The New Nation - Internet Edition

Syed Ashraful Alom (Tito)

Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural heritage is irreplaceable source of life and inspiration. It is our touchstones, our point of reference, and our identity.

Rupgong Palace is situated in Narayangonj. It is 12 km far away from Dhaka. This large palace is 52 decimals of land in the area of Murapara at Rupganj police station.

Ram Ratan Banarjee established the Murapara Palace during his time and he was the 6th forefather of his family. He established the basement of this structure. According to the estate of Protap Chandra Banerjee and Poet Rabidranath Tagor's grandfather Prince Dwarkanath Tagore had a close friendship. In 1889, Protap Chandra Banarjee left his old traditional house and made new palace behind his old one. In 1909, Jagadish Chandra Banerjee completed the structure and became a landlord. Jagadish Chandra Banerjee was very famous because he elected two times of Delhi Council of State. Landlord Jagadish Chandra Banerjee established many things for his tenants in his territory but on the other hand he was very vulgar for his tenant. Overall he was very powerful, brutal and vigorous landlord of the Murapara. In his ruling period he torched and cutoff his tenants hair when they didn't pay their tax. In 1947, Jagadish Banarjee went to Kolkata (Calcutta). In 1966, he established a high school and college there. At present, it is familiar to everybody as Murapara Degree College. This gigantic building has 95 rooms. He has made a large dance room, treasure room which sill the witness of our cultural identity. His house is surrounded by two ponds and four temples. Overall the place is standing in its own aesthetics. Many visitors visit Murapara Palace. The distance from Dhaka to Rupgonj takes one-hour journey. No doubt if anyone visits the Murapara Palace they must be astonished what Jagadish Chandra Banerjee have done. But now a day it lost its own aesthetics because of without any proper care of this palace.

(Writer is a photographer)