Sriti o Chetona Museum

  Tepri Barman.  Birangana Tepri Barman, a brave lady who sacrificed herself to save her family.  We have read many stories about rakshasas as children, where the rakshasas would keep an entire village hostage and spare absolute annihilation upon receiving one villager every night as dinner. Tepri Barman's story is somewhat similar.  It was 1971. Thakurgaon's Tepri Barman was a newly married girl of 16-17. The Liberation War had broken out.  One day the Pakistani army entered their village and their intention was simply to kill all. Tepri's family had taken shelter elsewhere to save themselves from this onslaught. Upon finding no one in the house, the soldiers and Razakars took 5 of their cows. Later Tepri went to the Pakistani soldiers' camp to retrieve their cows along with her brother. The soldiers caught them and threatened to kill her brother and her entire family unless she becomes their sex slave.  Tepri saved her brother and her family by sacrificing herself.  S

  Jean-Eugène-Paul Kay(January 5, 1943 - December 12, 2012) was a French citizen and a surprise ally of the liberation war of Bangladesh who became a part of history on the 3rd of December, 1971 as he tried to hijack a Boeing 720 airplane belonging yo the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) from France. He did this because he wanted to help the people of East Pakistan.  Kay was reportedly carrying a bomb in his bag and revolver in his hand as he barged into the cockpit of the airplane that was standing  at the Orly airport in Paris, France, full of Pakistani passengers.  Kay demanded 20 tons of medical supplies and relief goods for the refugees of Bangladesh liberation war. Kay who was in favor of an independent Bangladesh, demanded that France send some medical supplies by this plane for the Bengali people who are fighting for independence in East Pakistan, especially for the refugees who had taken shelter in different parts of eastern India especially West Bengal.  This outstanding

  Kazi Nazrul Islam (centre) with poet Jasim Uddin (left). 1975.  Nazrul Islam was under treatment. He passed away in 1976.  Image: Google

  Dhaka University students preparing for the war in Dhaka University Ground. 1971.  Image: Google

  Unable to face the angry Bangladeshis, Khulna's infamous Razakar, one of the perpetrators of the 1971 genocide,  Muslim League leader Sabur Khan attempted to commit suicide. He later recovered in Dhaka's Mitford Hospital.  News Published: 24th December, 1971. 

  East Pakistan Liberation Front burning the Pakistani flag in front of the Pakistan Embassy in London.  Event Date: 5th March, 1971.  Image Courtesy: The Guardian, 06.03.1971

  Fox devouring a Bengali's corpse.  Rayerbazar Killing Field, 1971

  Coin worth 2 'Aana' (16 Aana = 1 rupee) East India Company, 1818

  Annual Conference of All India Motion Picture Association, 31st December 1934, held at Moez Manzil, Faridpur, Bangladesh (then East Bengal part of British India).  In the photograph:  Prithvi Raj Kapoor (seen standing at last row), Ashok Kumar (far back row), Promotesh Borua (Crown Prince of Assam, first to play Devdas on screen), Kanon Debi (famous actress), Leela Desai(famous actress), B N Sarkar( a famous film producer and distributor) among many others. 

Sree Sree Chatteshwari Kali Mayer Mandir entrance. Sree Sree Chatteshwari Kali Mandir is located in Chittagong city(Chatteshwari Road), Bangladesh and is dedicated to the mother goddess Kali. Both the name of the road on which the temple stands and the name of the city Chittagong is derived from the name of Maa Chatteshwari.  The mandir was built in the 18th Century. The goddess of the temple is considered the guardian deity of the town Chittagong, according to Hindu belief.  This temple was damaged by the Pakistani army soldiers during the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war. The temple was rebuilt by the Chakraborty family.  The previous murthy which was made of neem wood which was nearly destroyed during the war. Only the upper portion was recovered by a member of Chakraborty family. The half neem wood murthy continues to remain inside the temple. After the war ended the temple was rebuilt and a new murthy was established which was made in Benaras (India) and taken to the temple from Ind

  Chittagong Airport during WW II (1944). The Supermarine Spitfire, Fighter Aircraft. 

Rabindranath Thakur(Tagore) at Govinda Narayan Singha's residence('Singha Bari') in Srihatta's (Sylhet) Chouhatta.  Rabindranath Thakur can be seen with his son Rathindranath and his daughter in-law Protima Debi. Among the others are the members of Singha Bari - Govinda Narayan Singha Majumdar and his three sons Gopendra Narayan Singha Majumdar, Upendra Narayan Singha Majumdar, and Sudhirendra Narayan Singha Majumdar.  Photo date: 7 November, 1919. Bengali 20th Kartik, 1326. 

