Centuries-old building turned into land research museum

A centuries-old building (kachari-ghar), which is locally known as Maharajar Kachari-ghar of Cooch Behar, has been turned into land research museum.

Earlier, the three-hundred-year-old building was used as a local land office in Patgram upazila. It has been reported that this building has been used for land rent collection since the time of Maharaja of Cooch Behar.

On August 1 in 2019, Patgram upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Dipak Kumar Dev Sharma renovated the building and turned it as a land research museum to capture the history and heritage of land management.

There are many old monuments scattered in different parts of the upazila.

There is also information on various subjects including land measurement, land rent collection and land allotment in ancient times. It has preserved those things used by kings at different times. 

Ancient specimens include three chests, swords and gunter chains (land measuring instruments) used during the reign of the then kings and emperors are also showcased at the museum.

The museum has a land-related form gallery and a history of land management on display. Land Library has also been set up. There are different types of flowering plants in the garden next to it. There are special arrangements for visitors and union land officials to read books.

Assistant Commissioner (AC) Dipak Kumar said the building has been named the Land Research Museum as it is the centre of land discussions. Every day visitors flock to see these materials of the museum in Patgram upzaila of Lalmonirhat.

Jobed Ali, 75, a farmer from Jongra village in Patgram upazila said, he is happy seeing the old building used to collect land rent has been turned into land research museum.

Another farmer Hemanata Chandra Sen, 70, from Bawra village of the upazila said various type of land-related documents during the era of Cooch Behar kings have been preserved in the museum.    

 Patgram Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Dipak Kumar Dev Sharma told The Daily Star that the three-hundred-year-old building was used for collecting land rent since the time of that king.

The museum has been established to capture the history and heritage of 1000 years of land management, he added.

He has preserved various materials related to ancient lands, the AC said, hoping that through this, the new generation will be able to know various issues related to the ancient land management.