Amar Kutir, Shantiniketan

  • Amar Kutir (আমার কুটির) (meaning: my cottage in Bengali) was once a place of refuge for independence movement activists. Post-independence it was converted into a cooperative society for the promotion of arts and crafts by local artisans. 
Amar Kutir Showroom (picture from internet)


  • It is located on the banks of the Kopai River, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Shantiniketan in Birbhum district.
  • Amar Kutir was set up in 1927 by Sushen Mukherjee. Mukherjee had been associated with the revolutionary movement and was inspired to take up this venture after he met Gandhi at Shantiniketan in 1922. 
Sushen Mukherjee


  • Sushen Mukherjee, was a follower of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Culture and ideology, a prolific traveller and an active participant of the freedom movement of India. He decided to set up a place where young revolutionaries could earn their living by engaging in activities such as sari printing, handloom and leather craft production. 
  • In 1930, Amar Kutir was raided by the British rulers and Mukherjee was put behind bars for political activities. This led to the temporary closure of Amar Kutir for seven years. 
  • Contrary to certain perceptions, Rabindranath Tagore never visited Amar Kutir nor extended any support. 
  • From 1938 many revolutionaries released from prison started living and working in Amar Kutir. They organized night classes and spreading Marxist ideas amongst the rural masses. Many of the revolutionaries left Amar Kutir and were directly involved in organizing peasant movement in the villages during the Second World War and the Quit India movement in 1942. Three freedom fighters died in police firing in a raid on Bolpur Railway Station conducted by thousands of people assembled by Amar Kutir.
  • Amar Kutir Society for Rural Development was formally registered in 1978. 
  • After the demise of Sushen Mukherjee, his adopted sons Kamalaksha Bose and Alok Bose took up the organization. They ran it from 1955 to 1978/ 1980. Later the property was transfered to create an autonomous body known as Amar Kutir Society for Rural Development and gifted the property to this society. 
  • Local people bring their merchandises such as needle works, bamboo crafts, batik works, and leather handicrafts and sell them to the above society who in turn sell them to the tourists or export them to foreign countries. 
  • It also has batik, needlecraft and shola and lac crafts units. Under a Central government scheme, a craft development centre was opened in 1992 at Amar Kutir. In 1993, the Central government set up a hand-block printing training centre. 
  • The adjacent Khoai river, the large statue of Rabindranath Tagore and the floral bloom are aesthetic addition to the place.  Amar Kutir not only has a glorious involvement in India’s freedom movement but continues to support local artisans and keeps indigenous art forms alive.
  • Following are images from Amar Kutir museum which preserves artefacts and informations related to the ich legacy of the place.





















Sushen Mukherjee and Kamaleshwar Bose


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amar_Kutir

https://amarkutir.org.in

 

 

 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Antpur and Rajbalhat

Image
Antpur is a village in the Jangipara, Hooghly district, the nearest rail station being Haripal or Tarakeswar.  The most famous temple in Antpur is that of Radhagovindjiu with exquisite terracotta carvings depicting stories from all the 18 puranas. This 100 feet high temple was constructed by Krishna Ram Mitra, the Diwan of Bardhaman Raj in 1786. The Chandi Mandap and Dol Mancha have beautifully crafted wood carvings and terracotta. The terracotta panels consist of war scenes from Ramayana and scenes from day to day life. The aat chala temples have a triple arched entrance.  The Main Temple Raash mancha Entrance to the fort Shiva temple Main temple Terracota works Dol mancha Antpur is the birth place of Baburam Ghosh later known as Swami Premananda a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. At this property 24 th December 1886, Swami Vivekananda along with eight brother disciples renounced the world. The premises are now maintained by Ramakrishna Math and Mission . This center carries o
Read more

Lantern festival at Bholanath Dham

Image
Bholanath Dham on Beadon Street is a well-known landmark in North Calcutta acclaimed for its Durga Puja and the Fanoush (handmade hot air ballon or lantern) associated with Kali Pujo. Probably started by the Dey family of Darjipara of North Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1912 fanoush flying was a regular activity on the late afternoon of Kali Pujo in the Darjipara and Beadon Street areas.  Back then it was a competition among aristocrats to show their wealth and draw attention of the masses. Apart from the conventional balloon shape the fanoush assumes different shapes such as pitchers, stars, footballs, ducks, kettles and even the planet of Saturn. Probably due to the lack of expertise in craftsmanship, precision and aesthetics, this art form had lost much of its patrons. Today the ritual is maintained by a few traditional families and is a great experience to witness this nearly lost heritage of Kolkata.  Next to the Hedua Park, is what was once known as Beadon Street . The stretch is now
Read more

Fort William

Image
Fort William stands as one of the most remarkable and abiding legacies of the British rule in India. It was built not merely as a barrack for the Army personnel but to proclaim the power and sovereignty of the British monarch. Post-independence, it symbolizes the status and strength of the Indian Army. This historical monument serves as a military bastion which holds within itself a small independent township. The present fort was built by the East India Company after the old one was stormed down by the last independent Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daula. Building of the old fort started in 1696 to honor King William of England. The construction of the old fort was completed in 1702 at the present day Koilaghat Street area. The old Fort included the General Post Office, Eastern Railway Headquarters and a part of the Writers’ building.  The College of Fort William was a brainchild of Lord Wellesley. It was conceptualised as 'Oxford of East'. The purpose was to prepare all those who
Read more