Jhargram Raj

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Jhargram Raj

ঝাড়গ্রাম রাজ

Zamindari of British India
1592–1952

Coat of arms

Area|

• 1922

| 655 km2 (253 sq mi)
Population|

• 1922

| 71,350
History|

• Established

| 1592

• Accession to the Union of India

| 1952

Preceded by | Succeeded by

|

|  | Mughal Empire

|

| Republic of India |

|

Today part of| Jhargram, West Bengal, India
Part of a series on

Zamindars of Bengal

Bangladesh

* Biswas Bari
* Chandradwip
* Chaugachha
* Haturia
* Kadirpara
* Kirtipasha
* Narail
* Padamdi
* Sreepur
* Baniachong
* Barshala
* Bohmong
* Chakma
* Homnabad-Pashchimgaon
* Kanihati
* Faridpur Biswas Estate
* Mong
* Panchakhanda
* Prithimpassa
* Sandwip
* Baliati
* Mohera
* Bhawal
* Dhaka
* Idilpur
* Karatia
* Ponabalia
* Masua
* Dighapatia
* Gunahar, Bogra
* Tajhat, Rangpur
* Mohanpur
* Mahipur, Rangpur
* Natore
* Dulai, Pabna
* Puthia
* Rajshahi
* Dinajpur
* Singranatore

West Bengal

* Andul
* Azimganj
* Barisha
* Baruipur
* Bawali
* Burdwan
* Dhanyakuria
* Gobardanga
* Hetampur
* Jagtai
* Jhargram
* Jiaganj Azimganj
* Jorasanko
* Kandi
* Lalgola
* Karnagarh
* Mahishadal
* Bishnupur
* Murshidabad
* Nadia
* Narajole
* Nashipur
* Nimtita
* Paikpara
* Pathuriaghata
* Raikat
* Santragachi
* Raipur
* Serampur
* Shibpur
* Sovabazar
* Surul
* Taki
* Uttarpara
* Midnapore
* Cooch Behar

* v
* t
* e

Jhargram Raj was a zamindari (feudatory kingdom) which occupied a position in Bengal region (present-day West Bengal, India) of British India. The zamindari came into being during the later part of the 16th century when Man Singh of Amer was the Dewan/Subahdar of Bengal (1594–1606). Their territory was centered around present-day Jhargram district. Jhargram was never an independent territory since the chiefs of the family held it basically as the zamindars of the British Raj in India after Lord Cornwallis's Permanent Settlement of 1793. Although its owners were both rich and powerful, with the chiefs of the family holding the title of Raja, the Jhargram estate was not defined as a Princely State with freedom to decide its future course of action at the time of Indian independence in 1947.[1] Later, the Vice-Roy of India agreed to recognize Jhargram as "Princely State" after the Second World War, but the proposal taken back as the British had decided to give independence to India.[2]

Cooch Behar was the only princely state in Bengal and Tripura. There were several princely states in neighboring Orissa, especially Mayurbhanj that had a presence in Kolkata.

## History

[edit]

Palace of the Rajas

Jhargram Raj was founded around 1592 AD by Sarveshwar Singh who along with his elder brother were Generals under Man Singh of Amer and came to conquer Bengal when Emperor Akbar granted Subehdari of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to Raja Man Singh. He defeated and vanquished the local Mal tribal kings who were ruling the region known as Junglekhand, even today in order to commemorate this victory, every year an idol of Mal Raja is made and slain on Vijayadashami day. As a reward, Raja Man Singh, granted mansabdari of the entire region of Junglekhand to his victorious generals Sarveshwar Singh and his elder brother, under suzerainty and subordination as a tributary vassal state to the Mughal Emperor Akbar. He named his capital Jhargram which means a village surrounded by deep forests, hence the rulers of Jhargram assumed the title “Malla Deb”.[3]

The first fortress was supposed to have existed in Old Jhargram, but the ruins of the fortress are said to have gone underground due to some unknown reasons. He took the title of Raja and named the state capital Jhargram, which means a forest village which is surrounded by walls and canals. It was known as Ugal in the local language. Even today, the day after Durga Ashtami, the four corners (Ugals) are worshiped for the protection of the erstwhile kingdom. The man who was the hero or bull within the surrounded wall and canal were called Ugal Sanda. As such, the full name of the Raja of the State was known as Raja Sarveshwar Malla Ugal Sanda Deb, and the title has been continued up to Raja Narasingha Malla Ugal Sanda Deb.

