By Dipaneeta Das: Designing a home from the ground up, brick-by-brick, is everyone’s dream. Fulfilling the same is Mintu Roy, a man from Bengal’s Darjeeling district, who gave a touch of reality to his dream of living on a ship.
Roy has garnered attention for constructing a house that bears an uncanny resemblance to the famous Royal Mail Steamer (RMS) Titanic. The unique home, located in the remote areas of Siliguri, has been the talk of the town and has sparked interest in the architectural world.
The man behind the project, 52-year-old Roy, spent years designing and constructing the structure by himself.
The 3-storey house is built on 9.5 decimal land, including features such as a sloping roof, porthole windows, and even a smokestack.
STORY BEHIND THE ‘TITANIC HOUSE’
Speaking about what inspired him to create such a unique abode to live in, Mintu shared, “Most of my childhood was spent in Kolkata, around the Bowbazar area. The time of Durga Puja is one of my fondest memories. I watched people flocking to pandals even days after the puja ended. It was one such pandal that set the spark to make a memorable home for me and my family.”
Formally a resident of Helencha, North 24 Parganas, Mintu moved to Phansidewa about 20-25 years ago. Facing financial constraints, he moved to North Bengal in search of a job and decided to materialize his idea of building a house in the form of a ship.
“I moved to North Bengal with my father, Manoranjan Roy. I wanted to live here because of the peaceful environment. But lack of funds put a halt to my dream of constructing such a complex structure,” Mintu revealed.
Roy tried to hire engineers to help him complete the project. However, he learned that accomplishing the structure given its complexity would require treble the fund he had estimated.
“After the engineers backed out, I went to live in Nepal for 3 years, where I learned masonry. So far, I have spent about Rs 15 lakh on his house,” he said.
Still under construction, the interior is just as impressive. Roy plans to include intricate woodwork and install a grand staircase reminiscent of the ship’s elegant design. He also built a deck and control room where his guests would be able to enjoy the view of the sunset across the tea plantation.
The house has been a hit with locals, who have been flocking to take pictures and marvel at the unique design. “This is my husband’s dream, so it is mine and the children’s. We all want to help him accomplish that,” said Mintu’s wife, Iti Roy.
Roy hopes that his creation will inspire others to think outside the box and push the boundaries of traditional architecture. For now, he’s enjoying the attention his Titanic-inspired home has received and is excited to see where his passion for architecture will take him next.
(With inputs from Joydeep Bag)
