Mega Health Check-up Camp

A mega health check-up camp was organised by the Lions Club of Cooch
Behar Greater (LCCG) in association with Sonari Club at Sonari Primari
School campus on the outskirt of Cooch Behar town on Sunday. Five
renowned doctors attended the camp and examined the locals that
assembled there.

In the camp Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) was arranged by a renowned
drug manufacturer company (CIPLA). They conducted the PFT on 150
patients. Dr Angshuman Sen Sharma examined 205 persons with eye
ailments and identified 16 persons with acute cataract. The President
of the LCCG, Ms Dipanwita Roy said that they will arrange cataract
operation of the selected patients at the Lions Eye Hospital at free
of cost. Dr Debjani Sen Sharma examined 70 local women suffering from
gynaecological problems. Popular child specialists of Cooch Behar, Dr
Binayak Roy and Dr Arindam Boot conducted check-up of 280 children and
suggested required treatment. A renowned dental surgeon Dr Anirban Roy
attended the camp to examine the dental health of children and others.

President of the LCCG, Ms Dipanwita Roy said they organise such health
check-up camps as a part of their social commitment. Such camps will
be organised again in near future, she promised.

Cooch Behar News

Pensioners' agitation in Cooch Behar

The members of the NBSTC Pensioners Association staged a sit-in at the
Divisional Office complex of the corporation today. They shouted
slogans and delivered speeches from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Later, they
submitted a memorandum to the Divisional Manager.

The general secretary of the association, Mohanbanshi Barman said that
they organised the demonstration in support of their four point
charter of demands. They want regular disbursement of pension on the
beginning of a month, clearing of all due payments since last
November, retirement benefits and festival allowance. On Monday they
will stage a two-hour road block at Transport Chowpathi from 12 noon,
Barman said.

The Cooch Behar Divisional Manager of the corporation, Subrata Biswas
admitted that he received a memorandum from the association. As he has
nothing to do with the demands submitted by the pensioners, he
forwarded it to the Managing Director of the NBSTC for consideration,
Biswas said.

CPI-M prepares for Panchayat election

A four-day marathon meeting of the CPI-M was held recently in Cooch
Behar. A senior leader of the party's state unit, Madan Ghosh also
attended the meeting. Party sources said the objective of the four-day
meeting was to strengthen the party's organisational base in Cooch
Behar district.

The CPI-M is not in a happy mood in this district since the last
Panchayat election. They had to lose many seats in that election. In
the last Assembly election too they failed to secure any seat in Cooch
Behar district. Now, to regain their lost popularity they are trying
to reorganise the party's base in this district. At the same time they
want to strengthen the unity of the Left Front as a united force to
combat the 'atrocities' of the Trinamul Congress.

The secretary of the Cooch Behar district CPI-M, Tarini Roy, who is
also a Member of the Rajya Sabha, said today that they spent four days
discussing ways and means to strengthen the party's organisation. It
has nothing to do with the ensuing Panchayat election because they
consider the election as a part of movement. They are being engaged in
movements round the year and so they believe the people are the main
deciding force. If the people supports us and they come up to
participate the movements then the Left Front will be able to return
back in the next three-tier Panchayat election, Roy said.

GCPP's stir threat over Rajbongshi Academy

A newly launched party headed by the much known leader of the Greater
Cooch Behar movement, Bangshi Badan Barman, warned that they might
start a fresh agitation if the state government fails to activate the
Rajbongshi Academy that was announced by the Chief Minister, Mamata
Banerjee. Barman floated a new party named Greater Cooch Behar
People's Party (GCPP) on 6 April in an aim to unite all similar minded
people and organisations to get a new C-category state under the
Central Government curved out of West Bengal.

It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had
announced the formation of Rajbongshi Academy on 10 February from
Siliguri. Following her announcement the district administration of
Cooch Behar posted a signboard of the academy on the historic building
named Victor Palace situated on the west bank of Sagardighi in Cooch
Behar town. Since then nothing has been done about the academy. No
committee was formed, no fund was allotted and nothing was declared
about its functioning. Who to run the academy, how it would function
and from when it to start its journey that are yet unknown to all.

An agitated Barman said they expected the state government do
something for the much awaited academy though there were many
differences over its name. If the state government keeps mum over
functioning of the academy then its image would be shattered. "We will
have to take our steps if they sit idle for a long", he added.

