Lascar War Memorial

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Lascar War Memorial, Kolkata

The Lascar War Memorial is a tall, 100-foot monument on Napier Road in Hastings, Kolkata, at the southern end of the Maidan near Prinsep Ghat. It honors 896 Lascars—sailors from the Indian subcontinent and nearby regions—who died serving on Royal Navy and British Merchant ships during World War I.

Who were Lascars? The word comes from Persian and Arabic terms meaning army and soldier. Lascars were sailors from parts of the Indian Ocean region who worked on European ships from the 16th to the early 20th centuries.

Design and history: Built between 1920 and 1924 in Indo-Mughal style by architect William Ingram Keir, the memorial is a four-sided column with the prow of an ancient galley on each side, four small minarets, and a large gilt dome. Wave-like lines beneath the balcony, along with chajjas (eaves) and trellises, give it a distinct Indian naval look. It was unveiled on 6 February 1924 by Lord Lytton, the Governor of Bengal. The monument is near Prinsep Ghat on the Maidan.

Inside: A large doorway leads to the interior, which has three plaques under the inscription "Lascar Memorial." One plaque records the unveiling by Lytton; the second notes that the memorial was erected by the shipping and mercantile community of India in memory of the 896 seamen of Bengal, Assam and upper India who died serving the British Empire in World War I; the third explains that the memorial has been renovated and lit.

Renovation and later use: The memorial fell into neglect and was revived in 1994 after Commodore B. K. Mohanti organized funds. Illumination was installed and switched on by Governor A. L. Dias on 7 December 1994, marking the 40th anniversary of INS Netaji Subhas. Since then, restoration and lighting have continued.

Events: Lascar War Memorial hosts events such as National Navy Day on 4 December each year. In 2012, James Keir (son of the architect) visited the memorial with Commodore Mohanti as part of INTACH’s effort to promote lesser-known Kolkata monuments. In January 2013, it hosted part of the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival, including readings, a debate on Kolkata’s cultural status, and performances by baul singers and other artists.