Identity

Devi Chaudhurani was born in Kaunia upazila of Rangpur, Bangladesh. Her birth name was Jayadurga Devi. His father's name was Braj Kishore Chowdhury and his mother's name was Kasishwari Devi.

Devi Chaudhurani was a female anti-British leader and zamindar of Pirgacha. She is also known as Bandit Queen or Dasurani.

She was married to Narayan Chandra Chowdhury, the zamindar of Manthana aka Pirgacha and was the zamindar of that area during the Sannyasi rebellion. After her husband's death, the childless Jayadurga managed the Manthana estate from 1765-1801.

At that time Jonathan Goodlad became the Collector of Rangpur region and Devisingh was appointed as his Dewan. Dewan Devisingh and his staff entrusted revenue collection to Hare Rama. During the collection of revenue, peasants and even zamindars became fed up with their tyranny. Also at that time the oppression of the English indigo farmers increased, they started forcing the farmers to cultivate indigo in the fertile land. In view of that, Devi Chaudhurani declared rebellion against the British.

And because of that he fell under the wrath of the British. A British army was sent under the leadership of Mir Kashim to suppress him. Muhammad Jang, Bhabani Pathak, Noor Uddin Bakr of Rangpur along with Devi Chaudhurani and hundreds of farmers from Dinajpur, Rangpur and Bogra Anch participated in this war. The war started in February 1760. Devi Chaudhurani won the battle. Many people including the English captain were killed in the battle and Mir Kashim was forced to retreat. The site of Devi Chaudhurani's victory in the battle is still popularly known as "Jaipur".

Death

In April 1783, on the first Thursday (Chandipur village of Pirgacha upazila), a group of English forces under the leadership of Lord Warren Hastings was defeated and killed in a battle with modern weapons. In this battle, the zamindar of Annadanagar along with Devi Chaudhurani was also killed. Every Thursday of Bengali Baisakh month at the place where Devi Chaudhurani was defeated. The fair is held. Which is known as "Napaichandi" fair.

Memorabilia

Devi Chaudhurani Degree College, Chaudhurani Railway Station, Chaudhurani High School, Chaudhurani Bazar are named after her in Rangpur.

The massive Chaudhurani Dighi, Chandipur Dighi and Manthana Rajbari excavated by him bear witness to the times. Devi Chaudhurani was born a philanthropist woman and brilliant revolutionary. As discussed in his life, he was first a householder and then a monk. Novels, stories, serials, plays and movies about him. Napai Chandi Boishakhi Fair is held in Chandipur Bazar after passing Parul Union of Pirgacha Upazila of Rangpur. Devi Choudhurani fought in the anti-British movement at this place. Chaudhurani Bazar is also known as a big market in the area. Pirgacha was the free roaming place of Devi Chaudhurani, one of the founders and famous leader of the Sannyasin rebellion. Nawar Debiganj is also the area of his memory. He fought several battles with the British in the dense forests here surrounded by the Karatoa, Teesta, Atrai and Kurum rivers and won. It was named Debiganj from his memory. But there is another meaning behind this name. The township was formerly Hindu-dominated. Some say that the name Debiganj can come from the name of their gods and goddesses. Also Devi Chaudhurani Railway Station, Chaudhurani Degree College and Chaudhurani Bazar in Rangpur bear his memory even today. Whether history is preserved or not, revolutionaries like Devi Choudhurani, Bhavani Pathak have emerged from time to time, who have fought against injustice to protect the helpless people from behind. It is known from history that due to the respect, love and support of the public at that time, the British identified 'Devi Chaudhurani' as a girl robber but could not arrest her despite hundreds of attempts. However, according to many historical experts, not Prafulla mentioned by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay but 'Devi Chaudhurani' was the daughter of Braj Kishore Roy Chowdhury and Kasishwari Devi of Shibukunthiram (Bamanpara or Bhutchhara) village named Jaydurgadevi (Brahmanadevi) of Kaunia upazila of Rangpur. She was married to Narayan Chandra Chowdhury, the zamindar of Pirgacha and was the zamindar during the Sanyas revolt. However, there is no evidence of whether 'Devi Chaudhurani' was a zamindar or her involvement in the British government's documents at that time.

About the novel 'Devi Chaudhurani', writer Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay himself said, 'Devi Chaudhurani' has very little in common with the historical 'Devi Chaudhurani'. Srijadunath mentions it in the introduction of the novel.

The fact that ``Devi Chaudhurani'' was cheerful to the people of this region is recognized even today. But the historical event of 'Devi Chaudhurani' has not been preserved even today. As a result, his memories have been erased. No visible structures survive. Now only in the village of Maqsud Khan can be seen pieces of bricks at the site of the establishment.

It can be seen from the surface, from Santahar in Bogra via Bonarpara in Gaibandhar, leaving the Chaudhurani station of Rangpur on the Kaunia railway route of Rangpur, it will take 5 minutes to walk on the right hand side to go to Chaudhurani Bazar on the paved road towards Rangpur. A paved road will be found on the left hand side after passing Kaikuri Union Parishad in Bazar. This road goes towards Jalalganj market.

