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(p1) Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan was the eldest son of Maharaja Jitendra Narayan and Indira Devi. He was born on 15^th December 1915 A.D. at the Cooch Behar palace. In his childhood he took lessons under home tutor. After that for higher studies he was admitted at Hehro at London in 1927. Thereafter he got admitted to Cambridge University in 1929. While studying at Hehro he attained army training.

Returning back to India he joined the 7^th Indian Cavalry at Bolaram of Hyderabad and received higher army training. After that he joined the Honorary Military Training Course at Dehradun. At that time General J. N. Chowdhury, Rajendra Singh and General Kariyappa were undergoing training. Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan was the Lieutenant Colonel at that time. He was conferred the title of “K.C.I.E”. He took part in the second World War in 1939 and operated as Liaganj Officer. He stayed at Rangoon, Kohima and other places during that time.

Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan ascended the throne on 6^th April 1936 A.D. The state was administered by Regency Council till he attained adulthood (i.e. from 1922 to 1936 A.D.). Rajmata Indira Devi was the President of Regency Council. After ascending the throne Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan himself looked after state administration. He was a generous & dutiful king.  next (p2)

(p2) He took the help of Ministers and Judicial-bench in administering the state’s proceedings. He was a disciplined king and not an anarchist. Since Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan had the mixed blood of ancient royal family of Cooch Behar and royal family of Gaikoard of Baroda, he had the inherent qualities of tradition and characteristics of both the royalties. He was fond of his subjects and in order to speculate his subjects’ condition used to visit the villages all alone. He fulfilled all aspirations and prayers of his subjects. During his reign once the state was struck with severe drought. That year he slacked people revenues to much extent. During his time Bengal was starved with natural calamity due to the second World War in 1940. Thousands of people died of starvation during that time. But while such calamity was yet to strike Cooch Behar at that time, due to good administration under Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan there was sufficient supply of food, clothing and other items in the state. At that time Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan helped by supplying three lakh Mons (1 Mon=40 Kgs) of rice to Bengal.

Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan was a good sportsman. He was the captain of the Calcutta Team in the match between Calcutta Cricket Team and Indore Cricket Team held in 1943. He was very good in the game of Polo. In memory of his father Maharaja Jitendra Narayan  next (p3)  

(p3) he set up a medical institution in Cooch Behar. He was a famous hunter. During his time many like the Maharajas of Jaipur, Nepal & Deoyas and other high officials of Indian Government used to visit Cooch Behar in the Winter season for hunting. Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan used to be part of those hunting teams and hunt the protected forest areas of Patlakhawa, Takoamari, Gorpad, Bhalka Shalbari for Royal Bengal Tiger, Rhinoceros and other beasts. Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan also hunted in the jungles of Assam.

Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan carried out the state administration through the State Council. He was the President of the State Council. A British Official elected by the Indian Government was the Vice President of that Council. There were different Ministers to look after the Revenue Deptt., Judicial Deptt., Education Deptt., Police Deptt., Municipal Deptt. The supreme court of appeal was the State Council. Under that there was the High Court under whom there was Judge Court. The Sub-Divisional Nayeb Ahilkars used to look after the Dewani and Faujdari cases under the Judge Court. Apart from these the Nayeb Ahilkars also used to look after deed registration, revenue collection and Civil Supply Department. Supreme Officials of the Municipal, Police, Education & Medical Departments were an Engineer, Police Superintendent, District School Inspector and Civil Surgeon respectively.      next (p4)

(p4) Maharaja himself was the Super of the State Military Department which had two branches namely State Infantry and Narayan Guard.

