On moving towards Fancy Market from Khidirpur Udalpool, there will be a dilapidated house on the left. Despite being centuries old, the building is now dilapidated. The bushes and branches testify to the colorful walls of the house. There are many shops under this house. If you look into it, you will see the house of epic poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt.
What really happened in Khidirpur? According to local sources, there is no heir of Mahkab. Due to various changes, now the owner of the house is someone else. Now the owner wants to sell the house and build a shopping mall here. However, this could not be done yet as the house is a heritage listed by the Kolkata Municipality. As per the Kolkata Municipal Corporation records, the house is divided into three addresses – 20 A, B and C. But why is Madhukabi’s house not being preserved despite being listed as heritage? The question arises. According to Kolkata Municipality sources, whatever can be done as per the Heritage Act will be done. Conservation is also being considered.
What exactly is the history of the house? This house has a history. It is learned from there that when Rajnarayan Dutt came to Kolkata from Jessore to practice law, his son Madhusudan was seven years old. And Rajnarayan Dutt came here and bought this house in Khidirpur. After the untimely death of his younger brother Mahendranarayan, Madhusudan started living with his mother Jahnavi Devi in this house in Khidirpur. From here he completed his school and college studies and started practicing English poetry from this house. This house in Khidirpur is mentioned in several letters of the poet of that time. However, Madhusudan, objecting to marrying a bride of his father’s choice, left the house and went to Fort William. accepted Christianity. After that Madhusudan never returned to his home in Khidirpur.
What else is known? It is known that Michael had sold the house to Ganesh Bandyopadhyay, brother of his childhood friend Ranglal Bandyopadhyay, for Rs 7,000. Then the house changed hands again. Now there are many shops under the house. On the condition of anonymity, a shopkeeper said, “Plans are underway to demolish the house and build a shopping mall there. Hence every possible effort is being made to remove the heritage house tag. This house full of memories of poets like Michael Madhusudan Dutt should be restored and preserved with due dignity.