The historical ruins of Bengal revisited

The historical ruins of Bengal revisited

Faizul Khan Tanim attends a photo exhibition that brings to life the historical twin cities of Gaur and Pandua of Ancient Bengal

Did you know that the historical site of Gaur-Hazrat Pandua, which is 340 kilometres from Kolkata and 35 kilometres north of Chapainawabganj, is the medieval capital of Bengal where the Bangla language and culture once flourished?

Well, if you didn’t know about these places then do make sure you get yourself to the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts on Road 27 in Dhanmondi, where a remarkable photo exhibition is taking place.

To conserve and highlight these historical places, Babu Ahmed, a photographer, has taken detailed photos that weave a mesmerising tale of their history. The solo photography exhibition is set in the form of a photo story called 'Gaur and Pandua: The Lost Capital Of Bengal'.
The exhibition was inaugurated at the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts by the chief guest Rajeet Mitter, High Commissioner of India, on February 27 and will run till March 8. The gallery is open daily from 12 to 8 pm.

Today, the ruins of these twin-towns are in disrepair as is evident in the photos. The exhibition is spread across two rooms, each room portraying the Bangladeshi and the Indian sites separately.

Ahmed's photographic skills reflect on the architectural beauty and heritage of Gaur and Hazrat Pandua, tracing its ancient past with his lenses.

Visitors will see the exposures of the important existing structures such as the Adina mosque in West Bengal, which is one of the largest mosques ever built in the Indian subcontinent.

Other structures include the Chhoto Shona mosque, the Boro Shona mosque, the intricate inscriptions, and the calligraphy engraved on the walls of these buildings, the black and red stone works and the terracotta, as well as the Darasbari, Tantipara, Gunmant, Dhaniachak and Chamkatti mosques, Shah Niamat Ullah Wali's complex, the Gumti Gate and more.

From Ahmed’s pictures, it is evident that the relics from these places are worth conserving and the myriad colourful enamelled tiles, the arcaded domes of the mosques – half in brick and half in stone – are enchanting architectural feats, built at a time when Bengal was a vibrant centre of arts and culture. Its rich heritage and the legacy of the period have left their mark on us till date.

The special guest at the event, Dr Abu Sayeed M Ahmed, professor and head of the architecture department of the University of Asia Pacific, in his speech stated the importance and relevance of these places, “These historic remnants that awaits conservation will prompt a sense of identity and cultivate awareness of the fact that history of our origin lies in these ancient sites.”

He continued to explain why these places are of such significance, “Gaur lies on either side of Bengal which creates obstacle for tourists from both countries and if the two governments provide special on-site travel permits, this would greatly help cross-border tourism and let this exhibition be a strong reminder of that.”

Both the High Commissioner and Ahmed voiced the importance of these sites and mentioned the urgent need to save these mementos of Bengal and urged the authorities to make an effort to include these sites as listed monuments of the UN World Heritage sites.

Speaking to DhakaLive, the photographer Ahmed explained why he was inspired to photograph these sites and their importance for Bengalis on both sides of the border, “There is immense historical and archaeological importance of these places. Gaur is the capital to three dynasties of ancient Bengal - the Buddhist Palas, the Hindu Senas and the Muslim Nawabs and these places bask in the three distinct eras of glory. Pandua, also has one of the largest concentration of Muslim monuments in Bengal”.