Predecessors and Short History:
One of the biggest zamindaris of Bengal, also known as
Cossimbazar. Estate holders were....
- Shri Dewan KRISHNAKANTA NANDY,
1st Zamindar of Kasimbazar 1772/1778, founder of the
Kasimbazar Raj, he was more commonly known as Kanta
Babu, originally a grocer, then a trader of multiple
commodities like silk, salt and cotton and finally a banian
to Warren Hastings, Kanta Babu began his landed career
with the acquisition of the Baharbund pargana (now
mainly Gaibandha and Kurigram districts), married and
had issue. He died in 1794 (or 1778).
- Maharaja Lokenath Rai Bahadur (qv)
- Maharaja LOKENATH Rai Bahadur,
2nd Zamindar of Kasimbazar 1778/1804, extended the
zamindari to many other parts of Bengal, he was
granted the title of Maharaja by the Nawab of
Murshidabad; married and had issue. He died in 1804.
- Raja Harinath Rai Bahadur (qv)
COURT OF
WARDS 1804/1820
- Raja HARINATH Rai Bahadur,
3rd Zamindar of Kasimbazar 1804/1832, he was granted
the title of Raja Bahadur by Lord Amherst; married
Rani Harasundari, and had issue. He died 1832.
- Raja Krishnanath Rai Bahadur (qv)
- Rajkumari Gobinda Sundari, married Sri (name unknown),
died 1872, and had issue. She died 1862.
- Sri (name unknown), died 1873.
- Maharaja Sir Manindra Chandra Nandy (qv)
COURT OF WARDS
1832/1840
- Raja KRISHNANATH Rai Bahadur,
4th Zamindar of Kasimbazar 1832/1844, born 1822, the
zamindari was managed by the Court of Wards from 1833
to 1841, he was educated privately by English and
Indian tutors, and became fluent in the English
language; he purchased a printing press in 1838 and on
the 10th May 1840, the first Bengali newspaper outside
Calcutta, appeared under his patronage; Member of the
Landholders� Society; he was granted the title of Raja
Bahadur, married 1838, Rani Swarnamoyi (qv), and had
issue, two daughters. He either died spm on 1st
November 1844 or committed suicide on 31st October
1848 while in a state of temporary insanity.
- Kumari Lakshmi Devi
- Kumari Saraswati Devi
COURT OF
WARDS 1844/1847
- Maharani Swarnamoyi Devi
C.I., 5th Zamindarani of Kasimbazar 1844/1897, born
1827 in Batakul village, Burdwan District, she was a
philanthropist having donated many sums of money for
important construction projects, including the the
Swarnamoyee Waterworks, the Calcutta Chandni Hospital
in 1871, and the Native Hospital in 1872, as well as
for a hostel to provide accommodation for female
medical students at Calcutta Medical College, she
donated to various other schools, colleges and
institutions as well as donating 30 bighas of land for
the construction of Berhampore College in 1851 and
donating all of the land for Shibpur Bengal
Engineering College; she was granted the title of
Maharani as a personal distinction on 11th August 1871
(#1), awarded the Order of
the Crown of India on 14th August 1878 in recognition
of her charitable work, married and had issue, two
daughters. She died 25th August 1897.
Maharaja Sir MANINDRA CHANDRA NANDY K.C.I.E., 6th Zamindar of
Kasimbazar 1897/1929, a philanthropist and reformist
in the period of the Bengal Renaissance; born 29th May
1860, K.C.I.E. [cr. xx.6.1915], Education: Hindu
School. Chairman, Berhampur Municipality, 1900-1915;
Chairman, Murshidabad District Board since 1922;
Honorary Fellow of Calcutta University; President, All
India Hindu Sabha; President, Bengal Landholders'
Association, 1918/1920; President, British Indian
Association, Calcutta, 1922, 1923 and 1929. President,
Murshidabad Association, since 1897; President, All
India Exhibitions, Calcutta, 1918 and 1922; Member,
Indian Legislative Council, 1913-1921; Member, Council
of State, since 1921; founder of a Chair in the
Benares Hindu University and one of Science in Sir
Jagadis Chandra Bose Laboratory in Calcutta; takes a
keen interest in public and political affairs, and is
a munificent patron of education, agriculture,
literature, art, music, science and development of
home industries; he contributed for the construction
of The Calcutta Medical School and College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Bengal in 1904, he donated
money to the Daulatpur College and to Rangpur College
and in 1914, he contributed to the Medical College and
Hospital for Women and the Nurses Training Institute
in New Delhi; Publications: Upasana; B.S. Panjika; The
Indian Medicinal Plant; A History of Indian
Philosophy; Great Baisnava Granthas; Part 10 of Sree
Matbhagbat; Fundamental Unity of India; History of
Indian Shipping and Indian Maritime Activity; he was
granted the title of Maharaja on 30th May 1898 and was
Knighted in 1915; married in 1877, Maharani
Kashishwari of Khirgram, Burdwan, and had issue, three
sons and two daughters. He died 12th November 1929.
