The Jorasanko Family: Dwarakanath Tagore (1794-1846)
was the man who ushered the family into its special role in the history and culture of Bengal. He was the second son of Rammani Tagore (second son of Nilmoni), but was adopted by the childless elder son, Ramlochan Tagore. He, not only inherited the great wealth of the Jorasanko family but also built up an extensive business empire even while he worked as sheristadar, the highest position then open to Indians. He was a luxury loving prodigal. The contemporaries called him a prince because he had been to Britain where he was first described as a prince by the people coming in contact with him and also because of his lifestyle in Britain and Calcutta marked with princely grandeur and influence. Dwarakanath was one of those Baneans and mutsuddis who were the first generation of the Bengali entrepreneurs and socio-political activists. The first Thakur to leave the parental home in Dakshindihi, Khulna, and join the rank of banians to the Europeans, was Panchanan who worked with the French as a banian in the late 17th. century.