  The pro-Pakistani militant groups that perpetrated the Hindu genocide of 1971, creating a firing line, rehearsing manslaughter!  Image credit: Azad(magazine), January 1972. 

  Bodies of martyred intellectuals recovered from Rayerbazar Killing Field and Mass Grave being taken away for proper burial or cremation.  Image Courtesy: Google

  1970 General Election poster by Awami League depicting the economical injustices done towards East Bengal(East Pakistan).  The comparisons:  Subject     Bangladesh     West Pakistan  Revenue spent    1500 crore    5000 crore Development       3000 cr          6000 cr Foreign Aid  20% 80% Import Goods   25%. 75% Central Govt. Jobs    15%    85% Military Jobs   10%  90% Rice price (per maund)  50 Taka  25 Taka Wheat flour (maund)   30 Taka    15 Taka Mustard Oil (Per 'Ser'/0.93 kg) 5T  2.50T Gold (Per 'Bhori'/11.66 gram) 170 T  135T

  East Bengali women wearing Jamdani sarees. Photographed late 19th century.  East Bengal was a part undivided Bharat (India).  Image courtesy: John Gillow and Nicholas Barnard.

  Poisonous bayonet from a Pak Raider's gun.  Image Courtesy: বাংলাদেশের দুষ্প্রাপ্য ছবি সমগ্র Facebook group.  (Authenticity doubted)

  Indian soldiers returning home from Mymensingh after the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. 

  Killing Fields of 1971: Rayerbazar 

  A low relief carving on a temple in Telkupi, Purulia. 

  A submerged deul at Telkupi. 

  Unknown temple at Telkupi - photographed in 1897. (Maybe attributed to JD Beglar) Collection: Leiden University Library, Royal Netherlands Institute of South East Asian and Caribbean Studies Telkupi and its largely Jain tradition temples(Bhairavasthan) from the Pala period (8th-12th CE) were submerged between 1956 and 1962 as a consequence of the construction of Panchet Dam across the Damodar river in Dhanbad, Jharkhand(then Bihar).  According to archeologists JD Beglar and Dr Debala Mitra, the area contained, perhaps, “the finest and largest number of temples within a small space that is to be found in the Chutia Nagpur Circle in Bengal.”  

  Unknown temple at Telkupi - photographed in 1897. (Maybe attributed to JD Beglar) Collection: Leiden University Library, Royal Netherlands Institute of South East Asian and Caribbean Studies Telkupi and its largely Jain tradition temples(Bhairavasthan) from the Pala period (8th-12th CE) were submerged between 1956 and 1962 as a consequence of the construction of Panchet Dam across the Damodar river in Dhanbad, Jharkhand(then Bihar).  According to archeologists JD Beglar and Dr Debala Mitra, the area contained, perhaps, “the finest and largest number of temples within a small space that is to be found in the Chutia Nagpur Circle in Bengal.”  

  Unknown temple at Telkupi - photographed by Armenian archeologist Joseph David Beglar in 1898.  Collection: Leiden University Library, Royal Netherlands Institute of South East Asian and Caribbean Studies. Telkupi and its largely Jain tradition temples(Bhairavasthan) from the Pala period (8th-12th CE) were submerged between 1956 and 1962 as a consequence of the construction of Panchet Dam across the Damodar river in Dhanbad, Jharkhand(then Bihar).  According to archeologists JD Beglar and Dr Debala Mitra, the area contained, perhaps, “the finest and largest number of temples within a small space that is to be found in the Chutia Nagpur Circle in Bengal.”  

  Telkupi (or Tailakampi) is a submerged location of archaeological interest in Purulia district of West Bengal, India. The area, along with most of the temples situated there, was submerged in 1959 as a consequence to the construction of a dam across Damodar river at Panchet in Dhanbad district, then in Bihar. Formerly known as Tailakampi, Telkupi is the capital of Rudrasikhara, a local ruler of the area in 11th century, who helped Pala king, Ramapala, to recover Varendra from Bhima. The royal chronicle of Panchkot Raj of Shikhar dynasty mentions that Rudrashikhara rose to power in 1098 CE.  India historian Niharranjan Ray assumes that he ruled from 1070 to 1120. Sandhyakar Nandi in his poem Ramacharitam comments that like a wildfire, Rudrasikhara, was an expert in warfare, crushed the pride of the rulers of rivers and mountains. Tailakampi was a commercial hub in 10th to 13th century. It is believed that most of the temples were funded by the 'Banik' or Bengali businessmen, w

