Zamindars of Natore

Zamindars of Natore were influential Bengali Zamindars (rent-receiving landholders), who owned large estates in what is today Natore District in Bangladesh.

They contributed to the development of East Bengal and later Bangladesh through philanthropy and patronage. Various educational institutions and civil associations were established through their support, two famous examples being, the University of Dacca, the first University of East Bengal and Varendra Research Museum in Rajshahi, the first Museum of East Bengal. The families also produced Prime Ministers, Ambassadors, Ministers, scholars, military officers and various other important figures. Members also received Knighthoods from the British colonial government as well as other titles.

Chalan Beel, (a beel in Bengali denotes a large lake or marsh that fills up with water during the monsoons) was spread over a part of what is now Natore District. Legend has it that Raja (zamindar) Ramjivan Ray was once travelling by boat searching for a suitable place to build his principal residence. While travelling through Chalan beel, he saw a snake that had caught a frog. Seeing this his learned pundits interpreted it as a sign that the end of his search had arrived and therefore told him that this should be the place of his residence. Whereupon the Raja called out to his boatmen: Nao Tharo, nao meaning 'boat', and tharo meaning 'stop'in Hindustani. From a corruption of this exclamation, the place eventually came to be called 'Nator'.

At first Natore was a beel whose name was Chaivhanga. In 1706 Raja Ramjivan Ray established his capital here by filling the beel. Natore was the headquarters of the district of Rajshahi from 1793 to 1825 during east India company's rule. In 1825 the headquarters were moved to Rajshahi and in 1829 Natore became a subdivision of Rajshahi district. In 1845 Natore Mahukuma was established. Natore town became a Municipality in 1869. More than a century later, in 1984, Natore subdivision was turned into a district in independent Bangladesh.

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