The Ghost of Victoria

 The place Dowhill is unknown to many. It is situated at the heart of Himalayas near the historical city of Darjeeling. Though Dowhill has a vast stretch of natural scenic beauty surrounding it but during the British era it was particularly famous for the schools and the education it provided. One of such school is Victoria Boys School. The stature of the school conveyed the rich architectural taste of the British, even after so many years of their departure, it has maintained the culture and the buildings with some inevitable maintenance.I, being somewhat frustrated with my job (studies to be precise) and with a need of some fresh air visited Dowhill. Umm…to tell the truth I was attracted by the stories surrounding the Victoria Boys depicted by my father.My father was a timber merchant and regularly visited the forests and hills for the auction purpose. Since my childhood, he fondly described me his experiences from the attack of wild animals to his negotiations with dacoits, sometimes using his imaginations to draw my attention.

 One fine night we were trying to sleep and he in his charismatic voice said, “Dodo! Have you ever heard of Victoria Boys?” I replied somewhat being annoyed, “No!”
The summary of story he described is as follows:-
Just some years after the Indian Independence, the hostel of the Victoria Boys School caught fire and many students died as a consequence of it. The local people at that time frequently heard the crying of the students at night, some of them even saw the dead loitering around the school, dressed in their uniform.

 It indeed caught my attention. So, I planned a trip there to experience and judge the truthfulness of the story and the extent of it being a rumour.

 On a day in the month of August, I rented a TATA Sumo from my hometown Siliguri, reached Kurseong at 10 A.M, booked a hotel and met with my cousin, who at that time, studied in the Kurseong polytechnic. I had conveyed him my purpose of visit in a telephonic conversation and he was willing to lend help. He and I, after having Thukpa (a traditional food there) as breakfast went to Dowhill. Dowhill is an uphill ride few kilometres from Kurseong. The first thing that caught my eyes was the rich flora it consisted and the WEST BENGAL FOREST SCHOOL.

 The environment was none the less mesmerising with clouds passing through me.After reaching the so called ill-fated and ghastly school, the students were having recess and they were playing football. I joined them, the air pressure was low and my stamina didn’t last long but the result of playing, as football does, was that I befriended them.

 I asked them about the ghost they denied saying, “No Dada, We have heard that rumour but never experienced it.” The teachers were also very helpful but they also denied about the stories and one of them insisted, “I think you should ask the local people, I am new here”.I then visited the then school hostel, it was beside the newly constructed hostel they didn’t permitted me inside, being an outsider, but from outside there was no sign of the disaster. Of course, I was hoping too much because many years had gone by since the incident.

 It was 4 PM in the evening and was time to return to the hotel. We decided that we will return that night to investigate. On the way, we stopped at a tea stall to drink tea, asked the stall owner, “Do you know anything about the ghost?.” He told us, “Yes, I believe of their presence but I have never seen them.”, and urged us not to go there. He then added, “Sir, you should visit here during the Christmas. Although the church is small, but the emotion is beyond words.”

 At night almost at 12A.M., we returned there, with a torch light and waited till the dawn.
Fortunately or unfortunately, no sound was heard or no unearthly bodies were seen, but the scenic beauty of Dowhill at the dawn was so heavenly that it is beyond my vocabulary to even describe.

Next day, after having lunch, I took a travel back to Siliguri with the relishing memories of the Dowhill’s scenic beauty.
I would urge the readers to visit Dowhill to enjoy the beauty and if they are lucky enough to they will see or feel the presence of ghost there.
Thank You,
TRIDIB BOSE
P.S.: The story has some reality and some imagination but the extent of reality is to be determined by visiting Dowhill, Kurseong, West Bengal. ;)
The Photo Credit goes to the guys in the photo including me.