Shilaidaha Rabindra Kuthibari

Shilaidaha Rabindra Kuthibari, in short Shilaidah Kuthibari, is one of the major tourist places in Bangladesh. It is located seven kilometers north of Kushtia on the banks of Padma in Kumarkhali Upazila of Kushtia District.

Not to be confused with Shilaidaha.
Shilaidaha Rabindra Kuthibari
Native name
Bengali: শিলাইদহ রবীন্দ্র কুঠিবাড়ি
Main building of Shilaidaha Rabindra Kuthibari
TypeComplex
LocationShilaidaha, Kumarkhali Upazila, Kushtia District
Nearest cityKushtia
Coordinates23.919641°N 89.219961°E / 23.919641; 89.219961
Area11 acre
FounderRamlochan Tagore
Built forResidence
Current useTourist attraction
OwnerGovernment of Bangladesh

History
Aerial photograph of Shilaidaha Kuthibari

This Kuthi was built by a indigo-planter named Shelly which was later owned by Ramlochan Tagore. In 1807, Dwarkanath Tagore got the ownership of this kuthibari with the inheritance of estate. In 1892,[1] due to the erosion of the river caused by the flood, the Kuthibari was likely to disappear, so it was demolished and a new building was constructed elsewhere in the next year. Dwarkanath Tagore's grandson Rabindranath Tagore came to Shilaidaha several times to look after the estate. He had the opportunity to stay in this cottage. He wrote many literatures during his stay at Shilaidah Kuthibari. During his stay here in 1912, he began the work of translating the Gitanjali into English.[2] During his stay in this building in 1905, he wrote a song which is now the national anthem of Bangladesh.[3]

Pranab Mukherjee in Kuthibari, 2013

Before its acquisition to the Government of East Bengal in 1947, the ownership of this Kuthibari was transferred from the Tagore family to another landlord.[1] In 1958 it came under the Department of Archeology of Pakistan. In 1969, the provincial government planned to preserve it as an archaeological site.[4] Since the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, it has been under the Department of Archeology of Bangladesh.[3] In 2013, then President of India, Pranab Mukherjee visited Shilaidah Kuthibari. He then told the government that he wanted to provide financial assistance to build a complex at the Kuthibari site. After four years, the decision was finalized between the two countries and the construction of the complex was completed by 2020.[5] In 2018, a dam was constructed to protect Shilaidah Rabindra Kuthibari, but a part of it collapsed in the same year. Later in 2022, another part of the dam collapsed.[6]

Architecture

Shilidaha Kuthibari was built on 11 acre land of the village. This walled building is three storey museum that has 18 rooms with a central hall.[2][1] There are a total of 17 doors for entering and exiting the 18 rooms. The building has a total of 30 windows to let in sunlight.[3] The building has an area of 273.87 square meters. Built in Indo-Saracenic style, this building is 8.74 meters high.[4]

Tourist attractions

Layout
Front gate of Rabindra Kuthibari

There are two buildings near the gate of Kuthibari. The two buildings are named Gitanjali and Sonar Tori. There is a library, two ponds, a mango orchard, a garden and an auditorium.[7]

Museum
Inside of the museum

In 1986,[8] it became a museum.[2] The Department of Archaeology has preserved at least 80 photographs of Rabindranath Tagore as well as items used by Rabindranath Tagore at Shilaidah Kuthibari.[1]

Tourism
Musical gathering on the outside of Shilaidaha Kuthibari

It is a tourist attraction for Bangladeshi as well as foreign tourists. A three-day event is organized every year on the occasion of Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary.[1] In the fiscal year 2017-18, the Bangladeshi government earned ৳46 lakh by selling entry tickets to the Kuthibari.[9] However, the government refrained from organizing events here in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

The stall of the Department of Archeology set up at the 2022 Ekushey Book Fair was modeled after Rabindra Kuthibari.[11]

  • Amphitheatre
    Amphitheatre
  • Kuthibari
    Kuthibari
  • Open field at Shilaidaha Kuthibadi
    Open field at Shilaidaha Kuthibadi
  • Backside stairs
    Backside stairs
  • Kuthibari building
    Kuthibari building
  • Museum gallery
    Museum gallery
  • An interior door of Rabindra Kuthibari
    An interior door of Rabindra Kuthibari

References
  1. "রবীন্দ্রনাথ ও শিলাইদহের কুঠিবাড়ি". The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). 7 May 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  2. Nazimuddin Ahmed and Ahmed Rafique (2012). "Shilaidaha Kuthibadi". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  3. Islam, Azaharul (12 December 2022). "রবীন্দ্র কুঠিবাড়ি ও আমাদের জাতীয় সংগীত". Protidiner Sangbad (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  4. "শাহজাদপুরের রবীন্দ্র স্মৃতি জাদুঘর সৃষ্টিশীলতার এক জীবন্ত প্রতীক". Jaijaidin (in Bengali). 25 November 2020. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  5. Ahmed, Haque Farukh (6 May 2019). "আরও দৃষ্টিনন্দন হচ্ছে রবীন্দ্র কুঠিবাড়ি". Jugantor (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  6. Nayan, Mizanur Rahman (6 March 2022). "কুঠিবাড়ি রক্ষাবাঁধে আবারও ধস, আতঙ্কে পদ্মাপাড়ের মানুষ". Ajker Patrika (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 10 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  7. Ahmed, Anik (3 August 2022). "ঘুরে আসুন কুঠিবাড়ি". Samakal (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  8. "Shilaidaha Kuthibari, a tourist attraction". The Daily Observer. 11 August 2017. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  9. "Rabindranath's renovating Kuthibari to attract more visitors". Prothom Alo. 9 May 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  10. Yasmin, Sabina (7 May 2022). "কুষ্টিয়ায় বিশ্বকবির জন্মদিন পালনে প্রস্তুত কুঠিবাড়ি". Ntvbd.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  11. Alam, Mahmudul (2 March 2022). "বইমেলায় রবীন্দ্র কুঠিবাড়ি". Dhakaprokash.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
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