Kirtipasha Palace

Pakutia Zamindar Bari resides under the administration of Nagarpur of Tangail district. This Zamindar Bari complex comprises of three main buildings. Out of these three, one is much larger compared to other two’s. The larger one is using as a Degree college these days and also the college authority holds the ownership of other two edifices as well. But they have rented Pakutia Zamindar Bari to other organization.

Initially the Zamindari was established by the hand of Ramkrishna Shaha Mondol at the early of 19th century. He has two sons named Radha Gobinda and Brindaban Chandra. Radha Gobinda didn't have any children but Brindaban Chandra had three. They are Brojendro Mohon, Upendra Mohon and Jogendra Mohon. Childless Radha Gobinda adopted the second son of his brother and later gave his whole property to him.

These three brothers later built three separate buildings for them in 1915 (almost 100 years from now). Each of the buildings are having extreme artwork & design, stylish columns, and small statues. Each inches of the building is having a delicate design that impresses everyone even these days. Top of the building is having a lovely sculpture type architecture that is rich in design, concept, and artwork (more if I consider the building period) in this modern days. Apart from these, there are several large ponds located at the backyard of the building.

This Zamindar family was friendly towards the villagers. They have established a school during 1916 named as Brindaban Chandra Radha Gobinda School (in short B.C.R.G. School) for their father and uncle. They have left this country during the 1947 separation. Later in 1967, the government established B.C.R.G Degree College on these buildings to commemorate the friendly Zamindar family. Apart from the Zamindar Bari, the premise now has a temple which probably used by the families who lived here. Also there is an open theater available that was used to arrange the local play or drama known as Jatra/Pala (যাত্রা/পালা).

Nawab Faizunnesa Choudhurani (1834–1903) was Zamindar of Homnabad-Pashchimgaon Estate in present-day Comilla District, Bangladesh. She is most famous for her campaign for female education and other social issues. In appreciation of her social work, in 1889 Queen Victoria awarded Faizunnesa the title of "Nawab", making her the first female Nawab in South Asia.

Early life and background: Nawab Faizunnesa Chowdhurani was born in 1834 in the village of Pashchimgaon under Laksham in the district of Comilla. Her father was Ahmed Ali Chowdhury, a descendent of the Mughal emperors and zamindar of Homnabad-Pashchimgaon estate. Faizunnessa was raised in a conservative Muslim family, where the women would maintain a strict purdah system. She received no formal education but she educated herself in her library during leisure time. She was proficient in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit and Bengali language. In 1860, Faizunnesa was married to a distant cousin and neighboring Zamindar, Muhammad Gazi, becoming his second wife. But the couple became separated for an unknown reason and Faizunnesa began to live with her paternal family.

Career and philanthropy: After her mother's death in 1883, Faizunnesa inherited her property and became Zamindar of Pashchimgaon. She became increasingly involved in social work after becoming Zamindar. In 1873, Faizunnesa Choudhurani established a high school for girls in Comilla, which is one of the earliest female schools privately established in Indian subcontinent, which is now called Nawab Faizunnesa Government Girls' High School. She also founded a school at Pashchimgaon that was later upgraded to a college and now named as Nawab Faizunnesa Degree College.

In 1893, Faizunnesa established a charitable dispensary in her village for women in purdah, particularly destitute women. She also built a hospital for women, Faizunnesa Zenana Hospital in Comilla. In addition, she built mosques and contributed towards the development of roads and ponds. Faizunnesa patronized different newspapers and periodicals, including Bandhab, Dhaka Prakash, Musalman Bandhu, Sudhakar, and Islam Pracharak. Before her death in 1903 she donated her entire property to the nation.

Boro Katra (বড় কাটরা) was built between 1644 and 1646 AD to be the official residence of Mughal prince Shah Shuja, the second son of emperor Shah Jahan. The prince endowed it to his diwan and the builder of the serai, Abul Qasim. The word Katra may have originated from Arabic word Katara which means colonnaded building.

It is a historical and architectural monument located in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh.‘Katra or katara’ in Arabic and Persian means ‘Caravan (Karwan) Sarai’ or simply a ‘Sarai’. It is a palatial building dating to the reign of the Mughal dynasty in the Bengal region. It is situated to the south of Chowk Bazar close to the north bank of the river Buriganga.

