Zakir Azad, Cumilla

Millions of Taka Even if an Elephant Dies “Nawab House” of Cumilla , whose founder was the then Nawab Hochham Haider, who was given the title of Nawab by the British Raj or Queen Victoria under the rule of the East India Company. The Nawab House of Nawab Hochham Haider has witnessed countless histories and still stands with its own history.

The new generation of Cumilla may like to hear the stories of “Nawabism and glamour” of this house, it is a little difficult to say how much joy and pain the house has witnessed, but I or we want to tell some things about the present to the new youth, which they absolutely need to know.

Nawab Sahib built this huge house for his family and relatives to live in. He was very enthusiastic about new construction. Due to which many government buildings, colleges, schools, jagirs, and maktabs of the then Cumilla city were donated by Nawab Hochham Haider. Many people may not know - the first billiard table for the Cumilla Club was donated by Nawabzada Syed Ehtesham Haider and Nawabzada Syed Osman Haider of the Nawab family.

The contribution of Cumilla Club, especially in billiards, at the national level is commendable because of Syed Mansur Haider of the Cumilla Nawab family. Even today, the Syed Mansur Haider Memorial Tournament is held every year at the Cumilla Club. Many members of this Nawab family are currently living in Dhaka and abroad in search of livelihood and higher education. Despite this, everyone is eager to fulfil every responsibility and duty of their ancestral home.

There is a saying that even if an elephant dies, it is worth lakhs of taka. Today, we do not have elephants, not even a pawn - but as children of the Nawab family, we have an invisible crown and we are all aware and organized to protect the honor of that crown. Several months ago, I and many others in my family watched a video that was made around our house. The presenter tried to present very beautifully that the house of Nawab Hochham Haider is deserted, currently abandoned and neglected, there is no one to maintain it, the house is almost extinct, etc.

Moreover, he also tried to attract the attention of the government on this issue. I or we believe that every person and family, rich or poor, educated or ignorant, has an honor or dignity. The Nawab family is a family of equals, the members of this house have an honor and dignity. Even today, our relatives live inside this house. We still visit our house regularly. Without our permission, is it bravery or propaganda to make such a heartbreaking video about our house to attract unnecessary attention? As is known, before doing any commercial or campaign in the media, one has to research the subject, collect accurate information from the respected or elderly people of the city and above all, one has to take permission from the people of that family.

Therefore, I am forced to say that the Nawab house is ours, For the information of all the people of the country and Cumilla - the Nawab house is our ancestral property, for which we have been paying rent every year, every year we regularly clean the garbage inside and outside the house, run a maktab, celebrate the death anniversary of our father, uncle, grandfather, complete the Quran - we perform sacrifices at home. So, without talking to us, without being aware of any internal issues, someone suddenly made a video in grief and pain and shared it on the internet? I think it is completely unreasonable and inappropriate to damage the dignity of the family and the house in this way. When will we understand this?