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Thousands visit shrines of Kalu, Gazi, Champaboti every year

From Atiur Rahman
JESSORE. Feb 27: Badur-gacha. one kilometre to the east of Barobazar, on Jessore Jhenidah road and 16 kilometres away from Jessore town, is a renowned place.
Location of holy shrines of three legendary saints. Kalu, Gazi and Champabati is the reason of this importance.
Thousands of people from across the country come to pay respect to the memory of these sacred souls round the year. Foreigners also visit the place very often . This is going on from time immemorial.
According to local sources, the shrines were constructed on over 54 decimals of land, beside a century-old banyan tree, sur rounded by wide ditches. The shrine of Gazi is Hanked by that of Kalu on the west and that of Champaboti on the east. Many patients who have failed to gel cured after long medical treatment. resort to this place, seeking the saints' grace for relief and recovery.
Such patients come either from near or far Hung areas. The shrines remain crowded with patients during Thursdays and Fridays.
During visit to this place, this correspondent found that patients had been staying there tor davs.
Halima, Haslna and Faruk from Bagherpara thana in Jessore. were staying there for over a month to get treatment. Similar was the case in respect of Amina. Ranu. Hashem and Sy-eed of Bagdanga in Sadar thana of Jessore There were Shahidul. Habib. Sikander. Pa-gal. Shahid and Nuri from Tan-gail.
When asked whether there had been any improvement in their health condition after coming over here, all of them replied in the positive. There were some other people, who were living on alms from the
To look after the shrines a full-time caretaker is appointed by the managing committee of the shrines.
The present caretaker Abul Hossain. 58. was appointed eight months ago by the manag-ing committee. His service is a 24-hour service. His fooding and lodging are free and provided by the committee. He has been appointed after departure of his predecessor Babu of Tan-gail. who left the place after seven years. Babu came here as a serious patient who recovered gradually from here. It is learnt. I.mb healing treatment is the only way to get the relief, told most ol the patients. Urs is held twice a year. One is held on last Thursday of Bangla month Bhadra and the other is last Thursday of Fal-gun.
On these occasion, not to speak of devotees, visitors and patients rush here with gifts both in cash and kind only to satisfy the saints. The cash money goes to the fund of the managing committee and the kinds including rice, goats, hens, fruits, vegetables, fish and lentil are cooked together to prepare tobarak . It is distributed among the distressed and the devotees.
The annual collections exceed Taka 30.000 to 40.000 each year. It covers the expenditure for maintenance ana development of the shrines and for entertainment.
When contacted, the caretaker told that there Is a managing committee comprising 13 members including president and secretary.
The present president is Moshiar Rahman and secretary Ariful Islam.
They keep constant supervision over the total activity of the shrines. They meet regularly and review various works of the shrines.
Ex-chairman of the shrine's managing committee told that the Deputy Commissioner of Jhenidah. Mirza Mohammad Al-Farook took up the construction work on the shrines at a cost of Taka 1.42.493 in February. 1991. It was done to ensure sanctity and protection of the holy shrines against disturbance by anti-social elements.
It was leamt during the visit that one person named Mukter. son of a previous caretaker was sentenced for using the shrines as den of illegal arms.
However, nothing is exactly known about the date of death of these saints due to lack of documentary evidences.
Writer Hosseinuddin . in his famous book 'Jessore Legends' have given detail description of the life and activities of these saints.
He has admitted that most information, mentioned in his work, were based on hearsay.
According to Jessore Leg ends, king Mukut Roi and Queen Zllaboti had seven sons and one daughter Champaboti. The king was extremely communal and could never tolerate Muslims.
He was locked in a battle with Kalu and Gazi and was miserably defeated. He along with his entire family members excepting Champaboti. committed suicide to save prestige of the royal family. But when Gazi conquered the palace. Champaboti came out in the open and embraced Islam. She was married to Gazi in a simple ceremony.
It is learnt from the work that Louzani. previously known as Brahmin Nagor was the capital of King Mukut Roi.
Gazi was the son of king Shaha Sikander and Ozufa Sundari of Boiragl Nagar. Ozufa was the daughter of King Boli. Later, a fierce fighting took place between Shah SiKander and King Boli. Boli lost the battle.
He got his daughter married to Shah Sikander. She gave birth to a baby named Julhai. He was lost at the age 12 while he went on hunting in dense forests. The queen became mad at the terrible shock. During this time, she saw a wooden box floating in a river. She was on a river journey. When she picked it up and opened its mouth she saw a newly born child screaming there. She took the baby. He became Kalu. Shortly after this incident the queen gave birth to a baby. He was Gazi.
There grew deep relation between Kalu and Gazi.
From boyhood Gazi was indifferent to worldly life. So was also Kalu. In one fine morning, when Shah Sikander pressed Gazi to take charge of his kingdom, Gazi flatly denied and fled away without letting it know to his parents. After long treking, both Kalu and Gazi reached the Sundarbans and stayed there lor seven years.
They left the place in search ol new world. They landed at Safainagor after crossing the sea. They left this place very hurriedly and halted their journey at Kantapur opposite Brahmin Nagar.
Here Gazi happened to meet Champaboti while she was taking bath In a river. At first sight, both fell in love. But the parents of Champaboti opposed the proposal of tneir marriage.
At this attitude of king Mukut Rai. Kalu and Gazi felt insulted. They came back again to the Sundarbans and recruited troops including tigers. Taking full preparations of war they proceeded towards Brahmin Nagor and declared war against king Mukut Roi.
Mukut Roi fought against Kalu and Gazi, but could not sustain. After a week, he lost the battle and committed suicide.
Gazi occupied the entire empire of king Mukut Roi.
Writer of 'Jessore Legend’ has also discussed the contradictions still prevailing in this region about the identity of Gazi and Kalu.
He has admitted that the name of Gazi was quite familiar with the people of this region irrespective of faith -and religion.
Gazi was a most respected person. There are lot of rural songs in praise of Gazi.
The writer has referred to the remarks made by Geit who has remarked Gazi as the patron of woodcutters and saved them from tigers and crocodiles. There are lot of publications on Kalu. Gazi and Champaboti in different markets.
Poet Krishna Ram Das. Abdul Jabber. Halu Mia. Abdul Gafur have composed various poems on these saints.
These are self contradictory, creating confusion among innocent readers to determine who is the real Gazi, who is sleeping at Badurgacha together with Kalu and Champaboti.