“Rabindranath Tagore had link with Shyamnagar Kali Temple”

PIX: An inscription on the wall of temple, temple founder Gopi mohan Thakur, priest Sambhunath Ghatak (left) and Srikanta Chatterjee, a portion of Natmandir and Shyamnagar kali temple.


By Shankar Banik

SHYAMNAGAR: Relatives of Rabindranath Tagore had set up Mulajor Kalibari at Shyamnagar in North 24 Parganas and it is unknown to many people. Visit the temple beside Hooghly River that is located in a very eye soothing natural scene.
One of the priests Sambhunath Ghatak said the temple was constructed on 31 Baishak in 1219 Bengali year around 200 years ago beside Hooghly River even before Dakhineswar Kali temple was set up by Rani Rasmoni Devi.
Six priests are engaged for offering puja to goddess Kali and 65-year-old Ghatak is one of the temple priests. “No dedicated book had been written on this temple and gradually history is fading away but we know relatives of Rabindranath Tagore constructed this temple, said the priest.
Srijit Thakur is the surviving member of the Thakur family whose ancestors set up the temple. He has one son and daughter, live in ‘Rajbari’at Pathuriaghata Street near Natunbazar in Kolkata.
Once upon a time Rabindranath Tagore’s ancestor Khitish Kusari came from Jessore in Bangladesh to West Bengal and his next generation was Bhattanaryan and later Dinanath Kusari. Dinanath’s son Panchanan got the title thakur since then his family member used to write the title Thakur instead of Kusari,” said Ghatak.
Jairam Thakur (Kusari) was latter generation had four sons- Anandiram, Nilmoni, Darpanarayan and Gobindaram.
Prince Dwarakanath Thakur was the next generation of Anandiram, whose son was Debendranath and Rabindranath was his eighth son. Rabindranath however became “bramho” and did not believe in idol worshipping. It had not been known whether he ever visited the temple.
Gopimohan Thakur, the son of Darpanarayan founded the temple.
Gopimohan had two sons Prsanna Kumar and Harakumar and daughter Brahmamoyee. Prasanna Kumar had one son Pradut Kumar and Harakumar had Jatindramohan. Surviving member Srijit Thakur is the son of Prabirendra mohan, who was the son of
Pradut Kumar.
According to local tale that the present place of the Kali temple was occupied of ‘Nandi’(caste) and ‘Pirali’ so experienced priest from ‘Bhatpara toll(Sanskrit educational institution) ’ used to refuse offering puja to the goddess Mulajore Shyamnagar Kali as a result priests were brought from Bankura, Burdwan and other places. Later a Sanskrit College was set up by the king Gopimohan Thakur as a matter of pride and to make erudite Sanskrit students. Students were accommodated in this college hostel they used to take Prasad in the temple as a lunch and dinner. Ramkumar Chattopadhya, elder brother of Ramakrishna Dev was the student of this college. But that building was dilapidated and Rabindra Bhawan was set up by municipality replacing the college.
“History is very interesting. But we are mostly depressed when the Sanskrit College, a piece of history was wiped out,” said Raja Goswami, a devotee.

Purchase land directly from owners for setting up industries: CM

PIX: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Industrialists

KOLKATA: Land for industrial units would have to be purchased directly from owners, said chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday during her first meeting with the industrialists in the city.
She has announced the setting up of a 25-member core committee to oversee the progress of forthcoming industrial projects in the state.
She said that the state cannot fix the price of land and no forcible acquisition of land will be done by the government. But she expressed the willingness of the government to accommodate the concerns of industry.
The meeting was attended by Adi Godrej of Godrej, Shivinder Singh of Fortis, Y.C. Deveshwar of ITC, Sanjiv Goenka of RPG Enterprise, Aditya Khaitan of McLeod Russel, Harsh Neotia of Ambuja Realty, Karan Paul of Apeejay Group, H.M. Bangur of Shree Cement and S.K. Roy of Peerless.

Rains cripple normal life in South Bengal

PIX: Rajib Deb, member, mayor-in-council (drainage and sewerage) with Kolkata Municipal Corporation(KMC) commissioner Arnab Roy visiting Ballyganj pumping station for supervising the Ballyganj sump project work(bottom). A lock gate of Ballyganj pumping station. A woman wading through accumulated water in the subway in Dum Dum station. Worsening condition of a dyke in Hingalganj.

