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{{Short description|Maharaja of Bardhaman and writer}}
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{{Infobox royalty
| name = Maharajadhiraja Bahadur Sir Bijay Chand Mahtab
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'''Maharajadhiraja Bahadur Sir Bijay Chand Mahtab''', (19 October 1881 – 29 August 1941)<ref name=g/> was the ruler of [[Burdwan Estate]], [[Bengal Presidency]] in [[British India]] (present-day [[West Bengal]], [[India]]) from 1887 till his death in 1941.<ref>Imperial gazetteer of India: provincial series, 1909 – Volume 5 – Page 270</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Komagata maru, a challenge to colonialism: key documents by Komagata maru, a challenge to colonialism: key documents|year=2005|publisher=Unistar Books|pages=245–46|isbn=9788186898055|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kxl6AAAAMAAJ&q=Bijoychand+Mahtab}}</ref>

==Early life==
Mahtab's predecessor, Maharaja [[Aftab Chand Mahtab]] (ruled : 1879–85) died without heirs, and his widow adopted Bijoy Chand Mahtab, son of [[Khatri]] Ban Bihari Kapur, a relative of [[Mahtab Chand Bahadur]], a past ruler of Burdwan Estate from 1832 to 1879. At the time of adoption, in 1887, he was only six years old, therefore, the [[Court of Wards (India)|Court of Wards]] along with the [[Dewan|Diwani-i-Raj]], Ban Bihari Kapoor, (the natural father of Bijaychand), ruled the estate up to 1902. In 1893, the title of 'Raja' was bestowed on Ban Bihari Kapoor. The government permitted the [[British Raj|Raj]] in 1897 to maintain an armed force of 600 people and 41 cannons.<ref name=i>Imperial Gazetteer of India by Sir William Wilson Hunter, 1908 – Page 101</ref>

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.

==Ruler==
In 1902, he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers to the throne of Burdwan Raj. Next year in 1903, the title of '[[Raja]]dhiraj' was bestowed on him at the [[Delhi Durbar]]. A pompous coronation was organised in the [[Burdwan Raj Palace|palace at Bardhaman]], where [[James Bourdillon|Lieutenant Governor Bourdillon]] was present to bestow the honour.<ref name=i/>

In 1903, he invited the Governor General [[Lord Curzon]] to the Bardhaman palace and to commemorate the event constructed a gate now known as [[Curzon Gate, Burdwan|Curzon Gate]] in [[Gothic architecture|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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bardhaman.com/places_of_interest.htm |title=Curzon Gate |access-date=10 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425214858/http://www.bardhaman.com/places_of_interest.htm |archive-date=25 April 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1903, he saved the life of the Lieutenant Governor, Sir [[Andrew Henderson Leith Fraser|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 Indian nationalists on 7 November 1908. In return for his loyalty to the British, he was honoured with the title of K.C.I.E. and [[Indian Order of Merit]] (Class III).<ref name=g>[http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=A4A9FE15B1E12C313AEC086DCCED853D.journals?fromPage=online&aid=5779668 Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (New Series) Table of Contents – October 1941 – Volume 73, Issue 04 pp: 387–388] Obituary : Maharaja Adhiraja Bijay Chand Mahatab of Burdwan.</ref><ref name=i/>
[[File:Bijay Chand Mahtab Bahadur, Maharaja of Burdwan, in 1906.jpg|thumb|Mahtab in 1906]]
In 1908, as per a proclamation of [[Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto|Lord Minto]], elevated to the title of '[[Maharajadhiraja]]', which was bestowed on a hereditary basis.<ref name=i/>

He also served as representative of Bengal [[zamindar]]s in Legislative and Provincial council, continuously for many years.<ref name=g/>

In 1908, he toured England and Europe and later wrote a book named ''Diary of an European Tour.''<ref name=g/>

He was also noted for his philanthropy, especially in field of education and health welfare. For example, 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.<ref>''Education and Social Changes in Bihar 1900–1921: A Survey of Social History'' by S. N. Pandey, 1975– Page 86</ref> [[Bijoy Chand Hospital]] was also founded by him during his reign in decade of 1910.

He was a member of the [[British Bengal Legislative Council|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 and Member of Executive Council of Bengal for the years 1919–1924.

