Jagadindra Nath Ray

Maharaja Jagadindra Nath Roy Bahadur (1868-1925) known as the Maharaja of Natore was a noted zamindar of Natore from Bengal. He is also noted for his contribution to the game of cricket in British India.

He was adapted son of Govind Chandra Nath Roy the Zamindar of Naotre belonging to noted Rajshahi Raj family, who died childless and his widow adopted Jagadindra at age of fifteen. The personal title of Maharaja was bestowed upon him in 1877. He later made Calcutta his home. The Natore Rajbari, the Natore Raj family's ancestral home since time of famous Rani Bhabani is now a protected monument of Bangladesh.

He was a great patron of art and sports. He was patron of Town Club of Calcutta and Bengal Gymkhana. He was editor of a monthly journal Manasi o Marmabani and earned reputation as journalist.

He was a great cricket enthusiast and one of the active committee member of the Calcutta Cricket Club. In 1890, he promoted his own cricket team known as Natore. He was a great nationalist and his team consisted of Indian members. He promoted a large cricket stadium at his hometown Natore and also a sprawling cricket stadium, called Natore Garden at Calcutta at Ballygunge, which rivaled Eden Gardens. He also roped in prominent Indian players of his time, likes of Mehta, Baloo, Shivram, Yeshwant, Ganpat Palwankar, Vithal Palwankar, Sheshacari, K. N. Mistry, Warden, H.L. Semper, Sardaranjan and his brothes Muktidaranjan, Kuladaranjan and Pramodranjan. Moni Das another noted cricket player of era from Bengal, also acknowledged the patronizing by Maharaja Jagadindra Nath Roy. Maharaja himself although had only one eye, he would bat and field himself and played good cricket. The son of Maharaja, Kumar Jogindra Nath also palyed good cricket. The Natore team was boasted of nationalist spirit and team included even many noted Dalit cricketers of era. He adopted Srishchandra, a young but poor cricket talent and saved life of an aspiring talent of Bengal. The Natore team promoted by him rivaled team of Cooch Behar team promoted by Maharaja Sir Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur of Cooch Behar in Bengal. The Natore team lasted till 1945, patronized by his son after his death.

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