During the Maratha invasion of Bengal between 1741–51, the king of Jhargram Raja Man Govind Malla Dev joined his armed forces with the Raja of Bishnupur and the Nawab of Bengal to fight a war against them, and they were victorious. Jhargram remained an independent kingdom until 1767, when The East India Company, led by Robert Clive, came from Midnapore, via Radhanagar to capture the Jhargram fort. The then king of Jhargram Raja Vikramjit Malla Ugal Sanda Deb took part in the Chuar Rebellion to protect his independent status and revolted against the British, but he ultimately surrendered. The kingdom was then recognized as a Zamindari estate under the law of primogeniture, and the ruler was given the title of Raja. Jhargram fell twice into the Court of Wards, after the death of Raja Raghunath Malla Ugal Sanda Deb and Raja Chandi Charan Malla Ugal Sanda Deb, respectively; but was later released when the Raja Narasingha Malla Deb attained majority. In this connection, it may be mentioned that in 1944–45, the then Vice-Roy of India agreed to recognize Jhargram as a feudatory state; but at that time, the whole of India was going through turmoil and was moving towards independence. The Cabinet mission came to negotiate with Congress, the Muslim League, and other parties. The proposal for the feudatory status of Jhargram Raj has put aside then.

### Rajas of Jhargram Raj

[edit]

Raja Narasingha Malla Deb

* Raja Sarveshwar Malla Ugal Sanda Deb, 1st Raja of Jhargram, founder of Royal family of Jhargram. He fortified the new capital with a canal-ed fort known as “Ugal” in local language, and respectfully the title of “Ugal Sanda” (Lord of the Fort) became part of the name and style of the rulers of Jhargram; married and had issue.

## Administration

[edit]

The Governor of Bengal at Jhargram Palace

The royal family were Zamindars of Jhargram under the British government rule, they were politically powerful and financially wealthy. The Zamindar was conferred with the title of Raja and was appointed to the Legislative Council of Bengal. The Zamindari ruled their dominions and estates from Jhargram Palace in present-day West Bengal, they had 8 sardars under the system and one Sub Zamindar of Beliaberah.

The period 1922–1950 was considered as the golden era for Jhargram Raj, with Rai Bahadur Debendra Mohan Bhattacharya as the Dewan, Jhargram developed into a township, and many educational institutions were established. The Jhargram Kumud Kumari Institution was founded in 1924. In 1925, an annual sports fund was created to encourage athletic activities and to construct a football stadium and the Jhargram Club. Raja Bahadur established Jhargram Agricultural College, which was later renamed Jhargram Raj College, as well as Vidyasagar Polytechnic for industrial training. He provided funds to set up Sri Ramkrishna Saradapeeth Girls High School and Bharat Sevashram Sangha. In 1931, he commissioned a new palace on 23 acres of land; it is a prominent example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. During World War II, he constructed Dudhkundi Airfield for the United States Air Force and provided the Allied forces with elephants, vehicles, and other help.[4]

With the consent of the governor of Bengal, a hospital for lower-class residents of Jhargram Raj was established in the name of the 15th king Raja Chandi Charan Malla Deb. Later, similar hospitals were established in every tehsil to serve nearby villages. The raja donated land to the Roman Catholic Church of India and to the Muslim community to build Nurrani Jama Masjid, a mosque, in Jhargram. In 1947, more land was acquired, and the Rani Binode Manjuri Government Girls' School—now one of the premier schools in West Bengal—was built. In Midnapore, Raja Bahadur founded the Tuberculosis Chest Clinic and the Homeopathic College, and gave donations for the construction of the Vidyasagar Memorial and the purchase of books for a library. He also bore all of the expenses to build the Midnapore Club and Jhargram Stadium. (It was renamed Aurobinda Stadium after his death.) Between 1928 and 1950, the estate contributed hundreds of thousands of rupees to welfare causes. In 1947, 10,000 bighas of land to poor farmers, making Raja Narasingha the single largest land donor in West Bengal. His beneficiaries ranged from the Kolkata Bangiya Sahitya Parishad to New Delhi Kali Bari.

