Bijay Chand Mahtab

Sir Bijoychand Mahtab Bahadur, the Maharajadhiraja of Bardhaman Raj, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E, I.O.M., (1881-1941) was ruler of Burdwan Estate, Bengal in British India from 1887 till his death in 1941.

Life

His predecessor, Maharaja Aftab Chand Mehtab (ruled : 1881-5) died without heirs, and his widow adopted the Bijoy Chand Mahtab, son of Ban Bihari Kapur. In 1887, he was only six years old. Therefore, the Court of Wards along with the Diwani-i-Raj, Ban Bihari Kapoor, (the natural father of Bijaychand), who ruled up to 1902. In 1893, the title of ‘Raja’ was bestowed on Ban Bihari Kapoor. The government permitted the Raj in 1897 to maintain an armed force of 600 people and 41 cannons.

In 1899, Bijay Chand Mahtab passed the entrance examination of Calcutta University, and was the first in the Raj family to obtain a formal educational qualification. In 1902, he came of age and was invested with full ruing powers to the throne of Burdwan Raj. Next year in 1903, the title of ‘Rajadhiraj’ was bestowed on him at the Delhi Durbar. A pompous coronation was organized in the palace at Bardhaman, where Lieutenant Governor Bourdillon was present to bestow the honor.

In 1903, he invited the Governor General Lord Curzon to the Bardhaman palace and constructed the Curzon gate in Gothic style, which is a major landmark of Burdwan today and stands at junction of Bijaychand Road and Grand Trunk Road. The Royal Palace of Burdwan is situated one km from the gate.

In 1903, he saved the life of the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Andrew Fraser. He risked his life to save that of Sir Andrew Fraser, lieutenant-governor of Bengal, when an attempt to assassinate him was made by malcontents on 7 November 1908. In return for his loyalty to the British, he was honored with the title of K.C.I.E. and Indian Order of Merit (Class III).

In 1908, as per a proclamation of Lord Minto, elevated to the title of ‘Maharajadhiraj’, which was bestowed on a hereditary basis.

In 1908, he donated Rs. 40,000/- towards construction of hostel and other facilities for Ranchi Arts College, Ranchi, where Burdwan Raj also held large estates.

He was a member of the Bengal Legislative Council from 1907 to 1918, and of the Imperial Legislative Council from 1909 to 1912. He was associated with the state administration in subsequent years.

In 1914, he was appointed as one of the was members of the committee that investigated in to Budge Budge riot and Komagata Maru incident

In 1924, he was one of the members of a committee headed by Sir Charles Todhunter, which looked in to taxation reforms in British India, which submitted its report in 1925.

In spite of his loyalty towards the British, he provided warm hospitality to Mahatma Gandhi, when he visited Bardhaman in 1925 and welcomed cordially Subhas Chandra Bose when he visited Bardhaman in 1928 to campaign in the municipal elections.

In 1938, he was a member of the Francis Floud Commission to suggest changes in the Permanent Settlement of 1793. The commission recommended the replacement of the zamindari system by a ryotwari (tenancy) system in which the ownership of land would vest with the ryot (tenant) and the land revenue payable by him could be revised periodically. The recommendations could not be implemented because of differences in the Fazlul Huq ministry.

However, it was evident that the days of zemindars were coming to an end. It was this realization that led Bijaychand Mahtab to extend indirect support to the Congress.

Bijaychand Mahtab was deeply involved with Bengali literature. He was president of the reception committee in the 8th session of the Bangya Sahitya Sammelan held at Bardhaman in 1914. From amongst the twenty books he wrote, mention may be made of Impression, The Indian Horizon, Meditation, Studies, Vijaygitika (collection of songs composed by him), Troyodashi (poem), Ranjit (play), and Manaslila (science-play).

He died in 1941. His rule started in 1887 and lasted till 1941. It was the longest in the Bardhaman Raj.

He left behind two sons and two daughters, thereby ending the long succession of adoptions. His elder son Udaychand Mehtab, succeeded him to the throne of Burdwan Raj.