Krishnanagar: Trinamool's Campaign Against Rajmata Spurs Re-look At History

The Trinamool Congress has launched a sharp campaign against the BJP's Krishnanagar candidate — 'Rajmata' Amrita Roy. 

The 'Rajmata' belongs to the Krishnanagar royal family founded by Maharaja Krishna Chandra Roy. Her husband is the ninth descendant of Krishna Chandra Roy. 

Krishnanagar, the district headquarters of Nadia, which shares a border with Bangladesh, and gives its name to the Lok Sabha constituency, is named after the Maharaja. The 'Rajmata' is pitted against Trinamool's Mahua Moitra who was expelled from the Lok Sabha last year over the cash-for-queries scam.

The Trinamool has delved into history to dig up Maharaja Krishna Chandra Roy's support to Mir Jafar and the British in the Battle of Plassey in June 1757.

British forces under Robert Clive defeated Bengal's Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah. This decisive battle changed the course of the Indian subcontinent's history and led to the establishment of British rule.

Pamphlets distributed by the Trinamool Congress read: "History repeats itself. In 1757, Maharaja Krishna Chandra Roy conspired with Mir Jafar, Jagat Seth and Uni Chand and sold himself to the British like a spineless traitor."

"2024: Rajmata Amrita Roy has shamelessly embraced Bangla-birodhi (anti-Bengali) BJP, sealing a pact once again to deceive the people of Bengal."

"The faces may have changed but their jomidari will persist. Reject these treacherous Bangla-birodhis. They were not trustworthy then, they sure wont't be now." 

The Trinamool's smear campaign has evoked strong reactions from not only the BJP candidate and party functionaries but also from the people of Krishnanagar. And also a re-look at history as written in post-Independent India that portrayed Siraj-ud-Daulah as valiant and Mir Jafar as a traitor.

The fact is that Siraj-ud-Daulah was a despot and Muslim fanatic who had launched a merciless campaign to forcibly convert Hindus to Islam. 

The Nawab imposed punitive taxes on Hindus and many restrictions on Hindu festivals and religious festivals. He put thousands of Brahmins and priests to death and instituted rewards for Muslims who could convert Hindus to Islam. 

Siraj-ud-Daulah confiscated properties, including farmlands and ponds, of lakhs of Hindus for their refusal to convert to Islam. He demolished many temples and Vaishnavite monasteries.

"Had he (Siraj-ud-Daulah) not been defeated in the Battle of Plassey, he would have converted all Bengali Hindus to Islam and the history of this part of India would have been different. There would have been no West Bengal and we would have been part of Bangladesh," historian Naba Kanta Majumdar, who has studied historical accounts and records of that era, told Swarajya.

Siraj-ud-Daulah exploited his Muslim subjects as well. He was a tyrant who collected exorbitant taxes from Muslim peasants and traders, driving tens of thousands of them into poverty and starvation.

Maharaja Krishna Chandra Roy and other Hindu Rajas and zamindars, thus, joined hands with Mir Jafar to help the British and save themselves and their subjects.

Mir Jafar, the commander of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah's army, was also related to the Nawab. Mir Jafar, according to many historians, was disgusted with the Nawab's tyranny, bigotry and exploitation of his subjects. That is what drove him to help the British to defeat the Nawab in 1757. 

Maharaja Krishna Chandra Roy was also known as a benevolent king. His descendants carried out many philanthropic acts like distributing lands among the landless, providing relief to lakhs during the Bengal famine, sheltering thousands in the royal palace during floods and sharing their wealth with their subjects during hard times.

That is why the Krishnanagar royal family is held in high esteem to this day. 

'Rajmata' Amrita Roy referred to all these while defending her ancestor's legacy. "Maharaja Krishna Chandra Roy helped the British to save Hindus and Hinduism. Siraj-ud-Daulah was a tyrant, corrupt and bigoted anti-Hindu. Hadn't Maharaja Krishna Chandra helped the British defeat Siraj-ud-Daulah, Hinduism would have been wiped off from Bengal," she said. 

The 'Rajmata,' during a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Modi, mentioned the Trinamool's vicious campaign against her. 

Prime Minister Modi counselled her to ignore the Trinamool and carry on with her campaign. 

"In our childhood, we used to study about the social reforms initiated by Maharaja Krishna Chandra Roy. These people (Trinamool) are doing vote bank politics. To cover their misdeeds, they dig up fake history to defame their opponents but when it comes to Bhagwan Shree Ram, they ask for evidence that He existed. This is their double standard. Don't pay any attention to them, you just focus on how to make a bright and prosperous future for Bengal. It is your challenge to save Bengal," Prime Minister Modi told the 'Rajmata'.

The campaign to make a hero out of Siraj-ud-Daulah underlines an urgent need to correct history. 

Maharaja Krishna Chandra Roy was a benevolent ruler who played a pivotal role in saving Hindus and preventing the extinction of Sanatan Dharma from Bengal's soil. It is high time the people of Bengal are made aware of that.