Cooch Behar Royal Family Applauds Assam CM's Statue Initiative
Statue Installation to Honor Historical Figures
Mahabir Chilarai (Photo: AT)
Boko, Nov 1: The royal lineage of Cooch Behar has expressed its support for Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma’s recent announcement regarding the erection of grand statues of Maharaja Naranarayan and Mahabir Chilarai at the Assam-West Bengal border. This initiative is seen as a vital move to honor the historical significance of these two iconic Koch rulers.
The Cooch Behar Royal Family Succession Welfare Trust, which represents the descendants of Maharaja Naranarayan, has conveyed its gratitude for the Chief Minister's declaration.
In a letter sent via email, the Trust’s president Kumar Jitendra Narayan, along with secretary Kumar Brajendra Narayan and spokesperson Kumar Mridul Narayan, expressed their appreciation for the announcement regarding the statues.
During a recent visit to Cooch Behar district in West Bengal, Chief Minister Sarma toured the historic Madhupur Dham Satra, where the esteemed Vaishnavite saint Mahapurush Srimanta Sankaradeva spent his final years. It was here that he made the public announcement about the statue installations.
The letter from the royal family representatives underscored the significant historical roles played by Maharaja Naranarayan and his brother Mahabir Chilarai, who were instrumental in safeguarding the Assamese region from external threats in the 16th century.
Additionally, these rulers are remembered for their efforts in reconstructing the Kamakhya temple after its destruction by invaders.
The royal family also highlighted how Maharaja Naranarayan and Mahabir Chilarai supported Srimanta Sankaradeva in spreading the Vaishnavite faith and helped establish a satra at Madhupur in Cooch Behar.
The Trust expressed optimism that the Assam government would complete the statue projects within the promised timeline, ensuring that the contributions of these historical figures are duly recognized.
It is noteworthy that during Chief Minister Sarma’s visit to Madhupur Dham Satra, a delegation led by Kumar Jitendra Narayan submitted a memorandum detailing various requests aimed at preserving the region's historical and cultural heritage.
The memorandum called for the removal of encroachments on land belonging to the historic Madhupur Dham Satra and the restoration of the occupied areas. It also requested the development of Damodar Dham at Baikunthapur, including the construction of a boundary wall.
Among other requests, the delegation urged the government to name the under-construction bridge over the Brahmaputra, linking Dhubri in Assam with Phulbari in Meghalaya, after Mahabir Chilarai.
Furthermore, the memorandum proposed transforming the Karmateertha building along the Assam-West Bengal border into a significant tourist attraction and reconstructing the historic Gohain Kamal Ali road, which once connected Assam and West Bengal over a distance of approximately 350 kilometers. The royal family representatives also emphasized the importance of preserving the traditional cultures of both Assam and West Bengal, constructing a grand statue of Mahabir Chilarai at the interstate border, and enhancing the infrastructure of Madhupur Dham Satra and other satras and namghars in North Bengal linked to the legacy of Srimanta Sankaradeva.