Boulevard’s Heritage

The Second World War was still in full force. Tata Steel was in existence for more than thirty-five years. It had already turned the profit corner and the Company’s Managers were looking to see how the town could be  improved. One badly needed service was another Residential Hotel. The Tisco Hotel was run by the Billimoria family, although it was built by the Company. Another plot was identified and a ‘Calcutta” party was told to raise a hotel. Since nothing came up in the following six months, the Town Administrator was searching for some one else. It is said that by chance Mr John Peter D’Costa, second son of the illustrious contractor, Bartholomew D’Costa having returned with an engineering degree from England, was at the Beldih Club and walked into the lounge. He was spotted and summoned and challenged to put up a Hotel in six months. He accepted the challenge, and successfully implemented it. 

Meanwhile the Japanese were knocking at the border of India and the Allies thought of building Airbases nearby to accommodate their B52 Bombers and  spit fire fighters. One such base was at Chakulia near Dhalbhumgar. The pilots stayed  at the Boulevard. But here too there was a cast distinction. The Americans ,who got a better allowance stayed on the first floor and they paid an all found daily rate of One Rupee and Fifty paise per day. The British paid half that amount and operated their own mess on the ground floor. However all met in the Bar every day and with the well known competition between the two, the arguments and fights we have witnessed made us wonder whether the real enemy was really the Japanese! Be that as it may, but it did help us to recoup our major investment. To manage this unruly crowd, we even had a lady Manager.

 We have since played host to many famous people, including the visiting English team. The Rotary Club had their meetings here before shifting to The Beldih Club

 This writer remembers when the famous wrestlers, Dara Singh and King Kong stayed at The Boulevard. We actually saw them eat 24 eggs for breakfast and two chickens for lunch. A bill they have yet to pay, fifty years later! But we treasure what another wrestler wrote in our autograph book ….......                                    
”  I know my enemies, but LORD protect me from my friends!”

We wished that wrestler all success as we do to all our guests.

Be part of Jamshedpur’s history and stay with us.

 Sincerely,        

Ronald D'Costa,
(Mr  Barthalemew’s Grandson)