EAP1104/6

Custodial history: Motilal Seal (1792- 1854) was born in a Bengali Hindu family in Kolkata around 1792. He belonged to the Subornabanik caste. His father, Chaitanya Charan Seal was the owner of a small clothing and garments shop near Chinabazar, Kolkata. His life took a turn when he married Nagri Dassee, daughter of Mohan Chand Dey of Surtir Bagan, in 1809. He started working at Fort William around 1815, the then bastion of British supremacy. While working at Fort William, he was engaged in supply of essential commodities to the British army. Later, he also worked as an inspector of Indian Customs at Balikhal. He started out his business venture as a bottle and cork dealer. He traded in cowhides, was the founder and promoter of the first indigo mart which was established under the name of M/s Moore, Hickey & Co. He used to export indigo, silk, sugar, saltpetre and rice to the European countries. He used to import cotton-piece goods and iron from Europe. He was appointed as Banian of around twenty first class agency houses of Kolkata. He used to earn huge profits from these ventures and invested these profits again in his other business ventures. He never invested his money in the Company papers or securities. He bought around 12-13 merchant ships.He also invested his money in buying big zamindaries near Kolaghat, Bagnan, Mahishadal, Jessore and other parts of Bengal. He also became a real estate speculator and a successful merchant in partnership with Fergusson Brothers & Co., Oswald Seal& Co. and Tulloh & Co. and in these firms he was said to have lost some thirty lakh of rupees. He got up a number of cargo boats which were then a new speculation in the market. He was the first to use steamships for internal trade in Kolkata. He prospered profusely in competition with Europeans. He made a vast fortune in money-dealing, bill discounting and other banking business. There was rarely a speculation into which he did not participate, and for which he did not supply a portion of funds. From dealings in internal changes to contracts for station-building, for the erection of new bazaars to revival of transit companies, he was a quiet shareholder. He was one of the founders of Assam Company Ltd. Under his influence, the then Oriental Life Insurance Company (later known as New Oriental Insurance Company in 1834) founded by the Europeans, being the first life insurance company on Indian soil, accepted to underwrite Indian lives. He was among the founders of Bank of India. He was on the board of Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India. He was known as the Rothschild of Calcutta. He was also a renowned philanthropist. He founded an alms house at Belgharia in 1841 and a bathing ghat on the bank of the Hooghly River known as Motilal Ghat which to this day still exists. He is best remembered for his donation of an extensive tract of land on which the Calcutta Medical College was built. In 1842, he founded the Mutty Lall Seal’s Free College (later renamed as Mutty Lall Seal’s Free School and College) was to provide education to the Hindus to enable them to occupy posts of trust and emolument in their own country. The college had established huge public reputation and competed successfully with the Government and Missionary Colleges in the University exams. The college is now situated near Chittaranjan Avenue where it still exists. He extended financial support and co-operation for the establishment of Hindu Charitable Institution and Hindu Metropolitan College and some other institutions. Although, Motilal Seal himself was a conservative Hindu he was in favour of Raja Rammohun Roy’s efforts of banning sati, supported the cause of women’s education as well as the issue of widow remarriage. He made a public offer for a dowry of 1000 rupees to the person who could break the ancient taboos of caste and marry a widow. One of the busy streets in Kolkata’s business district is named after him as Moti Sil Street. He had five sons and five daughters. The eldest son, Hiralal Seal was also an eminent personality. He opened an alms house in 1864. He also helped Michael Madhusudan Dutta to get his license to practice law. Motilal’s youngest son, Gopal Lal Seal had a penchant for horse collection. He had an exclusive collection of horses in his stable which was quite rare in his times. He used to spend huge amount of money on occasions of dances, ballroom parties, etc where the Governor General was a regular attendee along with his family. He was very popular with the British government as to be offered the title of ‘Maharaja’. But he refused it. After Motilal Seal, his Colootola house has become the official residence from the fifth generation. Nowadays, the main capital for the sustenance of this family is through management of landed estate and renting of the portions of this house. They are still the shareholders of one of the biggest markets in Howrah. Presently, this family has branched out into professions such as engineering, medical, teaching, etc. We have found some important legal documents since 1864 to 1937, a handwritten family history of 151 pages; a detailed report on the condition of the palace of Motilal Seal conducted by an engineer in 1937 with an estimate of renovation of the building.

This collection contains the following 11 files:

• EAP1104/6/1: Conveyance, Gorge Thomas Ribewo to Debendra Nauth Mullick [1 May 1895]
• EAP1104/6/2: Deed of Dissolution [24 Feb 1864]
• EAP1104/6/3: Map [29 Apr 1928]
• EAP1104/6/4: Letters and Correspondence [13 May 1937]
• EAP1104/6/5: Handwritten Family History (vol.1) [1st half of the 20th century]
• EAP1104/6/6: Handwritten Family History (vol.2) [1st half of the 20th century]
• EAP1104/6/7: Handwritten Family History (vol.3) [1st half of the 20th century]
• EAP1104/6/8: Handwritten Family History (vol.4) [1st half of the 20th century]
• EAP1104/6/9: Handwritten Family History (vol.5) [1st half of the 20th century]
• EAP1104/6/10: Suit No. 366 of 1937 [1937]
• EAP1104/6/11: Will [28 Feb 1887].