The Bhawal Case: A Legal and Mystical Mystery

1. The Bhawal Estate and Ramendra Narayan Roy

The Bhawal Estate was a large zamindari (feudal landholding) covering 579 square miles (1,500 km2), with a population of approximately 500,000. The estate, located in present-day Bangladesh, belonged to a family of Shrotriya Brahmins, who were known as one of the Baro Bhuiyan (twelve feudal landlords) of Bengal. The Bhawal princes—three brothers—had inherited the estate from their father and enjoyed both wealth and influence.

Ramendra Narayan Roy, born on 28 July 1884, was the second prince of Bhawal and was affectionately known as mejokumar (middle prince). He was yet to take up management responsibilities of the estate when tragedy struck. Known for his indulgent lifestyle, Ramendra spent his time hunting, celebrating festivals, and maintaining several mistresses. In 1905, it was reported that he had contracted syphilis, a condition that played a significant role in the later controversy.

2. The Apparent Death and Cremation

In 1909, Ramendra traveled to Darjeeling for medical treatment, accompanied by his wife, Bibhabati Devi, her brother Satyendranath Banerjee, and a large retinue of servants. However, tragedy reportedly struck during the visit. On 7 May 1909, Ramendra was said to have died from biliary colic (gallstones) at the age of 25. His body was supposedly cremated the following day in Darjeeling, with the funerary rites performed on 8 May.

However, the details of the cremation were shrouded in ambiguity. Several witnesses claimed that a sudden hailstorm interrupted the cremation just before the funeral pyre could be set alight. When mourners took shelter from the storm, the body allegedly disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

Following his death, Bibhabati Devi moved to Dhaka to live with her brother, and the British colonial Court of Wards assumed control of the Bhawal estate. Over the next decade, the other two Bhawal brothers also died, leaving the estate in the hands of administrators.

3. The Mysterious Return of the Sanyasi

In 1920, a sanyasi (ascetic) appeared in Buckland Bund, Dhaka, covered in ash. For four months, he sat quietly on the street, attracting attention for his regal appearance and robust physical stature. Gradually, rumors spread that this sanyasi might be the second prince of Bhawal—the very man thought to have died in Darjeeling over a decade earlier.

After some persuasion, the sanyasi revealed that he was indeed Ramendra Narayan Roy, the prince of Bhawal. According to his story, he had been poisoned in Darjeeling, but a group of naga sanyasis (ascetic warriors) rescued him during the hailstorm, nursing him back to health. He claimed to have suffered memory loss for ten years, during which he wandered across India as a sanyasi. Upon recovering his memory while traveling through Chittagong in 1920, his guru advised him to return to his ancestral home.

4. Public Response and Opposition from the Widow

The return of the “Bhawal sanyasi” created a sensation. Many relatives and former tenants of the estate accepted him as the second kumar, based on both physical resemblance and his ability to recall personal details. A critical moment came when the sanyasi correctly named his wet nurse—a fact unknown to the public. However, his widow, Bibhabati Devi, refused to acknowledge him, dismissing the sanyasi as an imposter. She believed that this man was part of a conspiracy to claim the estate.

5. The Legal Battle Begins

The British Court of Wards, which managed the estate, was reluctant to recognize the claimant and accused him of being a fraud. Investigators were sent to uncover his identity. Witnesses were found who identified the sanyasi as Mal Singh, a Punjabi Sikh, rather than Ramendra Roy. On 3 June 1921, the Board of Revenue declared that they had proof that the kumar had been cremated, dismissing the sanyasi’s claim.

Despite official opposition, many tenants and local residents continued to support the sanyasi. They paid rent directly to him, allowing him to hire lawyers. Ananda Chandra Nandi, a prominent solicitor, agreed to represent him. The growing controversy eventually led to a legal showdown in 1930.

6. The Trial: 1933–1936

In 1930, the sanyasi filed a declaratory suit in Dhaka, seeking to establish his identity as Ramendra Narayan Roy and claim his share of the Bhawal estate. The trial, presided over by Judge Pannalal Basu, became a marathon event, with both sides summoning hundreds of witnesses.

Key Arguments and Evidence

• The claimant’s lawyers alleged that Satyendranath Banerjee, Ramendra’s brother-in-law, had poisoned the kumar to gain control of the estate.
• The defense argued that the sanyasi could not be the kumar because he could not speak Bengali fluently and had no signs of syphilis.
• Witnesses testified that the claimant bore several distinctive physical marks, including a tiger claw scar and a mole on his penis, which matched descriptions of the kumar.
• The defense introduced a guru, Dharamdas Naga, who identified the claimant as Mal Singh, a disciple from Punjab.

Despite conflicting testimonies, Judge Basu ruled in favor of the claimant on 24 August 1936, affirming that the man was indeed the second prince of Bhawal.

7. Appeals and the Final Verdict

The Board of Revenue appealed the decision in the Calcutta High Court, but in 1940, the appellate bench upheld the lower court’s judgment. The British government then sought permission to appeal to the Privy Council in London. The appeal was delayed by World War II, but the case was finally heard in 1945 in the House of Lords.

In July 1946, the Privy Council dismissed the appeal, ruling that the High Court’s findings were valid. The claimant’s identity as Ramendra Narayan Roy was legally affirmed.

8. The Sudden Death of the Claimant

Just days after winning the case, the claimant suffered a stroke and died on 12 August 1946. His widow, Bibhabati Devi, interpreted his death as divine punishment for imposture. She refused to accept the inheritance and distanced herself from the estate.

9. Forensic Significance

A forensic study conducted on the body of the sanyasi found striking similarities between him and Ramendra Narayan Roy:

FeatureSecond Kumar of BhawalBhawal SanyasiComplexionPink and whitePink and whiteHairBrownish, wavyBrownish, wavySyphilitic ulcersPresent (disputed)Present (disputed)Tiger claw mark on right armPresentPresentMole on penisPresentPresent

10. Conclusion

The Bhawal case is a unique blend of mystery, legal drama, and folklore, reflecting the complex social and legal landscape of colonial India. To this day, it remains a fascinating tale of identity, memory, and justice, leaving behind lingering questions: Was the sanyasi truly the prince, or an imposter with an extraordinary resemblance? The truth, like the missing body from the cremation pyre, remains elusive.