{{Short description|Indian tax collector (c. 1705–1775)}} Maharaja '''Nandakumar''' (also known as '''Nuncomar'''; c. 1705 – died 5 August 1775) was an Indian tax collector for various regions in what is modern-day West Bengal. Nanda Kumar was born at Bhadrapur, which is now in Birbhum. Nandakumar was appointed by the East India Company to be the Dewan (tax collector) for Burdwan, Nadia and Hooghly in 1764, following the removal of Warren Hastings from the post.<ref name=raj/> In 1773, when Hastings was reinstated as governor-general of Bengal, Nandakumar brought accusations against him of accepting or giving bribes that were entertained by Sir Philip Francis and the other members of the Supreme Council of Bengal. However, Hastings overruled the council's charges. Thereafter, in 1775, he brought charges of document forgery against Nandakumar.<ref name="EB1911">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Nuncomar|volume=19|page=911}}</ref> The Maharaja was tried under Elijah Impey, India's first Chief Justice, and friend of Warren Hastings, was found guilty, and hanged in Kolkata on 5 August 1775.
==Early life== Nandkumar was born in a Bengali Brahmin family of Kulin Brahmin descent during the year 1705, in the village named Bhadrapur that belonged to the then Murshidabad district (which later included in the Birbhum District). He belonged in the 'Kashyap Gotriya' Brahmin family surnamed Ray. His Father's name was Padmanabha Ray. Nandakumar held posts under Nawab of Bengal. After the Battle of Plassey, he was recommended to Robert Clive for appointment as their agent to collect revenues of Burdwan, Nadia and Hooghly.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kolkataonwheels.com/hanging-of-nanda-kumar/ |title=Hanging of Nanda Kumar | KolkataOnWheels |access-date=2018-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206200233/https://www.kolkataonwheels.com/hanging-of-nanda-kumar/ |archive-date=2019-02-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The title "Maharaja" was conferred on Nandakumar by Shah Alam II in 1764.<ref name="raj">{{cite web|title=The Kunjaghata Raj family|url=http://murshidabad.net/history/history-topic-kunjaghata-raj.htm|publisher=Murshibad.net|accessdate=10 June 2013|archive-date=18 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518063542/http://murshidabad.net/history/history-topic-kunjaghata-raj.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was appointed Collector of Burdwan, Nadia, and Hugli by the East India Company in 1764, in place of Warren Hastings.<ref name="EB1911"/> He learnt Vaishnavism from Radhamohana Thakura.<ref name=raj/><ref name=lion>{{cite book|last=Lion Feuchtwanger und Bertolt Brecht|first=Lion Feuchtwanger|title=Kalkutta, 4. Mai: drei Akte Kolonialgeschichte|year=1927|publisher=Dr.PLISCHKA Hans Peter|page=12|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ZjKHoSCAKsC&pg=PA12}}</ref>
==Forgery conviction== After 1765 Nandakumar fell out of favour with the British. In 1772 his old enemy Warren Hastings returned to Bengal and reluctantly turned to Nandakumar for evidence to support the dismissal of the deputy nawab Muhammad Reza Khan. This limited cooperation between the two was short-lived, however, and Nandakumar felt slighted by Hastings.<ref name=":0">{{cite ODNB|id=69061|first=P. J.|last=Marshall|title=Nandakumar [Nuncomar], maharaja|date=23 September 2004}}</ref> Nandakumar saw an opportunity to advance his interests in the conflict between Hastings and the newly appointed British councillors. In order to assist the councillors in removing Hastings, Nandakumar accused the governor-general of accepting presents worth about £40,000 from the nawabs, among other allegations. He alleged as well that Hastings had sold offices<ref name=":1" /> and bribed him with more than one-third of a million rupees.<ref name="east">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=13pyxO8o4moC&q=maharaja+nandakumar+hanging&pg=PA132 |title=From the East India Company to the Suez Canal |publisher=Duke University Press |year=2003 |isbn=9780822331643 |editor-last1=Harlow |editor-first1=Barbara |location=Durham, North Carolina [u.a.] |page=132 |editor-last2=Carter |editor-first2=Mia}}</ref> Hastings declined to respond to the charges at the time, although years later he admitted that he had accepted over £15,000 in "customary allowances given to the governor visiting the nawab". According to P. J. Marshall, it is likely that Hastings had accepted other "customary emoluments" as well, but the rest of Nandakumar's allegations cannot be proved.<ref name=":1" />
During the proceedings resulting from Nandakumar's allegations, an accusation of forgery going back to 1769 was brought against him. The prosecution against Nandakumar was advanced by his Indian Bengali enemies, who were encouraged by one of Hastings's closest friends, although there is no evidence that they were in direct contact with Hastings himself. The case was presided over by Elijah Impey, the first Chief Justice of Supreme Court in Calcutta, who was an old friend of Hastings since their school years. Nandakumar was sentenced to death under the British statute that made forgery a capital crime. He wrote the following in his last petition: "They put me to death out of Enmity and Partiality to the Gentlemen who have betrayed their Trust". He was hanged at Cooly Bazaar, Calcutta,<ref name=":0" /> to the north of present-day Vidyasagar Setu,<ref name=memorial>{{cite news|last=Mandal|first=Sanjay|title=History that hangs fire – Nandakumar neglect|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051109/asp/calcutta/story_5443875.asp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130624172025/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051109/asp/calcutta/story_5443875.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 24, 2013|accessdate=10 June 2013|newspaper=The Telegraph (Calcutta)|date=9 November 2005}}</ref> on 5 August 1775. He was survived by his wife, the Rani Kshemankari, a son, and two daughters.<ref name=":0" />
