Century-old banyan tree adjoining old bell floor of Visva-Bharati uprooted due to heavy rain

Violence seems to be the norm in the Poushmela ground which has seen protests over the construction of a boundary wall. In such difficult times, an ancient banyan tree was left uprooted in the Gour prangan of Visva-Bharati due to heavy rain. The vice-chancellor visited the spot.

Kolkata: Due to low pressure, the sky is cloudy, and it has been raining continuously for the last few days. An ancient banyan tree fell victim to this as it was left uprooted in the Gour prangan of Visva-Bharati. The traditional bell floor has been damaged by uprooted trees.

There was a bell at the base of the ancient banyan tree in the Gour prangan of Visva-Bharati. Upon the sound of the bell, activities would go on in the ashram. For years, the old tree and the adjoining area has been known as Ghantatala.

The bell was installed with the scholarship money of Lady Ranu Mukherjee, a student of Visva-Bharati. But there was no special information received as to when the bell was put at the base of the banyan tree. On one occasion, the bell was stolen. The ashrams and residents raised money and re-installed it. For a long time, people would study under this Ghantatala of Visva-Bharati.

It has been raining heavily in South Bengal for the last few days due to low pressure in the atmosphere. The rains softened the roots of the banyan tree. There was also an earthquake on Wednesday (August 26) morning. These factors most likely played a part in the uprooting of the banyan tree.

Upon receiving the news, Visva-Bharati vice-chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty and other officials went to the spot. A decision will be taken after a discussion on how to fix the tree again.