Nandgram

Nandgram, later known as Rajnandgaon, lies west of Durg near the Shivnath River. Its ruling estate grew from the fortunes of a Vaishnava religious household. Tradition traces the family to Prahlad Das, a shawl merchant who came from Punjab to Ratanpur near the end of the eighteenth century. His disciple Hari Das acquired an estate through moneylending, and Hari Das’s disciple Ram Das obtained Nandgaon in settlement of a loan. The name is associated locally with Nanda, the foster father of Krishna, whom the family worshipped.