Famous Shaharwali people and family: Puranchand Shamsukha

 Shamsukha family is one of the most famous Shaharwali family from Azimganj. They were migrated from Bikaner, Rajasthan to Azimganj. Puranchand  Shamsukha (1882-1967), S/O Mehtabchand and grand son of Sangram Singh was  a renowned scholar of Jainism. He had been in service to Maharaj Bahadur Singh Dugar at his early age and later on he served Nahata family of Jiaganj.

Renowned Bengali story writer Dakshinaranjan Mitra Mazumdar (Thakurmar Jhuli fame) was his close friend. Puran Chand Shamsukha wrote several books on Jainism in Bengali language such as "Jaino Dharmer Parichay", "Jain Tirthankar Mahavira", "Jaino Darshaner Ruprekha" etc. He also translated Jain Agam "Uttaradhyana Sutra" which was published by Calcutta University.

Some of his articles were published in 'Asia' magazine, Bangkok.

Renowned linguist and Vice Chancelor of Calcutta university, Dr. Suniti Chatterjee, Dr. Kalidas Nag and Bijoy Singh Nahar were among the editors of "Puranchand Shamsukha abinandan Grantha".

Rishabhchand Shamsukha (1900-1970), his eldest son was also a scholar and meditator. He established "Indian silk house" a famous Saree shop at college street in 1924 for livelihood of his family and left for "Sri Aurobindo ashram", Pondichery at the age of only 31. He lived their rest of his life.

He has written few books about Rishi Aurobindo and his doctrine.

1. Integral yoga of Sri Aurobindo
2. In the light of the Mother
3. Sri Aurobindo: His life unique. 

The last one was written inspired by the Mother herself.

Parichand Kothari and Umirchand Kothari were his close friends who also followed path of Sri Aurobindo inspired by him.

Sumatichand Shamsukha, another son of Puranchand Shamsukha was a social server. He adorned the seat of secretary Murshidabad Sangh and Jain Bhawan, Kolkata.

Source: Dilipchand Samsukha, grandson, Puranchand Shamsukha

Famous people from Azimganj Part 1

Famous people from Azimganj Part 2

Famous people …….. Part 3

Famous People..........Part 4

Famous People..........Part 5

Famous Shaharwali people and family: Puranchand Shamsukha 

Padmabhushan Dr. Bimal Bachchhawat

Sadhu Sadhwi from Murshidabad 

Bari Kothi

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New idol of Sri Seemandhar Swami at Azimganj

 There is Sri Seemandhar Swami temple at the first floor of Sri Neminath Ji Mandir at Azimganj, Murshidabad. The temple had a Choumukh (Four idols in four sides) of Seemandhar Swami idols. Unfortunately, one of the idols were broken (Khandit). It was broken long back.

However, it has not been reinstalled. Acharya Padmasagar Suri inspired Azimganj Sri Sangh to renovate Sri Neminath Swami temple during his Chaturmas at Azimganj and the Sangh renovated the temple as per his will. Even he has overlooked this issue despite complete renovation of the temple.

I have repeatedly  raised this issue of Khandit Pratima at several places and finally Sunil Choraria, secretary, Azimganj Sri Sangh, has agreed to reinstall the idol during my visit to Azimganj last Chaturmas. He ordered for an idol matching the rest of the three.

A beautiful statue of white marble is made under the supervision of Vidhikarak Yashwant Golechha according to the photograph and size sent to me by Sunil Choraria. The idol has been handed over to Sunil Choraria on April 8, 2010 during his visit to Jaipur along with Ajit Lodha, Suresh Jhabak and Baid.

Sunil Choraria has assured me that the idol will be installed at the place of broken one after Anjanshalaka.

Seemandhar Swami is a Viharman Tirthankar in Purva Mahavideha Kshetra. He is the most worshiped nowadays here among all twenty Viharman Tirthankar. Chaityavandana of Sri Seemandhar Swami is included in The Rai (Morning) Pratikramana. This shows his importance. He is alive and performing his Vihar in Mahavideha Kshetra and obliging people with his sermons in Samavsarana.

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Azimganj Jiaganj: The then no fishing zone

Azimganj and Jiaganj were main Jain districts during 19th century and first half of twentieth century. Jain community of Azimganj and Jiaganj (Baluchar) was not only powerful but also very religious minded. Large numbers of huge Jain temples speak the story itself.

It is not required to mention that this religious community was totally vegetarian while following Jainism. More over, fishing was banned in the River Bhagirathi (Ganga) in the area of Jain district.

There was a famous story about fishing in this zone. There was a non-Jain Rai Bahadur in Jiaganj. He took as a challenge to catch a fish in this zone. He arranged to catch fish and caught some. Maharaj Bahadur Singh Dugar took it seriously and lodged a case against him. He fought the case  in several courts and finally won. He obtained an order from Privy Council (London) against fishing in this zone. Privy council was the apex court in British India.

