& 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

People and Places

Kumarkhali: Luminaries of Glorious Past

by Mohammad Amjad Hossain
Kumarkhali, the head Matters of the thana administration tn Kushtia district, is situated on the bank of the river Goral — a river which was also a source of Inspiration to the Nobel Prise winner- poet Rabindranath Tagore. The Goral takes off from the Ganges (Padma) not far from Kushtia town and after flowing in a south-easterly direction It passes over the border into Fa rid pur district from Kun|nrkhah Khoksa Gorai in fact gave birth to two unlmpor tant distributaries viz. the, Kahgangaand the Dakua.
Kumarkhali, which has had a chequered history of its own. was part of Pabna district till 1871. Il became part of Nadia district in 1872. On the formation of the Goalundo sub-dtvt-sfon of Farid pur district in 1891. Kumarkhali joined with Kushtia sub-division.
The Kumarkhali Municipality. which was scl up in 1869. presently covers an area of aboul 6.61 square miles. It is one of the oldest municipalities In Bangladesh. It was established ' with six government nominated Commissioners. Slnct elective system was introduced in 1884, 10 out of 15 Commissioners were .used to be ck-clcd till partition of British India.
Immediately after the Im position of Martial Law in 1958 ihc municipality was converted Into a town comgilttec. Folio wing independence of Bangladesh the municipality regained its status.
Kumarkhali was a big commercial centre during the rule of East India Company. A commercial resident stationed here carried out iargescale business In silk. It was a subdivisions! headquarters of Pabna district when business was at its peak. It had a MunslITs Court, subordinate to Pabna District Judge's Court. Following Its transfer from i'abna district the Munsiff Court ceased lo, exist at Kumarkhali. A big Christian graveyard near the railway sta-tlon indicates that a sizeable number of Britishers used to live at Kumarkhali. The cemetery dates back to 1790. The movement against Indigo planters In 1859-60 had its origin in Kumarkhali.
Kumarkhali also became an important commercial cent re-after partition of British India particularly for weekly Saturday bazar.. Kumarkhali Is visited every weekend by businessmen from all over Bangladesh to buy hand loom products —1 lungis. Barces. genjis (T-shirt), chadars (bed sheet) and cotton yearn. Kumarkhali is inhabited Sy large number of weavers. As a result of their expertise and knowledge about weaving and dyeing, the town gradually became an important x-ntre of hand and electric loom industries. Now their products are not only confined lo local market bul also reach other markets including the capital.
Before the arrival of Elast India Company quite a number of Buddhist monks had been living in Kumarkhali. Two Pagodas, one demolished and the other on the verge of demolition, remind of the presence of Buddhist monks in the seventeenth century. There is a scopc^for further research on this.
Notable Saints
Hazrat Shah Mulk Khorshcd Faquir, a great Muslim saint, lived at Khorshedpur. a village under Kumarkhali thana. The village Khorshedpur derived Its name .from’ the saint's. There is a shrine of Khorshcd Faquir at the village which was made pucca by no less a person than world famous poet Rablndra Nath Tagore 1n 1908. Surcndfanath Tagore encircled the mazar In 1923. Possibly the sainl came to Khorshedpur during the reign of Palas.
There Is a saying that while the sainl was on a boat to cross Ihc river. the boatman as usual asked the saint to make payment for the ferry. ,The saint said that he did not have money for payment as he was a poor man. While the boatman was insisting for payment the saint landed in the river and miraculously on an Island to the amazement of the boatman and other passengers. Since then Hazrat Shah Mulk Khorshcd Faquir had spent the rest of his life there.
Dwtjata Sannyast of Batikamaru, Kumarkhali. was a holy saint of supernatural power whose ashram is still preserved tn that village. However, the condition of the ashram ts not good
Sonabandhu Faquir of Kumarkhali was another holy saint whose mazar is located near the local bazar. Apparently there is no record to ascertain the date of his birth. Il ‘« learnt that Sonabandhu Is a title conferred on the Faquir
because of his preaching for unity and brotherhood among Ihc Muslims and Hindus. According to one story, he was Hindu by birth but accepted Islam as religion and achieved divine power while he was tn meditation in the ashram al Balikamara. Renowned writer Harinath Majumder is repor-
ted to have achieved saintly power at this ashram.
Educational Institutions
M N High School, which was set up by Malhuranath Kundu, a Dcwan of East India Company, possibly is the oldest school in Bangladesh. It was set up in 1856 AD in Kumrikhali. In 1933. Kumarkhali Girls' High School started functioning. Another (J N School) was upgraded to a high school in 1963; In 1965. an intermediate college was set up which became a degree college after Bangladesh came into being.
