2017-10-06 Fri

37-year-old software engineer Nabendu Bhadra from Dakshin Khagrabari has been collecting coins, postage stamps and several documents belonging to the princely state of Cooch Behar from the last 27 years.

10-years-old Nabendu was pulled into the hobby when he saw his mother keeping old letters and documents safely. He slowly started collecting coins of the Cooch Behar royals, along with deeds, land rights and postage stamps of that era. There were 23 kings in Cooch Bihar till 1949, after which it was merged with India. Each King released and circulated a new type of coin.

Nabendu has coins issued by 17 of the 23 kings of Cooch Behar, apart from coins issued by other princely states of the Northeast. Today, Bhadra has a collection of 250 coins. He also has postage stamps issued by the last six kings of Cooch Behar.

Other collectables include land deeds, secured land tenures and related documents issued by the kings during their rule. Bhadra wants people to be aware of history and other details of Cooch Behar royals by showcasing his collection at different locations like schools, colleges and public places. He believes that only a few interested people would be able to view his collection through this initiative. He suggests that a coin house or an exhibition should be conducted at one of the vacant rooms in Cooch Behar palace as visitors including students and researchers flock in here in large numbers. Bhadra is ready to do the needful to materialise this plan.