- Kumar Mohim Chandra Nandy, died in 1906.
- The Hon. Maharaja Srish Chandra Nandy (qv)
- Kumar Kirti Chandra Nandy.
- The Hon. Maharaja SRISH CHANDRA NANDY
M.A., 7th Zamindar of Kasimbazar 1929/1952, born 1897
(#3),
educated at Calcutta University (M.A., 1920),
Minister, Government of Bengal in charge of
Irrigation, Communications and Works, 1936-1941; had
presided over several All-India Conferences; Member,
Bengal Legislative Council since 1924 and Congress
Assembly Party, West Bengal; Minister in the Cabinet
of Aq Fazlul Huq 1937/1942; President, All India Music
Conference, Calcutta University Institute (Fine Arts
Section); President and Trustee, Bangiya Sanhitya
Parishad; Trustee, Indian Museum; Life Member, Viswa
Bharati; President, Giverning Body, Krishnath College,
Berhampur and Maharaja Manindra Chandra College,
Calcutta; Patron Mohan Bagan Club; President, Bengal
Lawn Tennis Asociation; President, Bengal Table Tennis
Association; Vice-President, Calcutta South-Club;
President, British Indian Association; President,
Automobile Association of Bengal; President,
Ramkrishna Sisumangal Pratisthan, Calcutta; Chairman,
Board of Directors, Manindra Mills Ltd. and
Cossimbazar Coal and Mineral Co. Ltd. etc.; Director,
Bengal Potteries Ltd. and Rajgaon Stone Co. Ltd. etc.;
Maharaja Cossimbazar China Clay Mines, Singhbhum and
Maharaja Cossimbazar Stone Works, Nalhati etc.; author
of Bengal Rivers and Our
Economic Welfare, Flood and Its Remedy, Monopathy etc.;
married 1917, Maharani Nilima Devi, second daughter of
Raja Promoda Nath Roy, Zamindar of Dighapatia, and had
issue. He died 1952.
Maharajkumar
Somendra Chandra Nandy M.A., born 1928 (#2), educated at
Calcutta University (M.A., 1950), President
Governing Body, Krishnath College, Berhampur,
Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Calcutta,
Krishnath College School, Berhampur, Maharani
Kasiswari Girls' School, Berhampur, Manindra Chandra
Vidyapith, Saidabad, Maharaja Srischandra Girls'
School, Saidabad; President, Central Calcutta Rifle
Club; Member, British Indian Association; Director,
Bengal Potteries Ltd., Rajgaon Stone Co. Ltd., C.B.
Syndicate; Proprietor, Maharaja Cossimbazar China
Clay Mines, Singhbhum, Maharaja Cossimbazar Stone
Works, Nalhati. (Sreepur Palace,P.O.
Cossimbazar Raj, Murshidabad, Bengal, India and
Cossimbazar House, 302 Upper Circular Road,
Calcutta 9, India)
- Maharaja PRASANTA RAY, 8th
and present Zamindar of Kasimbazar (see above)
OTHER MEMBERS:
- Maharaja Ashutosh Nath Roy, ?Zamindar of Kasimbazar
1847/-, married and had issue.
- Maharani Jyotirmoyi Devi, married Maharaja
Kshaunish Chandra Ray Bahadur of Nadia.
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