Literary Culture
Kumarkhali is" known as a centre of learning and culture. Kumarkhali. like Kushtia. remains under the literary and cultural influence of Nabadwip. Literary giants like Harinath Majumder. Roy Bahadur Jaladhar Sen. Mir Musharraf Hussain were born in and around Kumarkhali.
Born in 1833 at Kumarkhali. Harinath Majumder. a great writer, who was also known as Kangal Harinath. published a weekly "Gram Barta Prakashika" from Kumarkhali Printing Press in 1853 espousing the cause of poor people and exposing re-, pressive rule of the British. The oldest printing press which was a gift of Ma-thuranath Maitra, father of renowned historian Akhaya Kumar Maitra. still exists In Kumarkhali. Mathuranath Maitra was a friend of Harinath Majumder. Jaladhar Sen. Akhaya Kumar Maitra, Mir Musharraf Hussain and Din-endra Kumar Roy had their first hand experience in literature through Gram Barta Prakashika'. Harinath Majumder had five books to his credit. His immortal songs preaching universal brotherhood are known as Fakir Chand songs. Although Akhaya
Kumar Maitra had spent his pcademlc and professional life in Rajshahi, he was. bom (in 1861) and spent considerable time of his boyhood in Kumarkhali.
Roy Bahadur Jaladhar Sen. who was born in 1860. halls from Kumarkhali. Besides being a good litterateur, Jaladhar Sep became a prominent Journalist In British India. In 1899 he was editor of weekly
"Bangabashi" and in April umc year he became assistant cd I lor of weekly "Basumair which turned out to be a daily from Calcutta at a later date He was also associated with "Sandhya ". “Hitobadi" and "Sufov Sama char In 1914 he took over
the charge of editorship of "Bharatbarsha" and continued lo serve for twenty-six years. He wrote as many as 39 books, of which nine are travelogues.
Mir Musharraf Hussain, who was born at Lahfripara under Kumarkhali thana in 1847, published more than thirty books. Of these. Bishad Sindhu (epic). Zamidar Darpan (drama) and Basanta Kumari (drama) have name in literature. .
Pandit Shfb Chandra •Bidyarnava of Kumarkhali. who was born in 1860 and expired in 1919. was a great scholar. He advocated tantric system of worship. The ashram of tantric system, which was established at Kumarkhali 373 years back, exists till today in a dilapidated condition. He wrote 14 bobks. He also edited "ShAibi', a monthly Journal which advocated tantra shashtra. Justice Sir Woodroff, a judge of Calcutta High Court and a few other European scholars arc said lo be his disciples. London and Bombay are the main centres of Shib Chandra Bid-yarnava s tantric system tn the present day. Pandit Shib Chandra visited London in the year 1911 and 1913. Poet Mukunda Das. German pool Mueller and then Principal of Calcutta Art College E V Havel paid courteous calls on Shib Chandra at Kumarkhali,
Gagan Harkara (Gagan Chandra Dam) was a rural poet from this place. He was a postal mall runner whose enchanting songs were collected by Ihc world famous poet Rabindranath Tagore in his Haramanp which appeared in the "Prabast".
Shashibhusan Adhikari (better known as Shashi Adhikari). Brahmin violinist of great fame and Ihc proprietor of famous jatra party, lived in Khorshedpur under Kumarkhali nearly one and a half century ago. Not much information on him ts traceable.
Profulla Kumar Sarkar, the
Bamacharan Karmakcr. who
‘imposed Shyma songs was a . famous vocal artist of All India Radio and Dacca Radio as well.
He died In 1969 at Ku mark halt.
Political and Social Leadership
Qazi Miah Jan of Kumarkhali. who had distinguished himself as an un-
editor of Ananda Bazar Patrika, also hailed from Kumarkhali. A monthly Journal under the title
Kohlnoor" was published from Kumarkhali in 1897 and edited by Muhammad Rowshan All Choudhury. The objective of this journal was to imbibe spirit of friendship and amity in Hindu and Muslim communities. Dr Pratap Chandra Majumder. who was born at Chapra under Kuiqarkhalt
ihana. wrote essays and niad speeches which earned popularity th Europe
Kbonds kar Muhammad Azharu) Islam, who was bom ir 1883 at Hanlakhandl village in Kumarkhali was a novelist and his illustrious daughter Zobcda Khajiam. born In 1920 at the sans- village. excelled In writing novels and playa.
wu*. Jatindranath Mukhopadh-yava. popularly known as Bagha Jann, who was born tn 1883 al Kaya. Kumarkhali. Following lh failure of Ahporc Conspiracy Case. Juganlar Dal under the leadership of Bagha Jatin had emerged as a powerful revolutionary organisation The battle At Ba la so re fought between the revolutionaries under ihc romnuind of lioglm J.iitn and
the British police constitutes a golden chapter tn the history of revolution in India against the British.
