DT e-Paper, Saturday, 12 November, 2016

Heritage
13
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016
DT
noted such trades, with agate and
pepper in addition.
Relationships, in the 17th
century, between Cooch Bihar
and Bhutan, were very close, and
assistance by the latter to the
former was given when Emperor
Aurangzeb ordered the launching
of expeditions on these fringes of
Bengal … to which he is known to
have referred as “the paradise of
nations, for its wealth and trade”
... to raise money for his conflicts
in Southern India with Hindu
adherents.
Following the granting to the
British of Diwani Rights for Bengal,
as well as Bihar and Orissa, after
their victory over Mughal forces at
Buxar, in 1764, the British slowly
extended their areas of control.
That their financial control was
high on the agenda we may deduce
from, in 1789, their closing the mint
in Cooch Bihar, that has made silver
coinage for Bhutanese as well as for
local use.
Clearly, the wealth generated
locally ensured an excellent living
for local landholders, ie zaminders.
The city has, within and around it,
many other splendid examples of
the design of mansions and palaces.
It was amongst those zaminders
that were the founders, too, of
Carmichael College, opened in 1916
by the governor of Bengal; such as
Gopal Lal Roy Bahadur, and Babu
Monidra Chanra Roy were amongst
the many sponsors of the famous
college.
And, no doubt, the famous
Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain,
born locally, was also familiar with
its foundation.
The remains of at least five
other mansions and palaces, in
addition to Tajhat, are still to be
found in this one, relatively small,
community. Nothing could say
more for the wealth and status
of the community that had to
wait until so recently, for its
recognition as a major military and
Today’s Rangpur reflects that wealth. The
city that was, in the early years of the 20th
century, to see, not merely the birth of one of
Britain’s most famous social reformers, William
Beveridge, but also the foundation of the
famous Carmichael College
During the 18th century, Rangpur
was already well recognised as the
destination for what was known
as “the Grand Annual Caravan” of
Bhutanese merchants, with the
annual market that was to become
so vital to the economy of the
Kingdom of Bhutan.
Indeed, not simply the Kingdom,
but, in fact, the king and his
friends, in particular.
It is inevitable that the Bengalibased
traders who made their way
to that annual fair, including those
doing so on behalf of the East India
Company and the royal authorised
Bhutanese,brought considerable
wealth to this city with such a clear
and unique history as a trading
centre.
Today’s Rangpur reflects that
wealth. The city that was, in the
early years of the 20th century, to
see, not merely the birth of one
of Britain’s most famous social
reformers, William Beveridge, but
also the foundation of the famous
Carmichael College.
It remains the site of many
zamindari mansions and palaces,
the most conspicuous of which,
Tajahat Palace, was also built early
in the 20th century, to replace that
which was destroyed in the 1897
Great India earthquake, killing the
incumbent zaminder.
administrative centre.
Equally, a proliferation of places
of worship, Muslim, Hindu, and
Christian amongst them, abound
in the immediate vicinity and
towns around; not to mention, still,
great administrative architectural
examples from the 19th century,
not only in Rangpur itself, but also
in nearby Saidpur, once the centre
of rail traffic for most of the lands
that are now Bangladesh.
Today, Google searches for
Rangpur produce a clear majority of
entries about the Rangpur orange
-- a slightly bitter mandarin orange
-- grown alongside a famous crop
of limes.
This number of entries, however,
relate, especially, to “Rangpur
Gin,” distilled and bottled by the
internationally famous Tanqueray
distillery, produced with some
flavouring from that unique orange.
It may well be doubtful if many
gin drinkers around the world,
today, recognise the name of
Rangpur on the label.
But there is little doubt that
for centuries in the past, this was
a widely known, international,
trading centre; then, as now, very
much a trader’s city. •
Tim Steel is a communications, marketing
and tourism consultant.