The exploits of Devi Chaudhurani and Bhabani Pathak, the famous characters penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in his novel Devi Chaudhurani that depicted the sannyasi bidroha or the revolt of the monks against the British in 1771, will soon be seen as murals on the boundary wall of the temple complex of Devi in Jalpaiguri district.

Chatterjee's novel, published in 1884, had inspired temples after Devi and Pathak in Sikarpur, a locality on the fringes of the Baikunthapur forest in Jalpaiguri district.

For decades, fictional characters Devi and Pathak have been revered as saviours by residents and worshipped in the temples.

In February 2018, both the temples, along with the wooden idols, were gutted in a blaze.

The Bengal government intervened, and the tourism department allotted funds to reconstruct the temples and idols. A sculptor was assigned the task of rebuilding both the temples and the idols. In March last year, chief minister Mamata Banerjee virtually inaugurated the new temples.

Taking the renovation forward, Khageswar Roy, the Trinamul MLA of Rajganj, under whose Assembly constituency the temple complex falls, said a boundary wall would also come up at the site.

Etched on the boundary wall would be murals depicting tales of the uprising that Devi and Pathak led against the British. Texts would be added for more information.

“The state has allotted Rs 1 crore for the project. We have decided that tales of Devi and Bhabani Pathak, who led the rebellion against the British, would be depicted in the boundary wall,” said MLA Roy. “This will help visitors, especially youngsters, to learn more about her and Bhabani Pathak."

Devi is believed to have been a queen of the Manthani estate of the then Rangpur district of undivided Bengal. Pathak, a monk, was also from the area.

The murals on the boundary wall would show glimpses of Devi’s life, her confrontation with the British forces, her secret habitat in Baikunthapur forest, her sailing on the river, and her assistance to the monks who joined the rebellion.

“In Bankim Chandra’s novel, we read about Devi’s bajra (a large boat) sailing on the Trisrota river. It is nothing but the Teesta river that flows through the district. Along with local residents, tourists and historical enthusiasts visit the temples regularly to see the characters as they are revered here locally for years,” said Umesh Sharma, a historian based in Jalpaiguri.

The wall apart, two welcome gates will be built on the road that leads to the temple complex.

“Solar lights will be installed. Work orders have been issued,” Roy added.