From here, you have to take a battery-powered auto-rickshaw behind Nurnabi's shop in Ramchandrapara on Jalalganj Road through the winding paths of the village to the old site of Devi Chaudhurani, adjacent to the houses of Abdul Mottaleb, Chan Mia and Abu Dayan in East Maqsud Khan Hajipara. While going from Chaudhurani Bazar towards Jalalganj Bazar, you will see rows of coconut trees on both sides of the road. What will catch everyone's attention.

Westward from this site was another site at West Maqsud Khan Doctorpara village on the bank of river Ghaghat. The site is now overgrown with trees. There is still a canal built during the time of 'Devi Chaudhurani' around the place of establishment. Apart from this, a huge pond of 'Goddess Chaudhurani' will be seen adjacent to the mosque on the north side of Chaudhurani Bazar.

The distance from Gaibandha town to East Maqsud Khan Hajipara and West Maqsud Khan Doctor Para villages is about 56 km. Apart from this, one can go by road to Chaudhurani Bazar in Kaikuri Union of Pirgacha Upazila of Rangpur. Go to Gaibandha town from Zero Point Old Jail Khana Junction by Magic Car. You have to get down at Sundarganj Upazila Bypass Road. From here Rangpur bound buses pass over Chaudhurani Bazar to Rangpur town.

East Maqsud Khan Hajipara village where there was an installation of 'Devi Chaudhurani'. About 60 percent of that area is still fallow. There are bamboo groves, betel nut, guava and palm trees. Small and big weeds have grown. Fragments of bricks can be seen above and around the site of the deb. There are four people who own the fallow land. Many privately owned homesteads have been built around. Brick pieces of that time can be seen in the yard of these houses.

Another installation of 'Devi Chaudhurani' is on the bank of river Ghaghat in West Maqsud Khan Doctor Para village. Nursery, mango orchard, sugarcane and vegetable plantations have been developed in the place of this establishment. The place is surrounded by a canal. The bricks of the 'Devi Chaudhurani' installation can be seen in Nadi Bhangal. It will take about 10 minutes to walk west to the structure from East Maqsud Khan Hajipara village past West Maqsud Khan Doctor Para Jame Masjid.

According to the locals, two structures of 'Devi Chaudhurani' have been buried under the ground long ago. At present, the property of the establishment of 'Devi Chaudhurani' has been occupied by generations. The two structures were very tall. With the evolution of time, the places of establishment are now low. At different times people from different parts of Bangladesh including India come to see the installation of 'Devi Chaudhurani'.

Monuments of Devi Chaudhurani are also found in West Bengal, India. For example - Goddess Chaudhurani Kali Temple in Jalpaiguri, Sannyasi Tagore Temple in Shikarpur, Manthani Temple on Belakoba-Radhamali Road. Also in Durgapur, there are Bhavani Pathak's Mounds, Tunnels, Bhavani Pathak's Kali Temple in Durgapur.

At present Devi Chaudhurani Research Center has been established at Pirgacha. Former students of Pirgacha College are doing research on him. Devi Chaudhurani Research Center was founded by journalist and researcher Rebel Manwar. He himself is the son of Parul Union of Pirgacha. He said, our effort is to present the ideal of a revolutionary of our area to the next generation.

Devi Chaudhurani Law University is being built in Pirgacha, Rangpur to honor her memory.

In popular culture

­­­'Devi Chaudhurani' means the story of a life struggler. Who has been fatherless, humiliated and humiliated in his childhood. 'Devi Chaudhurani' grew up with a helpless mother.

"Devi Chaudhurani" became the apple of the eyes of the innocent people who were once victims of the rule and exploitation of the British and landlords after fighting against all odds and overcoming hardships.

Writer Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay brought out those historical events through writing in 1884. The novel was first published in 1884.

Writer Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay served as a magistrate in Rangpur district during the British rule. As a writer and a history researcher, he wrote this novel based on the life of 'Devi Chaudhurani'. Six editions of the novel 'Devi Chaudhurani' were published during the lifetime of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.

The story of the serial (drama) being shown on the Star Jalsa channel in Kolkata, India called 'Devi Chaudhurani' is based on the novel by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay based on the true events of Rangpur, Bangladesh. [9] 'Devi Chaudhurani' serial started on July 16 on Star Jalsa Bangladesh time. Show starts from 8:30 PM to 9:00 PM every night.

This incident of 'Devi Chaudhurani' is around 1700-1800 AD. At first the name of 'Devi Chaudhurani' was Prafulla. His home was in Durgapur, a remote village of Rangpur. Prafulla got married to the only son of Harballav, the zamindar of Bhutnath village, six krosh (about 14 km) away from this village. After the marriage, when she was taken to her in-laws' house, her father-in-law Haravallava did not accept Prafulla as his daughter-in-law and threw her out of the house.

At this time, Prafulla said, where will I go now? Haravallav replied, Go wherever you like. Steal, beg, rob if you can. Later, through various incidents, the queen of robbers became cheerful, the new name was 'Devi Chaudhurani'.

'Devi Chaudhurani' used to take the money stolen from the rich and distribute it among the poor and distressed people. The building of this 'Devi Chaudhurani' was in Maksud Khan village of Kaikuri union of Pirgacha upazila of Rangpur. 'Devi Chaudhurani' lived in this village.

(Taken from Wikipedia)