  Jahan Kosha photographed by Sriti O Chetona in 2021.  Jahan Kosha vintage view. Jahan Kosha Cannon (also known as the Great Gun) or Jahan Kosha Kaman, is placed in Topekhana of Murshidabad, WB. It literally means the Destroyer of the World(Jahan = World, Kosha = Destroy).  The cannon was made in 1637 CE by Janardan Karmakar, a Hindu blacksmith and gunsmith, under the supervision of Hara Ballav Das.  The cannon is made of ashtadhatu or 8 metals, namely lead, iron, silver, copper, tin, zinc, gold and mercury.  Ashtadhatu, also called octo-alloy, is a mix of alloy often used for casting metallic idols in Hindu temples. The composition is laid down in the Shilpa shastras, a collection of ancient texts that describe arts, crafts, and their design rules, principles and standards.  The cannon is more than 7 tons in weight. It is 17 feet and 6 inches in length and 3 feet in width. It has a girth of 5 feet at the touch hole end. The circumference of its mouth is more than one foot. The radius

    Terracotta rattle in the shape of Kubera.  Chandraketugarh, c. 200 BCE.

  Exquisite terracotta objects (c. 200 BCE) from Chandraketugarh, in West Bengal, India. Chandraketugarh was one of 11 urban settlements surrounding Bengal in pre-Mauryan India. From the excavations and field studies it can be assumed that it probably came into prominence around 1000BCE and remained populated until the Pala-Sen dynasties (12th century CE). The site contains six phases of ruins.  (Courtesy: State Archaeological Museum, WB)

  Exquisite terracotta objects (c. 200 BCE) from Chandraketugarh, in West Bengal, India. Chandraketugarh was one of 11 urban settlements surrounding Bengal in pre-Mauryan India. From the excavations and field studies it can be assumed that it probably came into prominence around 1000BCE and remained populated until the Pala-Sen dynasties (12th century CE). The site contains six phases of ruins.  (Courtesy: State Archaeological Museum, WB)

  Exquisite terracotta objects (c. 200 BCE) from Chandraketugarh, in West Bengal, India. Chandraketugarh was one of 11 urban settlements surrounding Bengal in pre-Mauryan India. From the excavations and field studies it can be assumed that it probably came into prominence around 1000BCE and remained populated until the Pala-Sen dynasties (12th century CE). The site contains six phases of ruins.  (Courtesy: State Archaeological Museum, WB)

  Exquisite terracotta objects (c. 200 BCE) from Chandraketugarh, in West Bengal, India. Chandraketugarh was one of 11 urban settlements surrounding Bengal in pre-Mauryan India. From the excavations and field studies it can be assumed that it probably came into prominence around 1000BCE and remained populated until the Pala-Sen dynasties (12th century CE). The site contains six phases of ruins.  (Courtesy: State Archaeological Museum, WB)

  Exquisite terracotta objects (c. 200 BCE) from Chandraketugarh, in West Bengal, India. Chandraketugarh was one of 11 urban settlements surrounding Bengal in pre-Mauryan India. From the excavations and field studies it can be assumed that it probably came into prominence around 1000BCE and remained populated until the Pala-Sen dynasties (12th century CE). The site contains six phases of ruins.  (Courtesy: State Archaeological Museum, WB)

  Diary of Rao Farman Ali, Major-General of Pakistan Army in 1971. The diary contains a hit list of Bengali intellectuals. 

  Relief of a woman from Chandraketugarh, Shunga Empire; India, 2nd-1st century BCE. 

  A Chandraketugarh plaque depicting a Soiree dating back to the Shunga Dynasty 2nd-1st Century BCE. 

  Ancient artefacts tha were recovered from the locals of Chandraketugarh for displaying at Chandraketugarh Museum. 

  A 2000 year old terracotta plaque with scene of abduction from the Ramayana, Chandraketugarh, Shunga Dynasty, 1st century BCE – 1st century CE. One can only imagine how old the Hindu epic Ramayana must be. 

Terracotta exhibit at Chandraketugarh Museum displaying some sort of ancient event or initiation ceremony or maybe an every day scene from the village. 

  Over 2000 years old terracotta artefact 'Winged female deity', found from Chandraketugarh, 2nd-1st century BCE (Ethnological Museum, Berlin). 

Terracotta artefact displaying some sort of a royal event, possibly a royal marriage,  wherein the bride and groom (prince and princess possibly) are being carried off in a traditional Bengal 'Palki' and are being accompanied by musicians (dholkis), dancers, horse riders, elephants etc.  Image Courtesy: Indrajit RoyChoudhury.

  Yakshi Celebratory Procession, Chandraketugarh. 

  Over 2000 years old terracotta artefact 'Male figure with headgear' excavated from Chandraketugarh, Shunga Dynasty 2nd-1st century BCE. (Ethnological Museum, Berlin)

  Over 2000 years old terracotta artefact 'Goddess (Durga) with her attendants', found from Chandraketugarh, Shunga Dynasty, 185-75 BCE. (Met Museum, New York)