UpdateBot at 12:12, 4 June 2022

2022-06-04T12:12:35Z

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{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Royal house|
|coat of arms = Natore Dighapatia Raja's (King) Monogram.JPG
|image_size = 225px
|caption = Armorial of Dighapatia Raj
|country = [[East Bengal]]
|titles = {{Plainlist|
* [[Raja]]
* [[Rai (Indian)|Rai-Raiyan]]
* [[Raja Bahadur]]
}}
|founder = Raja Dayaram Roy
|current head = Legally Abolished (1950)
|founding year = 18th century
}}
'''Dighapatia Raj''' (sometimes called ''Dighapatia Raj Paribar'' literally ''Dighapatia Royal Family''<ref>[http://www.ru.ac.bd/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100&Itemid=193 Rajshahi University History]</ref>) was a [[zamindari]] in present-day [[Rajshahi]], which was ruled by this [[dynasty]] of 7 generations of [[Raja]]s from early 18th century till the mid-20th century; when the [[democratic government]] took power after the end of the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|British Monarchy's]] rule in India, in 1950, the [[East Pakistan]] government abolished [[Aristocracy (class)|aristocracies]] and the zamindari system in present-day [[Bangladesh]]. The family was seated at the [[Uttara Gano Bhaban|Dighapatia Palace]].

The family contributed largely to the development in education, infrastructure and culture of Rajshahi and [[North Bengal]]. They were especially famous for their generosity and public spirit. The Rajas built the [[Varendra Research Museum]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Chowdhury |first=Saifuddin |year=2012 |chapter=Varendra Research Society |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Varendra_Research_Society |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> among other institutions of culture and education. The Rajas of Dighapatia were seated at the Dighapatia Palace.<ref name="Banglapedia-Rajbari">{{cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Nazimuddin |year=2012 |chapter=Dighapatia Rajbari |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Dighapatia_Rajbari |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref> They received [[Maharaja|Maharaja title]] and [[Rai (Indian)|Rai titles of honour]] from the [[Mughal Empire]] such as Raja, Maharaja and Raja [[Baghatur|Bahadur]] and other titles from the [[British Crown]], such as the Indian Orders of Knighthood.<ref name="Banglapedia-Raj">{{cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Nazimuddin |year=2012 |chapter=Dighapatia Raj |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Dighapatia_Raj |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref>

==Dighapatia Palace==
{{main|Dighapatia Palace}}
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
Uttara Gonovaban Natore.jpg|Front gate of Uttara Gano Bhaban
Natore Uttara GanoBhaban1 (Prime Minister's Residence).JPG|Uttara Gano Bhaban
</gallery>
'''Uttara Gano Bhaban''' also known as '''The Maharaja's Palace''' or '''Dighapatia Palace (or Rajbari)''' is a historic, formerly royal palace in [[Natore District|Natore]], Bangladesh. It was built by the Raja of Dighapatia but is used as the [[official residence]] of the [[heads of states]] of Bangladesh in [[North Bengal]]. In the north, it serves as an official Presidential Palace.

Originally used as the residence of the Rajas of Dighapatia, it is located about 2.40 km away from the Natore town. Raja Dayaram Roy constructed the main structure of the palace along with a few wings; but it was Raja Pramada Nath Roy rebuilt the whole palace complex after the catastrophic earthquake of 1897.

The ''Dighapatia Palace'' was made 'Dighapatia Governor House' on 24 July 1967 by [[Abdul Monem Khan]], the Governor of erstwhile East Pakistan. Later, after the country's independence, [[Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman]], President of Bangladesh declared the Dighapatia Governor House as ''Uttara Gonobhaban'' on 9 February 1972. Before the split of Pakistan and Bangladesh, President [[Ayub Khan (Field Marshal)|Ayub Khan]] resided at the Palace.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Quadir |first=Mohammad Anwarul |title=Neglected Uttara Gonobhavan |url=http://www.probenewsmagazine.com/index.php?index=2&contentId=4455 |work=Probe News Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715113937/http://www.probenewsmagazine.com/index.php?index=2&contentId=4455 |archive-date=15 July 2011}}</ref> Various historic meetings took place at the palace,<ref>{{cite news |last=Quadir |first=Mohammad Anwarul |date=1 September 2008 |title=The Historic Uttara Gonobhavan |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=52701/ |work=The Daily Star}}</ref> during the period of British rule in India, the era of [[East Pakistan]], and finally after the [[independence of Bangladesh]].

==See also==
* [[List of Palaces]]
* [[Natore Rajbari|Natore Palace]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Bengal Zamindars}}
{{Nobility of the Raj}}
{{coord|24.440|N|89.010|E|region:BD_type:landmark|display=title}}

[[Category:Natore District]]
[[Category:Bengali zamindars]]
[[Category:Zamindari estates]]
[[Category:Quasi-princely estates of India]]
[[Category:1950 disestablishments in Pakistan]]
[[Category:1716 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:Bengali Hindus]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi Hindus]]
[[Category:Hindu families]]

Dighapatia Raj - Revision history

UpdateBot at 12:12, 4 June 2022