The Ujjir Bari of Tripura- Once A Cultural Hub
Jishnu Dev Varma
May 31, 2025
Heard about the sad demise of Sri Dhabal Krishna Deb Barma, who was a very resourceful and respected cultural personality of this state.
He was from the Ujir Bari the powerful advisers to the ruler of Tripura and had familial connections with the ruler. Princess Ananga Mohini Devi ( daughter of Maharaja Bir Chandra Manikya) acclaimed as a major poetess was married into this family. My paternal aunt Rajkumari Saraju Devi, was married to Thakur Dhirendra Krishna Deb Barma who was from Ujjir Bari, a renowned artist, whose sketches adorned the original version of the Indian Constitution. Kumari Dulari Devi, another of our aunt was also married into the Ujjir Bari. So it was only natural that we used to visit Ujjir Bari, which stood behind the Agartala Town Hall as it stands now and the other entrance was from BK Road,
Dhaal Da, was the youngest son of Thakur Anil Krishna Deb Barma the music maestro, who did extensive research on Hindustani Classical Music . Thakur Anil Krishna’s close relation with legendary musicians are well known. Dhabal Krishna had published a book on the exchange of letters between his father and the legendary musician Ustad Allauddin Khan, which revealed many facets on the development of classical music in Tripura. Thakur Anil Krishna authored a book, interestingly titled “ Naad Upasana” (The Worship of the Holy Chant ( Sound). He also established a raga, which had the influence and intricacies of Tripuri Indigenous music - it was perhaps named Raga Tripureshswari ( don’t recall the name so stand to be corrected) Thakur Anil Krishna also established a music institution , where many of the well known musicians of the state got their first training in music. Maharaja Bir Bikram, Maharajkumari Kamal Prava Devi and many from the ruler’s family were trained in music by Thakur Anil Krishna Deb Barma.
Thakur Anil Krishna’s eldest son Late Salil Krishna was a poet and an artist , there is a state award in his honour “!Salil Krishna Deb Barma Puruskar” I had enjoyed reading his collection of poems called “ Joler Bhitor Moner Bhitor ( In the water and in the mind)” Late Utpal Krishna his second son was a gifted musician, he played the sitar with such expertise and held us spellbound whenever he performed in the musical get together organised by my mother in our house. His wife Smt Kanika Deb Barma had a mellifluous voice , she sang the classical songs at these get together. She is around 85 or more, last time I met her was at a felicitation and she sang a few lines with such perfection.
The third son of Anil Thakur was Pranjal Krishna , who did works in bamboo handicrafts, Their cousin Late Anath Bandhu Deb Barma was an outstanding Sarod exponent.
It is from this illustrious family that the youngest son Dhabal Krishna Deb Barma too made his mark, in the field of literature , culture and history. The last time I met him was when both of us released a new volume of the Rajmala. The Ujjir Bari of Tripura was one those cultural and intellectual hub that gave this state many of its treasures in the field of music and art.
(Tripurainfo)
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