Nashipur Rajbari

Nashipur Rajbari
The palace during British Colonial Rule, in Nashipur.
Alternative names	Nashipur Palace Nashipur Rajbati
General information
Construction started	1865

Nashipur Rajbari (also known as Nashipur Rajbati) was the palace of the Nashipur Raj Family. The grand palace is situated in Nashipur just adjacent to the palace built by Raja Debi Singha. The current palace was built by Raja Kirti Chandra Singha Bahadur in 1865.

History

The Nashipur Rajbari here, was the court of Debi Singha who is historically renowned for being the tax collector under the British. He arrived from Panipat for the purpose of trading. It is said that he is known for being a strict Tax collector. He would severely punish those who failed to pay taxes on time to him. After a trial, he succeeded in getting an appointment in the Revenue Department under Dewan Reza Khan. Gradually, he was able to exert his influence among the people of East India Company and became head of that department. Debi Singha was also the founder of the Nashipur Raj Family.

Debi Singha came to Murshidabad with his father Diwali Singh just after the Battle of Plassey (in 1757 AD). Warren Hastings (Governor General) appointed Devi Singha as a secretary to the provincial council. He was invested with the title of Raja and later Maharaja. Maharaja Debi Singh's nephew Raja Udmant Singh built a temple complex in Nashipur. The palace was built by Raja Udmant's grandnephew Raja Kirti Chand in 1856. Maharaja Ranajit Sinha who succeeded his father Raja KirtiChand was elected chairman of Murshidabad municipality and a member of Bengal Legislative Council. Nashipur Raj Estate was one of the bigger Zamindaries in Bengal. The Zamindary covered large portions of the Districts of Birbhum, Murshidabad and Malda in the present State of West Bengal in India and a major portion of the District Rajsahi and small portions in the Districts Pabna and Bogra in the present country of Bangladesh. The custom of primogeniture was followed in the Raj family.The title of "Raja Bahadur" was made hereditary in the Raj family in a grand investiture ceremony at Delhi on 16 March 1917, in which a Sanad was presented to Maharaja Ranajit Sinha by the then Governor General of India - Lord Chelmsford. After the death of Maharaja Ranajit Sinha in 1918, Bhupendra Narayan Sinha being the eldest among the four sons of the late Maharaja, succeeded him as the next scion of Nashipur Raj. Raja Bahadur Bhupendra Narayan Sinha was a minister in undivided Bengal in 1928-29 under the Chief Ministership of Fazlul Huq. During his lifetime he held various important positions in the Govt. The second youngest brother Kumar Nripendra was a member of the Imperial Council in Delhi. Both died early and the two other sons of Maharaja Ranjit Sinha lived to be octogenarians.

Raja Bahadur Bhupendra Narayan Sinha died in Delhi in October 1949. He had one son Ranendra Narayan Sinha and two daughters.Ranendra Narayan Sinha succeeded as the next Raja Bahadur.Raja Bahadur Ranendra Narayan Sinha was the last titular head of the Nashipur Raj family, as the Zemindary system was abolished in 1953 in West Bengal. Raja Bahadur Ranendra Narayan Sinha died in Calcutta in August 1992 leaving behind his wife Rani Kusum Kumari Sinha, one son Ranajoy Sinha and one daughter Jayashree Sinha.^[1]

Features

The palace is often referred to as a miniature version of the Hazarduari Palace due to its similarity of features. Among them are the grand flight of stairs and the large vertical standing columns. Inside the palace there was also a huge hall for entertainment, where personalities like Hirabai performed.

The palace where special meetings used to be held and Britishers would must pay a visit, has been reduced to ruins, but is still of historical importance.

It is said that Lord Curzon referred to it as "a princely abode" and said it to be better than their palace.

Deity

The family deities which were worshiped are kept here and still worshiped by the family members. The most important festival is Jhulan Yatra, which is held every year for a maximum of five days in the month of August and ends on Rakhi Purnima day. At this time, a fair is organized in the palace's compound which is very popular in both Nashipur and Murshidabad.

Nashipur Akhara

Nashipur Akhara is situated in the same village of Nashipur on the east of the Bhagirathi River. The motto of the Akhra is to remain a bachelor for one's life. It is actually here where every year Jhulan Yatra and the famous fair is held. People from far off assemble here to witness the dramas held on this auspicious occasion.

In the Nashipur Akhra very old articles like huge utensils and even a vintage car is kept in a small room rather garage, but none of them have proper maintenance. However it is free for public analysis.

References

1. A history of Murshidabad District (Bengal) : with biographies of some of its noted families (1902), Walsh, J. H. Tull