Meanwhile, the GCPP is trying to strengthen its base in Cooch Behar
district. They are now busy in constituting block level committees and
the task may be completed by the end of April. They already formed
block committees at Sitalkuchi, Mathabhanga-I, Dinhata-I, Dinhata-II,
Cooch Behar-I, Haldibari and Tufanganj-II, according to GCPP sources.
After completion of formation of block level committees they would
start formation of Gram Panchayat level committees of the party.

The GCPP supremo, Barman admitted that they are going ahead to take
part in the next three-tier panchayat elections. Before that election
they want to strengthen the organisational base of the party. Soon
after formation of the committees the central committee of the party
would decide over launching of movements. The main demand of their
movement would be 'proper implementation of the agreement by which the
erstwhile Cooch Behar State was merged with Union of India'. This time
they would not agitate to demand recognition of their mother-tongue
and formation of a separate state as these are included in the
historic agreement that was inked between the then Maharaja of Cooch
Behar and the Government of India, Barman explained.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Debashis Bhaumik, Maharaja Harendra Narayan Road, Patakura (Near
Bundh), Cooch Behar-736101 (West Bengal).
E-mail : newsman.cob@gmail.com
Phone : 9434256600 / 8509784534
Webpage : http://tinyurl.com/coochbehar
Skype : debashisbhaumik

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

GREATER COOCH BEHAR

'Greater Cooch Behar' supremo Bangshi Badan came out on bail

After a long legal deliberation the once supremo of 'Greater Cooch
Behar' movement Mr Bangshi Badan Barman came out from behind the iron
bars on bail on Friday afternoon.
A large number of 'Greater Cooch Behar' activists, family members and
well wishers thronged in front of the Cooch Behar District
Correctional Home (CDCH) this noon to receive him. After coming out
from the jail Mr Barman rushed to the age-old Hiranyagarvo Shivmandir
on the west bank of Sagardighi and prayed blessings from Lord Shiva.
From there he left for his home at Jarabari in Dinhata.
Mr Barman was the general secretary of the undivided Greater Cooch
Behar Peoples' Association. During their movement for a separate
Greater Cooch Behar state a violent clash occurred on 20 September,
2005. On that day five persons including three policemen and two
'Greater' supporters got killed. At first Mr Barman evaded arrest. On
25 May 2006 he surrendered to the court of the Chief Judicial
Magistrate in Cooch Behar. On 31 May 2006 he and his associates earned
'political prisoner' status from the court. Since then he was in the
CDCH. Two cases in connection with murder of an additional SP and
murder of two constables were pending against him.
After change of power in the political scenario of the state on 20
July 2011 the release of 43 Greater Cooch Behar activists was expected
following the new state government's policy on release of prisoners.
On 12 August of this year a bail petition was moved at the High Court
and on 12 December the court sanctioned his bail prayer. Today, after
examining the relevant documents he was granted to come out from the
jail, said his lawyer Mr Shibendra Nath Roy. Mr Roy said the other
undertrial 'Greater Cooch Behar' supporters are also expected to come
out on bail very soon.

Raas Mela

Raas-mela comes again

The historic Raas-mela of Cooch Behar is going to start on Thursday.
Cooch Behar DM Mr Mohan Gandhi will inaugurate the fortnight long
fair. Cooch Behar Municipality is the organiser of this biggest and
longest carnival of Cooch Behar district.
The Raas-mela is organised to celebrate the Raas Yatra of Lord Madan
Mohan, the tutelary deity of the Cooch Behar royal family.
It was Maharaja Harendra Narayan (1783-1839), the then ruler of Cooch
Behar State, in whose regime the first Raas-mela was organised. It is
said that when Maharaja Harendra Narayan shifted his capital and
founded a new palace at Bhetaguri he was greatly disturbed by the
presence of ghosts in the old palace. So he felt the need to establish
a new palace. In 1812, Maharaja Harendra Narayan moved into the new
palace on Raas Purnima (the full moon night in the month of Kartik). A
Raas Mela was organised there on that occasion. That was the first
Raas-mela of Cooch Behar.

Rajdhani halted by agitators

Members of the SUCI-dominated Aloo-Paat-Dhanchashi Sangram Committee
halted the Guwahati bound Rajdhani Express at New Cooch Behar Railway
Station on Wednesday noon. Following the agitation plying of all
trains were disrupted in the route for a long time.
Secretary of the Aloo-Paat-Dhanchashi Sangram Committee, Mr Nripen
Karjee claimed they halted the Rajdhani Express from 1-20 pm to 2 pm.
They organised the agitation demanding supportive price of potato,
paddy and jute, lifting of agricultural loans and stern steps against
price hike of essential commodities, Mr Karjee said.

