few parallels in this part of Bengal. The Statesman of the 23rd October, 1895, thus described the ceremony:—"The other day the Tula Purush Dan, or the weighing in a balance with counterpoise of precious jewels, gold and silver, of Rani Kasiswari, mother of Rajah Purnendudeb Rai Bahadur, was performed with considerable eclat, and over ten thousand rupees were distributed among the Brahmans assembled. Hundreds of eminent Sanscrit scholars and Professors from all the centres of Sanscrit learning, such as Nadia, Bhatpara, Vicrampore, Mulnjore and Calcutta, were present, and lively discussions on many leading social questions took place. Thousands of poor and needy were clothed and fed. This was an unique spectacle never witnessed before in this part of the country."
The Rajah whose memory is cherished with such sincere regard, breathed his last on the 25th July, 1896, leaving four sons, viz, Satindradeb Rai Mahasai, Kshitindradeb Rai Mahasai, Munindradeb Rai Mahasai and Romendradeb Rai Mahasai, of whom the eldest Satindradeb Rai has assumed the hereditary title of "Rajah Mahasai" and is the recognised chief representative of the House, the others being known as Kumars.
Rajah Purnendudeb Rai had two younger brothers, viz, Surendradeb Rai and Bhupendradeb Rai, of whom the latter, though the youngest, was the first in leaving this 'vale of tears.' This sad event took place on the 7th Agrahayan, 1297, when the deceased had barely completed his thirty-ninth year. The second Surendradeb Rai was born in 1256, and was, therefore, an infant of three years when the all-revered venerable Rani Sankari "shuffled off her mortal coil." Surendradeb died on the 16th Chaitra, 1304. This was a very severe shock to his aged mother, Rani Kasiswari, who felt it so much that it erelong precipitated her own end. Surendradeb was an excellent type of a gentleman. He had deep regard for the Hindu religion. His mode of living was markedly simple. He knew not what pomp was, and walked about in the plainest attire. But in all this he merely took after his elder brother, Rajah Purnendudeb Rai who was a real prince among men and of whose like one may search the whole world and yet find a few, a very few only.
