Echoes of the Past
Kamal Kumar Biswas.TOD.Hili
A long-awaited historical volume by the noted scholar Himangshu Kumar Sarkar was formally released on Sunday at the courtyard of the Sri Sri Bikat Kali Mata Temple, drawing residents, educators and public figures into an afternoon shaped by memory, scholarship and devotion.
The book, “In the Historical Perspective: Sri Sri Bikat Kali Mata of Trimohini in Dakshin Dinajpur,” examines the layered past of the temple and the wider region, weaving together archival research, oral tradition and mythic narratives. Its publication turned the temple grounds into a gathering place where history and living faith met.
The event opened with a minute of silence in tribute to the recently deceased former head priest, Gautam Bhattacharya, whose service to the shrine was remembered with visible emotion by many in attendance.
The chief guest,Dr. Ashok Kumar Lahiri, the legislator(MLA) representing Balurghat Assembly constituency, emphasized the urgency of protecting the region’s aging historical remains and cultural inheritance. Without preservation, he said, communities risk losing the tangible anchors of their collective memory.Among the special guests were Anjali Sarkar, former headmistress of Hili Girls' School, and Dr. Nabakumar Das, president of Balurghat B.Ed. College, along with several other local dignitaries, researchers and cultural workers.
Members of the temple committee, led by its president, Ratan Sarkar, and secretary, Debdulal Mondal, welcomed invitees with ceremonial scarves and floral bouquets.
In remarks following the unveiling, Professor Sarkar outlined how Trimohini’s religious practices evolved alongside political and social changes, arguing that the temple’s story offered a window into broader patterns in the history of Dakshin Dinajpur district.
The program was conducted by Suraj Das, joint secretary of the Itihas Anusandhan Parishad, and concluded with closing comments from Mr. Sarkar, who thanked attendees and expressed hope that the publication would inspire deeper engagement with local history.The ceremony began at 2 p.m. on Feb. 15 and, as the winter light softened across the temple courtyard, conversations lingered — many centering on how the past might yet shape the district’s future.
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