Rani Rashmoni

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For the film, see Rani Rasmani (film).

Rani

Rashmoni Das
Kolkata Rani Rashmoni statue.jpg
Rani Rashmoni statue at the Esplanade, Kolkata
Born(1793-09-28)28 September 1793
Kona village, in present-day Halisahar, North 24 Parganas, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died19 February 1861(1861-02-19) (aged 67)
Kolkata, India
NationalityIndian
Other namesRani Rashmoni, Lokmata
OccupationSocial activist, Businessperson, Zamindar
Known forFounder of Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, Kolkata
Spouse(s)Babu Rajachandra Das (Marh)
ChildrenPadmamoni Das, Kumari Chowdhury, Karunamoyee Biswas, Jagadamba Biswas.[1]

Rashmoni Das popularly known as Rani Rashmoni (28 September 1793 – 19 February 1861) was an Indian businesswoman, Zamindar, philanthropist and the founder of the Dakshineswar 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 River to 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).[2]

Presently, the Lokmata Rani Rashmoni Mission is situated at Nimpith, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 743338, India.[3]

Biography[edit]

Rashmoni 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. She was married to Babu Rajachandra Das (Marh) of Janbazar, Kolkata, a member of a wealthy zamindar family, when she was eleven years old. They had four daughters.

Dakshineswar Kali Temple, built by Rani Rashmoni in 1855

After her husband's death in 1836, Rashmoni assumed responsibility of the zamindari and finances.

The Rani had clashes with the British in India. By blocking the shipping trade on a part of the Ganges she compelled the British to abolish the tax imposed on fishing in the river, which threatened the livelihood of fishermen. When Puja processions were stopped by the British on the charge that they disturbed the peace, she defied the orders. The British withdrew the penalty imposed on her.

The Rani also had to her credit numerous charitable works and other contributions to society. She oversaw the construction of a road from Subarnarekha river 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. Rahmoni donated to the then Imperial Library (now the National Library of India) and Hindu College (now Presidency University). Prince Dwarkanath Tagore had mortgaged a part of his Zamindari 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.[4]

Though having such a great spiritual nature, the society then had discriminated her. Being born in Chasi-Kaibartta family and being a middle-caste Shudra origin,[5] 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.[6]

In popular culture[edit]

Rani Rashmoni on a 1994 stamp of India
Shrine dedicated to Rani Rashmoni within the precincts of Dakshineswar Kali Temple

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.[7]

Zee Bangla features a daily soap depicting the life of the illustrious Rani, Karunamoyee Rani Rashmoni, which premiered on 24 July 2017 and is telecasted daily.[8][9]

Monuments[edit]

  • An avenue in Esplanade, Kolkata is named after her as Rani Rashmoni Avenue, where her statue is also located.[10]
  • A road is named after her as Rani Rashmoni Road near her ancestral house at Janbazar, Kolkata.
  • A road is named after her as Rani Rashmoni Road at Dakshineshwar.[11]
  • The Department of Post of Government of India issued a postage stamp to memorialize the bicentennial of Rani Rashmoni in 1993[12]
  • 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).[13]

Further reading[edit]

  • Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita Chapter 3 – The Kali Temple
  • Gupta, Pradyot (1964). Rāṇī Rāsamaṇi. Kalikātā: Cakrabarttī. OCLC 23577900.
  • Bandopadhyay, Sudhindra Kumar (1964). Yugasādhikā Rāṇīrāsamaṇī. Kalikātā: Pratimā Pustaka. OCLC 30759520.
  • Annapūrṇā Debī (1967). Rānī Rāsamaṇī. Kalakātā: Palāśī. OCLC 21004139.
  • Ghosha, Amarendrakumāra (1967). Jānabājārera Rāṇīmā (in Bengali). OCLC 23577889.
  • Sena, Baṅkima Candra (1973). Lokamātā Rāṇī Rāsamaṇī. Kalikātā: Prakāśa Bhabana]' prāptishāna: Prabhāta Kāryyālaẏa. OCLC 33601843.
  • Ghosha, Gaurāṅgaprasāda (1988). Rajeśvarī Rāsamaṇi (in Bengali). Kalakātā: Yogamāẏā Prakāśanī. OCLC 22184928.
  • Caṭṭopādhyāẏa, Nityarañjana; Biśvāsa, Mathurānātha (1986). Cirabhāsvara: Rāṇī Rāsamaṇi o rasaddāra Mathurera jībanī abalambane racita (in Bengali). Kalīkātā: Baiśākhī Prakāśanī : Paribeśaka Basu Buka Siṇḍikeṭa. OCLC 19013021.
  • Dāśa, Amalendu Kumāra (2013). Rāṇī Rāsamaṇi o tām̐ra jībanadarśana. ISBN 978-984-404-364-0. OCLC 889007063.
  • জানা, প্রবীর (2013). লোকমাতা রাণী রাসমণি. কলকাতা: ভৈরব গ্রন্থালয়. OCLC 769743671.
  • Dāsa, Dulālakr̥shṇa (2014). Yugajananī Rāni Rāsamaṇi: saṃkshipta jībanī. Kalakātā: Ekuśa Śataka : Prāptisthāna, Bāṇībitāna. OCLC 883180169.</ref>

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Roy, Nirmal Kumar, "Rani Rashmonir Jibanvritanta" (Life History of Rani Rashmoni), Udbodhan, 1, Udbodhan Lane, Bagbazar, Kolkata - 700 003. ISBN 81-8040-345-9. pp. 196-232
  2. ↑ Rashmoni Devi Dakshineswar Kali Temple website.
  3. ↑ NGO's working with Environment Department Archived 31 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine Environment Department, Government of West Bengal.
  4. ↑ Nandi, Amrit Kumar (2017). Bratyajaner Rani Rashmoni. Kolkata: Kamalini Prakashan.
  5. ↑ Nicholas, Ralph W (2003). Fruits of Worship: Practical Religion in Bengal. Orient Longman Ltd. p. 53. ISBN 978-8180280061.
  6. ↑ Dutta Dey, Deblina (4 September 2019). "জানবাজারের ঐতিহাসিক রানি রাসমনির বাড়ির পুজো, এই পুজোয় সামিল হতেন রামকৃষ্ণ পরমহংসদেব". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd (in Bengali).
  7. ↑ Rani Rashmoni on IMDb
  8. ↑ "Official page of Karunamoyee Rani Rashmoni". www.zee5.com.
  9. ↑ "Rani Rashmoni beats popular shows on TV; rules the TRP chart". timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
  10. ↑ Ganguly, Biswarup (7 February 2015). "Rani Rashmoni Avenue - Esplanade - Kolkata".
  11. ↑ Skywalk to adorn Dakshineswar soon | Kolkata News – Times of India. Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com (22 April 2012). Retrieved on 2018-11-30.
  12. ↑ "Birth Bicentenary of Rani Rashmoni  ::: 1992-1995 » Commemorative Stamps » Stamps". www.indianphilatelics.com. Thakkar Numismatic & Art Foundation.
  13. ↑ Sarma, Ch R. S. (18 June 2018). "Rani Rashmoni inducted into Indian Coast Guard". @businessline. The Hindu.

External links[edit]

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