It is told that he spent Rs. 6.25 lakh to win this case! Just imagine the value of money at that time! He did not care for money and spent it for his non violent religion, Jainism and vegetarianism.

Vegetarianism: The healthy way of life

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Professional Jain authors and writers are invited

Professional Jain authors and writers are invited to be included in data base.

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Famous people from Murshidabad Shaharwali society

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Jalmandir inside Dhanpat Vasahi, Palitana

Shaharwali community is a small community but it has produced many famous people in various fields Starting from the Jagat Seth family. Jagat Seth family was very close to the Nawabs of Murshidabad. In fact, Nawab Mursheedkoolie Khan brought Jagat Seth with him while fleeing from Delhi to Mursheedabad. The Jagat Seth family has taken the charge of greatest Jain pilgrimage Sammet Shikhar and managed it for over a century. He has managed to get some Farmans from the Badshaha of Delhi in favor of the Jains. They also built Sanwalia Parasanath temple made of Kasauti (Gold tester) stone. This was the only temple in the world made of this stone.

Amichand and Raidurlabh, the merchants in the court of Nawab Siraj-ut-doula were also belonging to Oswal Jain community. The Oswal Jain community in Murshidabad, later on, described as Shaharwali.

The Golechha family was the next to come in the picture. Harakchand golechha of this family took charge of Sammet Shikhar from the Jagat Seth family after their decline. He has also built Ratnamayee Chouveesee (24 Tirthankara idols made of various gemstones). Those, later on, installed in the Chintamani Parshvanath temple. Daughter of Harakchand Golcha was married to Nanak Chand Kothari, S/ O Panachand Kothari. Nanak Chand Kothari was a newcomer to Azimganj at that time. Jyoti Kothari, the writer of this blog, is his Grand Grand son.

Dugar family served the society most. Practically they reigned for almost a century. Pratap Singh Dugar of this family took a "Sangh" to Palitana in Samvat 1883 with Upadhyaya shree Kshamaratana.

(Kathgola Temple: Photo courtesy
Suraj Nowlakha)

Rai Bahadur Laxmipat Singh Doogar and Rai Bahadur Dhanpat Singh Doogar were his two sons who carried the tradition with them. Laxmipat Singh, the elder brother built famous Kathgola temple and Dadabadi and decorated the 100 acres land with beautiful marvel and statues and other decorative from Oslar company. Perhaps this is the biggest land devoted to a Jain temple. Sripat Singh Dugar of this family built two colleges in Jiaganj and a community hall in Kolkata Jain Bhawan. He also contributed generously for publication of Jain stories series by Pandit Kashinath Jain.

Dugar Family photo Curtsy Sunil Dugar

(Seated in Middle row...left to right...Surput Singh ji Dugar...Hind Kaiser Narpat Singh ji Dugar...Rai Bahadur Gunpat Singh ji Dugar..Maharaj Bahadur Singh ji Dugar...Mahiput Singh Ji Dugar...standing at back..

Bhuput Singh ji Dugar and Taj Bahadur Singh ji Dugar...standing in front row...Sripal Bahadur Singh ji Dugar)

Rai Bahadur Dhanpat Singh Doogar, the younger brother has done numerous work for the religion, trade, and society. He built Famous Dhanpat Vasahi alias Babu Ka dehrasar (Temple of Lord Adinath) in the talhatti (Valley) of Palitana, the Shatrunjaya Teertha.

He also took charge of Sammet Shikhar teertha from Golechha family. The Dugar family had maintained it for more than seventy years before the Jain community took charge from them. Rai Dhanpat Singh built the main temple there in Madhuvana and also Jal Mandir above the hill. He also built dharamshala there. He has built many other temples and Dharamshalas in various pilgrimages such as Kshatriyakunda, Gunaya, Barakar, Kakandi, Champapur etc. and other places such as Azimganj, Ganpatganj, Pratapganj etc.

He set up a printing press in Azimganj to get all the Jain Agamas (Sacred and holy books) printed. It was the first time in the history that Jain Agamas were published in printed form.

They were the Zemindars of Harawat estate (Poornia district of modern Bihar). Rai Bahadoor Dhanpat Singh Doogar founded the Bengal chamber of Commerce and adorned the Chair as the first President of the same. Kamala Pat Singh Kothari, S / O Nanak Chand Kothari was married to the grand daughter of Rai Bahadoor Dhanpat Singh Doogar. Kamala Pat Singh Kothari is the great grandfather of Jyoti Kothari, author of this blog.

Doogar family also owned their own Railway from Azimganj to Nalhati.

Inscription at Azimganj city railway station 

Famous people from Azimganj Part 1

Famous people from Azimganj Part 2

Famous people …….. Part 3

Famous People..........Part 4

Famous People..........Part 5

Famous Shaharwali people and family: Puranchand Shamsukha 

Padmabhushan Dr. Bimal Bachchhawat

Sadhu Sadhwi from Murshidabad 

Bari Kothi

Thanks,
(Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur represents Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry)

info@vardhamangems.com

Please follow us on facebook for latest updates.