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(రాణి రాసమణి) Rani Rasmani of Kolkata
(Source: Book release year2008, author Rekadi Samudra Raoji. As soon as it is confirmed by the author committee that there are no
reliable resources about the originality of her community as belonging to A(V)K, the link will be removed)
Rani Rashmoni statue at theEsplanade, Kolkata Shrine dedicated to Rani Rashmoni within
the precincts of Dakshineswar Kali Temple
Rani Rashmoni
Rani Rashmoni of JanBazar, Kolkata was a woman of great strength in the mid-nineteenth century, amidst the male dominated society. Born in 28th Sept. 1793, the Bengali year,1211. Rashmoni at a very tender age of 11 was married to Babu Rajchandra Das of JanBazar. When she gained maturity and came to live with her in-laws and husband,
the greatest possible tragedy hit her. Her husband passed away leaving her all alone.
Though initially numb, Rashmoni was quick to recover from the shock and soon took charge of the family business and drove away the vultures hovering around. With the help of her son-in-law Mathur babu, who was married to her third and youngest daughter, Karunamoyi, she not only consolidated the family business but also became a champion for the people. The responsibility of administration the zamindari and commerce after her husband's bereavement brought out her managerial traits and supervisory skills.
The Rani was an autonomist in her viewpoint and stood by what she measured reasonable and just. Her daring confrontations with the British East India Company exemplifies her courage and strength.
Rani Rashmoni also had to her glory other great humanitarian works. The construction of a street from Subarnarekha river to Pari for the pilgrims;building of Babughat, Ahirtola Ghat and Nimtola Ghat for the bathers in the Ganges and generous charity to the majestic Library (now National Library) and Hindu College (now Presidency College) are a some exemplars of her generous nature.
Her spiritual inclination led her to establish the renowned temple on the banks of the Ganges at Dakshineswar in the North 24 Parganas. She set up a new bathing ghat in Hoogli and called it Babu Ghat after her late husband. She took a bold step to help the fishermen thriving on Hoogli waters, whose livelihood was hampered by the speeding British steamers. Rashmoni blocked the river traffic by iron chains and did not remove it until her demands were met.
However, her greatest contribution was the building of the Dakkhinshwar Kali temple. She patronized Shri Ramkrishna Paramhangsha as the guardian of the Dakkhineshwar temple. She held high the idealism of Hinduism grew spritually. Her outstanding social work and philanthropic nature were notable aspects behind a great soul for which people started calling her Rani or the queen.
Rani Rashmoni passed away on 19th February; 1861. As in the precedent, the enormous achievements of her life will carry on motivating many a generation to approach. The Department of Post passed out a postage stamp to memorialize the bicentennial of this brave and courageous Queen.
Rani Rashmoni (28 September 1793 – 19 February 1861) was the founder of theDakshineswar Kali Temple, Kolkata, and remained closely associated with Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa after she appointed him as the priest of the temple. Her other construction works include the construction of a road from Subarnarekha Riverto Puri for the pilgrims, Babughat (also known as Babu Rajchandra Das Ghat),Ahiritola Ghat and Nimtala Ghat for the everyday bathers at the Ganges. She also offered considerable charity to the Imperial Library (now the National Library of India), the Hindu College (now Presidency University).[1]
Presently, the Lokamata Rani Rashmoni Mission is situated at Nimpith, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 743338, India.[2]
Rani Rashmoni statue at theEsplanade, Kolkata
Biography
Biography
She was born on 28 September 1793. Her father, Harekrishna Das, lived in Kona village, in present-day Halisahar, North 24 Parganas.Her mother Rampriya devi died when she was just seven years old. Exceptionally beautiful, she was married toBabu Rajachandra Das (Marh) of Janbazar, Kolkata, a member of a wealthy zamindar family, when she was eleven years old. After her husband's death in 1836 she took charge of the zamindari and finances.She was 43 years in age at that time.They had four daughters Padmamani, Kumari, Karunamoyee and Jagadamba. Karunamoyee died in 1833 after childbirth while Kumari died in 1837. Padmamani was married to Ramchandra Ata. Kumari was married to Pairimohan Biswas. Karunamoyee was initially married to Mathurmohan Biswas. After her death, Jagadamba was married off to him.
She began looking after the zamindari after her husband's death. She soon proved herself a natural leader. While the prestige of the zamindari grew, Rani Rashmoni, being very pious from childhood, continued to lead an extremely religious and austere life, befitting a widow in Bengali Hindu society. Rani Rashmoni died on 19 February 1861.
The Rani and her clashes with the British in India became household tales in her time. By blocking the shipping trade on a part of Ganges she compelled the British to abolish the tax imposed on fishing in the river, which threatened the livelihood of poor fishermen. When Puja processions were stopped by the British on the charge that they disturbed the peace, she defied the orders. The British had to withdraw the penalty imposed on her in the face of public opposition and rioting in her support.
Rani Rashmoni also had to her credit numerous charitable works and other contributions to society. She oversaw the construction of a road from Subarnarekhariver to Puri for pilgrims. She funded the construction of ghats such as Babughat (in memory of her husband), Ahiritola Ghat and Nimtala Ghat for the daily bathers in the Ganges. She donated generously to the then Imperial Library (now the National Library of India) and Hindu College (nowPresidency College). Prince Dwarkanath Tagore had mortgaged a part of his Zamindari in now South 24 Parganas (part of present-day Santoshpur and adjoining areas) to Rani 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. Rani 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. This was a great social reform that the Rani had initiated[citation needed].
A divine revelation led her to found the famous temple Dakshineswar Kali Temple complex on the banks of the Ganges at Dakshineswar in the North 24 Parganas. Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa (then known as Gadadhar) was appointed its head priest under her patronage.
Though having such a great spiritual nature the society then had discriminated her. Being born in Kaivarta family (Mahishyas) and being a middle-caste Shudra origin[3], no Brahmin was ready to be the priest in her temple.
Rani Rashmoni's House at Janbazar was venue of traditional Durga Puja celebration each autumn. This included traditional pomp, including all-night jatras (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
Rani Rashmoni has also been subject of a biographical film in Bengali language, titled Rani Rasmani (film) (1955), directed by Kaliprasad Ghosh, and wherein lead played by famous theatre personality and actress Molina Devi.[4]
Zee Bangla features a daily soap depicting the life of the illustrious Rani, captionedKarunamoyee Rani Rashmoni which premiered on 24 July 2017 and is telecasted daily.[5][6]
Dakshineswar Kali Temple, built by Rani Rashmoni in 1855
An avenue in Esplanade, Kolkata is named after her as Rani Rashmoni Avenue, where her statue is also located.
Further, a road is named after her as Rani Rashmoni Road near her ancestral house at Janbazar, Kolkata.
Also a road is named after her as Rani Rashmoni Road at Dakshineshwar.[7]
The Department of Post of Government of India issued a postage stamp to memorialise the bicentennial of Rani Rashmoni in 1993
A Ferry Ghat known as Rani Rashmoni Ghat has been built for ferry services in Barrackpore, West Bengal and in Hooghly, West Bengal (just after the Hooghly District Correctional Home)
One of the 5 Fast Patrol Vessels of Indian Coast Guard has been named after Rani Rashmoni. It was commissioned in June 2018 and will be based in Visakhapatnam (indigenously built by Hindustan Shipyard).
Rani Rashmoni on a 1994 stamp of India
Shrine dedicated to Rani Rashmoni within the precincts of Dakshineswar Kali Temple
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