P M Serajul Islam :
Kangal Harinath (1833-1896) journalist, literary figure, editor, teacher, reformer, poet, composer and singer of Baul songs, was born in 1833 in the village of Kumarkhali in Kushtia district. His real name was Harinath Majumdar, but he was better known as Kangal Harinath. He was also known as Kangal Fikir Chand or Fikir Chand Baul.
Harinath went to the local English medium school, but could not continue because of poverty.
In 1855, he set up a vernacular school in his village with the help of his friends and taught there. A year later, a girls’ school was established at Kumarkhali at Kangal Harinath’s initiative.
Harinath struggled all his life for the welfare of the common people and to protect them from oppression. He took up journalism to promote the cause of exploited and feeble farmers. He started writing in the Sangbad Probhakor and in 1863 started publishing a monthly journal Grambarta Prokashika.
The journal, later published as a fortnightly and still later as a weekly, was priced at one paisa and came out for 18 years with the financial support of Rani Swarna Kumari Devi of Rajshahi. It used to publish news about the cruelty on farmers by navy cultivators and zamindars, and earned significant fame because of its bold journalism. It also used to carry articles on literature, philosophy and science. Harinath set up a printing press in 1873 for expediency in printing his journal, which, however, ultimately folded for lack of finance and because of the strict printing regulations of the government.
A follower of Lalon Shah, Harinath started a Baul group in 1880 and named it Kangal Fikir Chander Dal. He is particularly remembered for the large number and popularity of the Baul songs that he composed. His lyrics and tunes were very simple but his thoughts were philosophical. In his songs, Harinath introduced himself as kangal (fakir or beggar) and the word became part of his name. One of his famous songs is Hari din to gelo sandhya holo, par koro amare (Lord, the day is done; evening has come, help me across safely). Between 1883 to 1893, he published his Baul songs in 16 volumes under the title Kangal Fikirchand Fakirer Gitaboli. Harinath’s disciples included Akshay Kumar Maitreya, Dinendranath Roy and Jaladhar Sen.
Harinath wrote 18 books. Among them Bijoybasanta (1859), Charucharitra (1863), Kabitakaumudi (1866), Bijoya (1869), Kobikalpa (1870), Akrur Sangbad (1873), Sabitri Natika (1874), Chittachapala (1876), Kangaler Brahmandaved (1887-95) and Matrimahima (1896) are notable.
Harinath died on April 16, 1896. His complete writings were published posthumously, in 1901, as Harinath Gronthaboli.
By the help of Kushtia Zilla Parishad, The local administration has already constructed a memorial complex at Kangal Kutir.
Today, on imminent Kangal Kuthir, from a distance writing on the wall comes into view that reads MN Press, Kangal Kuthir. Old feeble walls stand somehow erected with no roof above. Bricks are coming off the walls. Chunks of cow dung to be dried and later used as solid fuel are seen plastered on the walls.
In a tin-roof house nearby, lives Ashok Majumder’s faInily; the fourth offspring of Kangal Harinath. There is an air of poverty all about. The room at the front is faintly lit.
There is hardly any furniture inside. The floor is damp. There are holes on the tin roof above head. Attached to the room is a tiny cabin. Above the door of the cabin hangs a signboard: Kangal Harinath Pathagar. Another room, dark and dirty, houses a large picture and the last remains of Kangal Harinath.
Ashok Majumder has a good collection of Harinath’s hand-written manuscripts, old copies of the Grambarta Prokashika and some rare specimens of writings in his possession. He repeats the need for building a museum and a library to preserve the bits and pieces of Harinath’s memory.
Ashok Majumder claims that Kangal Harinath’s Vijoy Boshonta is the first Bengali novel, in favour of which he also provides evidence. He has carefully produced a record of Harinath’s life. Kangal Harinath Girls’ School established by Harinath himself, not far from his house, is now well established.
In the visitor’s book, many eminent persons have recorded their imitation. Every one is of the view that the last relics of Kangal Harinath must be preserved without farther delay.
Nevertheless, nothing at all has happened so far. The old MN Press (named after Mothura Nath, the donor of the press) remains abandoned, uncovered to rust in rain and the sun. Some boxes containing type cases dirty with dust lie dismantled. Outside Kangal Kuthir, there lies a foundation stone with Kangal Harinath Smriti Zadughor inscribed on it.
