RAJBARI OF CHAKMAS
History about Old Chakma rajbari
Old Chakma Rajbari surfaced in Kaptai Lake
The royal residence of the Chakma dynasty came to the surface of Kaptai Lake once again. For nearly fifty years the palace remained submerged into the lake water.
(In the interview of Raja Devasish Roy)
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'At least 54,000 acre of arable land went under water in the year 1960 while implementing Kaptai hydroelectric project. Behind the placard of 'steps forward' about one lakh people were evicted and the royal mansion went under water at the winking of an eye'.
This summer, the surface level of Kaptai Lake drastically went down and the palace became visible.
..With this grand mansion the 13 tiny ethnic groups have close ties... all branches of hilly culture-the folklores, songs or rhymes and fairy tales have the echo of this palace.
Curious bands of people have encircled the site, both Bangalee and hilly people. However, amid such crowd the opportunist quarter is trying to loot the archaeological remains.
Raja Devashish Roy articulated his concern over the pilferage said 'I was informed that the asset is now under threat, stringent security measures have to be taken right now'.
The Raja passionately commemorates the incident ' I was a toddler at that time.. but my father the-then Raja Tridib Roy recorded the incident with his 8 mm camera. I watched the event later, again and again'.
'I heard from my ancestors, and browsed through historical documents and learnt how the project uprooted lakhs of people. Many of them migrated to Arunachal, Mijoram and Tripura in India. Even our Banglaee neighbours were displaced'.
Kaptai hydroelectric project was regarded to be a scale of progress, in fact the project turned the overall political, historical, and economic and even geographical set-up upside down.
Prior to the Chittagong Hill tracts Peace Agreement on December 2, 1997 the indigenous people faced frequent eviction. They were engrossed in misery.
According to the survey of 1798, the palace was situated at Rajanagar of Rangunia in Chittagong. The remains of that splendid stately mansion and the farmhouse are still there. Raja Bhuban Mohan Roy constructed this palace at the beginning of the nineteenth century and created amazement among people for its architectural design.
This summer, the surface level of Kaptai Lake drastically went down and the palace became visible.
..With this grand mansion the 13 tiny ethnic groups have close ties... all branches of hilly culture-the folklores, songs or rhymes and fairy tales have the echo of this palace.
Curious bands of people have encircled the site, both Bangalee and hilly people. However, amid such crowd the opportunist quarter is trying to loot the archaeological remains.
Raja Devashish Roy articulated his concern over the pilferage said 'I was informed that the asset is now under threat, stringent security measures have to be taken right now'.
The Raja passionately commemorates the incident ' I was a toddler at that time.. but my father the-then Raja Tridib Roy recorded the incident with his 8 mm camera. I watched the event later, again and again'.
'I heard from my ancestors, and browsed through historical documents and learnt how the project uprooted lakhs of people. Many of them migrated to Arunachal, Mijoram and Tripura in India. Even our Banglaee neighbours were displaced'.
Kaptai hydroelectric project was regarded to be a scale of progress, in fact the project turned the overall political, historical, and economic and even geographical set-up upside down.
Prior to the Chittagong Hill tracts Peace Agreement on December 2, 1997 the indigenous people faced frequent eviction. They were engrossed in misery.
According to the survey of 1798, the palace was situated at Rajanagar of Rangunia in Chittagong. The remains of that splendid stately mansion and the farmhouse are still there. Raja Bhuban Mohan Roy constructed this palace at the beginning of the nineteenth century and created amazement among people for its architectural design.
Chakma Rajbari is one of the most beautiful Rajbari, which is located in Rangamati. This Rajbari was constructed by Raja Tridiv Roy, father of Raja Devasish Roy in 1960 when the earlier palace went under water due to commissioning of Kaptai dam. It has been learnt that Raja Devasish Roy is in Thailand. Every year number of visitors are come here to see this beautiful House. Chakma Rajbari is one of the major visiting attractions in Rangamati. This royal house represents the tradition and culture a Chakma.
The Chakma Rajbari was a symbol of pride and testimony of the History of Chittagong Hill Tracts.
This Rajbari was constructed by Raja Tridiv Roy, father of Raja Devasish Roy in 1960 when the earlier palace went under water due to commissioning of Kaptai dam. The remains of a century-old royal palace of the Chakma dynasty resurfaced for the second time in the Kaptai Lake after its submersion nearly forty-six years ago as the lake’s water level fell down drastically due to the long drought this year.The royal mansion went under waters of the Kaptai Lake when the then Pakistan government created the artificial lake by making a dam along the Karnaphuli river in 1960 to execute the Kaptai Hydroelectric Project.At least 54,000 acres of cultivable land submerged by the dam water and around two million people lost their homesteads. Earlier, the remains of the mansion surfaced in 1986.
In absence of Raja Devasish Roy and other members of Chakma Raj family the Chakma Rajbari was destroyed by fire at around 7.15pm of 10th Nov’2010 . The actual cause is still unknown, some say it is by balloon lantern while some say it is by electricity short circuit. But, it is fact that all the valuables and rare documents have been engulfed by fire.
Within an hour fire incident many precious and invaluable archeological artifacts and historical document were lost, including the irreplaceable ivory made royal throne of Rani Kalindi (Queen Kalindi).
The destroy Rajbari is not only the residence of Chakma Circle Chief but also a symbol of tradition and unity of different ethnic peoples of CHT who have been living there for hundreds of years.
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