Asim Bando's KOLKATA BLOG

            Raja Ramram Mitra was Diwan of Nawab of Murshidabad. He belonged to Dakshin Raarh Kayastha (দক্ষিণ রাঢ় কায়স্থ) community and Mitra family of Konnagar, Hooghly. Once, he came to Gobindapur (now Kolkata) from Murshidabad and had started living here. Ayoddharam was Ramram's son. Their family became prosperous during the time of Ayoddharam. After the War of Plassey, he had to construct residence at Mechobazar (মেছোবাজার) because his earlier residential area was occupied by British to erect new fort (Fort William) there. Ayoddharam had two sons - Kriparam & Jagannath. During the time of property division - Kriparam went to Shunra (শুঁরা) which is now under Beleghata-Phulbagan area (Raja Rajendralal Mitra was the descendant of Kriparam) and Jagannath stayed in his ancestral house. Jagannath's son Ramsundar Mitra (খ্যাদা রাম মিত্র) constructed the palace-like house at 84, Muktaram Babu Street of Chor Bagan. Once that big house was affected by earthquake. Then, i

            Jagatram Dutta was Diwan of import-export division of East India Company's Patna warehouse. He was the grandson of architect Ramchandra Dutta of Hatkhola area in Kolkata. Jagatram built a big mansion at 78, Nimtala Ghat Street after leaving his ancestral house in the year 1785 approximately. As per the custom of that time, Jagatram too initiated Durga and Kali Puja in his own house at Hatkhola. The mansion was very remarkable as a beautiful architecture, but now it is in dilapidated condition for want of proper maintenance. The conditions of walls and ceilings of Thakurdalan (ঠাকুরদালান) are very poor. The walls and ceilings are cracked, even the beams of ceilings are in extremely bad condition. Rain water drops through the cracked ceiling of roof and as a result, the walls became damped, deformed and the parget by plaster on walls are damaged. They usually cover the damaged portions by curtains during puja and other festivals. Goddess Kali is here as Dakshina Ka

                Jagannath Prasad Mitra was the founder of Dorji Para Mitra family. He belonged to Dakshin Raarh Kayastha (দক্ষিণ রাঢ় কায়স্থ) community. Jagannath came to Sutanuti area (now Kolkata) from Ariadaha in search of fortune. His grandson Durgacharan was the 'Court Jeweller' of Nawab Siraj-ud-doula. Besides, he was engaged in several business and had Dewani of Salt. Nilmani Mitra - nephew of Durgacharan was also an honourable person at that time. Prankrishna Mitra - grandson of Nilmani Mitra once made an idol of goddess Kali in his childhood. But by error, he set the left foot (instead of right) of goddess Kali on the chest of lord Shiva. Since then, the family worshipping goddess Kali by keeping the error of Prankrishna made while making the idol. One of the main feature of this family is offering (নৈবেদ্য) butter to goddess Kali by this way: at first, they put a decorated big banana leaf on a big brass container (থালা) and a banana leaf, betel leaf use to put o

                Gurucharan Pramanick was one of the bell and brass metal traders of Bengal and belonged to coppersmith community. He came to Kolkata from Sahagunge of Hooghly district in the first half of eighteenth century and constructed a residential house at Chorbagan-Kansaripara area of central Kolkata. Later, his son Tarak Pramanick was able to flourish the business manifold. He established a dock named Caledonic too in Howrah. Their family is now not in the trade of bell and brass metal, but, the custom of worshipping weight and weighing machine on day after Kali Puja is still in vogue in Pramanick family residing at 154, Tarak Pramanick Road. By the effort of Gurucharan and his son Tarak, - Rathyatra, Raas and Janmastami festival were used to observe by the family. Later, Kali Puja and Durga Puja too included in the list. They worship goddess Kali according to Kalika Puran. The image of scorpion is painted on the left foot of goddess Kali here. They never offer 'anna

                               Ramdulal De - the foremost businessman of nineteenth century, started his life in the house of Madan Mohan Dutta of Hatkhola as 'Bill Sarkar', and after 'Ship Sarkar'. Sarkar was his title. His paternal house was at the village Rekjani of 24-Pgs. He lost his parents in childhood and came to Calcutta with his grandmother. Adult Ramdulal accepted the job of ship business manager of Madan Mohan Dutta. Once, he bought a sinked ship by himself and earned rupees one lakh. But he handed over the entire amount to his employer Madan Mohan Dutta. Mr. Dutta was very pleased to see his honesty and returned the whole amount to Ramdulal. He advised Ramdulal to start a new business of his own. Ramdulal started worshipping various god and goddesses at his own residence of 67E, Beadon Street. It was the last part of nineteenth century. On the day of Kali Puja, the episode of "অলক্ষী বিদায়" is use to run in front of their house-god Sridhar