Nazargunj
Encyclopedia
Nazargunj is an India
n princely state, originating in Purnea
city, in the state of Bihar
. Literally meaning 'a place worth seeing', Nazargunj was the dominant princely state in Purnea. As a result of geographical proximity, Nazargunj also included some land in Bengal. After Indian independence in 1947, the government took land from Indian princely states with promise of compensation.
The Raja of Nazargunj, Prithwi Chand Lall Choudhry, CBE, (born 1886) succeeded his father, the zamindar, Dharam Chand Lall Choudhry, in March 1899. He was privately educated under the supervision of Cambridge
graduate Rev. A. H. Manning. During his minority, his estate was ably managed by a consortium of trustees, balancing growth and philanthropy. This was very much in line with Mahatma Gandhi
's model of Trusteeship, as documented in Gandhian Economics. The Raja was a great admirer of Gandhi, both before and even more so after entertaining him in Purnea in 1929.
The Raja donated more than half the cost of construction of the Sowra bridge and also built schools and temples and contributed to the likes of the Lady Dufferin
Hospital in Purnea.
Head of Purnea Polo Club, he was also an honorary magistrate on the Purnea Sudder independent bench and a volunteer in the Northern Bengal Mounted Rifles. The first Indian member of The Calcutta Rackets Club, he also supported other sports clubs.
The family was well known for horse-racing in Calcutta, Darjeeling (1911), and Lucknow (1928). Some of the prestigious races won by their horses included The Calcutta Derby (1959–60), The Oaks, The 1000 Guinneas and The Queen's Cup (Queen Elizabeth II). Other prizes were won for flower shows and dogs. The Raja gained lasting friendships with the other Indian princely states like Cooch Behar
and Burdwan but was also popular with the Bhutanese Dorji clan, who were hereditary Prime Ministers.
One of his estate managers remembered the Raja as a man who spoke five languages, imported Russian horses, had a love for motor cars but more importantly was a liberal when it came to religion, allowing different faiths equal opportunities to practise whatever they believed in. A promoter of music, he retained Bismillah Khan (later known as Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahib) during the time of his eldest son's marriage (Kumar Vishnu Chand Lall, c. 1937) to play shehnai. It was at this time that the young Bismilah Khan was spotted by All India Radio and offered a contract. The Raja granted permission and encouraged him to take up the opportunity.
The Raja had three wives, the first of whom bore no children. The nominated Hindu male line, Kumar Vishnu Chand Lall of Nazargunj, was the eldest born and Kumar Bhubneswari Chand Lall the youngest son. Kumar Vishnu Chand Lall followed his father's interest in racing to become a Steward at The Royal Calcutta Turf Club. His son, Pradeep Chand Lall of Nazargunj, a professional tea taster
and a keen shot, went one further at The Royal Calcutta Turf Club to become Senior Steward and Head of RWITC and presented the prestigious Indian Invitation Cup, but died shortly after in May 2007 of lung cancer
.
The remaining Hindu male line of Nazargunj continues through three sons, Vikash Chand Lall (married to Ritu Chauhan), who is based in Washington, D.C.
, Pavan Chand Lall (married to Semira Khaleeli), who lives in Mumbai
, and Siddarth Chand Lall (married to Olivia Freeland), who lives in London
.
Peter Lall, son of Victor Chand Lall and Gertrude Lall, is also a keen shot and highly regarded in his community. He has two daughters, one of whom is also a keen shot and previously National champion.
Deepak Chand Lall (married to Deepa Chatrath), son of Kumar Bhubneswari Chand Lall, has two sons, Gaurav Lall and Viraaj Lall, who are based in New Jersey.
The estate was essentially abandoned due to political instability and economic decline under the then Chief Minister of Bihar, Laloo Prasad Yadav.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n princely state, originating in Purnea
Purnia
Purnia is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Purnia district of the Indian state of Bihar. It is located 400 km from Patna.The Indian army, Border Security Force ,and the SSB and the have bases around the city...
city, in the state of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. Literally meaning 'a place worth seeing', Nazargunj was the dominant princely state in Purnea. As a result of geographical proximity, Nazargunj also included some land in Bengal. After Indian independence in 1947, the government took land from Indian princely states with promise of compensation.
