Azimganj (Zamindari)

Information

Dynasty	Dudhoria
State	Bengal (Murshidabad Dist.)
Accession	1^st July 1952
Religion	Jainism
Last Updated	4^th Aug, 2021

Present Head/Ruler

See Below.

Short History

The family claim descent from Raja Chaban, who was ruling Ajmer from 135BC to 110BC. His descendant, Raja Dudhor Rao, around 165AD, converted to Jainism and gave his name, Dudhoria, to his descendants. The Dudhorias, after their conversion to Jainism, engaged in various business occupations, migrating from place to place, until about the year 1774 they moved from Bikaner in Rajputana to Azimganj in the district of Murshidabad, in Bengal. In 1933, Azimganj and Dudhoria estates were split into two parts.

Predecessors

Babu Harjimal Dudhoria, married and had issue. He lived around 1774.
- Babu Sabai Singh, married and had issue.
  - Babu Mul Chand
  - Babu Nath Chand
  - Babu Baij Nath
  - Babu Harek Chand, a leading merchant and successful money-lender, he was the founder of the family’s fortune; married and had issue, two sons. He died 1862.
    - Babu (later Rai) Budh Singh Bahadur (qv)
    - Babu (later Rai) Bishan Chand Bahadur (qv)
  - Babu Jalim Singh
- Babu Maujiram, married and had issue.
  - Babu Rup Chand
Rai BUDH SINGH Bahadur, Zamindar of Azimganj 1862/1878, born 1847, with his brother, they extended the business and ultimately became zamindars, owning land in the districts of Mymensingh, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Faridpur, Nadia, Purnea and Rajshahi; in 1877, they split the business into two equal parts, managed separately; he was granted the title of Rai Bahadur as a personal distinction on 2^nd January 1888; he was appointed Honorary Magistrate of the Lalbagh Bench in Murshidabad; he received a Certificate of Honour on 20^th June 1897, on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of her late Majesty Queen-Empress Victoria, “in recognition of his liberality and public services”; President of the All-India Jain Conference in December 1904; married twice and had issue.
- Babu Indra Chand, born 1868, he visited England on his own in 1889; married a daughter of Rai Sitab Chand, Bahadur of Azimganj, and had issue, two sons. He died 1899.
  - Babu Jaggat Singh, born 1896.
  - Babu Ranjit Singh, born 1898.
- Babu Ajit Singh, born 1887, married a daughter of Babu Narpat Singh, Zamindar of Harwat.
- Babu Kuwar Singh, born 1890.
Rai BISHAN CHAND Bahadur, Zamindar of Azimganj 1878/1894, born 10^th June 1852, he was granted the title of Rai Bahadur as a personal distinction on 2^nd January 1888 for his liberal philanthropy and public services; he always contributed to charitable and other funds, as well as opening annachatras (or poor-houses) in times of famine; he was appointed Honorary Magistrate of the Lalbagh Bench in Murshidabad; married and had issue. He died 1894.
- Babu (later Raja) Bijoy Singh Bahadur (qv)

ESTATE MANAGER 1894/1900, Rai Budh Singh Bahadur (see above)

Raja BIJOY SINGH Bahadur, Zamindar of Azimganj 1900/1933, born in November 1879, educated privately under the tuition of Babu Abinash Chandra Das, M.A., B.L.; having attained his majority on 22^nd December 1900, he took charge of his estate; he was nominated as Commissioner for Azimganj Municipality in 1903 and re-elected in 1909; Vice-President of the All-India Jain Conference in December 1904; he was appointed Honorary Magistrate of the independent Lalbagh Bench in Murshidabad in January 1907; he was granted the title of Raja in June 1908 in recognition of his public services, liberality and high personal character; Member of the District Board, Murshidabad; Member of the executive committees of the Imperial League, the King Edward Memorial Fund and of the British-Indian Association of Calcutta where he was Vice-President in 1915; married in February 1894, the youngest daughter of Rai Dhanpat Singh Bahadur of Baluchar, and had issue, one daughter. He died 1933.
- Kumari (name unknown), married Babu Srichand Nahata of Baluchar.
- Raja Chandra Singh Bahadur (qv)
- Raja Padam Singh Bahadur (qv)

Dudhoria Estate

Raja CHANDRA SINGH Bahadur, Zamindar of Dudhoria 1933/1952 (1980), married and had issue. He died 16^th December 1980.
- Raja Goutam Singh Bahadur (qv)
- Kumar Sidharth Dudhoria
Raja GOUTAM SINGH Bahadur, present Zamindar of Dudhoria since 16^th December 1980.

Azimganj Estate

Raja PADAM SINGH Bahadur, Zamindar of Azimganj 1933/1952 (1968), married Rani Aloka Dudhoria (qv), and had issue, seven daughters. He died 5^th May 1968.
- Kumari Seema Duhoria
- Kumari Amita Dudhoria
Rani Aloka Dudhoria, present Zamindarani of Azimganj since 5^th May 1968.