PRESENT HEAD OF HOUSE:  Maharajadhiraja Bahadur Dr. SADAY CHAND MAHTAB [Prince Henry], Head of the Burdwan Raj family since 1984 (#8).

born 26th May 1936, married 1959, Maharaniadhirani Deep Inder Kaur [Princess Bunty], born 17th July 1936, daughter of Lt. HH Farzand-i-Sadaat Nishan Hazrat-i-Kaisar-i-Hind Raja Sir Harindar Singh Brar Bans Bahadur of Faridkot, and has issue.

• Maharajkumari Nisharani Devi, born 4th December 1961, married 1987, Rajiv Kehr, born 27th January 1962, and has issue.

  • Aditya Kehr, born 12th February 1989.

• Maharajkumar Jai Chand Mahtab, born 28th September 1966, married 1991, Maharajkumari Bhawani Kumari, born 19th October 1967, daughter of HH Maharao Shri Brijraj Singh Bahadur of Kotah, and his second wife, HH Maharani Uttara Devi, and has issue, two daughters.

  • Rajkumari Menaka Kumari, born 29th November 1993.

  • Rajkumari Kritika Kumari, born 18th May 1997.

PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY:  Founded in 1657 by Abu Rai, a merchant and banker of Barddhaman, who belonged to the Punjabi Khattri caste of north India, long settled in Bengal and who was appointed the kotwal and chowdhury of Rekabi Bazar and Mughultuli in Barddhamana by the Mughal Emperor. The zamindari properties of the last Maharaja of Burdwan vested with the State under the provision of W. B. Estate Acquisition Act, 1953 (Act I of 1954) and against that vesting, the Maharaja Saheb was compensated partly in cash and partly in non negotiable bonds, also by that same act, the Maharaja lost all his rights, titles and interest held by him as an intermediary. Ref : Reported Decisions of Hon’ble High Court, Calcutta in AIR 1970 CAL 462 and 82 CWN 552, at page- 555, para-4. Estate holders were.... 

• SANGRAM RAY, Zamindar of Burdwan 1607/1657, married and had issue.

  • Banku Behari Ray, married and had issue.

    • Abu Ram Ray (qv)

• ABU RAM RAY, Zamindar of Burdwan 1657/1675, the responsibility for rent collection of three parganas of Rekabi Bazar, Mughaltuli and Ibrahimpur, as well as the Kotwali of Chakla Bardhaman, was assigned to Abu Ram Ray; he married and had issue.

  • Ghanshyam Ray, married and had issue.

    • Chaudhri Krishna Ram Ray (qv)

• Chaudhri KRISHNA RAM RAY, Zamindar of Burdwan 1675/1696, Zamindar and Chaudhri of Burdwan, he was granted the title of Chaudhri by the Mughal Emperor in 1694 as well as the authority to raise an infantry, and a cavalry force; married and had issue. He was killed in 1696 at the battle of Chandrakona.

  • Chaudhri Jagat Ram Ray (qv)

  • Satyabati, she died 1696.

• Chaudhri JAGAT RAM RAY, Zamindar of Burdwan 1696/1702, Zamindar and Chaudhri of Burdwan, granted the title of Chowdhury (Chaudhri) and three more parganas were added by a royal firman in 1699; married Chaudhrani Brajakishori, died after 1740, and had issue. He died 1702.

  • Chaudhri Kirti Chand Ray (qv)

  • Mitra Sen Ray, married and had issue(?).

    • [Maharajadhiraj Bahadur Tilak Chand Ray (qv)]

• Chaudhri KIRTI CHAND RAY, Zamindar of Burdwan 1702/1740, Zamindar and Chaudhri of Burdwan, he was granted the title of Chowdhury on a hereditary basis in 1706; he was granted the zamindari of Chandrakona in 1736; he extended his estates far and wide and its height, it was around 12,950 square kilometres in area; married and had issue. He died 1740.

  • Raja Chitra Sen Ray (qv)

• Rajadhiraja CHITRA SEN RAY, Zamindar of Burdwan 1740/1744, granted the title of Rajadhiraja by the Mughal Emperor in 1740, married Rani Chhangakumari. He died sp in 1744.

