Kangal Harinath’s press to be showcased in museum

It was during the British rule. Newspaper publishing in the subcontinent was still entirely urban. It was at that time that a monthly magazine named “Grambarta” was published from a village in Kumarkhali, Kushtia. Later, it was published weekly. The editor is Kangal Harinath, a pioneer of rural journalism.

In 1863, ten years after the publication, it also started its own printing press. Till 1881, the magazine was run with the financial support of Rani Swarnakumari Devi of Rajshahi. But due to various crises, the magazine and the presses were closed. Since then, the historical printing house was preserved by the next generation of Kangal Harinath Majumdar. 

Dhaka Tribune

Many demanded that this printing press be handed over to the museum. But it did not happen due to various reasons. Finally, the traditional printing press is going to be preserved at the Kangal Harinath Memorial Museum established in Kumarkhali in 2017. 

On July 15, an agreement was signed regarding the handover of the printing press in the presence of Professor AMS Arefin Siddique, the chairman of the National Museum Board of Directors and former Dhaka University vice chancellor.

Geeta Majumder, the wife of Harinath's fourth generation, and Md Kamruzzaman, director general of the National Museum, signed the transfer agreement. The press will be taken to the memorial museum from Kangal Harinath's residence within the next week.

Dhaka Tribune

Dipankar Majumdar, the fifth descendant of Kangal Harinath, said that his mother signed the contract of transfer of the press in exchange for a cheque of Tk20 lakh and the employment of two people. He said they were happy with the process of exchange.

Journalist KMR Shaheen, who acted as mediator in the handover agreement process, told the Dhaka Tribune: "The long pending work has been completed due to lack of coordination between the two sides. Descendants were offered to keep the press in an enclosure under the control of the National Museum and open it to the public. But they did not agree. They transferred ownership through an exchange.”

Research Officer of Kangal Harinath Memorial Museum Obaidullah said the press was lying in the house of Kangal Harinath even after the inauguration of the museum. Visitors want to see the press first when they arrive. 

Dhaka Tribune

He hoped that the traditional memento will soon be displayed in the museum.

Who was Kangal Harinath?

Kangal Harinath was one of the bearers and carriers of Bengali folk culture of the 19th century and one of the pioneers of Baul music. He was also known as Fakir Chand Baul.

He was born on July 22, 1833, in Nadia district (present-day Kumarkhali in Kushtia) in British India. 

Dhaka Tribune

Harinath did not get much formal education. However, he used to write about poverty and civic awareness in newspapers. Initially, he used to write essays on the torture of the people of his village and their miseries in poet Ishwar Chandra Gupta's "Sambad Prabhakar". 

Later, he published "Grambarta" on his own initiative. Initially published as a monthly magazine, it was later converted into a fortnightly and finally a one-paisa weekly. 

Articles on literature, philosophy, and science were printed in it. Besides, various incidents of exploitation of British indigo miners were also printed. The price of this four-forma monthly magazine was five annas. Eventually, it was converted into a one-paisa weekly.

The "Grambarta" was first printed on the Girishchandra Vidyaratna machine in Kolkata. Later in 1873, Kangal Harinathhh set up his own printing press. 

The newspaper boldly highlighted the torture and oppression of the subjects under British rule. News against social problems-oppression, exploitation and tyranny was published in the "Grambarta" newspaper. Threats from British magistrates and native zamindars could not stop him from doing this.

Dhaka Tribune

After running it for about 18 years with the help of Rani Swarnakumari Devi of Rajshahi, it had to be closed down due to financial crisis and restrictive government laws. Since then, the printing press was housed in the dilapidated residence of Kangal Harinath.