## Legacy of the Raj family

[edit]

Singhdwar of Jhargram Palace

The last and the 16th king Raja Narasingha Malla Deb reigned from 1916 until his royal powers were abolished by an amendment to the Constitution of India in 1954. After losing his royal title, he served for two terms as a member of the Legislative Council of Bengal. He also served in the Lok Sabha,[5] the lower house of the Indian Parliament.

The royal family was known for working to rehabilitate refugees after the partition of India. After India gained its independence, they owned a business in Kolkata and large real estate properties in Kolkata, Midnapore, and Digha. Narsingha's son Yuvraj Birendra Bijoy got involved in politics and was a two-time member of the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal from Jhargram's Vidhan Sabha constituency, representing the Indian National Congress. His son Shivendra Bijoy Malla Deb—Narasingha Malla Deb's grandson—is a social worker and politician associated with the All India Trinamool Congress, and the chairman of the municipality of Jhargram.[6] They currently reside in Jhargram Palace and have converted about 15 rooms on the ground floor into a Heritage Hotel run by them.[7]

## See also

[edit]

* Political integration of India

## Further study

[edit]

* The Indian princes and their states Author Barbara Ramusack ISBN 978-0-521-26727-4[8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Rajput Provinces of India
2. ^ "JhargramEstate". WordPress.com. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
3. ^ Royal Families of India
4. ^ "About | JHARGRAM PALACE".
5. ^ "1957 Midnapur loksabha vote". www.indiavotes.com.
6. ^ Indian Princely States
7. ^ "Royal retreats: Jhargram Palace/ Midnapore". The Telegraph. 5 July 2008. Archived from the original on 20 September 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
8. ^ Ramusack, Barbara N. (2004). The Indian princes and their states. Cambridge University Press. p. 278\. ISBN 978-0-521-26727-4. Retrieved 6 November 2011.

* v
* t
* e

Bengal Nobility

Topics|

* History of Bengal
* Permanent Settlement Act of 1793 and 1888
* East Bengal State Acquisition and Tenancy Act of 1950

Early Medieval Period|

* Gauda Kingdom (4th century CE–626 CE)
* Pala Empire (8th century CE–12th century CE)
* Sena dynasty (1070–1230)
* Deva dynasty (12th century CE–13th century CE)
* Mallabhum (694–1947)

Late Medieval Period|

* Sultanate of Bengal (1342–1576)
* Mughal emperors (1576–1707)
* Nawabs of Bengal (1717–1880)
* Company rule in Bengal (1757–1858)
* British Raj (1858–1947)
* Cooch Behar State (1586–1949)

Nawabs of Bengal|

* Murshid Quli Khan (1717–1727)
* Sarfaraz Khan (1727–1727)
* Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan (1727–1739)
* Sarfaraz Khan (1739–1740)
* Alivardi Khan (1740–1756)
* Siraj ud-Daulah (1756–1757)
* Mir Jafar Ali Khan (1757–1760)
* Mir Qasim (1760–1763)
* Mir Jafar Ali Khan (1763–1765)
* Najmuddin Ali Khan (1765–1766)
* Najabat Ali Khan (1766–1770)
* Ashraf Ali Khan (1770)
* Mubarak Ali Khan (1770–1793)
* Baber Ali Khan (1793–1810)
* Ali Jah (1810–1821)
* Ahmad Ali Khan (1821–1824)
* Mubarak Ali Khan II (1824–1838)
* Mansur Ali Khan (1838–1880)

Zamindars of Bengal|

* Biswas Bari
* Bhawal Estate
* Burdwan Raj
* Bohmong Circle
* Chakma Circle
* Rajas of Chandradwip
* Nawabs of Dhaka
* Nawabs of Dhanbari
* Rajas of Dighapatia
* Rajas of Dinajpur
* Chowdhuries of Dulai
* Gayen Estate of Dhanyakuria
* Faridpur Biswas Estate
* Khans of Gunahar
* Haturia Estate
* Nawabs of Homnabad-Pashchimgaon
* Jhargram Raj
* Kandi Raj
* Pannis of Karatia
* Kirtipasha Raj
* Lalgola Raj
* Zamindars of Mahipur
* Nawabs of Murshidabad (1882–1969)
* Majumdars of Sylhet
* Mong Circle
* Muktagacha Raj
* Nadia Raj
* Nawabs of Padamdi
* Pal family
* Nawabs of Longla
* Rajas of Puthia
* Chowdhuries of Natore
* Rajas of Natore
* Rajas of Rajshahi
* Rajas of Ramgopalpur
* Ratanpur Nawab Estate
* Zamindars of Sandwip
* Rajas of Shobhabazar
* Singranatore family
* Susanga Raj (See: Surajit Chandra Sinha)
* Bodra Zamindari (Ashok Kumar Roy Chowdhury)
* Teota Estate (See: Parbati Sankar Roy Choudhury and Raja Shyama Sankar Roy Choudhury)
* Rajas of Uttarpara

