Shashi Lodge Explained
The Shashi Lodge (Bengali: শশী লজ), also known as the Rajbari of Mymensingh,[1] was the palace-residence of Maharaja Shashikant Acharya, who was the Maharaja of the Muktagacha Zamindari Estate in Mymensingh of East Bengal during the time of the British Raj in India.[2] The palace is located by the river Brahmaputra, in the heart of Mymensingh, Bangladesh.[3] Through the end of the British Raj and the partition of India in 1947, East Bengal became the eastern wing of the independent state of Pakistan.[4] After the passing of the East Bengal State Acquisition and Tenancy Act of 1950 by the democratic Government of East Bengal in the Dominion of Pakistan, the zamindari system was abolished.[5] Since 1952, Shashi Lodge was used as a training center for women teachers[6] and it continued even after East Bengal seceded from Pakistan to become Bangladesh. The Lodge building is now deteriorated and is no longer used for traning center.[7] On 4 April 2015, Shashi Lodge was acquired by the Directorate of Archeology of the Government of Bangladesh to set up a museum.[8] [9]
History
The founder of the Muktagacha Zamindari Estate was Shri Krishna Acharya Chowdhury, who held the title of 'Maharaja of Muktagacha'. The fourth Maharaja of Muktagacha and great-grandson of Shri Krishna Acharya was Raghunandan Acharya Chowdhury.[10] Maharaja Raghunandan had no biological children and in order to make sure his zamindari estate does not get confiscated by the British Raj government, the Maharaja decided to adopt a boy who they named Gaurikant Acharya Chowdhury. Gaurikant succeeded Raghunandan as the fifth Maharaja.[11] It turned out that Maharaja Gaurikant failed to produce biological children.[12] After the Maharaja's death, his widow Maharani Bimala Devi adopted a boy and named him Kashikanta Acharya Chowdhury, who became the sixth Maharaja. After passing away childless, Maharaja Kashikant's widow Maharani Lakshmi Devi adopted a boy and named him Chandrakant.[13] The seventh Mahraja, Chandrakant Acharya had a short reign and passed away early. His foster mother, Maharani Lakshmi Devi adopted again. This time a boy called Purnachandra Majumdar was adopted.[14] Purnachandra Majumdar ascended the throne as the eighth Maharaja under his new name Suryakant Acharya Chowdhury.[15]
During the reign of Maharaja Suryakant Acharya Chowdhury, the Brahmaputra bank became fertile and generated immense agricultural revenue.[16] He did many philanthropic works in the broad context of zamindari management for about 41 years. He established aesthetic structures in Mymensingh.[17] At the end of the 19th century, Suryakant built a two-storied mansion on nine acres in the heart of Mymensingh city. The building was named Shashi Lodge after the adopted son of Shashikant Acharya Chowdhury.[18] He was saddened when this building was damaged by the Great Indian Earthquake on 12 June 1897. In 1905, the ninth Maharaja, Shashikant Acharya Chowdhury built Shashi Lodge with a new design at the same place.[19] In 1911, the renovation was completed to beautify the Shashi Lodge and soon the mansion became a fabulous and luxurious palace due to the efforts of the new Zamindar.[20] [21] [22]
See also
Notes and References
- News: Shoshi Lodge - a place of historical interest in M'singh getting a face-lift . . 27 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211103140012/https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/country/shoshi-lodge-a-place-of-historical-interest-in-msingh-getting-a-face-lift-1580063956 . 2021-11-03 . en.
- News: হক . ফাবিহা বিনতে . ঐতিহাসিক নিদর্শন শশীলজের একাল-সেকাল . . 27 November 2022 . bn . 17 August 2024 . 17 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817055500/https://bangla.thedailystar.net/life-living/travel/news-421716 . live .
- News: Shashi Lodge - A remnant of the Zamindari grandeur in Mymensingh . . 18 November 2019.
- News: ময়মনসিংহের কয়েকটি দর্শনীয় স্থান. . 9 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210909142137/https://www.dw.com/bn/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%80%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8/g-59132237 . 2021-09-09 . bn.
- News: পুরাকীর্তি শশী লজ চয়ন বিকাশ ভদ্র . . 3 February 2021.
- News: শশী লজের দৃষ্টিনন্দন পুকুরঘাট . www.kalerkantho.com . July 2022 . 2024-08-17 . 2024-08-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817055458/https://www.kalerkantho.com/print-edition/last-page/2022/07/28/1167689 . live .
- News: শশীলজ . mymensingh.gov.bd. https://web.archive.org/web/20240612040352/https://www.mymensingh.gov.bd/bn/site/top_banner/LIVA-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%9C . 2024-06-12 . bn.
- News: Cultural heritage under attack . . 8 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817055829/https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/cultural-heritage-under-attack-3671896 . en . 17 August 2024. 2024-08-17 .
- News: ময়মনসিংহের শশী লজে একদিন . . 11 August 2016 . bn . 17 August 2024 . 17 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817055421/https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8 . live .
- News: শশী লজ: ঐতিহ্যের আলো . Khaborer Kagoj . 16 August 2024 . bn . 17 August 2024 . 17 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817055500/https://www.khaborerkagoj.com/history-tradition/825159 . live .
- News: কালের সাক্ষী শশী লজ . Sarabangla . 18 October 2019 . bn . 17 August 2024 . 17 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817055459/https://sarabangla.net/post/sb-336670/ . live .
- News: We must preserve our history and cultural heritage . . 9 August 2024 . en . 17 August 2024 . 17 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817055615/https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/editorial/news/we-must-preserve-our-history-and-cultural-heritage-3673006 . live .
- News: ময়মনসিংহের ঐতিহ্যবাহী শশী লজ . bonikbarta.net . 23 October 2019 . en . 17 August 2024 . 17 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817060009/https://bonikbarta.net/home/news_description/208539/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%90%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%9C . live .
- News: জমিদারির শহরে . . 30 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817062706/https://bangla.bdnews24.com/lifestyle/article1357553.bdnews . 2024-08-17 . bn.
- News: Islam . Aminul . Shashi Lodge: In need of a face-lift . . 17 July 2008 . en . 17 August 2024 . 17 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817055954/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-46029 . live .
- News: শশীলজের নারী ভাস্কর্য নিয়ে অপপ্রচার, জড়িত কারা জানে না প্রশাসন . Bangla Tribune . 19 May 2019 . bn . 17 August 2024 . 17 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817060010/https://www.banglatribune.com/country/466029/%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE . live .
- News: ময়মনসিংহে পর্যটনে আছে সম্ভাবনা, নেই উদ্যোগ . . 27 September 2021 . bn . 17 August 2024 . 17 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817060001/https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/district/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%87-%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%97 . live .
- News: ময়মনসিংহের ঐতিহ্যবাহী 'শশী লজ' . . 22 May 2022. bn.
- News: ময়মনসিংহের শশী লজ: স্নানরত গ্রিক দেবী আর হুমায়ুনের 'অয়োময়ে'র মাঝে . . 17 January 2024 . bn . 17 August 2024 .
- News: Islam . Aminul . Mymensingh Museum in a derelict state . . 15 September 2010 . en . 17 August 2024 . 17 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817062545/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-154424 . live .
- News: Islam . Aminul . Mymensingh museum: Woeful preservation . . 23 July 2009 . en . 17 August 2024 . 17 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817060019/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-98259 . live .
- News: একদিনেই ঘুরে আসুন বিখ্যাত শশী লজে . jagonews24.com . 14 October 2021 . 17 August 2024 . 17 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817062605/https://www.jagonews24.com/travel/article/707128 . live. bn.