Bhagyakul Roy family

During the first half of the 18th century, the family branched out to the salt business and soon acquired vast fortunes, culminating in becoming landlords (zamindars) of chiefly Bhagyakul and many other estates in then undivided Bengal (pre-1947). Erstwhile zamindary estates spread out almost all over the undivided Bengal and also Bihar. The most significant phenomenon was that they did not stick to feudalism/zamindary system and established inland water/steam navigation services along with shipping dockyards and then founded one of the biggest jute mills, M/S. Prem Chand Jute Mills Ltd, then founded banking institution, namely United Industrial Bank. Though originally 'Kundu', they were awarded the title of Roy Bahadur to Sri Gunendra Krishna Roy, one of the members of this family & rest with 'Roy/Raychowdhary' by the colonial British government, now the family uses as its surname as Ray / Roy. A few members of the family was also honoured with the title of 'Raja' by the British government.

Later the family diversified into steamships, banking, real estate and manufacturing industry. Many in the family entered public life, developed professional careers and created institutions of social importance that collectively constitute a major influence on the Bengali[1] society even today.[2]

The family was instrumental in setting up the East Bengal Club in August 1920.[3] It is also known that the family provided Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar with the loan to start the Vidyasagar College.[4]

During the colonial period, the family contributed towards the freedom struggle by actively participating in the Sixth Indian National Congress session (Tivoli Garden, Calcutta, December 1890)[5] and opposing the partition of Bengal.

Currently the family is divided into Four Hishas, namely Baro Hisha, Mejho Hisha (Arai), Sejo Hisha and Choto Hisha.

Though the family maintained its estates in British India, with the coming of Independence (and partition of India - 1947) the entire family shifted to Kolkata before partition and now are based mostly around Shobhabazar with almost 85% of the family, rest are located within South Sinthee Road, Gouribari, Dutta Bagan, Lee Road, Elgin Road, Kumartuly, Beliaghata, Goriahut, and in & around of various parts Calcutta. Old palatial house in the erst while zamindari in Bhagyakul are either being used as government offices or encroached upon and in dis-repair.

The family worships God Lakshminarayan as its family deity, with the current temple situated on Sovabazar street, Kolkata. Krishna Jibon Roy was first to established the worship of God Lakshminarayan at his country residence in the village of Nurpur in seventeen hundreds, however the seat of workship was transferred to Kolkata after the partition.

Annual Durga Puja is organized with much festivity and gusto by each of the branches in rotation. Generally takes approximately 14 years for each rotation, however with increase in the family size, rotation period is expected to increase. Some time about 50 years.

Durga puja is organised every year by Late Mr. Dhirendra Krishna Roy’s family at Barasat, Kolkata.

• Pankaj Roy – Indian cricketer and India test captain
• Ambar Roy – Indian cricketer
• Pranab Roy – Indian cricketer

• Boria Majumdar, Kausik Bandyopadhyay: A social history of Indian football: striving to score Pg.96 (ISBN 978-0-415-34835-5)
• Santoshakumāra Adhikārī: Vidyasagar and the new national consciousness Vidyasagar Research Centre, 1990
• Annie Besant: How India wrought for freedom: The Story of the National Congress Told from Official Records, Pg.120
• Asok Mitra: "Towards Independence, 1940-1947: Memoirs of an Indian Civil Servant, Pg.70-71

• Hit by heritage - article in The Telegraph (India)