KOLKATA: A 55-year-old man died after being electrocuted soon after heavy rain lashed the city yesterday. Heavy shower threw normal life out of gear in Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas and other parts of South Bengal.
Kesharmal Gupta (55) died after being electrocuted when he tried to save a woman and her child from touching a roadside feeder box of CESC that had gone under water around 11.45 a.m. The woman and her child were saved.
The average rainfall recorded in the city during the day was more than 100 mm. Around 160 mm rainfall was recorded in the Palmer Bridge pumping station area.
The mayor, Sovan Chatterjee, and Rajib Deb, member, mayor in council (drainage), visited the pumping stations and several waterlogged areas.
Areas surrounding Bagbazar, Shyambazar, Talla Park and Baranagar in north Kolkata and Topsia, Tiljala, Behala, Garden Reach and BBD Bag were flooded. There was waist deep water on several streets, lanes and by-lanes.
Several Dykes collapsed in Sunderbans areas. Cracks were found on the Dykes in Basanti, Gosaba, Sandeshkhali, Namkhana. Conditions of the several dykes in Sahebkhali, Ramapur, Schoolbari, Jagannath Ghat in Jogeshganj in Hingalganj area in North 24 Parganas are worsening villagers are apprehending collapse of those dykes any time.
Gopal Karmakar and Vijay Singh from Asian Front of Human Rights appealed to district magistrates of North and South 24 Parganas for taking initiative for repairing those dams.

"Arrest the mastermind behind scribe's murder"

KOLKATA: Journalists, social and human rights activists of Kolkata and districts expressed their deep concern over the killing of senior investigative journalist Jyotirmoy Kumar Dey(56).
Four motorbike-borne gunmen pumped at least five bullets into Dey, editor (special investigation) with tabloid Mid-Day, near a shopping complex in Powai around 3pm yesterday.
He had received threats for writing a series of reports on the state’s oil mafia, who allegedly burnt alive an additional collector near Nashik in January.
S Mitra, a senior reporter of a vernacular daily said Mumbai police is yet to make any breakthrough into this case and a special team should be formed immediately to nab the mastermind behind Dey’s murder.
Dipankar Nag, from North 24 Parganas journalist association said government should investigate whether any police and crime syndicate nexus is behind the conspiracy to kill the investigative journalist.
Sudip Patra a human rights activist said if the culprits will not be arrested then government intention regarding the crackdown on mafia will be under scanner.
Dey is survived by wife Shubha, a sub-editor with Economic Times, and his mother who lived with him in Mumbai. He hailed from Guwahati.

Samshan Kali temple ornaments stolen

Burglars broke into a 70 -year-old Kali temple in Baranagar and decamped with gold, silver ornaments and cash worth nearly Rs 2.5 lakh. The theft was noticed on Thursday morning. Police have started an investigation but are yet to make a breakthrough.
The famous temple, known as ‘Samshan Kali Mandir’, is located on Sashibhusan Street in Baranagar. It draws devotees from across the city.
According to the complaint lodged with police, the temple was locked by the priest around 9.30 pm on Wednesday. When the priest and some devotees reached the temple in the morning, they noticed its broken gate and the missing valuables. They informed the Baranagar police.
“The theft took place late night and a group of local miscreants could be behind the theft. The thieves first broke in through the collapsible gate and then broke open the main door of the temple. The raids are on to nab them,” said an investigating officer.

Women should follow Manikuntala Devi’s ideology for personality development: Jail minister

PIX: DRSA general secretary Bramhachari Mural Bhai (extreme left) and jail minister Shankar Chakraborty(extreme right) inaugurating Manikuntala Devi's birth day celebration programme by ligting the lamp. (pix: Subal Saha)


