Arpannama Patra
On the 13th of September 1918 Girindra Narayan, the only son and heir of Raja Rajendra Deb, being entitled to a pala of the worship of the deities, referred to in the Will, executed in favour of the defendant an indenture of arpannama in the following form:
This indenture of arpannama patra made this thirteenth day of September in the Christian Year one thousand nine hundred and eighteen, between Kumar Girindra Narain Deb, son of the. late Raja Rajendra Narain Deb Bahadur of the Sovabazar Rajbati in Raja Nabo Kissen Street in the town of Calcutta hereinafter called the grantor of the one part and Robindra Narain Deb, son of Monindra Narain Deb of the same place of the other part hereinafter called the grantee (in which term is included his lineal male heirs and representatives unless the context is repugnant thereto)
Whereas Raja Sir Radha Kanto Deb Bahadur, K.C.S.I. of Sovabazar in the town of Calcutta died on the nineteenth day of April one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven leaving behind him three sons, viz., Kumar Mahendra Narain Deb, Kumar (subsequently Raja) Rajendra Narain Deb and Kumar Debendra Narain Deb and a Will bearing date the third day of August in the year of Christ one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
And whereas a Probate was obtained by the executor therein named of the Will from the Testamentary and Intestate Jurisdiction of the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal on first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and sixty seven, and whereas the grantor herein Kumar Girindra Narain Deb the only son and heir of Raja Rajendra Narain Deb, deceased, was born during the lifetime of the said testator Raja Radha Kanto Deb Bahadur and whereas under the terms and provisions of the said Will the grantor is sufficiently possessed of the right of worship of the family deity Sree Sree Iswar Radha Gobinda Jew and other deities in the manner indicated in Clause 12 of the said Will and as such sufficiently entitled to and possessed of the right of enjoyment of certain properties, privileges, rights and liberties particularly set forth in the said Will by Clause 12 and also by terms and provisions of the consent decree, dated (5th of October one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in Suits Nos. 155 and 220 of 1868 and also under the decree in Suit No. 699 of 1899 in the High Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal in its Ordinary Original Civil Jurisdiction to any other rights, privileges in or any other deeds and documents and
whereas the grantor herein is performing the daily worship of the said family deity Sree Sree Iswar Radha Gobinda Jew and other pujas according to his turn of worship and the annual sradh in compliance with the terms and provisions of the said Clause 12 of the said Will and in the manner indicated therein and the decrees and orders set forth above and is in full possession, enjoyment of the rights, privileges, etc., as set forth in the said Will of Raja Sir Radha Kanto Deb Bahadur and the consent decree dated sixth day of, October one thousand nine hundred and seventy-one made in Suits Nos. 155 and 220 of 1868 and also of the decree of seventh day of September one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine in Suit No. 699 of 1899 in the Original Side of the High Court and whereas the grantor has no male lineal descendant and has only a grandson Bireswar Mitra son of his deceased daughter Sreemuty Hemanta Kumari Dasi who the grantor holds and considers is unfit to perform the various orders and duties imposed upon him and enjoy the privileges by the terms and provisions of the Will of the late Raja Radha Kanto Deb Bahadur and the decree set forth above by reason of his want of training and defective moral character and
whereas the grantor hath given the grantee sound and regular training as to the way in which the said worship of the family deities Sree Sree Laksmi Narain Jew Salagram established and consecrated by his late father and also of the periodical sradh from his infancy and believes and considers the said grantee the best person to perform truly and faithfully the worship of the said deities and is best able to manage the properties and control the affairs in connection with the warship of the said family deities other pujas and sradhs of the late Raja Sir Radha Kanto Deb Bahadur instead of the grantor and whereas the said grantee Robindra Narain Deb is great great grandson of the said testator Raja Sir Radha Kanto Deb Behadur, K.C.S.I., in the male line of succession and best able to perform the worship of the said deities.
Now this indenture witnesseth that in consideration of the said grantee being a great great grand son of the said testator Raja Sir Radha Kanto Deb Bahadur in the male line of succession and by his character, education and training is best able to perform the worship of the said family deity Sree Sree Radha Gobinda Jew and other deities of late Sir Radha Kanto Deb Bahadur and of Sree Sree Laksmi Narain Jew Salagram as above stated and in consideration of the fact that the arrangement will be beneficial for the said deities as it will be conducive to the proper conduct of the worship the grantor Kumar Girindra Narain Deb doth hereby convey, confer, alienate and transfer his right, title and interest to and in the worship of the said family deity Sree Sree Radha Gobinda Jew and other deities with all rights and privileges that he is entitled to under the Will of the said Raja Sir Radha Kanto Deb Bahadur, K.C.S.I. and the consent decree dated the 6th day of October one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one in Suits Nos. 155 and 220 of 1868 on the Original Side of the High Court and by any other document for the performance of the said seva and puja to be held and enjoyed by him so long as he shall be alive and capable of performing the seva, or service of the family deity, etc.,
and the usual pujas that are celebrated in the house of Raja Sir Radha Kanto Deb Bahadur, K.C.S.I. to be continued to be so held and enjoyed by his heirs in the male line of succession only on condition of their duly performing the seva and service of the said family deities, etc, with other usual pujas that are held and celebrated in the family Rajbati and not for any personal gain and that in the event of failure in the male line of succession of the same grantee the grantor doth hereby confer or convey and alienate his right of worship of the said family deities, etc., and privileges attached thereto under the Will of the late Raja Sir Radha Kanto Deb Bahadur, K. C. S.I.,
and the consent decree of the sixth day of October one thousand eight hundred and seventy one in Suits Nos. 155 and 220 of 1868 in the High Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal or by any other deed or deeds in favour of Dwijendra Narain Deb the third son of Monindra Narain Deb and in his absence his heir or heirs in the male line of succession who may be living at the time to be held and enjoyed by him or them only on condition of his or their performing the seva or service of the said deities, etc., and in his or their absence the grantor doth hereby confer, convey, transfer and alienate his right of worship of the said family deities and the several pujahs and all rights and privileges attached to the same under the terms and provisions of the Will of late Raja Sir Radha Kanto Deb Bahadur and those of the consent decrees of sixth day of October one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one in Suits Nos. 155 and 220 of 1868 and the decree dated seventh day of September one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine in Suit No. 699 of 1899 in the Original Side of the High Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal to the nearest male agnate that may be alive at the time to the exclusion of Sachindra Narayan Deb eldest on of Monindra Narain Deb and his representatives.
In witness whereof I do hereunto affix my signature.
(Sd.) Girindra Narayan Deb.
Witnesses:
- Romesh Chandra Bose, Solicitor, Calcutta.
- Anil Chandra Sircar, Clerk to Babu Romesh Chandra Bose. Solicitor.
Note: On the 19th April 1867 Raja Sir Radha Kanto Deb died. He was an erudite Sanskrit scholar, and a personage of culture and distinction. He left surviving him three sons and numerous other relations.