Nandakumar's execution has frequently been characterised as a case of judicial murder. Elijah Impey later justified his decision to refuse reprieve, stating that this would have undermined the authority of the court because the evidence of wrongdoing was not so obvious.<ref name=":0" /> In his own time and since, Hastings has been accused of advancing Nandakumar's prosecution and possibly influencing the verdict. He strongly denied these accusations. According to Marshall, the independence of the judges in the case "seems in retrospect to be beyond question", but the execution of Nandakumar was clearly beneficial for Hastings since it stemmed the tide of accusations against him.<ref name=":1">{{cite ODNB|id=12587|origyear=2004|first=P. J.|last=Marshall|title=Hastings, Warren|date=4 October 2008}}</ref> In 1788 an unsuccessful attempt was made in the House of Commons to impeach Impey for his decision in Nandakumar's trial.<ref>{{cite ODNB|id=14371|first=T. H.|last=Bowyer|title=Impey, Sir Elijah|date=23 September 2004}}</ref>thumb|The execution well of Nandakumar in the Hastings neighbourhood of Kolkata thumb|The turban of Nanda Kumar, now kept at the Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata
==Legacy== thumb|Akalipur Kali Temple (Gujjya Kali) * A school in his honor, Bhadrapur Maharaja Nanda Kumar High School, was established on his birthplace at Bhadrapur village on Birbhum District.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} * A temple was established by him on Akalipur Village near Bhadrapur village. The temple was built for Hindu deity Maa Kaali. This is a very popular temple and thousands of visitors came by. It is situated near the banks of the Brahmani River.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} * A college named in his honor, Maharaja Nandakumar Vidyalaya, was established in Purba Medinipur in 2007. The college is affiliated with Vidyasagar University.<ref name=vidya>{{cite web|title=Affiliated Colleges |url=http://vidyasagar.ac.in/affiliated_colleges/affiliated_colleges.html |publisher=Vidyasagar University |accessdate=12 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225200459/http://vidyasagar.ac.in/affiliated_colleges/affiliated_colleges.html |archivedate=25 February 2012 }}</ref> * A road in Baranagar, Kolkata is named Maharaja Nandakumar Road.<ref>{{cite web|last=Your local guide|title=INDRANI DUTTA KALA NIKETAN IN MAHARAJA NANDAKUMAR ROAD|url=http://www.bharatdesi.com/kolkata/yellowpages/dance-and-music/classical-dance-schools/indraniduttakalaniketan-in-maharaja-nandakumar-road/179-27994.html|publisher=Bharat Desi|accessdate=12 June 2013|archive-date=24 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024142628/http://www.bharatdesi.com/kolkata/yellowpages/dance-and-music/classical-dance-schools/indraniduttakalaniketan-in-maharaja-nandakumar-road/179-27994.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Nandakumar is also the name of a locality in the West Bengal district of East Midnapur.<ref>{{cite news|title=Floods result in epidemic threat|url=http://www.thestatesman.net/news/20694-floods-result-in-epidemic-threat.html|accessdate=22 October 2013|newspaper=The Statesman|date=20 October 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060248/http://www.thestatesman.net/news/20694-floods-result-in-epidemic-threat.html|archivedate=23 October 2013}}</ref> * {{stnlnk|Nandakumar}} was established in Tamluk–Digha branch line of Kharagpur railway division.
==In popular culture== ===Films and television=== *In 1988, Doordarshan serial ''Bharat Ek Khoj'' produced and directed by Shyam Benegal also picturised a full one episode on the Company Bahadur. In that titular role of Maharaja Nandakumar was played by noted television actor Rajendra Gupta.
==References== {{reflist}}
== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |last=Beveridge |first=Henry |author-link=Henry Beveridge (orientalist) |year=1886 |title=The Trial of Maharaja Nanda Kumar: A Narrative of a Judicial Murder |url=https://archive.org/details/trialofmaharajan00beveuoft/page/n6/mode/2up |location=Calcutta |publisher=Thacker, Spink and Co.|ref=none}} * {{Cite book |last=Stephen |first=James Fitzjames |author-link=James Fitzjames Stephen |title=The Story of Nuncomar and the Impeachment of Sir Elijah Impey |publisher=MacMillan |year=1885 |location=London |ref=none}} 2 vols. (Vol. 1, vol. 2.)
==External links== * 1787 publication of the charges against Sir Elijah Impey on Internet Archive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nandakumar, Maharaja}} Category:People executed for forgery Category:Executed Indian people Category:People executed by British India by hanging Category:1775 deaths Category:People from the Bengal Subah Category:Year of birth uncertain