Temple prays for attention

Cooch Behar, Aprril 21: Overgrown with vegetation and a section collapsed in a heap - that is what the municipality had to show two years after it began restoring the century-old Bramha Samaj temple to give it a flawless finish.

It is four years now, since the civic body began its restoration project, and the temple has been coated with cement and cleared of unwanted vegetation, but the far-from-flawless look has not gone down well with residents of the heritage town. After all, they were the ones who had prodded the civic officials into sanctioning the makeover move to preserve the piece of history. They are also peeved at the speed of restoration work, or rather the lack of it.

Tarun Lahiri, a senior citizen and a member of the Cooch Behar Nagrik Samity secretary said he was "appalled" by the attitude of the officials towards a heritage site that bore testimony to the era when kings ruled Cooch Behar.

"The municipality responded to popular demand and took up renovation and restoration work four years ago. They had promised to complete the work within a year. Unfortunately, like most other promises, they have not been able to live up to this one either," he said.

The freshly-cemented look notwithstanding, chairman of the Congress-run Cooch Behar Municipality Biren Kundu claimed the restoration work was nearing completion.

"Apart from the restoration and renovation, work was started on construction of a children' park and an art gallery. We have not been able to complete the project within the stipulated time because we want to restore the temple to its former glory. It is essential that once finished, the structure looks flawless. A budget of Rs. 50 lakh has been held for it", Kundu said.

"The temple, situated on Suniti Road, is steeped in memories of the founder of Naba Bidhan Brahmo Samaj Keshub Chandra Sen and has witnessed many historic events of Cooch Behar," sabhadhipati of the zilla parishad Ananta Roy said.

The then king of Cooch Behar, Nripendra Narayan, who is known as the founder of modern Cooch Behar, got married to Suniti Debi, daughter of Keshub Chandra Sen, on March 6, 1878. The Brahmo Samaj got divided over the marriage.

Keshub Chandra Sen founded Naba Bidhan Brahmo Samaj. History has it that Sen arrived in Cooch Behar in connection with his daughter's marriage. His presence and influence on the employees of the king, prompted him to begin the Brahmo Dharma Upasana.

The royal family built the Brahmo temple on January 15, 1880. There were separate enclosures for the commoners and the members of the royal family in the meditation hall. There was a charitable homeopathic dispensary in the temple as well. Queen Suniti Devi used to teach the women there. She is credited with having introduced education for women in Cooch Behar.

Courtesy
The Telegraph

Latest Travel News