The Raja of Nazargunj, Prithwi Chand Lall Choudhry, CBE, (born 1886) succeeded his father, the zamindar, Dharam Chand Lall Choudhry, in March 1899. He was privately educated under the supervision of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
graduate Rev. A. H. Manning. During his minority, his estate was ably managed by a consortium of trustees, balancing growth and philanthropy. This was very much in line with Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
's model of Trusteeship, as documented in Gandhian Economics. The Raja was a great admirer of Gandhi, both before and even more so after entertaining him in Purnea in 1929.
The Raja donated more than half the cost of construction of the Sowra bridge and also built schools and temples and contributed to the likes of the Lady Dufferin
Lady Dufferin
Lady Dufferin may refer to anyone with the title Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye or Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava.Some notable women who have been known as Lady Dufferin are:...
Hospital in Purnea.
Head of Purnea Polo Club, he was also an honorary magistrate on the Purnea Sudder independent bench and a volunteer in the Northern Bengal Mounted Rifles. The first Indian member of The Calcutta Rackets Club, he also supported other sports clubs.
The family was well known for horse-racing in Calcutta, Darjeeling (1911), and Lucknow (1928). Some of the prestigious races won by their horses included The Calcutta Derby (1959–60), The Oaks, The 1000 Guinneas and The Queen's Cup (Queen Elizabeth II). Other prizes were won for flower shows and dogs. The Raja gained lasting friendships with the other Indian princely states like Cooch Behar
Cooch Behar
Cooch Behar is the district headquarters and the largest city of Cooch Behar District in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is situated in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas and located at . Cooch Behar is the only planned town in North Bengal region with remnants of royal heritage...
and Burdwan but was also popular with the Bhutanese Dorji clan, who were hereditary Prime Ministers.
One of his estate managers remembered the Raja as a man who spoke five languages, imported Russian horses, had a love for motor cars but more importantly was a liberal when it came to religion, allowing different faiths equal opportunities to practise whatever they believed in. A promoter of music, he retained Bismillah Khan (later known as Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahib) during the time of his eldest son's marriage (Kumar Vishnu Chand Lall, c. 1937) to play shehnai. It was at this time that the young Bismilah Khan was spotted by All India Radio and offered a contract. The Raja granted permission and encouraged him to take up the opportunity.
The Raja had three wives, the first of whom bore no children. The nominated Hindu male line, Kumar Vishnu Chand Lall of Nazargunj, was the eldest born and Kumar Bhubneswari Chand Lall the youngest son. Kumar Vishnu Chand Lall followed his father's interest in racing to become a Steward at The Royal Calcutta Turf Club. His son, Pradeep Chand Lall of Nazargunj, a professional tea taster
Tea tasting
Tea tasting is the process in which a trained taster determines the quality of a particular tea. Due to climatic conditions, topography, manufacturing process, and different clones of the Camellia sinensis plant , the final product may have vastly differing flavours and appearance...
and a keen shot, went one further at The Royal Calcutta Turf Club to become Senior Steward and Head of RWITC and presented the prestigious Indian Invitation Cup, but died shortly after in May 2007 of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
.
The remaining Hindu male line of Nazargunj continues through three sons, Vikash Chand Lall (married to Ritu Chauhan), who is based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Pavan Chand Lall (married to Semira Khaleeli), who lives in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, and Siddarth Chand Lall (married to Olivia Freeland), who lives in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Peter Lall, son of Victor Chand Lall and Gertrude Lall, is also a keen shot and highly regarded in his community. He has two daughters, one of whom is also a keen shot and previously National champion.
Deepak Chand Lall (married to Deepa Chatrath), son of Kumar Bhubneswari Chand Lall, has two sons, Gaurav Lall and Viraaj Lall, who are based in New Jersey.
The estate was essentially abandoned due to political instability and economic decline under the then Chief Minister of Bihar, Laloo Prasad Yadav.