Establishments
and Heirlooms|

* Hazarduari Palace
* Uttara Ganabhaban
* Ahsan Manzil
* Israt Manzil Palace
* Tajhat Palace
* Natore Palace
* Bhawal Estate
* University of Dacca
* Varendra Research Society
* Varendra Research Museum
* Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
* Shashi Lodge
* Gole Afroz College
* Rahmat Iqbal College
* Rose Garden Palace
* Ghughudanga Palace
* Moyez Manzil Palace
* Puthia Temple Complex
* Wasif Manzil
* Alexander Castle
* Muktagacha Zamindar Bari

* v
* t
* e

Feudal Estates of the Indian Empire

Madras Presidency

| Madras estates|

* Ramnad estate
* Sivaganga estate
* Arni estate
* Paralakhemundi
* Urlam
* Markundapadu
* Nuzvid
* Anakapalle
* Bheemunipatnam
* Bobbili
* Gajapathinagaram
* Gunupur
* Kotpad
* Malkangiri
* Nabarangpur
* Rayagada
* Salur
* Visakhapatnam
* Vizianagaram

|

Bengal Presidency

| Estates in Bengal and Bihar|

* Dhaka
* Bhawal
* Burdwan
* Darbhanga
* Dighapatia
* Dulai
* Faridpur
* Gunahar
* Haturia
* Karatia
* Mahipur
* Natore
* Prithimpassa
* Padamdi
* Rajshahi
* Puthia
* Singranatore
* Munshibari (Comilla)
* Munshibari (Ulipur)
* Murshidabad
* Mallick Bari (Midnapore)
* Surul
* Andul
* Hetampur

|

United Provinces of
Agra and Oudh|

* Mahmudabad
* Benares

Bombay Presidency

| Zamindaris in Bombay|

* Paigah family of Hyderabad State
* Gadwal
* Wanaparthy
* Veepanagandla
* Palwancha

|

* v
* t
* e

State of West Bengal

Capital: Kolkata

State symbols|

* Emblem: Emblem of West Bengal
* Anthem: Banglar Mati Banglar Jol
* Animal: Fishing cat
* Bird: White-throated kingfisher
* Flower: Night-flowering jasmine (Shiuli)
* Tree: Devil's tree (Saptaparni)
* Fish: Ilish

History|

* Gauda Kingdom
* Shashanka
* Pala Empire
* Sena dynasty
* Mallabhum kingdom
* Cooch Behar State
* Sher Shah Suri
* Mughal Empire
* Nawabs of Bengal
* East India Company
* Battle of Plassey
* Bengal Presidency
* Great Bengal famine of 1770
* Indian Rebellion of 1857
* Bengal Renaissance
* Bardhaman Raj
* Nadia Raj
* Jhargram Raj
* Sovabazar Raj
* Partition of Bengal (1905)
* Revolutionary movement for Indian independence
* Anushilan Samiti
* Jugantar
* Bengal famine of 1943
* Direct Action Day
* Noakhali riots
* Partition of Bengal (1947)
* Bengali Language Movement (Manbhum)
* Bangladesh Liberation War
* Naxalite–Maoist insurgency

Geography|

* Bengal Basin
* Darjeeling Himalayan hill region
* Terai
* North Bengal plains
* Dooars
* Rarh region
* Sundarbans
* Western plateau and high lands
* Ganges Delta
* Climate
* Sandakphu (Highest point)
* Protected areas of West Bengal
* Rivers of West Bengal
* Ganga
* Damodar River
* Brahmaputra River
* Teesta River
* Hooghly River
* Khoai
* Tiger Hill, Darjeeling
* Siliguri Corridor