• Maharajadhiraj Bahadur TILAK CHAND RAY, Zamindar of Burdwan 1744/1771, Raja Bahadur [cr.1746], Maharajadhiraj [cr.1753], he was appointed Panch Hazari Zat by the Mughal Emperor and was granted permission to keep 3,000 cavalry; married Maharani Vishnukumari [Bishan Kumari], and had issue. He died 1771 aged 37.

  • Maharajadhiraj Bahadur Tedj Chand Ray (qv)

• Maharajadhiraj Bahadur UDWAT CHAND RAY, Zamindar of Burdwan fl.1793, son of Swarup Chand and brother of Setha Bai.

• Maharajadhiraj Bahadur TEDJ CHAND RAY, Zamindar of Burdwan 1771/1832, born 1765, he established the Bardhaman Raj School in his own compound around 1810, though it moved to its own building in 1817. He appointed Englishmen for teaching English and as principals of the school. He donated a large sum of money for the Hindu College at Kolkata, he also supported many Persian and Arabic Schools and Sanskrit toles; he adopted Chunilal Kapur, the son of Paranchand Kapur as his successor; married (amongst others), Maharanidhirani Nanki Kumari, married 5thly, Maharanidhirani Kamal Kumari, daughter of Kashinath Kapur, married 7thly in 1827, Maharanidhirani Basanta Kumari (she married 2ndly, about 1835, Babu Dakshinaranjan Mukherjee, later Taluqdar of Shankarpur), born 1816, daughter of Paranchand Kapur, and niece of the fifth wife, and had issue, as well as adoptive issue. He died in August 1832.

  • Maharajkumar Pratap Chand Ray (by Nanki Kumari), supposedly died under mysterious circumstances in 1821. Later his alleged re-appearance as a monk brought a long lasting legal battle which was settled against him and he died in 1852/1853 in Calcutta in penury.

  • (A) HH Maharajadhiraj Mahtab Chand Ray Bahadur (qv)

• HH Maharajadhiraj MAHTAB CHAND RAY Bahadur, Zamindar of Burdwan 1832/1879, born 17th November 1820 as Chunilal Kapur, son of Paranchand Kapur (KAPUR FAMILY: see below); assumed control of the Zamindari in 1844, supported the British during the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857, Maharajadhiraj Bahadur [cr. 30.8.1833], appointed a Member of the Viceregal Legislative Council in 1864; he upgraded the Anglo vernacular school earlier established by his predecessor to a high English school, set up a girls’ school, and donated liberally to the Hindu school at Kalna. He spent generously on the development of education. He set up a branch of the Brahmo Samaj within the palace compound and was a great composer of devotional songs; he was granted the style of His Highness as well as a personal salute of 13 guns at the Imperial Durbar in Delhi on 1st January 1877; married 1844, Maharanidhirani Narayani Kumari, daughter of Kedarnath Nanda, she died sp, he adopted Brahmaprasad Nanda, son of Bangsagopal Nanda, his brother-in-law and named him his successor (#3). He died 26th October 1879 in Bhagalpur.

  • (A) Maharajadhiraja Aftab Chand Bahadur (qv)

• Maharajadhiraja AFTAB CHAND Bahadur, Zamindar of Burdwan 1879/1885, born in 1860, as Brahmaprasad Nanda, son of Bangsagopal Nanda, adopted by HH Maharajadhiraj Mahtab Chand Ray Bahadur; he continued his predecessor's policies and established an FA College, with provision for free tuitions, a public library and spent substantial amounts for water supply arrangements. He also continued the patronage of poets and scholars; he married Maharanidhirani Beno Deyi Devi, who formally adopted in 1887, Bijon Behari Kapur, son of the estate manager, Raja Ban Bihari Kapur, and renamed him Bijaychand Mahtab. He died 25th March 1885.