TINBIGHA

At Tinbigha corridor on Wednesday noon.

TINBIGHA

Bangla PM visits Tinbigha

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Tinbigha corridor in
Mekhliganj subdivision in Cooch Behar district on Wednesday noon. She
stayed there for a very short time. During her visit she planted a few
saplings there to mark friendship of India and Bangladesh. Former
Bangla President Mr HM Ershad accompanied her today.
The Bangladesh PM expressed her hope for an amicable solution of the
enclave problems as there exist a number of enclaves of the two
countries that are waiting for a long to be exchanged. She thanked the
India government for making the Tinbigha corridor accessible to the
Bangla nationals for 24 hours. This facility bailed out the Bangla
people from confinement, she commented. She also expressed her hope
for an amicable solution of water distribution of Tista river.
The Tinbigha corridor was handed over to Bangladesh to allow the
Bangla people to get connected by road between two Bangla enclaves
named Dahagram and Angarpota with Patgram in mainland of Bangladesh.
She said her government would erase out the problems related to
enclave exchange that were not done during the past 64 years.
Today, two Union ministers Mr Gulam Nabi Azad and Mr Jitendra Prasad
Singh welcomed the PM of the neighbouring country at Tinbigha. There
was a heavy security cover made by the BSF to make her visit
trouble-free.
Sheikh Hasina arrived at Dahagram today and inaugurated a few
facilities like a primary health centre, a Union Parishad building and
a power station. From there she reached Tinbigha by car and from there
she left for Patgram.

COOCH BEHAR AIRPORT

Regular Cooch Behar-Kolkata flights resumed

After long years regular flights between Cooch Behar and Kolkata have
been resumed on Monday. People from different sections of society
welcomed the resumption of the air service.
The thoroughly renovated and upgraded Cooch Behar Airport was waiting
to accept regular commercial flights after many years. At last, the
North East Shuttle Private Limited came up and offered their 18-seater
Dornier-228 aircraft to fly between Cooch Behar and Kolkata. At
present, the flight will be of five days a week except Wednesday and
Sunday. The fair of a single journey from Cooch Behar to Kolkata is Rs
5,000.
At 8-05am on Monday, the 18-seater aircraft came from Guwahati and
landed at Cooch Behar Airport. It left for Kolkata at 8-40 am.
The resumption of air service has been welcomed by all but delaying of
arrival of the first flight that was scheduled at 7-40am made many
anxious though the first day flight was full of passengers. The state
government is to shoulder responsibility of eight seats if the air
service fails to get adequate passengers.
AAI regional director Mr Gautam Mukherjee and chairman of North Bengal
State Transport Corporation were among the Kolkata bound passengers
today. Mr Mukherjee assured that they would consider pressing of
larger aircrafts in this route if demand rose. In that case the runway
of the Cooch Behar Airport would be made wider, he said.
It may be recalled here that on 19 July an aircraft of the North East
Shuttle took off from Cooch Behar Airport and left for Kolkata
initiating resumption of regular flights.
After failure of the Deccan Charters, another flight operator concern,
the North East Shuttle came up to operate air operations between Cooch
Behar and Kolkata. It may be mentioned here that 22 February of this
year was scheduled for resuming of air service from Cooch Behar
Airport. But at the last moment the Deccan Charters failed to turn up,
as they had to send their stipulated aircraft for servicing to South
Africa from where they brought it.
Welcoming the revival of the long awaited Cooch Behar-Kolkata air
service, the secretary of Cooch Behar District Merchants Chamber of
Commerce, Mr Rajendra Baid hoped that it would be helpful to improve
the tourism, commerce and industry sectors of the region. He also
hoped that the concerned authorities would be able to maintain regular
flight operations from now on. More flight operators may come up again
if the NES flights prove viable, he said. After a few months there
will be need to fly larger aircrafts in this route as the demand from
the passengers would rose, he hoped. He appealed to the authorities to
bring down the fare between Cooch Behar and Kolkata and widen the
runway. It may be mentioned here that in the same flight the fare of
Guwahati to Cooch Behar is Rs 1500 only.