Raj-era monastery caves in due to neglect in Burdwan
The Statesman | 12 October 2025The 200-year-old structure, which once served as a monastery, was located within the Burdwan Homoeopathy College premises and had been left unused for years due to its fragile condition. The monastery was established by Narahari Dev, a Nimbark Vaishnav, in the 18th century.
Asim Samanta, director of the Homoeopathy College, said that one of the college’s cleaning staff, Rekha Katari, had been staying in the dilapidated structure. He said, “Despite repeated warnings, she refused to vacate. However, she escaped unhurt in the incident.”
He added that continuous rainfall had further weakened the structure, making it a potential hazard. A substantial portion of the royal temple of the erstwhile Barddhaman Raj had also collapsed during heavy rains last September.
Recently, a team of inspectors visiting the college had raised objections about the presence of the centuries-old structure.
On 11 April, 2024, the Calcutta High Court had ordered round-the-clock police surveillance to ensure the safety and security of the 18th-century monastery, which had faced the threat of demolition by a Trust body. Earlier, on 17 March, last year, the high court had first restrained the trust from proceeding with its demolition plans.