  • (A) Maharajadhiraja Bahadur Sir Bijay Chand Mahtab (qv)

COURT OF WARDS 1885/1887

• Hon. Maharajadhiraja Bahadur Sir BIJAY CHAND MAHTAB K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E., I.O.M., Zamindar of Burdwan 1887/1941, born 19th October 1881 (#2)(#3), installed 20th February 1903, Rajadhiraj [cr.1893], Maharajadhiraja (Hereditary) [cr. 1.1.1903], Maharajadhiraja Bahadur (Hereditary) [cr. 26.6.1906], K.C.I.E. [cr.1909], K.C.S.I. [cr.1911], G.C.S.I. [cr.1924], received the Indian Order of Merit 3rd class (Civil division) in 1909 in helping to save the life of the Lt. Gov. of Bengal in 1908; LL.D. (Hon) Edinburgh 1926, educated at Calcutta University, Trustee of Indian Museum 1908 and of Victoria Memorial, Calcutta, 1914; Member of the Imperial Legislative Council 1909/1912, Member of Council of Governor-General of India 1909/1912, President of the Agri-Horticultural Society of India 1911 and 1912, Member of Bengal Legislative Council 1907/1918, President of British Indian Association 1911/1918 and 1925/- , M.E.C. of Bengal 1919/1924, Member of Indian Reforms Enquiry Commission 1924, Member of Indian Taxation Enquiry Committee 1924/1925, Deprived of management, 1929/1936; author of twenty books including Impression, The Indian Horizon, Meditation, Studies, Vijaygitika (collection of songs composed by him), Troyodashi (poem), Ranjit (play), and Manaslila (science-play); he married, 1897, Radharani Devi (styled Lady Mahtab 1909), born 14th August 1888, died 21st November 1972, daughter of Lala Jhanda Mal Mehra of Lahore, Maharaniadhirani from 1903, Maharaniadhirani Rajmata Thakurani after her husband's death, and had issue, two sons and two daughters. He died 29th August 1941 (#4)(#6 p.223)(#7).

  • Maharajadhiraja Bahadur Sir Uday Chand Mahtab (qv)

  • Maharaj Kumari Sudharani Devi, born 16th September 1907, married 1918 (sep'd.), Nandlal Khanna, born 1900, died 1963, son of Lala Sriram Khanna of Lahore, and had issue. She died 6th February 1946.

    • Lt.-Col. (ret'd.) Amrit Kumar Khanna, born 21st May 1924, married 1946, Champak Santanam, born 7th August 1923, died 4th May 1995, daughter of Pandit K. Santanam, and had issue. He died 5th July 1991.

      • Urvaishi Sudharani Kumari Khanna, born 19th September 1948, married 1975, Gordon Conlan, born 2nd March 1951, and has issue. She died 11th January 2011.

        • Vijaya Krishna Kumari, born 2nd March 1977, married 20th March 2012, Mr. Harald Kumar Erharter.

  • Maharaj Kumari Lalitarani Devi, born 2nd November 1911, married 1927 (div'd.), Bhagabati Prasad Mehera, born 20th September 1908, died 6th October 1947, son of Lala Ishwari Prasad Mehera of Burdwan, and had issue, one son. She died 12th January 1947.

    • Saroj Kumar Mehera, born 27th March 1928, Knight, 1st Class, Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, 1996; Knight, 1st Class, Order of the White Rose of Finland, 1996; married 1956, Savita, born 9th February 1935, daughter of Shri Baldev, and has issue.

      • Sanjeev Mehera, born 23rd September 1957, married 1983, Amarantha Bedi, born 2nd October 1959, daughter of Ranga Trilochan Bedi, and has issue, two daughters.

        • Diah Mehera, born 19th November 1984.

        • Vedika Mehera, born 14th August 1988.

      • Ratan Mehera, born 18th May 1961, died 11th August 1962.

      • Tilak Mehera, born 13th December 1963.

  • Capt. (ret'd.) Maharaj Kumar Abhay Chand Mahtab, born 26th September 1915, educated at Harrow 1929/1932, married 1948, Charan Kumari, born 31st August 1925, daughter of Lala Sada Nand Malhotra (Mehra). He died 18th August 1993.

