Nestled at the end of Bhawani Dutta Lane of College Street, Swadhin Bharat Hindu has been serving traditional dishes for more than 110 years. In 1914, Mon Gobindo Panda, a youth from Odisha started this hotel to serve simple and economic meals of rice and fish to the locals, especially students. Pre-Independence, it was called ‘Hindu Hotel’
Hindu Hotel served plain rice with ‘topshe’ (mango fish) in its initial days. Patrons would sit on ‘piris’ or wooden stools and enjoy dishes cooked in a wood-fired oven. As the popularity of the eatery grew, the menu expanded attracting personalities like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das
It is said that the ‘pui shak er chochchori’ was Netaji’s favourite during his Hindu College days and continues to be the most popular dish even today. ‘Swadhin’s ‘chochchori’ defies tradition by cooking the vegetables like ‘kosha’, rather than gently stirring them. This creates a dimension of caramelisation, making it less a symphony of flavours and more a robust and confident solo. No wonder it was our bravest and boldest leader’s favourite!’ says chef Auroni Mookerjee
Auroni Mookerjee
Post-Independence, when India got its freedom, the hotel added ‘Swadhin Bharat’ to its original name. Since then, the hotel has maintained its legacy under the guidance of Arunangshu Panda. Food is cooked on wood fire with mustard oil and freshly-grounded spices. Rice is served on a banana leaf placed on a steel plate and the sides come in small steel bowls
People fancying Bengali food have shown their love for various fish preparations like ‘chara bhetki’ (barramundi), ‘boal’ (wallago catfish), ‘mourola’ (carplet) and more. From different ‘bhajas’ (fried items) to ‘torkaris’ (vegetable preparations), ‘machher muro diye dal’ (green lentil and fish head) to ‘kosha mangsho’ (mutton in gravy) and ‘murgir jhol’ (chicken in gravy) — the menu is elaborate and each item has to be purchased separately
Auroni Mookerjee
The pice hotel is thriving despite no delivery app tie-ups. It celebrates days like Independence Day and Netaji’s birthday with free food services. Recently, it received the INTACH Heritage Culinary Recognition Blue Plaque by the Kolkata chapter. Places like Swadhin Bharat Hindu Hotel add to the rich history of Kolkata’s culinary heritage
