Radhanath Dev Chowdhury: A Silent Architect of Sreemangal’s History

Sreemangal—renowned for its tea gardens, hills, and lush greenery—is not shaped by natural beauty alone. The foundation of this town was built through the vision, generosity, and tireless efforts of a few far-sighted individuals. Among them stands the name of zamindar, educationist, and social reformer Radhanath Dev Chowdhury, whose contributions remain deeply etched in the educational, urban, and geographical history of Sreemangal.

Radhanath Dev Chowdhury was born on 31 August 1875 into a distinguished zamindar family. His father was Chandranath Dev Chowdhury, and his mother Dinomoyi Devi Chowdhury.
His wife was Jaytara Devi Chowdhury. The couple had four sons—Rasabihari Dev Chowdhury, Pulin Bihari Dev Chowdhury, Binod Bihari Dev Chowdhury, and the youngest, Kshirad Bihari Dev Chowdhury—all of whom later played notable roles in social service, politics, and public life.

During the British period, Radhanath Dev Chowdhury owned an extensive and influential zamindari estate in Bhubirbagh, under Nabiganj Police Station of Habiganj Subdivision. This estate was not merely a symbol of wealth; it had a profound impact on agriculture, education, and the social structure of the region.
For administrative and business purposes, he later settled permanently in the Old Bazar area of Sreemangal. This residence gradually became the center of his philanthropic and social initiatives, significantly contributing to the early urban development of the town.

Radhanath Dev Chowdhury acquired approximately 178 bighas of land in the Dolucherra hill area under Sreemangal Thana. After his time, ownership of this land passed to his four sons—Rasabihari, Pulin Bihari, Binod Bihari, and Kshirad Bihari Dev Chowdhury. While some portions were sold and others later encroached upon, the area eventually became known as “Radhanagar”, named after him.
Beyond land ownership, he played a key role in shaping Sreemangal’s urban landscape. He constructed several permanent buildings across the town using lime and brick mortar, which were considered modern architectural achievements of that era. These structures contributed significantly to the formation of Sreemangal’s early urban framework.

Among the silent yet transformative contributors to Sreemangal’s educational and cultural growth during British rule, Radhanath Dev Chowdhury occupies a distinguished place.
In memory of his parents, Dinomoyi Devi Chowdhury and Chandranath Dev Chowdhury, he took pioneering initiatives to establish educational institutions—initiatives that continue to be remembered with reverence.
To honor his mother, he donated valuable land near Sreemangal Choumuhani to establish Dinomoyi Girls’ School. At a time when girls’ education received little social encouragement, this was a bold, progressive, and visionary step.
Similarly, in memory of his father, he donated land during the British era to establish Chandranath Primary School, which opened new avenues of education for ordinary people and marked an important chapter in Sreemangal’s educational history.
Unfortunately, due to historical neglect and narrow perspectives, the name “Dinomoyi” was later removed, and the institution was renamed Sreemangal Government Girls’ High School. As a result, the present generation remains largely unaware of the school’s true history, founder, and land donor—an omission that is deeply regrettable.
Beyond education, Radhanath Dev Chowdhury also contributed significantly to religious and cultural life. On Habiganj Road in Sreemangal, he constructed the Sri Sri Jagannath Dev Akhara Temple and Natmandir, which served for decades as an important center for religious observance, social gathering, and cultural practice.

Under the Assam Municipal Act of 1923, Sreemangal officially emerged as a Small Town on 1 October 1935.
To mark this historic occasion, Radhanath Dev Chowdhury arranged the inauguration of the Town Committee by importing a special cake from Kent, England—a rare and memorable event in Sreemangal’s municipal history.

He served as a member of the first Sreemangal Town Committee from 1 October 1935 to 8 May 1937, playing an active role in strengthening the town’s institutional foundations. At that time, Girija Shankar Guha, Sub-Divisional Officer of South Sylhet, served as Chairman of the Town Committee.
Later, in the third council (20 April 1943 – 2 December 1952), his eldest son Rasabihari Dev Chowdhury was elected as a member.
In the fourth council (1 December 1952 – 14 January 1956), his youngest son Kshirad Bihari Dev Chowdhury (K. B. Dev Chowdhury) served as Vice Chairman. From 1956 until the Liberation War of 1971, he continued to be elected continuously as a Town Committee member.

Today, the Radhanagar hill area hosts international-standard resorts, luxury hotels, tea-garden-surrounded tourism infrastructure, and recreational centers. With regular visits from domestic and international tourists, Radhanagar has become one of Sreemangal’s most prominent tourist destinations.
What was once a remote and undeveloped hilly region has now secured a place on the global tourism map—an evolution that began with Radhanath Dev Chowdhury’s visionary land planning.

In 1950, when the Government of Pakistan abolished the zamindari system, Radhanath Dev Chowdhury’s vast estate in Bhubirbagh, Nabiganj came under state ownership in accordance with the Tenancy Act.
By law, he was entitled to retain 50 hal of land for family use. He distributed this land among his four sons: 25 hal went to his eldest son Rasabihari Dev Chowdhury, while the remaining 25 hal was shared among the other three sons.
Over time, some of this land was sold, and other portions were encroached upon. Nevertheless, the educational and social institutions established on these lands continue to testify to his people-oriented vision.
In the 1980s, his youngest son Kshirad Bihari Dev Chowdhury—who witnessed British, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi rule—donated approximately 31 decimals of land in Biraimpur, on the outskirts of Sreemangal, to establish Radhanath Primary School in his father’s name. Sadly, the school was later renamed Biraimpur Primary School, effectively erasing the identity of the original land donor.
On 1 February 1958, at the age of nearly 83, zamindar and educationist Radhanath Dev Chowdhury passed away.
He left behind a rich legacy of education, social service, urban development, and community building—an inseparable part of Sreemangal’s identity and history.

Radhanath Dev Chowdhury was not merely a zamindar; he was a silent architect of Sreemangal’s history.
From Bhubirbagh to Sreemangal, from Dolucherra Hills to Radhanagar, every chapter bears the imprint of his foresight and generosity. His life stands as a powerful example of how one individual’s vision and actions can shape the destiny of a community for generations.