Rashmoni Das | |
|---|---|
 Statue of Rani Rashmoni atEsplanade, Kolkata | |
| Born | (1793-09-28)28 September 1793 |
| Died | 19 February 1861(1861-02-19) (aged 67) |
| Other names | Rani Rashmoni,Lokmata |
| Occupation(s) | Social activist,Businessperson,Zamindar |
| Known for | Founder ofDakshineshwar Kali Temple in Kolkata |
| Spouse | Babu Rajchandra Das (Marh) |
| Children | Padmamoni Das (Ata), Kumari Chowdhury, Karunamoyee Biswas, Jagadamba Biswas.[1] |
Rashmoni Das, popularly known asLokamataRani Rashmoni, also spelled asRani Rasmani, (28 September 1793 – 19 February 1861), was an Indian businesswoman, entrepreneur,Zamindar,philanthropist and the founder of theDakshineswar Kali Temple inKolkata. She remained closely associated with SriRamakrishna Paramhansa after she appointed him as the priest of the Dakshineswar temple. She was also one of the earliest social reformers in early nineteenth-century Bengal and was one of the forerunners of theBengal Renaissance. Besides, she also led many of the resistances against the encroachingBritish administration and their presence in all walks of colonial society in theBengal province. Her other construction works include the construction of a road fromSubarnarekha River toPuri for the pilgrims,Babughat (also known as Babu Rajchandra Das Ghat), Ahiritola Ghat andNimtala ghat for the everyday bathers at theGanges. She also offered considerable charity to the Imperial Library (now theNational Library of India), and the Hindu College (nowPresidency University).[2]
Presently, the Lokmata Rani Rashmoni Mission is situated atNimpith, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 743338, India.[3]
Rashmoni was born on 28 September 1793 at 'Kona' village, Kumarhatta-Kanchanpalli (present-day Nadia-North 24 Parganas border) in aMahishya peasant family of Harekrishna Das.[4][5][6] Her father had learned as much as he could in his youth, so by his old days he could read theKrittivasi Ramayan and theKashidasiMahabharata, and even knew a little about market calculations. Again, Hare Krishna knew the work of house construction very well. Because of this, Rashmoni's father was well known inHalisahar and nearby villages. When he got some free time, he used to read Ramayana or Mahabharata. Everyone adored Rashmoni's father as he could recite the Ramayana beautifully.[7] Her mother Rampriya Debi died when she was just seven years old. She was married toBabu Rajchandra Das (Marh) ofJanbazar, Kolkata, a member of a wealthyMahishyazamindar family called theJanbazar Raj, when she was eleven years old. They had four daughters.[8]
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After her husband's death in 1836, Rashmoni assumed responsibility of the zamindari and finances.
After inheriting property from her husband, she managed to endear herself to the people through her management skills of the estate and her many charitable works in the city. She was well loved and revered by the people and proved herself to be worthy of the title, "Rani".[9]
TheRani had clashes with theBritish in India. By blocking the shipping trade on a part of theGanges she compelled the British to abolish the tax imposed on fishing in the river, which threatened the livelihood of fishermen. WhenPuja processions were stopped by the British on the charge that they disturbed the peace, she defied the orders. TheBritish withdrew the penalty imposed on her.
She tacitly supported social activist/scholarIshwar Chandra Vidyasagar's campaign for widow remarriage. She even submitted a draft bill against polygamy to theEast India Company, who handled the administration during those days.
TheEden Gardens (then Marh Bagan) was also a part of their Zamindari area, which they later gifted to the Eden sisters ofLord Auckland, the thenGovernor-General of India, as they helped him in saving life of Babu's 3rd daughter from a fatal disease.
TheRani also had to her credit numerous charitable works and other contributions to society. She oversaw the construction of a road fromSubarnarekha river toPuri for pilgrims. She funded the construction ofghats such asBabughat (in memory of her husband), Ahiritola Ghat andNimtala Ghat for the daily bathers in the Ganges. Rashmoni also donated to the then Imperial Library (now theNational Library of India) and Hindu College (nowPresidency University).Prince Dwarkanath Tagore had mortgaged a part of hisZamindari in now South 24 Parganas (part of present-day Santoshpur and adjoining areas) to Rashmoni for his passage to England. This part of land which was then a part of the Sunderbans was marshy and almost uninhabitable except for some families of thugs who found the area convenient to stay and venture out for plunders in far away places mounted on stilts. Rashmoni persuaded these families and helped them to build up fisheries in the surrounding water bodies that later turned into large, rich bheris. They gradually gave up their profession of plundering and transformed into a community of fishermen.[10]
Profoundly affected by a dream to build a temple of Goddess Kali, Rani looked for and purchased a 30,000-acre plot in the village of Dakhineswar. The large temple complex was built between 1847 and 1855. The 20-acre (81,000 m2) plot was bought from an Englishman, Jake Hastie, and was then popularly known asSaheban Bagicha.[11] It took eight years and nine hundred thousand rupees to complete the construction. The idol of Goddess Kali was installed on theSnana Yatra day on 31 May 1855 amid festivities at the temple formerly known asSri Sri Jagadishwari Kali, with Ramkumar Chhattopadhyay as the head priest. Soon his younger brother Gadai or Gadadhar (later known asRamakrishna) moved in and so did his nephew Hriday to assist him.[12][13][14][15][16]
Rani Rashmoni's House at Janbazar was venue of traditionalDurga Puja celebration each autumn. This included traditional pomp, including all-nightjatras (folk theatre), rather than by entertainment for the Englishmen with whom she carried on a running feud. After her death in 1861, her sons-in-law took to celebrating Durga Puja in their respective premises.[17]
Being an ardent devotee of the Goddess Kali, "Sri Rasmani Dasi, longing for the Feet of Kali " were the words engraved in the official seal of her estate.[18]
Rani Rashmoni has also been subject of a biographical film inBengali language, titledRani Rasmani (film) (1955), directed by Kaliprasad Ghosh, and wherein lead played by famous theatre personality and actressMolina Devi.[19]
Zee Bangla also featured a daily soap depicting the life of the illustrious Rani,Karunamoyee Rani Rashmoni, which premiered on 24 July 2017 and was telecasted daily till 13 February 2022.[20][21]
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