Promoth Chowdhury's increasingly blurred legacy
(L) A rundown temple situated close to what was Promoth Chowdhury's home. Promoth Chowdhury’s family home once stood on this barren tract.Photo: STAR
PROMOTH Chowdhury, a noted Bengali litterateur, was the pride of Pabna. His ancestral residence is in village Haripur, in Chatmohar upazila under the district. Sadly, though, his rich literary heritage is in danger of being lost.
Today the only reminder of Chowdhury is his paternal home. Promoth Chowdhury was the son of Durgdas Chowdhury and his old home was 30 km from the district headquarters. His father was a deputy magistrate under the British government. Promoth spent his early years in Haripur though he was born in Jessore on August 7, 1868.
He came from a family of seven brothers and two sisters. He and his five brothers were barristers while the other two were doctors. His eldest brother Ashutosh was a judge of the Kolkata High Court during the British era.
Promoth's mother Mognamoee Devi was called Ratna Gorva (Mother of Jewels). Locals said that the Chowdhury family left the village after Partition in1947, leaving behind precious assets. The family residence was looted. Locals still tip their hats to his memory in deep respect. Says a 38-year-old resident of the village, "We are proud to belong to the same village as Chowdhury. There is very little reminder of him, particularly among the younger citizens."
Among Chowdhury's notable books are Tel-Noon-Lakri (1906) Beerboler Halkhata (1916), Nana Kotha (1919) and Probhondo Sangraha (1952-53). He was also a talented poet. Panchashat (1913) and Podacharn (1919) are his sonnet books.
Towards the end of his life he immersed himself in editing Bishwa Bharati.
Promoth Chowdhury passed away on September 2, 1946 in Kolkata. It is a testimony to Chowdhury's formidable talent that he continues to attract a following. Says Professor Mohammad Nurunnabi, former principal of Government Shahid Bulbul College, Pabna, "Chowdhury does more than just write; he talks to his audience. His contribution is to introduce innovative writing tests during the Tagore era." Meanwhile the local government authorities seem to have the last word. Says Mohammad SAM Rafiqunnabi, UNO of Chatmola upazila, "It is true that no steps were taken earlier for conserving his memories. Most of the land was occupied while the 19th century decorated buildings were looted earlier. The deputy commissioner of Pabna visited Chowdhury's village. He has instructed land officials to scrutinise the official land records. It is a pity that he is receding in the public memory and his birth and death anniversaries are hardly remembered.”
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