KOLKATA: Dakhineswar Ramkrishna Sangha Adyapeath (DRSA) observed 112 birth anniversary of Manikuntala Devi, holy consort of the DRSA founder Annadathakur.
DRSA observed two days festival in the ashram premise. The programme was inaugurated on 5 June.
Minister of state for sports and youth affairs (Independent Charge) Madan Mitra and state jail minister Shankar Chakraborty attended the programme.
Bramhachari Mural Bhai, DRSA general secretary cum trustee said Manikuntala Devi left her several dreams to be fulfilled for the welfare of the poverty stricken women. “DRSA took up several projects to involve women for their empowerment. We are running an orphanage for the girls where our teachers providing them vocation trainings, Mural Bhai said.
He said even the girls organized a fair and sold their self-made handicraft items and raised a fund. He urges government to take strong action for preventing violence on women.
Shankar Chakraborty, state jail minister said Manikuntala Devi devoted herself in meditation and found the best spiritual practices are forgiveness, non violence, tolerance, kindness. The practices of these virtues earn more dignities for women.
Madan Mitra, minister of state for sports and youth affairs (Independent Charge) said that the chief minister Mamata Banerjee is the emblem of women empowerment and she proves that men and women are equal in the world.
Noted devotional singer Mahesh Ranjan Shome presented a songs in the evening on 6 June and enthralled the audiences.

Crime witness shot dead

Kolkata: A 42-year-old hawker Shambhu Sau was shot dead by the goons near his residence at Bansbagan near Titagarh in North 24 Parganas early on Friday after he became a witness of a crime. Only a few days ago Sau, an ice-cream seller who used to take regular morning walk found some local criminals committing crime. The victim’s family members alleged that the goons started threatening him with dire consequences since he saw them stealing some valuables from a local shop in Bansbagan area which he protested.
Police are looking for the culprits, no one has been arrested in this connection yet. “The local criminals could be involved in the murder and the assailants may have fled the spot soon after the murder. The raids are on to nab them,” a senior police official said.
Police said, the incident took place around 5.30 am when three miscreants came to Sau’s residence and called him. They took him away at a short distance from his house and an altercation broke out between Sau and the goons. During altercation one of the miscreants took out a gun and fired two rounds at him from a point blank range and they fled the spot soon. Sau was struck by bullets on his head and chest. On hearing the gunshots locals rushed to the spot and found Sau lying in a pool of blood. He was taken to Barrackpore BN Bose Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.
Afterbeing informed a police team came to the spot to investigate the murder. The local residents launched an agitation in front of the police men to protest against the murder alleging inaction of the police to stop the criminal activities in the locality.
“In his regular morning walk my uncle saw several crimes in our locality. He told us that he had also found local goons carrying arms returning home after committing crime. Only a few days ago when he found the goons stealing valuables from a shop, he strongly protested that’s why he was killed by them,” said Rabi Sau, the nephew of the victim. The family members also blamed the inaction of the police following the murder of Sau.
“Police knew well that the crimes have been regular at the Bansbagan area but they did not take any action to arrest the criminals. As my husband identified the miscreants the goons murdered him,” said Maya Sau, the wife of the victim. He was the only sole bread earner of our family and we have two daughters, I don’t know how I will earn our livelihood, Maya also added while breaking down.
The police however have started an investigation in this connection. “The motive behind the murder could not be ascertained. After a preliminary investigation it is suspected that an old rivalry led to the murder and the local miscreants could be involved. The raids are on and the surrounding police stations have also been alerted in this connection,” said a senior police offier.

Meanwhile, in another incident a 45-year-old milk trader Dewsoran Roy was shot at by his brother Mukesh Roy at their residence at Ichhapur Chaigada near Noapara in North 24 Parganas on Thursday morning after an altercation broke out between two brothers for a family feud. Dewsoran was admitted to the RG Kar hospital with severe bullet injuries. Mukesh, the accused is still absconding. Police are looking for him.
Police said, they used to engage in brawl over a dispute in property. Around 10.30 am on Wednesday during an altercation Mukesh took out a gun and fired two rounds at his elder brother and fled the spot. Dewshoran was struck by bullets on his shoulder and right hand.

Skulls recovered near former minister’s ancestral home

PIX: Former minister of Paschimanchal Unnayan Parshad, Susanta Ghosh and human skulls recovered near from his ancestral home.

