The Life of Jagat Seth, 'Banker To The World' in Colonial India, Highlights The Fleeting Nature of Wealth!

House of Jagat Seth, Murshidabad, W. Bengal .anandabazar.com

.House of Jagat Seth, Murshidabad, W. Bengal. youtube.com

Kathola House , Murshidabad shutterstock.com

Above image: Kathola palace, Murshidabad, West bengal, once the residence of the richest Seth family in the world. They were bankers to the world and colonies......... 

The colonial India was once  home to affluent families whose vast wealth just mind-boggling. Today's rich families like the Elon Musks, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates world look like pigmies before these Goliaths . Named Jagat Seth meaning Bankers to the world in the 18th CE, they  had financial dealings with the rich rulers, nawabs and even the companies run by European colonies, lending  money  about Rs.8.3 lakhs of crores.  Rooted  in the early 1700s, their family history goes back to Malik Chand, who moved over to Bengal to venture in trading business  initially in Calcutta, later to Murshidabad town.  With innate business acumen, they gained name and became a prime financial advisor to the ruling nawab. Named Nagar Seth by the Mogul ruler, he became a favorite of Faruk Siyar

Kathola house, Muslimabad, WB.indiatimes.com

18th CE richest man Jagat seth .anandabazar.com

After Manik Chand death, in 1714, his nephew and adopted son Fateh Chand grew in stature and influence, the English company, headed by Robert Clive had business dealings with him in the trading of precious metal.

 The Hindu Merchant family  was the wealthiest in the Mogul period and wielded tremendous influence, accoording to Robert Orme. Almost on par with the Bank of England, there were no government operations without the Seth family involve ment and it included revenue collection, minting coins and dealing with foreign money. Believed to be with assets worth  of one trillion USD (roughly equal to Rs,8,31,24,15.00,00,000)  the British print media claimed  their cash reserve was more than that of all English banks  put together. assets were

quotesgem.com

When in 1744 Mahtab Chand  took over the reign of the family business he and his cousin Swarup  Chand had close rapport with Nawab Alivardi Khan.  After him when Siraj-ud-Daulah became the ruler, political scenario had changed. Being recalcitrant and not cooperative with the English Co, he got a bad rap. His relationship with his relatives and some Amirs in the court  became soured. The situation and survival instinct  forced the Seth family and other nobles/ Amirs  to conspire with the English to topple  ruler Siraj.

The  Seths' wealth had begun to slide further downhill  with the loss of  rights  over vast territory and the hefty loans to the English Co. The company took advantage of their predicament and  never returned the loan leaving the family's financial position in disarray. 

By 1900s like the morning dew, the Seths' wealth vanished into thin air like those of the Mogul rulers and affluent Maharajahs across the subcontinent with the rise of British Empire and the Raj to the dizzy height. 

But after 1940s with the freedom of India in 1947, the British Empire started disintegrating due to oppressive policies accelerated by arrogant and racist leaders like Churchill, 

About Kathola palace,  once the residence of the richest Seth family, has only the traces of history and not their wealth. It is now a Museum, close to Murshidabad  town, West Bengal.  As long as the five elements of the earth are in force like air, fire, sky, water and earth, so long earthlings won't  escape from the transient nature of the universe. That ''what is today may not be yours tomorrow in the case of rich families and rich nations. 'Falling from grace to disgrace is very bad .  What had happened to the past colonies, is a remainder to the present politicians who dally in political power and pelf  and are not concerned about the people's welfare. 

https://www.navrangindia.in/2020/09/jagat-seth-banker-to-nawabs-and-english.html 

https://theprint.in/pageturner/excerpt/bengal-banker-jagat-seth-who-gave-loans-to-east-india-company-financial-tips-to-aurangzeb/486979

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagat_Seth_family

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/102916190.cms?