Born at Kaya under Kumarkhali in 1889 Moulvi Shamsuddln Ahmed, another political stalwart of Bengal, began his law profession in Calcutta High Court in 1919 under Chitlaranjan Das. Moulvi Shamsuddln Ahmed had oh
daunted fighter, joined Wahabi Movement initiated by Syed Ahmed of Rae Bareli in the early years of nineteenth century. He was arrested as political suspect and subjected to torture by the British. Qazi Miah Jah was taken lo Ambala for political and seditious activities, bul he remained undaunted and refused to give false evidence in spite of lor-lures.
In 1904. a movement
called Anjuman-e-lttefaq-c-Islamta began by Syed Abdul Quddus Rumi 1n Kumarkhali to raise griovanccs of the Muslims. An annual conference of Ihc Muslims of Bengal was held since 1904 at Durgapur mahgo-grove. Sponsored by late Yakub Miah and Yasin Miah. Il was attended by Str Azizul Huq. Moulana Akram Khan, among others.
Another legendary leader
lained M A and LLB degrees from Calcutta University In 1916.
As a young lawyer he parttc-ipaicd actively In Khilafal and non-coopcration movements. Moulvi Shamsuddln Ahmed took a lead in organising a campaign against zamlndary system of the British. In 1920, he was interned in Alipur Central Jail by the British. He was also vocal against indigo planters. Moulvi Shamsuddin along with his elder brother Afsaruddfn Ahmed had suffered imprisonment several times. Moulvi Shamsuddin was also a member of the Congress. In 1922, he was elected Secretary of Bengal Congress And Khilafat Committee on his release from Alipur Jai). He won the election and became a member of Bengal Legislative Assembly in 1927 on Congress ticket.
In response to Ihc call for civil disobedience movement Moulvi Shamsuddln Ahmed resigned from the membership o'f the legislative assembly. His cnlire life was dt-dicaled to the well-being of the poor peasants. He became Minister in Bengal under A K Fazlul Huq in 1938 but resigned on protest. Again he Joined as Minister in 1942. He was also given a portfolio of Ministry of Industries in the Suhrawardy cabinet in 1946.
Munshi Nooruddin Ahmed of Khorshedpur, who died al ihe age of 92 in 1962, was pioneer in spreading education al Shclaidah following his retirement from the government service in Burma. During twenty years of chairmanship of Shclaidah Union Council, Munshi Nooruddin Ahmed came close to Rabindranath Tagore. Because of his intellectual bend of mind. Nooruddin had organised Ail Bengal Palit Shahttya Conference at Shclaidah where Tagore was invited bul couM not Join be-
cause of ill health Nooruddin Ahmed was also vlce-ehnlrnan of Kuahlla District Board for four years until 1800.
Born In 1893 under Kumarkhali thana late lr Sad ruddin Ahmed, younger brother of Moulavt Shantauddln Ahmed, Is reported lo be a first Mushm physician In Nadia district. who contributed for the spread of education In Kushiiu.
Another patron of teaming was late Mohammad Akbor Hossain of Durgapur. Kunaar khnli who devoted his last part of life, following retirement from government service in Burma, to the spread of education. He was secretary of the- School Committee of J N High School and vice-president of the Gtrls' High School till his death In I9H2 at the age of 86. He was vice-chairman of Kumarkhali Municipality In mid 50's. His eider brother Mom tax Hossain was Ihc first Muslim graduate in Pabna district (Kumarkhali was part of Pabna till 1871).
War of Liberation
During the nine months of traumatic developments of ihc War of Liberation in 1971, Kumarkhali witnessed many bailies between freedom fighters and occupation forces Including the one on ninth of Dcix-mbcr, 1971. one day be-fort; the fall of Kushtia. Because of shortage of ammunition freedom fighters had to retreat while occupation forces destroyed houses and killed in-noivnt people in order lo capture ihc freedom fighters but they could not succeed in holding a single freedom • fighter because of non-coopcr-alion by the cnlire population, except a microscopic section of people So far eleven free-
dom fighters lost theft, lives in the battles tn Kumarkhali.
