1947, the clock tower eventually became the property of the new Indian state of Bihar. It was renamed Rajendra Tower in 1981 after Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India by the administration of Jagannath Mishra, the-then Chief Minister of Bihar.[2] According to locals, there were four clocks in the tower on each side and people used to hear the chimes of the clock from meters away whereas pedestrians used to match their accurate time by taking the reference of the clock.[4] Due to the presence of the clock tower, the area gradually became a commercial district and goes by the name of Tower Chowk.[5][6]

References
  1. "इतिहास का अंधकूप बनाम बंद गलियों का रूह-चुह : गया में यौनकर्म और यौनकर्मी : पहली क़िस्त". streekaal.com. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  2. Kumar, Alok (31 May 2011). "Revamp bells ring for tower - Rs 14-lakh project to restore British raj relic". The Telegraph. India. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  3. "47 दिनों में भी नहीं बना राजेंद्र टावर". Prabhat Khabar - Hindi News (in Hindi). Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  4. "ये तो ठीक नहीं है, गया शहर के टॉवर की तीन लाख से निखरेगी सूरत, लेकिन घड़ी की नहीं होगी मरम्‍मत". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  5. "Civic body gives nod to Rs 547-crore budget in Gaya | Patna News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  6. "टावर चौक की कपड़े दुकान के छज्जे पर आग लगने से मच गई अफरातफरी". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 30 March 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2021.

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