Bangladesh e-Journal of Sociology. Volume 15, Number 2. July 2018 40 A Review of Past Presence of Debi Chowdhurani and the then Societal Structures of Rangpur, Bangladesh * Gautam Kumar Das 1 Abstract: Debi Chowdhurani was never a female dacoit as described by the Company rulers, rather a savior to her peasantry though evidences in the form of letters, statements, and petition are rare in support of her existence and activities. Still the collected rare documents from the century-old rare books and records turn the ideas into a working hypothesis in the form of an article – Historical Presence of Debi Chowdhurani. This review takes a look at the acquaintances of Debi Chowdhurani, her contemporary zamindars, namesake blunders, societal structure, revenue systems, nepotism, insurrection, oppression, her strolling places, rumours and the last spell of her life. Evidences include authentic and original letters, statements and documents regarding Debi Chowdhurani. This paper focuses on the history and origin of Manthana estate, its contribution to Rangpur peasants’ revolt, its controversial aspects of namesake blunders of Debi Chowdhurani and outcomes of counter-checks and about its probable solutions. This review also focuses on potential research work and thorough survey in the field of social sciences through the records annexed in this article on the assumption that Debi Chowdhurani was not an imaginary figure, but was a real person, and the zamindar of Manthana estate. Keywords: Debi Chowdhurani, Bhabani Pathak, Rangpur peasantry insurrection, Richard Goodlad, Lieutenant Brenan, Paterson Commission, Rangpur Commission Introduction Debi Chowdhurani is undoubtedly a historical figure. Official records and documents give enough evidence of her historical existence. People all over Bengal discard the intentional acts of reports and records of the British rulers to stigmatize the character and life history of Debi Chowdhurani, a stubborn and firm lady of Bengal, though a few records relevant to her zamindari and other affairs are still available, annexed (spelling unchanged) here to draw upon the study of almost all the events about her life. Editor Ven. Walter K. Firminger, M.A., D.D., Lit. B.; Archdeacon of Calcutta; Member, Indian Historical Records Commission reported in brief about the loss of records at the office of the Collector, Rangpur in the introductory part (Page v) of Bengal District Records Rangpur, Vol. II; 1779 – 1782 (Letters Received), Bengal Secretariat Book Depot, Calcutta, 1920 – “The first impression which may be made on any one inspecting the volumes of records at such a place as Rangpur is that, as no records can be found for certain periods, these records have been inevitably lost. On closer study, however, he will find that the absence of the records may be explained by charges in the Revenue Adminstration, and so in the years when there was a council of Revenue at Dinajpur, he will at once see that what is missing at the Record room at Rangpur, may perhaps be found in the * The AŶŶedžure refered to iŶ the artiĐle is attaĐhed to the Individual ArtiĐle oŶlLJ aŶd ĐaŶ ďe aĐĐessed froŵ the content page at: http://www.bangladeshsociology.org/Content.htm 1 19, Raj Krishna Pal Lane, Kolkata – 700 075, India.