Witness of time: Baisharshi Zamindar house of Faridpur

 

Baisharshi Zamindar house of Faridpur

Nazmul Hasan Nirob:

Baisarshi Zamindar House is one of the famous places in Greater Faridpur. This house is located in Sadarpur Upazila near the present Atarshi Biswa Zaker Manzil Darbar Sharif at a distance of about 35 km from Faridpur district town. Although there is bright potential of tourism center around the house, there is no government initiative.

Valuable archaeological treasures are constantly being stolen from the house. At one time the mighty Baisarshi zamindars were the lords of 22 parganas or jot mahals including Faridpur-Barisal. In addition to managing the zamindari, Baisharshi's house in those days was covered with about 50 acres of land and was decorated with gardens, ponds, pujamandap and 14 large and small buildings with two floors.

It is known that in the beginning of the 17th century, once salt merchant Saha family became the owner of huge wealth and bought some zamindari parganas and started the zamindari system.

Witness of time: Baisharshi Zamindar house of Faridpur

From the 18th century before the partition of India in 1947, the zamindar family owned a lot of wealth and acquired 22 zamindari parganas and gained fame as large zamindars in India. After Pakistan became Hindustan in 1947, from 1947 till 1962, the zamindars sat in Calcutta and looked after the zamindari. After the abolition of zamindari system, all except the zamindar Sukumar Roy Bahadur moved to Calcutta. After the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, Sukumar Babu committed suicide. After that the house was considered as an abandoned house as there was no guardian left. Although the main house remains, much of the surrounding land has been encroached upon by land grabbers.

Today, 5 well-built ponds, large garden houses and fourteen small and large handicraft-studded buildings stand as a witness of the zamindars' era. Valuable doors and windows, ironwork and archeology are constantly being stolen. At night, this house becomes a sanctuary for thieves and robbers.

Locals claim that if this house is maintained and established as a tourist center under the supervision of the government, the recognition of the area will increase. The history and tradition of Baisarshi Zamindar's house is being lost today only due to lack of planning and indecision. If the concerned authorities take a look, this house can become one of the tourist centers of the country.

@ nazmul hasan nirob/