Itachuna

Itachuna is a semi-village town located near Pandua. A sleepy town with and peaceful nature where nothing much happens. The peculiarity of this place is it was way more advanced than other villages since 100 years ago. This place was called Bargee Danga''. The story starts with the Marathas. If you are wondering who are these guys? Well there a people from India who controlled the North. The Martha Empire was founded in 1667 in response to the misrule and chaos. It might have been founded to fight the Mughals. These guys turned their attention to Bengal.

So Marathas were fierce warriors from Maharashtra, what were they doing in Bengal? To make the story short, the lure of wealth and plunder was the main reason. Collection of Chauth’.  What is Chauth? It is a tax that is equal to 1/4th of the produce. Alivardi Khan the new nawab set the stage. He disposed of Sarfaraz Khan. Who unsuccessfully fights the Nawab and so does his brother-in-law: Rustam Jang. His son-in-law after his death wanted to regain control of Orissa and exact revenge. He calls the most able mercenary Raghuji Bhonsle. With later on ‘blessings’ of his king, he legitimately won right to raid and Plunder Bengal. The Marthas started attacking Bengal between 1742-1751. About 4, 00,000 civilians were killed. The general of Bhonsle ,Bhaskar Pandit attacked with a light Calvary mercenary called Bargi. The Bengalis thus since that time called them Bargis. The attacks ceased when a treaty was made with the Nawab.

There is lullabay which is sung to toddlers by mums in Bengal. The scar was such heavy that it took 200 years to forget.

Chhele ghumalo, paada judaalo bargi elo deshe

Bulbulite dhaan kheyechhe, khaajnaa debo kishe?

Dhaan phurolo, paan phurolo, khaajnaar opay ki?

Aar kotaa din shobur koro, roshoon boonechhi

Translates to:

When the children fall asleep, silence sets in, the Bargis come to our country

Birds have eaten the grain, how shall I pay the tax (to the Bargi)?

All our food and drink is over, how shall I pay the tax?

Wait for a few days, I have sown garlic.

The Kundans happened of the raiders Martha who planned to stay 

The Itachuna Rajbari is now a resort where one could stay few days upon payment of the resort’s payment. It is built on 8 acres of land amidst gardens, ponds and orchards. The place is divided into 3 parts and they are:

• Dev Mahal-Temple Area

• Andar mahal- This place is inside the house where women and people ho were close to the family lived.

• Bahir mahal-This place was for everyday subjects and other people working with the zamindary came.

The resort have several rooms but are known by the creative names as follows. They are as follows:

• Ginni Ma”- Meaning   Mother who is in charge of the house hold.

• Boro Ma

• Mejo Ma

• Bilash

• Manjari

And other rooms. They all have both Air conditioners and as well as Non AC depending on seasons. After November to January it is Non AC.

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Though the Zamindars had achievements but they were strict too. Some of their laws were that nobody can make two story buildings. This would be comparable to them. It was not until the end of the Zamindari rule that one could build more than two stories. This is a reason Itachuna does not have two-story or higher buildings in great number. Another source spoke of a Muslim family (Zamindar) who took asylum in the Kolkata riots. That Muslim family had kept a great amount of gold with them but alas they did not get it back. That might have been protection money. Will this generation correct their ancestors' misdeeds?

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Itachuna is located in Hooghly about 50 minutes by train from Howrah(Calcutta).

About Indica Collection

I like to cook delicious sorts of food.