Raja Shyama Sankar Roy Choudhury
Encyclopedia
Raja Syama Sankar Ray Choudhury of Teota
, British India (now in Manikganj District
, Bangladesh
), CSI
was a prominent Bengal
landholder (zamindar
, philanthropist
and public personality of his times.
), and was the elder son of Tarini Sankar Chaudhuri, one of the zamindars of Teota. His younger brother was Pran Sankar Roy Choudhury, also a well-known personality of his time.
Syama Sankar completed his schooling in Dacca, and took charge of the Teota Estate (which had its core properties in the former districts of Dacca, Dinajpur, Faridpur
and Pabna
) in the late 1850s.
He played a leading role in relief operations, on the Dinajpur estates of the Teota zamindars in north Bengal, during the devastating famine of the early 1870s: Syama Sankar opened relief houses at a number of places, made provisions for the import of grain and seed, advanced money to the tenantry, and waived rents and dues. This apart, he materially supported the government in its relief measures. Generally speaking, Syama Sankar was also responsible for introducing a number of innovations and experiments in agricultural techniques and practices (on the family estates), the details of which we learn from the relevant district gazetteers and reports.
He received the honorific title of Companion of the Order of the Star of India (C.S.I) at the Imperial Durbar of 1 January 1877.
Raja Syama Sankar was actively involved in the associational politics of Bengal zamindars, represented by the British Indian Association
. But at the same time, he was also closely associated with the birth and early history of the Indian Association (out of which was born the Indian National Congress
in 1885). His is the first name, in fact, in the list of members of the very first committee of the Indian Association. Syama Sankar was also Vice President of the Theosophical Society
, and was a contributor to its journal. He died in Dinajpur in 1885.
Manikganj District
The district of Manikganj consists 3575 mosques, 160 temples, 10 churches, five Buddhist temples and a pagoda.-Literacy and education:Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 26.9%; male 33.7%, female 20.1%...
, British India (now in Manikganj District
Manikganj District
The district of Manikganj consists 3575 mosques, 160 temples, 10 churches, five Buddhist temples and a pagoda.-Literacy and education:Literacy and educational institutions Average literacy 26.9%; male 33.7%, female 20.1%...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
), CSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
was a prominent Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
landholder (zamindar
Zamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and public personality of his times.
Biography
He was born in the 1830s at Teota (in the erstwhile Dacca district of East BengalEast Bengal
East Bengal was the name used during two periods in the 20th century for a territory that roughly corresponded to the modern state of Bangladesh. Both instances involved a violent partition of Bengal....
), and was the elder son of Tarini Sankar Chaudhuri, one of the zamindars of Teota. His younger brother was Pran Sankar Roy Choudhury, also a well-known personality of his time.
Syama Sankar completed his schooling in Dacca, and took charge of the Teota Estate (which had its core properties in the former districts of Dacca, Dinajpur, Faridpur
Faridpur District
Faridpur is a district in central Bangladesh. It is a part of the Dhaka Division. Faridpur District has a population of over 1.7 million people and is situated on the banks of the Padma river . It is bordered by Madaripur, Narail, Rajbari, Magura, Shariatpur, Gopalgonj, Dhaka and Manikganj...
and Pabna
Pabna
Pabna is a town in Rajshahi Division ofBangladesh and the administrative capital of eponymous Pabna District. It is located on the north bank of Padma river and has a population of about 138,000.-Name:...
) in the late 1850s.
He played a leading role in relief operations, on the Dinajpur estates of the Teota zamindars in north Bengal, during the devastating famine of the early 1870s: Syama Sankar opened relief houses at a number of places, made provisions for the import of grain and seed, advanced money to the tenantry, and waived rents and dues. This apart, he materially supported the government in its relief measures. Generally speaking, Syama Sankar was also responsible for introducing a number of innovations and experiments in agricultural techniques and practices (on the family estates), the details of which we learn from the relevant district gazetteers and reports.
He received the honorific title of Companion of the Order of the Star of India (C.S.I) at the Imperial Durbar of 1 January 1877.
Raja Syama Sankar was actively involved in the associational politics of Bengal zamindars, represented by the British Indian Association
British Indian Association
The British Indian Association was established on 31 October 1851. Its formation was a major event of 19th century India. Its establishment meant Indians had come together and could no longer be ignored...
. But at the same time, he was also closely associated with the birth and early history of the Indian Association (out of which was born the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
in 1885). His is the first name, in fact, in the list of members of the very first committee of the Indian Association. Syama Sankar was also Vice President of the Theosophical Society
Theosophical Society
The Theosophical Society is an organization formed in 1875 to advance the spiritual principles and search for Truth known as Theosophy. The original organization, after splits and realignments has several successors...
, and was a contributor to its journal. He died in Dinajpur in 1885.