Panchkot Raj

Panchkot Raj, also known as Panchkot Zamindari or Kashipur Raj, was a family of Bhumij Zamindars who ruled in the western fringe areas of present-day West Bengal, India and some of the adjacent areas in present-day Jharkhand.

Part of a series on
Zamindars of Bengal
Central Bengal Present Divisions: Dhaka and Mymensingh Atharabari Baliati Bhawal Dhaka Dhanbari Dhankora Gauripur Karatia Muktagacha Santosh Susanga Teota
Eastern Bengal Present Divisions: Chittagong and Sylhet Baniachong Barshala Bohmong Chakma Homnabad-Pashchimgaon Kanihati Mong Panchakhanda Prithimpassa Sheikhghat
Northern Bengal Present Divisions: Rangpur and Rajshahi Dighapatia Pabna Puthia Rajshahi (Natore) Rangpur Singranatore
Southern Bengal Present Divisions: Barishal, Khulna and Faridpur Kirtipasha Naldanga Narail Naruttampur Padamdi
Western Bengal Andul Azimganj Bally Bansberia Baruipur Burdwan Dhanyakuria Gobardanga Hetampur Jhargram Khanyan Mahisadal Murshidabad Nadia Narajole Nashipur Panchkot Serampur Shibpur Sovabazar Surul Taki Uttarpara

According to the legends, while Raja Jagat Deo was going for pilgrimage in Puri from his kingdom in Dhar in modern Madhya Pradesh, his wife gave birth to a son while camping at Jhalda, currently in Purulia district. The king’s entourage believed the child had been born dead, and left him there. Later the child was found by seven local tribal chiefs and was named Damodar Sekhar. It was Damodar Sekhar who established the Panchkot Royal dynasty in 17 century.

Post-independence, when the Indian Parliament subjected the Right to property to certain restrictions and states began to initiate aggressive agrarian reforms by passing laws that abolished the Zamindari system, the family approached the Supreme Court. Subsequently, in 1951, a five-bench-judge unanimously ruled in favor of the government.[1]