Heritage status for Netaji’s ancestral house

Kolkata:After addressing a meeting in South 24 Parganas district, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee visited the ancestral house of Netaji in Kodalia on her way back to Kolkata on Monday night. She paid her tribute to the patriot. Taking an account of the building she assured the villagers that the State government would initiate to take up the issue to mark the building as a heritage property.The ancestral home of the patriot, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose silently standing with meagre neglect, but the villagers of Kodalia are still upbeat to maintain the glory by celebrating the birthday of the great son of India around the home. The people of Bosepara in Kodalia is waiting for their annual celebration. Around 35km away from Kolkata, the home is located in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. The family of the patriot migrated from Mahinangar of Bengal to this village in the year 1760.The great grand father of Subhas Chandra Bose constructed the house amidst the greenery with sprawling courtyard, thakurdalaan (home for puja celebration), pond, and granary.According to octogenarian Debidas Chowdhury, who have seen the revolutionary leader, Netaji used to visit the house in Kodalia in every Durga Puja celebrations. The two-storied house is still maintained by the family members.A caretaker Santosh Ghosh, who lives at a part of the house opens the doors of the patriots room and showed few belongings. His great grand father migrated with the Bose family as a servant and turned to be a loyalist. His disciples also continue the tradition with pride. Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury/Jan 22, 2013.

On the eve of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary, the West Bengal government decided on Tuesday to give heritage status to his ancestral house at Kodalia in South 24-Parganas district.