Bhagyakul Roy family

Bhagyakul Roy family also known as "The Bhagyakul Roys" this family is originally from Bhagyakul, in Munshiganj District of Bangladesh.

Overview

During the first half of the 18th century, the Bhagyakul Roy's family entered the salt business. They soon acquired vast fortunes and became chief landlords (or zamindars) of Bhagyakul and many other estates in the undivided Bengal (pre-1947). Simultaneously, Zamindari estates spread out over the undivided Bengal and Bihar.

The family did not stick to the feudalistic zamindari system but established an inland water and steam navigation services with shipping dockyards. They also founded one of the biggest jute mills, M/S. Prem Chand Jute Mills Ltd, as well as the United Industrial Bank. Though originally 'Kundu', they were awarded the title of Roy Bahadur to Sri Gunendra Krishna Roy, one of the members of this family and the rest with 'Roy/Raychowdhary' by the colonial British government, now the family uses its surname as Ray / Roy. A few members of the family were also honored with the title of 'Raja' by the British government.

Later the family diversified into steamships, banking, real estate and manufacturing industry. Many in the family entered public life, developed professional careers and created institutions of social importance that collectively constitute a major influence on the Bengali[1] society even today.[2]

The family was instrumental in setting up the East Bengal Club in August 1920.[3]. It is also known that the family provided Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar with a loan to start the Vidyasagar College.[4]

During the colonial period, the family contributed towards the freedom struggle by actively participating in the Sixth Indian National Congress session (Tivoli Garden, Calcutta, December 1890)[5] and opposing the partition of Bengal.

Branches

Currently, the family is divided into four branches, called hishas:

Baro Hisha

Mejho Hisha (Arai)

Sejo Hisha

Choto Hisha

Location

Though the family maintained its estates in British India, with the coming of Independence (and partition of India - 1947) the entire family shifted to Kolkata before partition. Now almost 85% of the family are based mostly around Shobhabazar. The rest are located in South Sinthee Road, Gouribari, Dutta Bagan, Lee Road, Elgin Road, Kumartuly, Beliaghata, Goriahut, and various parts of Calcutta. Old palatial houses in the erstwhile zamindari in Bhagyakul are either being used as government offices or encroached upon and in disrepair.

Family deity

The family worships God Lakshminarayan as its family deity, with the current temple situated on Sovabazar street, Kolkata. Krishna Jibon Roy was first to establish the worship of God Lakshminarayan at his country residence in the village of Nurpur in the 1700s, but the seat of worship was transferred to Kolkata after the partition.

Durga Puja

An annual celebration called Durga Puja is organized with much festivity and gusto by each of the branches in rotation. It generally takes approximately 14 years for each rotation. However, with an increase in the family size, the rotation period is expected to increase over the next 50 years.

Durga puja is organised every year by the late Dhirendra Krishna Roy's family at Barasat, Kolkata.

Prominent descendants
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References
  1. Roy, Sita Nath. "Roy Bahadur". National Library.
  2. Gupta, edited by Uma Das (2011). Science and modern India an institutional history, c. 1784-1947. Delhi [etc.]: Pearson Longman. p. 859. ISBN 9788131753750.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  3. A social history of Indian football: striving to score
  4. Vidyasagar and the new national consciousness
  5. How India wrought for freedom

Further reading
  • Boria Majumdar, Kausik Bandyopadhyay: A social history of Indian football: striving to score Pg.96 (ISBN 978-0-415-34835-5)
  • Santoshakumāra Adhikārī: Vidyasagar and the new national consciousness Vidyasagar Research Centre, 1990
  • Annie Besant: How India wrought for freedom: The Story of the National Congress Told from Official Records, Pg.120
  • Asok Mitra: "Towards Independence, 1940-1947: Memoirs of an Indian Civil Servant, Pg.70-71
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