Price of paddy, rice and other items declined in 1945 during the rule of Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan. Price of paddy was Rs. 6 per Mon, rice @ Rs. 13 per Mon, mustard oil @ 6 Annas (~ 36 new Paisa) per Ser/Kg, ghee @ Re. 1||. per Ser, mutton @ Rs. 2||. per animal, each Hilsha fish @ 6 Annas, Ruhi fish @ approx. Rs. 3 per piece & ||. Anna per Ser, cloth @ Re. 1 & 12 Annas, bull @ Rs. 25 and cow @ Rs. 20. Peace prevailed during the rule of Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan. The land hardly witnessed theft, dacoity, murder and other anti-social activities. At that time people could have sound sleep keeping their doors wide open. In 1956 Maharaja married Geogina May Narayan in England. She was a British lady and educated in History at the Cambridge University. Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan obtained no child.

During Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan there was wide spread struggle for Independence not only in Bengal but all parts of Bharat/India. Influence of such movement was also felt in Cooch Behar. In this state a political organization known as "Prajamondal" was campaigning the ideals of the Congress party. Supporters of that organization wanted merger with the Indian Dominion. Another political  next (p5)

(p5) party known as "Hitasadhani" was also gaining power. Patrons of that party wanted Cooch Behar to be Centrally administered state. Most of the subjects of the land supported that party. Leaders of that party visited Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and others at Delhi and expressed their demand and aspirations before them. in a public gathering at Calcutta, the then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru declared that the fate of Cooch Behar would be decided upon the public vote of that state. Indian Dominion attained independence in 1947. On 20th August 1948 Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan in an agreement merged the state with the Dominion Government of India (check for the Agreement). Thereafter Cooch Behar was transformed into Central Administered State. Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan obtained annual amount of eight lakhs & fifty thousand as his privy purse. At last on 1st January 1950 Cooch Behar was incorporated within West Bengal state of the Indian Dominion. Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan was left as stateless King. He was deeply felt. (check for his farewell notes) Indian Government restored his royalty with due dignity. Even after he was addressed as "His Highness Maharaja Bhupbahadur" and treated with the prestigious royal formality.                         next (p6)

(p6) Once while playing Polo at Jaipur, Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan fell back from his horse. His rib-bone got broken. He was taken to London for medical treatment. He recovered from that mishap. But from then onwards his health started deteriorating. At last on 11th April 1970 Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan breathed his last at Calcutta. His body was brought to Cooch Behar the next day by the Maharaja of Jaipur, Maharaja of Kota and Maharaja's nephew Birajendra Narayan. On behalf of West Bengal Government, the Commissioner of Jalpaiguri Division and Deputy Commissioner of Cooch Behar received his body. Maharaja was shown military honor at the airport. Thousands of people flocked the airport and the royal streets to confer their last reverence to their beloved Maharaja. When his corpse was proceeded amidst the flocks of people, his grieved subjects with tearful eyes bade farewell by floral offerings. His body was taken to the palace and kept there for the visitors and subjects paying their respect. At afternoon his last rites were carried out on the bank of river Torsha to the west of Rani Bagan in the Cooch Behar town. Thus a 471 years old kingdom and royalty established by Maharaja Chandan dated back in 1510 A.D. came to a end and the royal sovereignty of Cooch Behar got washed away by Democracy.      next (p7)

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This royal Koch dynasty was ever subject-loving and fond of the subjects. No king of this dynasty was tyrant. The royal palace kept its door open to listen to the problems and grievances of the subjects. The Maharajas were ever ready to solve their problems and meet their aspirations. In times of drought and crisis revenue collection were slacked enough not to create burden on the poor calamity-hit subjects. 

Moreover they were offered grants and aids at need-felt situations. During natural catastrophe no subject used to die of starvation in this state. People of Cooch Behar respected the Maharajas very much and were ever loyal to the royalty. Glimpses of those golden royal days could be comprehended from the senior citizens of Cooch Behar who have passed through that age and feel ever-jubilant while recalling about the kingship and royal stories.

 Source  :- Translated from "Kochbiharer Itihas", 2nd edition (1988), by Shri. Hemanta Kumar Rai Barma
- ex-Nayeb Ahilkar of Kochbihar estate (SDO), M.A.,B.L.) || "Kochbihar Parikrama" edited by Krishnendu Dey, Niraj Biswas & Digbijoy De Sarkar