Mejobari (Kolkata)

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Taratala, Behala and Barisha are three distinct localities on the south suburban of Kolkata. Taratala is an industrial area, Behala is a well known commercial as well as residential area but Barisha is a place of tradition, culture and history.

Barisha occupies an important place in the history of Kolkata. Here was once upon a time a GREAT "Fakir" (Muslim Sannyasi) whom people used to call as "Great Fakir" or "Barhhi Shah". In his name, the locality is known as Barisha. It is a place of Heritage & Culture. Today it is the biggest settlement of the famous Sabarna Roy Choudhury family.

Historical records show the first Durga Puja took place in Barisha in 1610 conducted by Roy Lakhsmikanta Majumdar Choudhury of the family of Sabarna Roy Choudhury.

The Sabarna Roy Choudhury family was the owner of three villages Sutanuti, Govindapur and Kolikata. Subsequently, these three villages merged to form the city of Kolkata. So, the 1610 Puja of Sabarna Roy Choudhury is considered to be the oldest Puja of Kolkata. Today the Sabarna Family celebrates Seven Durga pujas- six at Barisha ( Aatchala Bari, Baro Bari, Mejo Bari, Benaki Bari, Kalikingkar Bhawan and Majher Bari ) and another at Birati.

The present Kalighat Kali temple was erected under the patronage of the Sabarna Roy Chowdhury family of Barisha in 1809.

The old story of the Kolkata birth was officially discarded after an expert committee told the Kolkata High Court that it was false and distorted. The High court had been hearing a public interest litigation filed by the 'Sabarna Roy Chowdhury Paribar Parishad'and nine intellectuals of the city, challenging Charnock'parentage. The five-member committee headed by historian Nemai Sadhan Bose was set up by the court in 2002 to look into the issue. After a detailed study it submitted a report stating that the city early history did not begin with Charnock arrival in 1690.To strengthen this claim,the parishad submitted the lease agreement of Kolkata and two other villages-Govindapur and Sutanuti-between the landlord Sabarna Roy Chowdhury family and the East India Company. The company got the 'Right to Rent'of the three villages for Rs 1,300 per annum.The old story (which has now been thrown out of the window) said that Kolkata was founded by Charnock when he raised the English flag at a ghat in Sutanuti in 1690. The committee said that Charnock was searching for a place to establish a trading centre and had no intention of laying the foundation of a city in an alien country. Incidentally, he wrote most of his letters from 'Chuttanuttee and not from Kolkata or Calcutta.
Prof. Sushil Chowdhury, a member of the committee, said: "Charnock cannot be called the founder of the city. However, in my report, I did say that he should be credited with having chosen Sutanuti as the base for trade. This later on became our Kolkata."
Following the judgment, the state government has decided to remove Charnock proud title from school books.

So it THE REAL KOLKATA.

Barisha is also the home of the Indian cricket icon Saurav Ganguly.

Come let celebrate this fact,the place ,and it heritage !(Visit Sabarna Sangrahashala at Baro Bari, Barisha, Kolkata - 700008 Infoline 9830289400 to know more about the history of Kolkata and Barisha.