Kansat Mango Museum

A historical mango house

C’ganj Correspondent: Mango home Chapainawabganj, the district is also called Mango Kingdom. There is a British mango orchard here. The name is ‘Rajar Mango Garden’. If any visitor wants to visit Chapainawabganj and see all kinds of mango trees together, then he has to go to the King’s Garden in Kansat. This mango orchard is one of the historical monuments of the district.
King’s garden at Kansate in Shibganj of the district. This is not the house of a king, but the house of a zamindar. The garden of about one hundred bighas was owned by Suryakanta Chowdhury, Shashikanta Chowdhury and Shitangsukanta Chowdhury. At that time common people used to call zamindars as kings.
It is known that this huge garden was owned by the British till 1940. After the partition of the country, the British sold the garden to the Kuja king, then known as the zamindar of Kansat area. After enjoying the garden for some time, Kuja Raja left all his wealth and moved to India. After he left for India, this huge garden came under the control of the government as there was no owner.
Since then, this garden known as Kuja Raja has been officially controlled. In 1986, Horticulture of Dhaka got the responsibility of tending and caring for the garden. At that time many small mango trees were planted in the garden. They left the garden after caring for about 5-6 years.
Professor Mazharul Islam, a writer on the history and heritage of Chapainawabganj, said it was not a garden planted by zamindars. An English mango lover named Hall created this garden. It is rumored that he sold the garden to a local zamindar before leaving the country.
There is a mango tree called ‘Mempsand’ in this king’s garden. The mango is quite tasty to eat. The idea is that it was the favorite mango of one of the memes. That is why such naming is done.
There are also many delicious varieties of mango including Amritbhog, Nawabpasand, Jalibandha, Vrindavani, Golapbas, Kalimegha, Khejurkainj, Multani, Kanchamitha. Along with the famous Fazli, Langra, Khirshapati, Gopalbhog, there are also mango trees of these varieties. This mango orchard is also a proof that the tradition of mango in Chapainawabganj is very old. It has become a part of the history and tradition of the district.
Saidur Rahman has been in charge of guarding the garden for about 56 years. He said there were 298 big mango trees of about 50 varieties in the garden. Not anymore,among the previous huge trees, there are only 75 trees of 10-12 species. After 2001, an influential person settled the garden and cut down many old trees. At this time all the old and delicious mango trees including Garjit, Bou Bhulani, Bhutbhuti and Kerasina were cut down.
Mangoes of different varieties including amrapali are planted. Due to improper care, the plants do not produce fruit for a long time. Turned into dense jungle. Recently, the district administration is taking steps to transform the garden into ‘Bangabandhu Live Mango Museum’. The construction of the boundary wall of the museum has been completed. A guest house is being built inside the garden. In addition, a tin canopy has been built for seating inside the garden.
Shibganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shakib Al Rabbi said mango lovers in the area could hear various delicious varieties besides commercial varieties. In addition, there are many delicious varieties all over the country. They will be planted here. Mango scientists will be involved with these initiatives. At the initial stage, a plan has been taken to conserve 100 varieties. Apart from this, post bungalows will be constructed here to attract tourists.
He thinks that this garden will play a great role in amkendrik tourism. Shamim Khan, General Secretary, Mango Producers Co-operative Society. He said the mango district is Chapainawabganj. If anyone wants to come here and see all the varieties of mango together, then he should come and see the mango museum.
The village adjoining the king’s garden is Parkansat. Anisur Rahman (60) is a resident of this village. He told that the old mango trees in the king’s garden are the ones we have been seeing since childhood. There were many more big trees in the garden. But once the garden fell into the hands of the occupants, many mango trees were cut down. The age of this garden is more than two hundred years.
He added that the garden is very old and has many delicious mango trees. The trees that are in the garden now should be preserved. Care must be taken not to lose these trees anymore.