SABITRI LODGE

Cooch Behar Heritage Society draws attention of West Bengal Governor
Mr MK Narayanan over the sorry state of Sabitri Lodge, a heritage building situated in
Cooch Behar. The Governor is expected to visit Cooch Behar on 26
December to attend a programme at a school. Here is the letter :

Dec 24, 2011
Shri MK Narayanan
His Excellency the Governor
West Bengal

Your Excellency,
I, on behalf of the Cooch Behar Heritage Society, beg to draw your
kind attention to the critical status of historic Sabitri Lodge of
Cooch Behar and seek your kind intervention immediately in this
matter. The building, at the heart of the town of Cooch Behar, is
presently under the jurisdiction of Public Works Department of West
Bengal and occupied by some police officials.

Sabitri Lodge was built 125 years ago by Kumar Gajendra Narayan
Senior, a barrister of Calcutta High Court and a cousin of Maharaja
Sir Nripendra Narayan of Cooch Behar. Gajendra, the great grandson of
Maharaja Harendra Narayan, married the second daughter of Brahmananda
Keshab Chandra Sen while Sen's eldest daughter, Sunity was married to
Maharaja Nripendra. It was following the marriage that the Brahmo
Samaj got divided.
Kumar Gajendra, the secretary of Nababidhan Brahmo Samaj of Cooch
behar, named the newly constructed house Sabitri Lodge after his
beloved wife. A school was set up here to teach moral education to the
boys and girls of Cooch Behar. Later, in 1908, a technical school was
established for local womenfolk. Aryya Nari Samaj and Band of Hope
Wing for anti liquor campaign in the state were also launched here.
The building was for a certain period of time a shelter for the great
reformers of India.

After the demise of Maharaja Sir Nripendra on 18th September, 2011 the
situation got adverse for Kumar Gajendra. Anti Brahmo feelings grew
manifold. Kumar Gajendra and his family members had to go in exile
following a complaint of theft. Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das,
Atulprosad Sen and several other barristers came here to fight the
legal battle for the family and stayed in the Lodge for many times
then. The charges were later proved to be baseless and were
subsequently withdrawn but Kumar Gajendra never returned to his
homeland.
We pray to Your Excellency to be kind enough to look into the matter
so that this historic two storied building be renovated and granted
heritage status.

With deepest regards,

Yours faithfully,

Arupjyoti Majumdar
Secretary
Cooch Behar Heritage Society
395 Biswasingha Rd,, Cooch Behar 736 101, West Bengal .

An earlier letter :






Dec 20, 2011
Shri MK Narayanan
The Hon’ble Governor
West Bengal

Your Excellency,

Cooch Behar was once a princely state in British India and merged with West Bengal in 1950. Lots of archival materials of the state period having immense historical value are still scattered in different offices of PWD, collectorate, judiciary etc. Though this district has a record room, it is not well maintained since long. For instance, a letter recommended by Vidyasagar and written by Michael Madhusudan Dutt to Maharaja Narendra Narayan of Cooch Behar for a candidature in Cooch Behar Court in 1860 was here but this priceless document is not traceable now.

These records also have immense historical value as they throw light on inter- state relations and relation of the British throne with the Royal family of Cooch Behar. Moreover, erstwhile state of Cooch Behar had its own administration, some laws exclusively of her own. These documents are valuable sources for research workers.

Under the circumstances Cooch Behar Heritage Society proposes to set up an archive in Cooch Behar for proper preservation of the same for future.


With deepest regards,


(Arupjyoti Majumdar)
Secretary
Cooch Behar Heritage Society