Governance|

* Chief Ministers
* Governor
* Legislative Assembly
* Human Rights Commission
* Political parties (All India Trinamool Congress
* Communist Party (Marxist)
* Indian National Congress
* Bharatiya Janata Party)
* Parliamentary constituencies
* Assembly constituencies
* CID West Bengal
* Kolkata Police

Rights groups|

* Matua Mahasangha
* Bangla Pokkho

Divisions and
districts|

| Burdwan division|

* Birbhum
* Hooghly
* Paschim Bardhaman
* Purba Bardhaman

|

Jalpaiguri division|

* Alipurduar
* Cooch Behar
* Darjeeling
* Jalpaiguri
* Kalimpong

Malda division|

* Berhampore (declared)
* Dakshin Dinajpur
* Jangipur (declared)
* Malda
* Murshidabad
* Uttar Dinajpur

Medinipur division|

* Bankura
* Bishnupur (declared)
* Jhargram
* Paschim Medinipur
* Purba Medinipur
* Purulia

Presidency division|

* Basirhat (declared)
* Howrah
* Ichamati (declared)
* Kolkata
* Nadia
* North 24 Parganas
* Ranaghat (declared)
* South 24 Parganas
* Sundarbans (declared)

Cities and
towns|

* Alipore
* Asansol
* Berhampore
* Balurghat
* Bankura
* Barasat
* Bardhaman
* Bishnupur
* Hugli-Chuchura
* Cooch Behar
* Darjeeling
* Durgapur
* Haldia
* Howrah
* Jalpaiguri
* Jaynagar Majilpur
* Jiaganj Azimganj
* Kalimpong
* Kharagpur
* Kolkata
* Krishnanagar
* Kurseong
* Malda
* Midnapore
* Murshidabad
* Purulia
* Raiganj
* Siliguri
* Siuri
* Tamluk
* List of cities in West Bengal by population
* Cities and towns by district

Culture|

* Bengal Renaissance
* Bengali calendars
* Patachitra
* Chalchitra
* Arts of West Bengal
* Baul
* Bhadu
* Gombhira
* Chhau dance
* Cuisine
* Bengali
* Rabindra Sangeet
* Rabindra Nritya Natya
* Holi
* Dol Purnima
* Prostitution in Kolkata
* Pohela Boishakh
* Durga Puja
* Bhai Dooj
* Raksha Bandhan
* Ratha Yatra
* Architecture of Bengal
* Bengal temples
* Bengali language
* Bengali literature
* Feluda
* Lalmohan Ganguly
* Professor Shonku
* Tarini Khuro
* Kakababu
* Kiriti Roy
* Pather Panchali (novel)
* Bengali cinema
* Jatra
* Ghosts in Bengali culture

GI products|

* Baluchari sari
* Banglar Rosogolla
* Banglar Muslin
* Bankura horse
* Bengal Patachitra
* Chhau mask
* Darjeeling tea
* Dhaniakhali Sari
* Dhokra
* Fazli (mango)
* Garad Saree
* Gobindobhog
* Himsagar
* Jaynagarer Moa
* Madurkathi
* Manasa chali
* Mihidana
* Nakshi kantha
* Santiniketan Leather Goods
* Shantipuri sari
* Sitabhog
* Sundarban Honey
* Tangail Saree
* Tulaipanji

Demographics|

* Bengali people
* Bihari people
* Economy of West Bengal
* Gurkha
* Adivasi
* Rajbanshi
* Anglo-Indian people
* Ethnic communities in Kolkata
* List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate
* Discrimination against Bengalis in India

People|

* Rabindranath Tagore
* Satyajit Ray
* Kazi Nazrul Islam
* Anil Kumar Gain
* Ritwik Ghatak
* Subhas Chandra Bose
* Jamini Roy
* Bidhan Chandra Roy
* Jyoti Basu
* Nandalal Bose
* Jagadish Chandra Bose
* Meghnad Saha
* Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
* Sarat Chandra Bose
* Jnanadanandini Devi
* Abanindranath Tagore
* Satyendranath Tagore
* Satyendranath Dutta
* Raja Ram Mohan Roy
* Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
* Rani Rashmoni
* Ramakrishna
* Swami Vivekananda
* Sarada Devi
* Dwarkanath Tagore
* Sukumar Ray
* Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury
* Michael Madhusudan Dutt
* Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
* Sister Nivedita
* Mother Teresa
* Amartya Sen
* Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay
* Nihar Ranjan Gupta

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