KOLKATA: Human skulls and bones were recovered on Saturday from Mallickdanga-Daserbandh near Garbeta in West Midnapore, which is located just 500 meters away from the ancestral residence of former minister of Paschimanchal Unnayan Parshad, Susanta Ghosh. Four skeletons, 25 bones and three parts of skeletons were recovered from under the ground. Police suspect victims were killed and later buried. Police found bangle and saree and suspect one of the victim was woman. Trinamul leader Srikanta Mahato alleged CPI-M’s hired miscreants killed innocent persons and later buried their bodies under the ground. He demanded a CID investigation into the matter. However Sanatan Majhi, zonal committee secretary of CPI-M of Chandrokona Road said they will comment after getting complete information.
Three decomposed bodies of CPI-M supporters, which were buried underground at two different places in Jhargram sub-division in West Midnapore, were found on Friday.
Bodies were identified as Sukumar Parihari (35) and his nephew Toton Parihari (25). Those were found in a forest patch at Bhandarvilla in the Beliabera police station area. The Maoists had kidnapped them on 17 October, 2010 from their residence and the duo was missing since then.
NEW CID POST: The government has created an independent post of director-general of police to oversee the functioning of the CID on Friday.

Tale of two slain dons

PIX: Slain don Hubba (Shyamal Das), appartment of former smuggler Ram Lakhan Yadav.


KOLKATA: Police have arrested Ramesh Mahato in connection with the murder of Syamal Das alias Hubba, whose body was fond on Thursday. Hubba was involved in several crimes including the stealing of goods from several factories of Srirampore in Hooghly. Police have also arrested Mahato’s associate Jitedra Singh for his involvement in the murder of Hubba. Police are looking for another person named Nepu Giri.
Hubba allegedly used to fund a political party, and leaders of the party influenced police not to arrest him. Hubba now a days started promoting business and trying to detach himself from the gangsters. He also wanted to file his nomination as an independent candidate for local civic poll but his dream to become councilor was dampened by a leader of local political party as he asked Hubba to refrain from filing nomination.
Police said Hubba used to steal the scrap irons and other goods from Sri Durga Cotton Mill, JK Steel, United Vegtables, Seraikella Bindal, Bagkhal Jute mill and other factories and nobody dared to protest as he used to run a gang of mercenaries, those terrorize local people and factory officials even police also.
Police are yet to find the clues to catch the culprits, who were involved in the murder of realtor and former smuggler Ram Lakhan Yadav and two of his aides in Asansol on Thursday. The trio were killed by a 15-member motorcycle gang in front of an under-construction building barely 50 metres from the Asansol court.
Police sources said most of the dons, are suspected to be involved in the murder of Yadav and others, had close links with local political parties.
The police suspect dons involved in gang rivalry following the scrap iron business as all dons of Asansol wanted to establish his own reign in this business.

CPI-M leader’s luxury apartment ransacked after arms recovered from his pump house

Pix: CPI-M leader Tapan Ghosh(Top) and his alleged arms assembling unit(bottom)

KOLKATA: A mob stormed into the residence of CPI-M leader Tapan Ghosh and ransacked soon after an assembling unit of the guns was discovered from a pumping station owned by him Kharkushma in Garbeta of West Midnapore on Friday.
Police said a huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered from the house of CPI-M leader Prabhakar Sarkar who is close to Ghosh. A large number of equipment and machines, which are used in making guns, were recovered when villagers raided Ghosh’s pumping station.
The villagers raided the house of Sarkar from where the security forces recovered 16 muskets, two 9 mm pistols and 1,000 rounds of cartridges. Police said in another raid at Angua in Keshpur, one firearm packed inside a gunny bag was recovered from an agricultural field.
A Trinamul leader alleged Ghosh is a close to CPI-M leader and former Paschimanchal Unnayan minister Susanta Ghosh. Furniture of his luxury rooms were broken by the mob.
A large contingent of police and CRPF jawans arrived at the spot and brought the situation under control.

Amarta Sen chief mentor for Presidency University

KOLKATA: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today announced that nobel laureate prof. Amartya Sen will head the panel of mentors for Presidency University and historian Sugata Bose will be its chairman to improve academic excellence of this university.
Bose is now the Gardiner professor of Oceanic History and Affairs at Harvard. He had obtained his PhD from Cambridge. Sen is the Thomas W. Lamont University professor at Harvard.
Mamata said that the panel of mentors would be given a freee hand and government will not interfere into the matter of university.
Sen heads the mentor group for Nalanda University following an offer made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Bose is part of the panel formed to try and resurrect the ancient seat of learning.