& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Where Past Glories Leave Lingering Lessons

by Ashit Choudhury
ONCE known for many glories. Tarash upazila underdeveloped areas In Sirajganj district. Before being upgraded as an upazila. this area was termed as the trash (terror) of the district Only three years ago. six alleged activists of the defunct Sarbahara Party were killed In a deadly encounter with police But the situation is different
Knowledge-seeking people from home and abroad are coming to Tarash to visit the places of historical Impor tame
There are many old temples and buildings in Tarash upazila which arc fast declining tn the absence of even a modicum of maintenance work. Some of the temples have collapsed and some arc on the verge of total extinction. Knowledge able people feel that Tarash's archaeological riches have to be preserved In the Interest of the nation's heritage which, in the bargain, would also help attract tourists from abroad.
The three-storied Dol Manch'
One of the main attractions of Tarash old monument* is the three-storied Dol Manch situated at the Tarash Bazar itself. It Is gathered that in 1720. after the death of King Ramkrtshna Sanyal. hi* wife Queen Sarbanl Devi took over the charges of the kingdom which has Sautals as most of its subjects. Due to lavish expenses indulged tn by the king, the queen inherited a big burden of debt Later, she appointed one Rainram Roy as Dcwan for the smooth running of the kingdom. Ramram Roy was a wise minister and administrator and soon brought the kingdom Into a profitable concern. A brother of his was a top man in the
employ of the Nawab of Dhaka.
When mother of Ramrain Roy died in the process of ageing. her funerals were done gorgeously. Both the brothers wished to spend Tk. one lakh each for the funeral rite*. After completing the ceremony. Dewan Ramram Roy constructed the three-storied temple known as Tribal Dole Mancha at Tarash Bazar which 1* still a spectacle in this age of skyscraper, steel-and-concretc giants.
The tivo-atoreyed Dole Mancha "
Bala ram Chowdhury of Taraah served fn the opening
of the 18th century under Subedar Murahki Kult Khan of Bengal and earned much money. In 1718. he con a true ted a palatial residence at Kunjaban of Taraah. He ron-atructed the two-storeyed 'Dole Mancha' for worshiping their family deity Radha Govinda. The house of Balaram Chowdhury Is demolished but the temple still stands but a* a neglected building. By the stn cere efforts of Balaram Chowdhury the Taraah -Dhaka road via Chatmohar was conatrue ted about three hundred years ago
The Kaptleshwar Temple 1a situated at village Chclxharia.
about 12 kilometers from Tara*h upazila sadar In past days. Basudev Talukder alia* Narayan Dev Chowdhury was an Influential employee of Nawab l*lam Khan
Being satisfied of hi* service, the Nawab pre aented Basudev two hundred mouzas' us jalgir’ One day when Basudev wu* walking, he found a cow giving milk In a bush. Hl* curiosity discovered a Shiva deity In the bush and brought it to his house. The Zarninder then established a temple locally known as 'Kapllc*hwar Temple and offered Goplnathpur and Charts
Tapuka to bear the expense* of the deity.
Birth place of Behula
Binahara village, about six kilometres from Tarash upazila aadar enjoya renown aa the birthplace of Behula. a heroine of the Chand Sawdagar tradition.
. At that time the village was known aa Nlchaninagar Bacho Banta alias Sat Sawdagar was the father of Behula. In this village there la a big well known as 'Bachobaniar Jlyon Koop'.
There are four more small feeder wells Inside the big well. Each small well was covered by red earthen jars which were filled with snakes. More than 360 small and big ponds were dug here for gen eral use of the common pro Plc
The Jtyon well was rc paired by Taraah upazila parishad In 1986. Besides. the upazila authority also con atructed a road which has al ready fallen into a state deare pntr
The house of Bacho Banta la situated on about 40 blgha* of land full of building*, fruit garden* and pond* Most of thl* area I* occupied by the intruders. The houae of Bacho Banta had long been dcmol lahed by earthquake and has not yet dug up out of the rubble even within more than a century.
There was a milk pond of Bacho Banta's house full of pol sonous snakes where the sub Jecls dropped milk everyday Instead of selling It In the market.
Behula used to go to the market of Chand Sawdagar by boat through a canal known as Behular Kharf. There she met Lokhlndar. the son of the fa bled merchant Chand and later was married to him It I* said
that while going to Chand Bazar the boat of Behula capsized tn the canal. And It I* be Heved the boat I* still there under the soil but no one dare dig ll out because of dire con sequences. according to laics, that are lo Inflow
Izx-al people of Tarash have constructed Btnshara Govern
mini Primary school at ihe residence of Bacho ESan la The name of Behula is also engraved there.
Other than the mentioned temples and buildings, there arc more place* in Tarash
up.izlfa which also have historical Importance. The upazila. situated in remote area of Sira Jganj district needs develop men I. The archaeological de pnrtment also can take Initiative* lo preserve the past gio rie* of Chulanbeci oriented Taraah upazila.
Communication network of
Tarash is feasible with the district* of Natore. Pabna. Bogra and Sirajganj. Yet it takes more I han five hour* to reach Tarash upazila *adar from Sirajganj Economic condition of Tarash
' t* also very bad. There are many tribal people living tn thl* upazila known a* the Buns The tribals also have so
far been upholding their cultural tradition even in these days of cultural degeneration and general decline.
A better acces* to the upazila and an effective cam-Clgn to attract tourist* jpay ng about a welcome change In Taraah * day* of misfortune.