Agartala, 24: A five-member committee has been formed in Tripura to document the history of the Raj Bhavan. The committee, headed by Prof. Sirajuddin Ahmed of Tripura University, will bring out a book entitled History of Raj Bhawan, Agartala. Several meetings have already been held on the project with tribal welfare commissioner G.S.G. Ayengar and former chief engineer N.K. Dutta, who are also members of the committee.
The official residence of the governor has been home to visiting chief commissioners, lieutenant governors, visiting Prime Ministers, Presidents and vice- presidents, as well as Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
The Vayjayanta Palace, now the Raj Bhavan, was built by Tripura’s King Birendra Kishore Manikya in 1913 as the second royal abode, amid pastoral plains, a kilometre from the main royal palace — the Ujjayanta Palace.
The palace later came to be known as Kunjaban Palace.
Though today much of the landscape has been encroached upon, the sylvan surroundings had inspired many of Tagore’s compositions. Songs like Eso amar ghare eso, Bane yadi phutlo kusum and Premer dolan chanpa are said to have been composed here.
Tagore had lived at the palace as a guest of the royal family. The book will also delve into Tagore’s association with Raj Bhavan.
Former governor Lt Gen. (retired) K.M. Seth during his tenure had suggested recording Raj Bhavan’s history.
Prof. Ahmed has urged people to help accumulate facts and photographs on the palace.
“The book will trace the history of contemporary Tripura, with special emphasis on Vayjayanta or Kunjaban Palaces and help to preserve the rich tradition of the state,” said Ahmed.
He said the project would be completed as early as possible.