Words from the Second inscription of north gateway: “Sultan Shah Shuja Bahadur was famed for deeds of charity-Wherefore being hopeful of the mercy of God his slave Abul Qasim al-Husainia-Tabtaba, As Simnai, Built this sacred edifice endowing it with twenty two shops attached to it, o the rightful and lawful condition that the official in charge of the endowment should expend the income derived from them upon the repairs of the building and upon the poor, and that they should not take any rent from any deserving person alighting there in, so that the pious act may reflect upon the monarch in this world and they should not act otherwise, or else they would be called on the day of retribution. This inscription was composed by Sad-ud-din Muhammad Sherazi” (Dacca, p.193 by prof. A.H. Dani)

Architectural Property: The building's architecture follows the traditional pattern of the Central Asia's caravanserai and is embellished as per Mughal architecture. It originally enclosed a quadrangular courtyard surrounded by shops and was overlooked by a row of 22 living cells in each wing. Two gateways were built in the northern and southern wing. The southern wing is a two-storeyed structure and extends 223' along the river. It is marked in the middle by the southern gateway, an elaborate three storied central archway framed within a projected rectangular bay that provides access to the courtyard. The underside of the arched alcove of the gateway is adorned with intricate plasterwork. The wall surface around the spandrels with plastered panels in relief contain a variety of forms such as four-centred, cusped, horse shoe and flat arches. Each wing is two storied and the corners are marked by tall octagonal towers.

This Zamindar Bari (জমিদার বাড়ী) is currently known as Manob Babur Bari (মানব বাবুর বাড়ী) as the current owner's name is Manab Babu (মানব বাবু) who is the last descendent of the Gangatia Zamindar (গাংগাটিয়া জমিদার). Manob Babu (মানব বাবু) has fisheries project near from his house. You can also visit the project with its owner if he is available.

According to the Manob Babu (মানব বাবু), they are the possible smallest Zamindar (জমিদার) from the Bangladesh. Their forefathers came here from India, a Brahmin family (very strictly following Brahmin). During the war of 1971, the Pakistani armies and their Bangladeshi allies have done lot of damage to their house. Right now he is living there with his wife and sister. Neither he nor his brothers (all his brothers are passed away) have any children.

Gangatia Zamindar Bari (গাংগাটিয়া জমিদার বাড়ী) is mainly a small house that is having an array of Roman styled columns at the front. The architecture and the style of the building from the front side is amazingly beautiful. Very few travelers use to visit here. This Zamindar Bari (জমিদার বাড়ী) is a small one, but it has a massive boundary. The front door is also decorated and stylish. (গাংগাটিয়া জমিদার বাড়ী).

গাংগাটিয়ার জমিদারের সর্বশেষ বংশধর মানব বাবু বসবাস করার কারনে বর্তমানে এই জমিদার বাড়িটি মানব বাবুর বাড়ি নামে পরিচিত। জমিদার বাড়ির কাছেই মানব বাবু মাছ চাষ করেন। আপনি চাইলে তার সাথেই মাছের খামার ঘুরে দেখতে পারবেন।

মানব বাবুর ভাষ্যমতে তারা হলেন এদেশের সবচেয়ে ছোট জমিদার পরিবার। তারা হলেন ব্রাহ্মণ গোত্রের এবং তাঁদের পূর্বসূরীরা এখানে ভারত থেকে এসেছিল। ১৯৭১ সালের মুক্তিযুদ্ধের সময় পাকিস্তানী হানাদার বাহিনী ও তাদের এদেশীয় দোসররা জমিদার বাড়িটির ব্যপক ক্ষতিসাধন করে। বর্তমানে মানব বাবু এখানে তার স্ত্রী ও বোনকে নিয়ে বাস করছেন। মানব বাবু এবং তাঁর পরলোকগত কোন ভাইয়েরই কোন সন্তান নেই।

গাংগাটিয়া জমিদার বাড়ির সম্মুখভাগে রোমান স্থাপত্যের কলাম রয়েছে। সামনে থেকে এই জমিদার বাড়িটির স্থাপত্যশৈলী এক কথায় অসাধারণ। এখানে খুব কম পর্যটক বেড়াতে আসেন। ছোট এই জমিদার বাড়িটি বিশাল এলাকার উপর অবস্থিত। জমিদার বাড়ির সম্মুখ দরজাটি নকশায় পরিপূর্ণ।

বাংলাদেশের বেশীরভাগ হিন্দু জমিদার বাড়ি বেশ নাজুক অবস্থায় রয়েছে। বেশীরভাগ হিন্দু জমিদার ধর্মীয় অস্থিরতা এবং অন্যান্য প্রতিকুল পরিস্থিতির কারনে এদেশ ত্যাগ করতে বাধ্য হন। তবে, স্থানীয়দের বন্ধুত্বসুলভ আচরণ এবং সার্বিক সহযোগিতায় এখনও কিছু হিন্দু জমিদার পরিবার গর্বের সাথে বসবাস করছে।