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{{Short description|Moitra Royal Family}} | {{Short description|Moitra Royal Family}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date= | {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} | ||
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}} | {{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}} | ||
{{Royal house | {{Royal house | ||
| | | image = Natore Rajbari1 (Palace).JPG | ||
|image_size = | | image_size = | ||
| | | image_caption = The palace of Natore | ||
|country = [[East Bengal]] | | parent_family = [[Puthia Raj family]] | ||
|titles = {{plainlist| | | country = [[East Bengal]] | ||
| titles = {{plainlist| | |||
* [[Raja]] | * [[Raja]] | ||
* [[Rai (Indian)|Rai-Raiyan]] | * [[Rai (Indian)|Rai-Raiyan]] | ||
* [[Raja Bahadur]] | * [[Raja Bahadur]] | ||
* [[Rai Bahadur]] | |||
* [[Rai Sahib]] | |||
}} | }} | ||
|founder = [[Raja]] Kamdev | | founder = [[Raja]] Kamdev | ||
|current head = | | current head = | ||
|founding year = 18th century | | founding year = 18th century | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Bengal Zamindars series}} | {{Bengal Zamindars series}} | ||
'''Rajshahi Raj''' was | '''Rajshahi Raj''' was the largest ''[[zamindari]]'' (feudatory kingdom) during the British Raj which occupied a vast position of [[Bengal]] (present-day [[Rajshahi Division]], Bangladesh, and Bihar). The Royal Family of Rajshahi used the title Ray/Rai. | ||
==History== | |||
Many old aristocrats and landlords lost their estates during the reign of the Nawab of Bengal, [[Murshid Quli Khan]]. Besides, many zamindars lost their zamindari on account of their disobedience and rebellion. Murshid Quli Khan settled these zamindaries with his trusted followers. In this process of replacement the most fortunate beneficiary was the Rajshahi zamindari. The family also benefited by another feature of nawab's revenue policy of encouragement to the formation of big zamindaries. | |||
The [[Rajshahi Raj family]] traced its origin to Kamdev Rai, a [[tahsildar]] of the [[Puthia Raj family]]. Kamdev had three sons Ramjivan, Raghunandan and Bishnuram. Raghunandan was the very promising and enterprising. Raja Darpanarain, the [[zamindar]] of [[Puthia]], and Murshid Quli Khan had significant contributions behind Raghunandan's rise to prominence. Raghunandan sided with Murshid Quli Khan in his entanglement with the [[Subahdar]], the Prince [[Azim-us-Shan]], the grandson of Emperor Aurangzeb and thus won the confidence of the [[nawab]]. | |||
Again, when the diwani was transferred to [[Murshidabad]], he was appointed in a similar capacity as his master's representative there. During this time he came in close contact of Murshid Quli Khan and secured his confidence. Which is why the ''naib'' (later ruler of Bengal) trusted him and let him set up the dynasty. Just a few zamindars controlled half of the total landed property of Bengal and in 1793 British East India company has abolished Nizamat (local rule by nawabs appointed y the Mughal emperor) and has taken complete control of the province of Bengal. The colonial state viewed these princely zamindaris as potential threats to the security of the new state, because their power were so great that they could at any opportune moment combine and put the colonial state in great jeopardy. Hence it became a policy of the government to weaken these estates, if not destroy them altogether. One of the strategies to implement this design was the ruthless operation of the [[sunset law]] (law which required the lords to submit their revenues by sunset).<ref>{{Cite book |title=History of Bangladesh: 1704 - 1971 |date=1997 |publisher=Asiatic Civil Military Press |isbn=978-984-512-337-2 |editor-last=Islam |editor-first=Sirajul |location=Dhaka |editor-last2=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh}}</ref> The family continued to rule from the [[Natore Palace|natore palace]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Book Review: More than just a game |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GC05Df04.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407220059/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GC05Df04.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=7 April 2005 |newspaper=Asia Times |date=5 March 2005}}</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
* ''Jamini Kanta Bhaduri'' (1912) A Short History | * ''Jamini Kanta Bhaduri'' (1912) A Short History of Natore Raj {{ISBN|0-04-394204-0}} | ||
* {{Cite Banglapedia |article=Rajshahi Raj |author= Mahmood, ABM; Islam, Sirajul }} | * {{Cite Banglapedia |article=Rajshahi Raj |author= Mahmood, ABM; Islam, Sirajul }} | ||
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{{Nobility of the Raj}} | {{Nobility of the Raj}} | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Bengali zamindars]] | ||
[[Category:Zamindari estates]] | [[Category:Zamindari estates]] | ||
[[Category:Quasi-princely estates of India]] | [[Category:Quasi-princely estates of India]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:06, 18 January 2026
Template:Royal house Template:Bengal Zamindars series Rajshahi Raj was the largest zamindari (feudatory kingdom) during the British Raj which occupied a vast position of Bengal (present-day Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh, and Bihar). The Royal Family of Rajshahi used the title Ray/Rai.
History[edit | edit source]
Many old aristocrats and landlords lost their estates during the reign of the Nawab of Bengal, Murshid Quli Khan. Besides, many zamindars lost their zamindari on account of their disobedience and rebellion. Murshid Quli Khan settled these zamindaries with his trusted followers. In this process of replacement the most fortunate beneficiary was the Rajshahi zamindari. The family also benefited by another feature of nawab's revenue policy of encouragement to the formation of big zamindaries.
The Rajshahi Raj family traced its origin to Kamdev Rai, a tahsildar of the Puthia Raj family. Kamdev had three sons Ramjivan, Raghunandan and Bishnuram. Raghunandan was the very promising and enterprising. Raja Darpanarain, the zamindar of Puthia, and Murshid Quli Khan had significant contributions behind Raghunandan's rise to prominence. Raghunandan sided with Murshid Quli Khan in his entanglement with the Subahdar, the Prince Azim-us-Shan, the grandson of Emperor Aurangzeb and thus won the confidence of the nawab.
Again, when the diwani was transferred to Murshidabad, he was appointed in a similar capacity as his master's representative there. During this time he came in close contact of Murshid Quli Khan and secured his confidence. Which is why the naib (later ruler of Bengal) trusted him and let him set up the dynasty. Just a few zamindars controlled half of the total landed property of Bengal and in 1793 British East India company has abolished Nizamat (local rule by nawabs appointed y the Mughal emperor) and has taken complete control of the province of Bengal. The colonial state viewed these princely zamindaris as potential threats to the security of the new state, because their power were so great that they could at any opportune moment combine and put the colonial state in great jeopardy. Hence it became a policy of the government to weaken these estates, if not destroy them altogether. One of the strategies to implement this design was the ruthless operation of the sunset law (law which required the lords to submit their revenues by sunset).[1] The family continued to rule from the natore palace.[2]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Islam, Sirajul; Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, eds. (1997). History of Bangladesh: 1704 - 1971. Dhaka: Asiatic Civil Military Press. ISBN 978-984-512-337-2.
- ↑ "Book Review: More than just a game". Asia Times. 5 March 2005. Archived from the original on 7 April 2005.
Further reading[edit | edit source]
- Jamini Kanta Bhaduri (1912) A Short History of Natore Raj ISBN 0-04-394204-0
- Mahmood, ABM; Islam, Sirajul (2012). "Rajshahi Raj". In Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)