The history of this family is not tarnished with deeds of alliance to the British for personal
gains, nor with receipt of any grants from them in recognition of support of misdeeds by them. The
success of this Roy family was possible by their own merit, benevolence and hard work
In about the year 1700 Ajodhya Ram Roy of Pirojpur village near Bhagabangola and the river Padma
(who traced his descen
t from Patrasayer of Burdwan District) came with his family to settle down in
Cossimbazar . It being located near Murshidabad, the capital of Bengal Bihar and Orissa and the Seat
of the Nawab, Cossimbazar was well protected and a port city providing excellent opportunities for
business and livelihood . Ajodhya Ram Roy and his son Dinobandhu Roy were engaged in the business of
silk exports and from this flourished the fortunes of the family. The annual performance of Durga Puja
that was done at Pirojpur was continued at the Cossimbazar house
As the century passed the British came to power after defeating the Nawab and the `neck` of
the meandering Ganges at Cossimbazar was `cut` to provide a shorter passage of the river from
Murshidabad to Berhampore. Cossimbazar lost its importance as a port city and from a commercial hub
it turned into a village. The business opportunity lost, Jagabandhu Roy the son of Dinobandhu Roy, took up service as a DEWAN
of the East India Company. Recognizing his capabilities the Company sent him to Eastern side of Bengal
as the Surveyor General to conduct land surveyes and construct maps. Subsequently Jagabandhu Roy
quit his service and purchased zamindari at at Sarail (at present in Bangladesh). The seed of landed
aristocracy was thus sown by him and subsequently proliferated and flourished to become one of the
biggest in Bengal. Ajodhya Ram Roy stayed in an extremely small house As the silk business flourished, more land was
aquired his son Dinobandhu Roy converted the house which is still preserved well into the Laxmi
Mandir and built the Chandimandap and several other buildings to house the family and office, the
construction of buildings starting from the eastern side and proceeding westwards. The front façade of the palace as is now seen comprising two huge iron gates, railings front patio,
carriageway, Staircase leading up to the North Verandah, Central Ball Room, and annexies were built
in about 1850 by Nrishingha Prosad Roy the son of Jagabandhu Roy. The Ratha Yatra as is still observed
today was started by him and he celebtated the occasion with his two sons Nobokrishno and Rajkrishno. He als constructed the famitys residential unit on the first floor but this was demolished by a devastating
earthquake around 1900. Nobokrishno Roy the elder brother was keen in maintaining physical fitness and constructed a wrestling
ring and his own residential dwelling block in front of it (now known as Liabrary House). He was also
extremely fond of flowers and constructed a rose garden in the sprawling lawns behind his residence
now known as Khas Bagan. Rajkrishno and his wife Sukhoda Sundari
Devi had a son by the name of Annada Prosad. Annada Prosad Roy was a highly educated person, scholastic by nature, foresighted and benefactor
to all his near and dear ones. In recognition of his benevolent activities and services to his subject the
British Government conferred upon him the title of RAI BAHADUR. Annada Prosad continued his selfless
services and the Government again decided to recognize him and this time to confer upon him the title
of RAJA. Annada Prosad travelled to Calcutta to receive the title to be held at a special DURBAR, but
fate was against him. He expired on the night just before the day the Ceremony would be held. The Government still wanting to recognize the services of the family to the society decided to confer
the title of RANI to his bereaved wife Annakali Devi at the familys` residence at Cossimbazar. Being the
widow of a staunch Brahmin family, she politely turned the proposal replying that “just as a widow of
a Brahmin does not adorn ornaments similarly I cannot accept the title. However when my minor son
Ashtosh Nath comes of age and if the Government finds him an able candidate fit to receive the honour
then the government may consider to recognize him” With the passing away of Annada Prosad the
estate went under the management of The Court Of Wards. Ashutosh Nath Roy the son of Annada Prosad was groomed under the supervision of the Court of wards
was brightly educated, a lover of sports, an excellent rider and polo player and big game hunter. When
he attained majority at the age of 18, in recognition of his various charities the Government conferred
upon him the Title of Raja as a personal distinction at a special ceremony at the Cossimbazar Palace in
1898. Ashutosh Nath Roy and his wife Rani Sarojini Devi had three children two daughters and one son. He built the first floor of the Purono Andar (as now known) for his residence. As fate would again have
its turn Raja Ashutosh Nath Roy passed away at a very early age leaving behind his wife, two daughters
Atindra Mohini, Jyotirmoyee and an infant son Kamalaranjan of three months . Once again the estate
passed under the supervision of The Court Of Wards. A British Governess by the name of Mrs C. Hickmutt was instated in the palace to groom the child
Kamalaranjan. It was compulsory for him to wake up before 6 o clock in the morning and present
himself before his Governess for the entire day up to bedtime , when he could go back to his mother. Kamalaranjan received the best of education both in European and Indian studies. On one hand he grew
up under the strict Disciplanarian British Governess and completed his BA with Distinction in English
and on the other hand he was a Scholar in Sanskrit, and scriptures. He was widely read in Indian and
Western Literature, History and Legal matters. The estate was managed by a British Manager by the
name of Halliday. When Kamalaranjan became major at 18 years, the estate was released and under his
able leadership the family reached the pinnacle of prosperity and fame. In recognition of his services
to his subjects, charitable works in the year 1938 Kamalaranjan was conferred upon The Title Of Raja
as a personal distinction. Raja Kamalaranjan Roy was married to Rani Henarani Debi of the Bhukoilash
Raj family of Calcutta. To accommodate hs family he re built the first floor of the palace that was earlier
built by Nrishingha Prosad Roy. Raja Kamalaranjan Roy had two daughters and one son by the names of
Debika Debi, Bharati Debi and Prosanta Kumar Roy. The palace used to be protected by about 200 guards who were positioned at different locations, and
35 gardeners were engaged to look after the gardens and sprawling lawns and two tennis courts. After
the abolition of the zamindari system in 1950s economic changes were eminent and for a long period of
about 45years the royal palace- the home of the Roy family could not be maintained. Years of struggle
and hard work passed before the family could reestablish themselves- once again- before the society. It is the obsession of the Roy family to restore and maintain the Palace – their home-- to its former
glory so that the modern generation and the ones to come can have a glimpse into the History and
Heritage of Bengal in its real form and not just hear stories about the glorious past of dilaphidated and
ruinous rubbles. Of course it is not an easy task and neither is there a magic wand that can be touched
to convert the huge buildings overnight into the beautiful structures once they were but it is the sincere
efforts and passion of restoration that drives the family to maintain its Heritage. Sections of the Palace that are completely restored are the Front Gates, railings, the front patio, clock
tower with the clock working, the marble stairs leading into the main building, the north verandah,
the ball room annexies, dining room artifacts, furniture, Andar mahal, Sri Sri Radha Gobindo Mandir,
Ashutoshnath Shiv Mandir, Lakshmi Mandir, Chandimandap, Majlish Ghar and interior gardens. Continuous works and improvements are being carried on to gradually restore all the sections of the
building to its former glory. In future there are plans to provide a comfortable stay for guests as well. The Present members of the family are,
Prosanta Kumar Roy,
Supriya Roy
Pallab Roy
Sudeshna Roy
Saurav Roy
COME , SEE AND ENJOY THE COSSIMBAZAR PALACE OF THE ROY FAMILY ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
PALACES OF BENGAL, THE HOME OF THE FAMILY WHERE HISTORY IS ALIVE ONCE AGAIN !!
