Bhagwandas Bagla facts for kids
Bhagwandas Bagla was a very rich businessman from Churu, Rajasthan, India. He was the first person from the Marwari community in Shekhawati to become a "crorepati," which means he had over ten million rupees – a huge amount of money back then! He was known as a successful timber merchant and owned many sawmills.
Bhagwandas Bagla moved his business to Burma (now Myanmar) and eventually settled in Rangoon (now Yangon). This was during the time of King Thibaw.
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Business Success in Burma
During the Anglo-Burmese War, Bhagwandas Bagla became a major supplier and contractor for the military. He helped build many roads and bridges in Burma. He owned thousands of acres of rice fields near Rangoon Harbour. He was also a banker and a landlord, owning lots of property in cities like Rangoon, Mandalay, and Moulmein. In February 1890, the British government gave him the special title of "Rai Bahadur" because of his importance and contributions.
In the 1960s, the government in Burma took control of almost all businesses. They took over the properties of many Indian families, including Bhagwandas Bagla's family, and forced them to leave the country.
Giving Back to the Community
Bhagwandas Bagla believed in helping his community. He gave a lot of money to set up hospitals, schools, and temples in his hometown of Churu, as well as in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and Rangoon.
Sethani ka Johra
His wife built a large reservoir called Sethani ka Johra (which means "The Reservoir of the Wealthy Lady"). This was a special project to create jobs during a terrible famine in 1899-1900, known as the 'Chhappania Akal'. This reservoir, located about 3 km west of Churu, still has water today and attracts birds and animals like the Nilgai (a large antelope).
Popularizing Rasgulla
There's a famous story about how Bhagwandas Bagla helped make the sweet called Rasgulla popular, especially in Bengal. One day, he stopped at Nobin Chandra Das's sweet shop in Bengal because his grandson was thirsty. The shop boy offered them water and a special sweet called 'Rossogolla' (another name for Rasgulla). Bhagwandas Bagla's grandson loved it, and when Bhagwandas Bagla tasted it himself, he was amazed. Soon, the fame of this delicious sweet spread quickly, and within a few years, Rasgulla became a favorite for millions of people in and outside Bengal.
Hospitals and Schools
Just before he passed away in 1895, Bhagwandas Bagla gave a large sum of money, about 4.50 lakh rupees, to build a 60-bed hospital in Calcutta. This hospital became known as The Marwari Hindu Hospital. He also gave 1 lakh rupees to the Maharaja of Bikaner to build another 60-bed hospital in Bikaner, Rajasthan. In his hometown of Churu, he funded two 30-bed hospitals, one for ladies and one for gentlemen. The "Bagla School Road" in Churu was named after him by the Rajasthan Government to honor his contributions.
Contributions in India
- Shri Satyanarayan Temple, Churu, Rajasthan
- Shri Shivalaya, Churu, Rajasthan
- Shri Sheetala Mata Temple, Churu, Rajasthan
- B D Bagla High School, Churu, Rajasthan
- Bagla Girls High School, Churu, Rajasthan (started in 1895)
- Hospitals (30 beds each for ladies and gents) in the Garh (Fort), Churu, Rajasthan (started in 1895)
- Hindu Burning Ghat (Cremation Ground), Churu
- Hospital with 60 beds at Bikaner, Rajasthan (started in 1902)
- Bhagwandas Bagla Marwari Hindu Hospital, M.G.Road, Calcutta
- Various Dharamshalas (rest houses for travelers) at Rameshwaram, Mokamah, Bombay, Kodambeshwar (Rajasthan), Brindavan, Benaras, Haridwar
- Various Pathshalas (schools) at Churu, Brindavan, Benaras, Haridwar
Contributions in Burma
- Shri Satyanarayan Temple in Pabedan Township, 29th Street, Rangoon
- Vishnu Temples in Mandalay and Mormin, Myanmar
- Bhagwandas Bagla Dharamshala, 29th Street, Rangoon
- Lakshminarayan Bagla Dharamshala, 30th Street, Rangoon
- Hindu Burning Ghat, Kemendine Road, Rangoon
- Shri Satyanarayan Temple, Mandalay
- Hindu Burning Ghat (Cremation Ground), Mandalay
- Shri Durga Bari, Moulmein
- Hindu Burning Ghat (Cremation Ground), Moulmein