• Maharajadhiraja Bahadur Sir UDAY CHAND MAHTAB, Zamindar of Burdwan 1941/1984, K.C.I.E. [cr.1945], born 14th July 1905, educated at Presidency College, Calcutta and Calcutta University (B.A. 1926); succeeded his father in 1941, installed 1943 as Maharajadhiraja Bahadur of Burdwan; Honourary Manager of the Burdwan Raj 1930/1937; Dewan-i-Raj 1927/1929 and 1937/1941; President of Non-Muslim block of Bengal Partition meeting 1947; M.L.A. Bengal 1937/1952; Member of Damodar Canal Enquiry Committee 1938 and of Select Committee on Calcutta Municipal (amendment) Bill 1940; Chairman of Burdwan District Flood Relief and Bengal Central Flood Relief Committees 1943/44; Chairman of Indian Red Cross Appeal (Bengal) 1943/1946 and of Calcutta War Committee 1943/1946 and of Damodar Flood Central Enquiry Committee 1944; Member of Bengal Tanks Improvement Bill Select Committee 1944 and of Advisory Committee on Terrorist Convicts in Bengal 1944; Member of West Bengal Forest Denudation Enquiry Committee 1944 and of Select Committee on Bengal Agricultural Income Tax Bill 1944; Member of the Indian Constituent Assembly 1946/1947; President of British Indian Association; Member of Central Jute Board 1951/1952; Director of over 30 business firms and Chairman of several boards, Member of Managing Body of several Government organisations; awarded Silver Jubilee (1935) and Coronation (1937) medals; Member of Calcutta Club, Calcutta and Gymkhana Club, Darjeeling and Aftab Club, Burdwan; married 1929, Radharani Devi, born 25th August 1911, died 30th June 1963, styled Badhurani 1929/1941 and Maharaniadhirani 1941/1963, daughter of Lala Dhuni Chand Mehra of Amritsar, and had issue, three sons and three daughters. He died 10th October 1984.

  • Maharajkumari Barunarani Devi [Varuna Devi], born 17th November 1932, married 1950, Major (ret'd.) Shiv Kumar Singh Rathore, born 5th November 1920, and has issue.

    • Kumari Usha Devi, born 25th April 1951, married 1975 (div'd.), Kenneth McAndrew, and has issue.

      • Nikhil Kristian McAndrew, born 5th March 1980.

    • Kumari Radha Devi, born 4th April 1955, married 1stly, Abdul Karim Jamal, born 26th December 1950, died 18th July 1992, married 2ndly, 2001, Aspi J. Darukhanawala, born 29th November 1960, and has issue.

      • Shaheen Jamal, born August 1980.

      • Tasneem Jamal, born August 1985.

  • Maharajkumari Jyotsnarani Devi, born 22nd May 1935, married 1stly, 1961 (div'd.), Brian de Breffney, born 14th January 1931, died 11th February 1989, married 2ndly, 1964 (div'd.) Anthony Mayer, 30th September 1932, died 12th February 1995, married 3rdly, 1970, Major-General (ret'd.) Ashish Ranjan Dutt, born 6th October 1926, died 8th August 1998, and has issue.

    • Sita-Maria Arabella de Breffney [Sita, Viscountess de Vesci], born 4th July 1962, married The Hon. Thomas, 7th Viscount De Vesci, born 8th October 1955, and has issue.

      • The Hon. Damian Brian John Vesey, born 24th November 1985.

      • The Hon. Cosima Frances Vesey, born 22nd July 1988.

      • The Hon. Oliver Ivo Vesey, born 16th July 1991.

    • Dr. Tobias Mayer Ph.D., born 14th July 1965, married Farhana, born 16th October 1967, and has issue.

      • Nadia Mayer, born 21st December 1998.

  • Maharajadhiraja Bahadur Dr. Saday Chand Mahtab [Prince Henry] (qv)

  • Maharajkumari Karunarani Devi (twin), born 11th September 1937, married 1966 (div'd.), Shivantha Thambiaiah of Colombo, born 1938, died 1996. She died 4th July 2010.

  • Maharajkumar Malay Chand Mahtab (twin), born 11th September 1937, died unmarried 9th March 2000.

  • Maharajkumar Dr. Pranay Chand Mahtab [Prince Danny] Ph.D., married 1964, Nandini Ray, born 11th December 1942, daughter of Benoy Bhushan Ray, and has issue.

    • Rajkumar Ajoy Chand Mahtab, born 1st April 1967, married 1995, Tarina Ghai, born 24th September 1966, daughter of M. M. Ghai, and has issue.

      • Kumar Karanjay Chand Mahtab, born 9th October 1999.

      • Kumar Vivaanjay Chand Mahtab, born 7th October 2001.

• Maharajadhiraja Bahadur Dr. SADAY CHAND MAHTAB, Zamindar of Burdwan (see above)