In his bicentenary year, a Burdwan estate relives its memories with Vidyasagar

The owner of a centuries-old estate in West Bengal's Burdwan has paid a special tribute to legendary social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar by restoring his old portrait and preserving a vintage chair used by him during his stay there.

Vidyasagar was a Bengali polymath and a key figure of the Bengal Renaissance. In the bicentenary year of his birth, many functions are being held at several places associated with him across the country to mark the occasion.

Tucked away in a corner of Burdwan district is the old, sprawling estate of Baganbati, Chakdighi with some of its building dating as far back as 350 years, which has been visited by viceroys, political stalwarts, influential personalities, reformers like Vidyasagar, and legendary director Satyajit Ray who also shot his award-winning film 'Ghare Baire' in the campus.

Kolkata-based Ambarish Singh Roy, the current scion of the Singh Roy family, whose ancestors were landlords of the estate, said, "Vidyasagar was closely associated with our family, and a close friend of my great great grandfather Sarada Prasad Singh Roy."
Recalling Ray and his crew's stay at Chakdighi to shoot the 1984 Bengali film that won the National Award, Roy said, "We feel proud that our estate is associated with two these great personalities Vidyasagar and Ray besides a galaxy of other eminent people."