In 1994, on Harinath’s one hundred and sixtieth birth-anniversaries, two honourable secretaries of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce visited this place and laid the foundation stone. When asked if he would like the press to be shifted to a museum, Ashok Majumder asserted, “The museum must be built here. I’ll in no way let it go to any other place.” n
Kangal Harinath (1833-1896) journalist, literary figure, editor, teacher, reformer, poet, composer and singer of Baul songs, was born in 1833 in the village of Kumarkhali in Kushtia district. His real name was Harinath Majumdar, but he was better known as Kangal Harinath. He was also known as Kangal Fikir Chand or Fikir Chand Baul.
Harinath went to the local English medium school, but could not continue because of poverty.
In 1855, he set up a vernacular school in his village with the help of his friends and taught there. A year later, a girls’ school was established at Kumarkhali at Kangal Harinath’s initiative.
Harinath struggled all his life for the welfare of the common people and to protect them from oppression. He took up journalism to promote the cause of exploited and feeble farmers. He started writing in the Sangbad Probhakor and in 1863 started publishing a monthly journal Grambarta Prokashika.
The journal, later published as a fortnightly and still later as a weekly, was priced at one paisa and came out for 18 years with the financial support of Rani Swarna Kumari Devi of Rajshahi. It used to publish news about the cruelty on farmers by navy cultivators and zamindars, and earned significant fame because of its bold journalism. It also used to carry articles on literature, philosophy and science. Harinath set up a printing press in 1873 for expediency in printing his journal, which, however, ultimately folded for lack of finance and because of the strict printing regulations of the government.
A follower of Lalon Shah, Harinath started a Baul group in 1880 and named it Kangal Fikir Chander Dal. He is particularly remembered for the large number and popularity of the Baul songs that he composed. His lyrics and tunes were very simple but his thoughts were philosophical. In his songs, Harinath introduced himself as kangal (fakir or beggar) and the word became part of his name. One of his famous songs is Hari din to gelo sandhya holo, par koro amare (Lord, the day is done; evening has come, help me across safely). Between 1883 to 1893, he published his Baul songs in 16 volumes under the title Kangal Fikirchand Fakirer Gitaboli. Harinath’s disciples included Akshay Kumar Maitreya, Dinendranath Roy and Jaladhar Sen.
Harinath wrote 18 books. Among them Bijoybasanta (1859), Charucharitra (1863), Kabitakaumudi (1866), Bijoya (1869), Kobikalpa (1870), Akrur Sangbad (1873), Sabitri Natika (1874), Chittachapala (1876), Kangaler Brahmandaved (1887-95) and Matrimahima (1896) are notable.
Harinath died on April 16, 1896. His complete writings were published posthumously, in 1901, as Harinath Gronthaboli.
By the help of Kushtia Zilla Parishad, The local administration has already constructed a memorial complex at Kangal Kutir.
Today, on imminent Kangal Kuthir, from a distance writing on the wall comes into view that reads MN Press, Kangal Kuthir. Old feeble walls stand somehow erected with no roof above. Bricks are coming off the walls. Chunks of cow dung to be dried and later used as solid fuel are seen plastered on the walls.
In a tin-roof house nearby, lives Ashok Majumder’s faInily; the fourth offspring of Kangal Harinath. There is an air of poverty all about. The room at the front is faintly lit.
There is hardly any furniture inside. The floor is damp. There are holes on the tin roof above head. Attached to the room is a tiny cabin. Above the door of the cabin hangs a signboard: Kangal Harinath Pathagar. Another room, dark and dirty, houses a large picture and the last remains of Kangal Harinath.
Ashok Majumder has a good collection of Harinath’s hand-written manuscripts, old copies of the Grambarta Prokashika and some rare specimens of writings in his possession. He repeats the need for building a museum and a library to preserve the bits and pieces of Harinath’s memory.
Ashok Majumder claims that Kangal Harinath’s Vijoy Boshonta is the first Bengali novel, in favour of which he also provides evidence. He has carefully produced a record of Harinath’s life. Kangal Harinath Girls’ School established by Harinath himself, not far from his house, is now well established.
In the visitor’s book, many eminent persons have recorded their imitation. Every one is of the view that the last relics of Kangal Harinath must be preserved without farther delay.
Nevertheless, nothing at all has happened so far. The old MN Press (named after Mothura Nath, the donor of the press) remains abandoned, uncovered to rust in rain and the sun. Some boxes containing type cases dirty with dust lie dismantled. Outside Kangal Kuthir, there lies a foundation stone with Kangal Harinath Smriti Zadughor inscribed on it.
In 1994, on Harinath’s one hundred and sixtieth birth-anniversaries, two honourable secretaries of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce visited this place and laid the foundation stone. When asked if he would like the press to be shifted to a museum, Ashok Majumder asserted, “The museum must be built here. I’ll in no way let it go to any other place.” n
