CHAPTER II.
Exodus to Patuli and rise to the rank of ‘Zamindar.’
On Keshav's death his son, Dwarka Nath, succeeded to his estates and became the head of the family. By this time the Moslem rule had spread far and wide and the Hindus were harassed in every possible way. The Mahomedan Governor of Muxadavad ruled the district with a rigour in which fanaticism formed an important element so that Dwarka Nath found it absolutely necessary to leave his jurisdiction in order to avoid cruel religious persecution. He, accordingly, removed to Patuli, some ten or twelve miles to the south of the historic town of Katwa[1], in the district of Burdwan. Patuli, though a small village, is very beautifully situated. It stands on the right bank of the Bhagirathi, and is also within hail of the Ajai which joins the former at Katwa. Patuli was also the original seat of the well-known Gossain family of Serampore in the district of Hooghly. Here Dwarka Nath, built a palatial residence worthy of the renowned family which he represented. The Patuli palace lasted for several generations after which it fell a prey to the ravages of the river. The Bhagirathi gradually encroached upon the spot and at last swallowed up the princely mansion with all its belongings, thereby converting the place into a deep whirling pool of water which is known as the Patuli Daha. Dwarka Nath's grandson, Sahasraksha[2], was a very pious and kindhearted landholder. He ingratiated himself into the favour of the mighty Mogul Emperor, Akbar, who by a Firman or Sanad dated in the year 980 Bengal era, corresponding to 1573 A. D., formally declared him "Zamindar". This was no small honour done to him. For in point of rank a Zamindar, properly so called, occupied a very high place. The meaning of the word is, no doubt, a landholder, but custom had attached to the term a rank which a mere landholder could hot aspire to. The Zamindar possessed considerable powers over his tenantry. He was not only their protector from outside enemies but also their judges in matters, civil and criminal, arising between themselves. Indeed, he had almost absolute power over their lives and properties, only that his actions were subject to the control of the Provincial Governor. In the Ayeen Akbari, mention is made of a class of persons called Zamindars, as forming an important part of the military force of the Empire. In Bengal they are described as furnishing large bodies of cavalry and infantry, besides cannon, boats and elephants[3]. These were probably the twelve traditional Bhuyan or "original" Zamindars of Bengal, who held a hereditary status in their respective territories. As Dr. Hunter says, such Zamindars held princely courts, maintained their own bodies of armed followers, dispensed justice in their territories or estates, and handed their position from father to son. But all of them paid a tribute or a land tax to the Mahomedan Government at Murshidabad, and, as a rule, in cases of death, the heir deemed it prudent to obtain from that "Government an official acknowledgment of his succession[4]. Sahasraksha, it is true, did not possess all the powers and privileges of such a first class Zamindar, but there seems to be little doubt as to his having been raised to a status higher than that of a mere revenue agent of the Ruling Powers. On the occasion of his being recognised as Zamindar, Sahasraksha was given the Zamindari right of Pargana Faizullahpur in the district of Nadia. True to his name he did many good acts and was held in high esteem by the people. In the fulness of time he passed away in peace.