He was also the President of [[British Indian Association]] from 1911 to 1918<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/archives/british-indian-association-annual-meeting/article23324260.ece|title=British Indian Association Annual Meeting.|date=2018-03-23|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-01-26|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> and again in 1925.{{Additional citation needed|date=January 2020}}

In 1914, he was appointed as one of the members of the committee that investigated in to riots of [[Budge Budge]] and [[Komagata Maru incident]]<ref>{{cite book|title=The Voyage of the Komagata Maru: The Sikh Challenge to Canada's Colour Bar By Hugh Johnston|year=2011|page=109|isbn=9780774844727|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IbA4vO9bFUkC&q=Bijoychand+Mahtab&pg=PA109|last1=Johnston|first1=Hugh}}</ref>

In 1924, he was one of the members of a committee headed by Sir [[Charles Todhunter]], which looked into taxation reforms in British India, which submitted its report in 1925.<ref>Taxation and the Indian Economy by S.M. Jha, 1990– Page 166</ref> and was also the member of Indian Reforms Enquiry Commission of 1924.
[[File:Seal of Sir Bijay Chand Mahtab.png|thumb|Official seal of Bijay Chand Mahtab]]
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 1935, the [[Indian Weightlifting Federation]] was formed, and he served as its first President.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History – IWLF |url=https://iwlf.in/about-us/history/ |access-date=2024-04-22 |language=en-US}}</ref>

During the later part of his rule, however, there were allegations of financial corruption coupled with mismanagement and the affairs of the Raj were in shambles. The British administrator took over the complete management of Burdwan Raj and Bijoy Chand was deprived of management from the years 1929–1936.

In 1936, he was handed back the reign of his Estate by British.

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, with the India's independence gaining momentum it was evident that the days of zemindars and [[princely states]] were coming to an end. It was this realisation that led Bijaychand Mahtab to extend indirect support to the [[Indian National Congress|Congress]].

==Writer==
Bijaychand Mahtab was deeply involved with Bengali literature. He was president of the reception committee in the 8th session of the ''[[Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan|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).

==Death and successor==
Mahtab died on 29 August 1941 at [[Burdwan]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Maharaja of Burdwan Dead|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19410831-1.2.22|access-date=9 May 2017|work=[[The Straits Times]]|date=31 August 1941|page=2}}</ref> His reign which began in 1887 and lasted till 1941, was the longest in history of Bardhaman Raj. He left behind two sons Uday Chand and Abhay Chand and two daughters, thereby ending the long history adoptions for succession in Burdwan Raj. His elder son [[Uday Chand Mahtab]], succeeded him to the [[throne]] of Burdwan Raj.

==Titles==
*[[Rajadhiraja]] – 1893
*[[Maharajadhiraja]] – 1903
*[[Maharajadhiraja Bahadur]] – 1906 (made hereditary)

==Honours==
*[[Delhi Durbar]] Medal – 1902
*[[Indian Order of Merit]] – 3rd class (Civil division) – 1909
*[[K.C.I.E.|Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]] – 1909<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28210|supp=y|page=3|date=29 December 1908}}</ref>
*[[Order of the Star of India|Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India]] – 1911 <ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28559|supp=y|page=9357|date=8 December 1911}}</ref>
*[[GCIE|Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]] – 1924<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32893|supp=y|page=5|date=28 December 1923}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Bijoy Chand Mahtab}}
*{{Internet Archive author |sname=Bijay Chand Mahtab}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Kapoor-Mahtab Dynasty]]||19 October 1881||29 August 1941}}
{{s-reg|}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Aftab Chand Mahtab]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Bardhaman Raj|Maharajadhiraja of Bardhaman Raj]]|years=1887–1941}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Uday Chand Mahtab]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahtab, Bijay Chand}}
[[Category:1881 births]]
[[Category:1941 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian knights]]
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India]]
[[Category:Members of the Imperial Legislative Council of India]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:Bengali zamindars]]
[[Category:People from Purba Bardhaman district]]
[[Category:Indian royalty]]
[[Category:Founders of Indian schools and colleges]]
[[Category:English-language Indian poets]]
[[Category:Writers from British India]]
[[Category:Poets from British India]]
[[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from British India]]
[[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Bengali-language poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Poets from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Musicians from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from West Bengal]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Indian Order of Merit]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian philanthropists]]
[[Category:Bengali knights]]

Bijay Chand Mahtab - Revision history

RicoSturdivant at 08:09, 19 February 2026