HERITAGE

Save heritage demand in Cooch Behar

COOCH BEHAR, March 12: Demands are gathering momentum for conservation of historic buildings and articles of heritage status. The Heritage Society of Cooch Behar took an initiative to mobilise public opinions and another organisation named Concern for Cooch Behar also supported the move.

A printing press started functioning in Cooch Behar in 1875 that was installed during the regime of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan. Maharaja Narendra Narayan bought the machineries from Kolkata in 1861. 'The Select Records of Cooch Behar, Volume I' is considered the first book printed in this press in 1882. In 1899-1900 a new printing machine was purchased from London for printing of judicial stamps, non-judicial stamps etc. Many books were printed in those days from this press.

New printing machines replaced the old ones and the three hand driven machines of the initial years of the press are lying unused. Already they acquired antique value too. The six-kilometre long Garh (rampart) of Gosanimari is also a piece of history of Cooch Behar. It is yet to be ascertained when this rampart was built but even in 1498 it was there to save Gosanimari, the capital of the kingdom of Khen dynasty. Historian Buckhannon Hamilton visited this Garh in 1808 and described it in detail in his writings.

Sabitri Lodge was the residence of Kumar Gajendra Narayan (Senior), who was the great grandson of Maharaja Harendra Narayan. Once, the great patriot Deshabandhu Chittaranjan Das stayed here for several days. Now, the decayed building turned as a Bhoot Bungalow (haunted house).

Kumar Gajendra Narayan (Senior) married the second daughter of Brahmananda Keshav Chandra Sen on 13 August 1881. The elder daughter, Sunity Devi was married to Maharaja Nripendra Narayan and following that marriage the Brahma society of Bengal got divided.

The construction of the residence began in 1885-86. Gajendra Narayan named the house after his beloved wife as Sabitri Lodge. A normal school was set up at Sabitri Lodge to teach moral education to the boys and girls. A technical school was established in 1908 for local womenfolk. Arya Naree Samaj and anti-liquor consumption society were also launched here. The building turned into a shelter for the preachers of Nava Bidhan sect of Brahma society.

The Heritage Society of Cooch Behar demanded preservation of the heritage printing machines, the Garh and the Sabitri Lodge. They already placed their appeal to the state PWD minister Mr Kshiti Goswami and others to take initiatives in the interest of saving the history of Cooch Behar.