PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY: The
family
claim descent from Bhattanarayan, a Brahmin who was
selected by Raja Adisur of Bengal, for the conduct of
ceremonies of purification. The Nadia Raj family is one
the oldest and most respected Hindu families in Bengal,
spanning some 36 generations from the founder. Since the
estabhshment of British rule in Bengal each Raja of Nadia
in succession has been created a Maharaja Bahadur. Estate
holders were...
- Raja BHABANANDA,
21st Zamindar of Nadia, married and had issue.
- Raja SRI KRISHNA
RAY, 22nd Zamindar of Nadia
- Raja GOPAL RAY,
23rd Zamindar of Nadia
- Raja RAGHAB RAY,
24th Zamindar of Nadia
- Maharaja RUDRA RAY,
25th Zamindar of Nadia 1683/1694, the title of
Maharaja was granted by the Emperor of Delhi as a
hereditary distinction.
- Raja RAMJIBAN RAY I,
26th Zamindar of Nadia
- Maharaja RAM
KRISHNA RAY, 27th Zamindar of Nadia, he
resided at the new capital of Krishnagar.
- Raja RAMJIBAN RAY
II, 28th Zamindar of Nadia
- Raja RAGHU RAM RAY,
29th Zamindar of Nadia for two years.
- Maharaja KRISHNA
CHANDRA RAY Rajendra Bahadur, 30th Zamindar
of Nadia 1728/1782, 30th in descent from founder, born
1710/1712, son of Raghuram Roy of Krishnanagar, he was
adopted by Bhabananda Majumdar, founder of the royal
family of Krishnanagar, he received two farmans from the
Emperor Shah Alam, conferring on him the title of
Maharaja, he was later granted the title of Maharaja
by the British for services rendered at Plassey, he
established a large Shiv temple at Shivnibash in 1762,
established many Sanskrit schools in Nadia, he was a
patron of literature and music, married Rani Bhabani,
born 1716, died 1795 (she married 1stly, Raja
Ramkanta, Zamindar of Natore)
who was also a patron of Sanskrit culture in Bengal,
and had issue. He died 1782.
- Maharaja Shivachandra or Sibchandra Ray Bahadur
(qv)
- Maharaja SHIVA
CHANDRA RAY Bahadur, 31st Zamindar of Nadia
1782/1788, born 1741, died 1788.
- Maharaja ISHWAR
CHANDRA RAY Bahadur, 32nd
Zamindar of Nadia 1788/1793, born 1738, died 1793.
- Maharaja GIRISH
CHANDRA RAY Bahadur, 33rd Zamindar of Nadia
1793/1837, born 1777, died 1837.
- Maharaja SRISH
CHANDRA RAY Bahadur, 34th
Zamindar of Nadia 1837/1857, born 1819, his title of
Maharaja Bahadur, granted by the Emperor of Delhi, was
confirmed by the British Government; married and had
issue. He died 1857.
- Maharaja Satish Chandra Ray Bahadur (qv)
COURT OF WARDS 1857/1858
- Maharaja SATISH
CHANDRA RAY Bahadur, 35th Zamindar of Nadia
1857/1870, born 1837, he was eminently loyal to the
Government, and exceedingly liberal, especially to his
tenants and to educational institutions, he presented
a beautiful park as the site for the Krishnagar State
College of the Calcutta University, at the town of
Krishnagar, which is the capital of Nadia ; and he
subscribed largely to the funds, both for the building
and for the endowment of that important institution;
married and had adoptive issue. He died 1870.
- (A) Maharaja
Kshitish Chandra Ray Bahadur (qv)
COURT
OF WARDS 1870/1889
- Maharaja KSHITISH
CHANDRA RAY Bahadur, 36th Zamindar of Nadia
1870/1910, born 16th April 1868 (#1),
the title of Maharaja Bahadur was granted on 1st
January 1890 as a personal distinction, married and
had issue, one son. He died in August 1910.
- Maharaja Kshaunish Chandra Ray Bahadur (qv)
COURT
OF WARDS 1910/1911
 Maharaja KSHAUNISH
CHANDRA RAY Bahadur, 37th Zamindar of Nadia
1910/1928, born 29th October 1890 in Krishnagar into
one of the oldest aristocratic families in Bengal;
educated privately; he was granted the title of
Maharaja at the Coronation Durbar, Delhi in December
1911; he was granted the title of Maharaja Bahadur in
January 1917 and he was granted the privilege of a
return visit from the Governor of Bengal; First
non-official elected Chairman of Nadia District Board,
1920/1924; Member of the Bengal Legislative Council,
1921/1923, he married Maharani Jyotirmoyee Devi,
youngest daughter of Maharaja Ashutosh Nath Roy of
Cossimbazar, and had issue, two daughters. He died
1928.
- Maharajkumari (name unknown) Devi, born 1st
November 1916 in Calcutta.
- Maharaja SAUMISH
CHANDRA ROY Bahadur, 38th Zamindar of Nadia
(see above)
The help of John Duncan McMeekin, is gratefully
acknowledged, November 2012. |