| Repository | Special Collections Archives (GB 0029) |
| Ref No | EUL MS 485/3/5 |
| Date | 2020 |
| Level | Item |
| Extent | 1 item |
| Title | Kangal Phikirchand (Harinath Majumdar), "Tyajia ashol dhon" [Forsaking true treasure] |
| Creator Name | Chitrakar; Rahim (1976-); Scroll Painter |
| Description | Part of Kangal-er Gaan [Penniless Songs]. The fifth song is a poem by "Kangal Phikirchand" - the pseudonym adopted by Harinath Majumdar (1833-1896) who made a pioneering contribution to Bengali journalism, particularly in the cause of oppressed peasants of the region, in the 19th century. Majumdar founded his own newspaper Grambarta Prakashika [Village News], published weekly from his own village Kumarkhali, in the Kushtia District, present-day Bangladesh. The paper instituted one of the earliest forms of investigative reporting and tried to redress peasants' grievances and confront local zamindars (landowners). Influenced by baul culture and Lalan Fakir, the noted itinerant singer-saint, Majumdar founded a baul group named “Kangal Phikirchand-er Dal” [the penniless Phikirchand group]. The choukopata (square scroll) illustration based on this song was created by Rahim Chitrakar.
[This information was taken from the project website at https://faminetales.exeter.ac.uk in 2024] |
| Format | Object |
| Language | Bengali, English |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| Access Conditions | Usual EUL conditions apply. Requires large table, weights and member of staff's assistance to unroll/re-roll |
| Copyright | CC-BY-NC |
| Publication Note | 'Famine Tales from India and Britain: A Graphic Anthology' (Jadavpur University Press, 2023)
Project website at https://faminetales.exeter.ac.uk |
| Management Group | Visual culture papers |