The history and mystery surrounding the steps

This January, I decided to work on a travel diary based on the rich historical background of my home district Murshidabad in Bengal. I had moved out of my hometown Berhampore in 1999 for higher studies. For sixteen long years, I stayed in different cities owing to education and job assignments. When we moved back in 2016, Kolkata had become our new home. In the backyard of my memories, Murshidabad always had a strong influence. I extended my stay at my in-laws for a month this time. Every alternate day, I visited places of historical significance in Murshidabad to understand the folklore surrounding it, read up history books, listened to a tourist guide’s version of its history and clicked numerous snaps. This series formed a part of my BlogchatterA2Z challenge based on the theme ‘A dollop of Bengal”(letters H – M).

This photo was clicked at Nasipur Rajbari (Palace). This palace used to be the court of Debi Singha – the tax collector (in)famous for his atrocities towards the poor. A portion of this property has now been converted into an art museum and library. These steps with a tainted history of bloodshed and pain evoked a feeling of eeriness in me.

(198 words)

When the steps decide between right and wrong
Photo prompt – copyright@soniasmusings

This is the third post (nonfiction) written as part of the #MyfriendAlexa campaign on the theme ‘Shades of Perception’. You can read the first flash fiction around this picture prompt here and the second one here.

This post is part of the Tuesday Photo Challenge on the theme ‘Backyard’ this week.

Linking up with Wordless Wednesday created by Esha and Natasha.

I am taking my Alexa rank to the next level with Blogchatter

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Author: Sonia Chatterjee

An alumnus of Presidency College (Kolkata), Delhi University, and XIME (Bangalore), Sonia Chatterjee holds two post-graduate degrees in Chemistry and Management and an MFA in creative writing from Writer's Village University. With eight years of experience in the banking sector as a Branch Head, she took a sabbatical from the corporate world to start her blog soniasmusings.com. Her blog consistently featured in the Top Indian Blogs list from 2019 to 2024. Her articles have been published on various digital platforms such as Women's Web, Youth Ki Awaaz, Tuck's Magazine, and Period Magazine. She was invited as a speaker at the Breaking Barriers, Kolkata 2018 event by the Women's Web, at the Women Writer’s Fest, Kolkata, 2020, and the Crime Writers Festival, Kolkata,2025. Sonia has written two detective thrillers titled ‘Deal of Death – Introducing Raya Ray’ (2019) and ‘Diary, Deceit, and Death – A Raya Ray Adventure’ (Vishwakarma Publications, 2024) and a non-fiction book on true crime titled ‘The Sanyasi Who Became a King’ (Sristhi Publishers, 2025). Her book ‘Diary, Deceit, and Death’ was shortlisted for the PVLF Awards 2024-25 in the Best Fiction Category. Sonia lives in Kolkata with her doctor husband and nine-and-a-half-year-old son.

48 thoughts on “The history and mystery surrounding the steps”

  2. I love to play with words, and your title is a perfect play of words.
    It was intrigue indeed Sonia.
    And as I started to navigate through the flow of your thoughts, it was loaded with so much nostalgia. I dived deep. Back to place of origin after long hiatus makes us look at the same world in a different perspective, and precisely what you have gone and done, I would have also loved to do that bit of exploration of the old world charm, the old buildings with historical significance gets eventually converted into museums/libraries and there is a story written in every step of such monuments.
    The very moment when we negotiate to convert our perception into interesting perspectives we turn a new chapter in our outlook towards life.
    😀

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    1. You have written such a beautiful and engaging comment that I really like my efforts were getting rewarded. Heartfelt gratitude. The last line left me with a thought about how it is our perception that makes us see the world through tinted thoughts. Thank you for the thought provoking discussion.

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      1. It was great landing in your space. The choice of your theme is quite intriguing. I always enjoy the rich culture, history, and literature that thrives in Bengal, there is this vibrancy of idea and creation…
        Always my pleasure.
        😀

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    1. Oh wow. I’m so happy to know this. Best wishes and lots of happiness to you both. If you find my posts informative, I know that I’m on the right track. Thank you dear for boosting my morale on an otherwise rough day.

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  10. Thanks for revealing the origin of those steps. The ones leading up to the Asiatic Library in Mumbai have a wonderful history associated with them – several people have studied under the lamplight, spending hours in the peace and quiet of the steps, far away from their crowded homes

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  11. Every step that lifts you to the next level does have a story. And this one too. Great.
    Let’s learn from history. Yes, these are history for the new gen to know what they should not do or repeat.
    I was left speechless when visited the concentration camp museum last month in Munich. Those def stands to remind us the bad things that should not be repeated.

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  12. First things first – I loved the fact that you chose to write about the city you do not live now but have roots. It’s a beautiful effort and will go a long way.
    Second, I loved that picture and the backdrop you gave. Good one!

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  14. This was an interesting backstory to read. I am glad you got to explore the place more. I want to someday spend that kind of time revisiting my hometown.

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  16. Very interesting, Sonia. I’ve never been to Murshidabad and your post reminds me that I must try and visit this place because it is steeped in history. So much to experience and enjoy. Perhaps a visit, to begin with, right?

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    1. Oh, that’s so good to know. Where are you from? Let me know if you plan a trip there, I would be happy to help. Also, there’s are quite a few articles on my A2Z page about Murshidabad, You might enjoy them. Thanks for reading.

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  20. Nice to know this piece of history, Sonia. But if ever I visit this place, I will be loathe to climb up the stairs thinking of what all they have seen! When I visited the Mediterranean sea, I couldn’t bring myself to dip my feet in its waters thinking of all the migrants hoping for the promised land who had lost their lives in her waters.

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    1. You spoke my mind. I would click pics from a distance and try to avoid too much time there. Luckily the pics came out well. The place is filled with the history of blood and pain. Thank you for reading.

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  21. Pingback: Tuesday Photo Challenge – Round Up 125 – Dutch goes the Photo!

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