Nagar Kasba

 

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝑰𝒏 𝑶𝒘𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚: 𝑶𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕

Inheritance and ownership are quite mysterious! Heritage homes of Nagar Kasba are an interesting example of how time defines ownership. Entrance doors of Nagar Kasba homes’ simultaneously represent sultani, colonial and modern times. Inscriptions on top of the entrances will show you a year of the 14th century yet the architecture will speak of the colonial European style. And the Arabic inscriptions and names are the present owners'.

𝙉𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙧 𝙆𝙖𝙨𝙗𝙖 of Munshiganj is one of the remaining administrative units of Sultani rulers (1342-1576). Since its establishment, heritage homes of Kasba have seen multiple owners. During the sultanate period, the Kasba was owned by Muslims (though there is no visible mark of muslim architecture now). From the 18th to 20th century, Hindu merchants made shifts in architecture with rigorous renovations following European style. What tourists and visitors see now is the rebuilt houses. During the partition of 1947 and Hindu-Muslim communal riots, most of the Hindu merchants and house lords left their houses. The remaining residents and homeowners left and went to India during the liberation war of 1971. Heritage properties are now owned by local muslim residents.

During the colonial era, Nagar Kasba houses were owned by affluent Hindu merchants, mostly Poddars and Sahas. The grandest house of Nagar Kasba was known as 𝙇𝙖𝙭𝙢𝙞 𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙞 (picture 8,9,10). Zamindar Charan Poddar used to throw the most extravagant Laxmi Puja of whole Bikrampur (now Munshiganj) in his house Laxmi Bari. The name Laxmi Bari came from this puja festival as the locals considered it as the house for Goddess Laxmi. The Uthan or courtyard (picture 9) part of Laxmi Bari still carries remnants of its glorious past events. The Puja Mandap and temple section is still standing, and the decorative triple arches show the evidence (picture 10).

Contributor: Nuzhat Ferdous Islam