Communication System
There was a good steamer station at Kumarkhali which was in operation till 1900 and the steamer station at Shclaidah .discontinued from the year 1909 as the Padma diverted its course to Pabna side. As a result a road linking Shclaidah with Kushtia was constructed by Rabindranath Tagore. Kumarkhali ts connected with Kushtia by railway line which was opened in 1882. The first railway line in Bangladesh opened on 15 November, 1862 connecting Kushtia with Scaldah (Calcutta) which was extended to Goalundo at a later date. Work on a road from Rajbart to Kushtia via Kumark'uuii began during laic ■ resident Ziaur Rahman s lime but ts yet to be completed.
Places of Interest
SEUR1A, a village under Kumarkhali thana is known for the mausoleum of Lalan Shah, the uncrowned king of Bauls. Lalan Shah, a great mystic poet And lyricist who composed spiritual songs, is a legend in the cultural domain of Bangladesh. Rabindranath Tagore ts said lo have greatly been influenced by I Ji Ian’s thoughts and ideas. The poet also collected songs of l-alan Shah and published them in 1332 BS.
Born in 1774 Lalan Shah probably died In 1890 and laid to rest in Scuria where Haul Fakirs assemble and hold a Mela tn the Bengali month of Falgoon every year lo mark hts death anniversary. Lalan Research Centre has been set up there.
In KHORSHEDPUR • tern plc was built by Rani Bhabani and Kalyan Roy, a wealthy weaver mstalted two bigrahu, (dettfes) in the temple which
he bought from Benaras. There is an interesting story about the bigrahas. While Kalyan Roy was on pilgrimage he was fascinated by the beauty of the image of Sri Sri Gopinath and Sri ,Srt Gopi Rani tn a sculp-. tor's shop at Benaras. He placed an order for similar pair of bigrahas and went to' Brindaban from Benaras. When he returned from Brindaban he found that work on bigrahas were not completed. The sculptor gave him the bigrahas that were made for the Maharaja of Benaras. Kalyan Roy came home with those bf-grahas and placed them in the temple. The sculptor handed over the Maharaja of Benaras the other pair of bigrahas intended for Kalyan Roy. After some time, the bigrahas appeared in a dream before Maharaja of Benaras and told him that the images must be sent to Kalyan Roy. Accordingly, the pair of images were sent by Maharaja to Khorshedpur and they were also placed in the same temple feith Sri Sri Gopinath and Sri Gopi Itani. The new pair of images were called Sri Sri Radhanath and Sri Sri Radharani.
This temple, which is known as Sri Sri Gopinath Jew Mandir became a place of pilgrimage. During Snan JatTa (bathing procession) which is performed on the same day as that of Sri Sri Jagannath Deb at Purl, a large number of people took bath in the Gopinath tank attached to the mandir. The number of pilgrims that gathered there on this occasion was estimated between 5000 and 10,000 before partition of British India. A Mela is also held during Snan Jatra occasion for one day. •
Mazar of saint Khorshcd Faquir Is also located here.
SHELAIDAH ts a village un-
der Kumarkhali thana, only six miles to the north of Kushtia town. It is connected by road from Kumarkhali and Kushtia as well. The name Shelaidah has been formed out of the two words — Shell and Daha. Mr Shelf was an indigo planter and daha' means a pool of water. Therefore, the name of the village means village formed on the pool (dah^) where Mr Shell was a distinguished inhabitant. However. Nilkuthf of Mr Shell was washed away by the erosion of the river Padma.
In 1800 Prince Dwaraka-nath Tagore, grandfather of poet Rabindranath Tagore purchased the zamindary of Natore Raj in an auction. The Shelaidah estate of Tagore was part of the zamindary.
• Rabindranath was assigned In 1891 to look after the management of the estate. The elegant three storied Kuthibart where RabtndranAth had spent a good part of hts life in writing numerous poems, short stories and dramas has become a place of historical interest for tourists and lovers of Bengali literature.
Kumarkhali. a historical place. is exposed to the ravages of the river Gorat. The river has changed its course and the erosion of the river has washed away the oldest high school, a part of the college and part of prosperous Tebarfa village where Himalaya, a beautiful rest house of Jaladhar Sen and princely building of physician Reboti Mohon Saha, who was awarded gold medal by Calcutta University in early 1900s. are situated.
The erosion continues unabated. Serious efforts are required to stop the erosion by the river which has silted at many places.
— Photos: Rezaul Karim :__________Hannan