SILENCE SOUNDS GOOD

 Gardens of Raj Bhavan holdings in West Bengal

Soon after taking over as the Governor of West Bengal in November, 2022, as Dr. C. V. Ananda Bose was in the process of revamping the functioning and role of the Raj Bhavan administration and establishment, the Lady Governor, Smt. Lakshmi Ananda Bose set about revamping the sprawling lawns and acres of formal gardens of the Raj Bhavan holdings at Kolkata, Barrackpore and Darjeeling that collectively comprise an area of 126 Acres. 

Both Hon’ble Governor and Smt. Bose felt that such sprawling areas should be utilized optimally, meaningfully, in a thriving, functional manner; they should be nurtured and maintained not only to be sustained sources of pure oxygen amidst the surrounding polluted environs, but also should be useful for the people in general in diverse ways. 

Smt. Lakshmi Ananda Bose set about doing a research on the history of the Raj Bhavan gardens and landscaping, its flora and fauna.  These were no doubt documented, but their functionality have eroded over time and there was scope for improvement. 

Several occupants of the Raj Bhavan over the centuries have made significant contributions to the interiors and exteriors of the Raj Bhavan buildings and its lawns.  Raj Bhavans were modernized with times.  Their purposes were revamped from time to time – from being conceived as the seat of power of the colonial tyrants in 1799 to being the Jana Raj Bhavan in 2024, the Raj Bhavan has evolved. 

A special mention of Lady Canning (1856-61) could be made here.  In the Flagstaff House, she laid out an Italian garden and built a raised walk from the house all the way down to the ghat or landing stage on the river.   Lady Ripon covered it with a green and shady canopy of bamboo. Lady Canning, who died in 1861 from a bout of malaria and was buried in the Barrackpore park near the river, also opened up a big banyan tree in the park by clearing the shrubs around it. That banyan tree, which still exists, is older than its rival – the great banyan tree in the Botanical Garden at Shibpur – though the growth of its circumference was limited by artificial means. As N.V.H. Symons wrote in 1935 in his The Story of Government House, that banyan tree had ‘sheltered the present King and Queen’ – King George V of England and his wife Queen Mary – who had toured India in 1905-6 as the Prince and Princess of Wales, and visited Barrackpore. 

The garden surrounding the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata is famous for its beauty and grandeur.  It is also home to a large variety of flora and fauna.    Continuous introduction of trees, shrubs, creepers and climbers, herbs and foliage belonging to different genera and species of varied origin and nativity have enriched it over the centuries.   

Dr. C. V. Ananda Bose and Smt. Lakshmi Ananda Bose were delighted to see this enchanting paradise, the congregation of the marvels of nature.   Smt. Lakshmi Ananda Bose took it upon herself to ensure that these formal gardens and lawns evolved and emerged as places of beauty, celebration, joy with a functional approach and with a concern for environmental conservation and biodiversity.   The gardens were to be made more picturesque and more attractive to the visitors and simultaneously serve as environmental education for all.

For transforming the gardens and estates of the Raj Bhavan holdings at the three places, viz., Kolkata, Barrackpore and Darjeeling, a slew of measures have been introduced and work on these are going on.  These included: 

• To rejuvenate, revamp and reintroduce Rose Garden, Sanjivani Garden containing Medicinal Herbal plants, a mango orchard, vegetable gardens, seasonal fruit gardens and so on. 

• Horticulture, Pisciculture, Floriculture professionals may be engaged to revamp the Estate gardens and ponds. 

• Agricultural universities may be assigned the task of doing up the Garden.  

• Agricultural universities may also arrange for the training of the garden staff.

• All known methods of modern agriculture such as precision farming, pisciculture, hydrophone, agropone, etc to be introduced appropriately.  

• The trees and plants to be identified and proper signages put up.  An inventory of the trees and plants to be made along with photographs.  The garden and the estates may obtain ISO certification. 

• The Garden to be spruced up for flower shows.

• Raj Bhavan Flower Show may be organized either in Kolkata or in Barrackpore or at both places. 

• Raj Bhavan Garden and Estate may be used as a horticulture model.

• Food Festival may be organized every year.  In addition to this various other festivals, such as on Agriculture, Horticulture, Floriculture, etc may be held every year.

• “Farm while you learn.”  Separate sections of the garden to be demarcated for those who are interested to participate in the farming competition. Prizes and recognition will be given to the student participants. 

• Identify the Awards and Prizes in both international and national categories in the field of Agriculture and Horticulture and Farming.

• Three days a week may be celebrated as Raj Bhavan farming festival where different kinds of farming technology, farm based agriculture are showcased by farmers.

• Specific grooves to be allotted to each of the districts in which the district farm to be set up.  

• Ponds to be used for pisciculture.  Proceeds to be given to deserving institutions.

• Smriti Van to be raised appropriately.

• Farmers from each district to be invited to the Raj Bhavan once a month for a ‘Farmers’ Meet’.  For instance, Cooch Behar farmers, Murshidabad farmers, Burdwan farmers, etc.   The farmers may share their experience at the Meet. 

• Farmer-centric programmes to be organized so that Raj Bhavan becomes a hub of creativity for the farming community.

• “Publication of Horthus Calcuttasis : A book Horthus Calcuttasis to be published that will be a pictorial documentation of flowers and plants, guided by experts.  The publication will not only contain botanical representation of the plants but also poetic rendering of the plants’ beauty and symbolism. 

• The Agricultural Universities and the Agriculture Department may be entrusted with the task of creating horticulture gardens in Flagstaff House, Barrackpore and Raj Bhavan, Kolkata. 

• Flagstaff House, Barrackpore and Kolkata Raj Bhavan may be turned into regulated tourist destinations in sync with the Jana Raj Bhavan initiative.  

• The ponds in Barrackpore may be used for boating by children by putting in place all approved safety measures under expert supervision.   

• Value addition of the facilities available in Raj Bhavan, especially for children.  A children’s auditorium / amphitheatre could be made where children can engage in creative work and perform.

• Culture Ministry schemes may be utilised for various purposes in Raj Bhavan.

• Upgradation and beautification of Raj Bhavan campuses.   Different zones to be earmarked for development of different themes that have socio-cultural appeal. 

• Illustrated book on biodiversity of Raj Bhavan and also that of Bengal to be brought out.

The objective for creating and nurturing of different types of segmented gardens is to create an awareness about the exotic species of plants and trees that can be grown and showcased for people visiting the Raj Bhavans.   It is expected that such a display of extraordinary variety of plants and trees will go a long way in generating interest among the younger generations about the importance of environmental preservation and conservation. 

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