Thakurbarir Bahirmahal by Chitra Deb [Hardcover]

The members of the Thakur family were the most illuminated under the light of the 19th-century Renaissance. The Thakur family is deeply intertwined with the transformation of Kolkata from a village to a metropolis. In addition to the two homes in Jorasanko, the Thakur family had several other properties in Pathuriaghata and other places. Initially, they were all members of the same family. Thakurbari-er Andormohol (The Inner Quarters of Thakur’s House) by Chitra Deb is a highly discussed book. In her new work Thakurbari-er Bahirmohol (The Outer Quarters of Thakur’s House), Chitra Deb presents the intricate lives of the Thakur family men.

The ancestors of the Thakur family, Panchanan and his uncle Shukdeb, had come in search of fortune from a poor background and reached a village by the banks of the Hooghly River. In this new place, they lost their old identity and acquired a new surname, Thakur. Over time, the descendants of Panchanan and Shukdeb became established in society. From living a collective life, they spread into various family spheres. While the Thakur men were connected to each other, they were also distanced in many ways. Some were Hindus, some were Brahmos, and some were Christians. Chitra Deb has gathered rare historical information about the Thakur family men through extensive research. This book is both a scholarly and intriguing account, with valuable historical insights on every page.