Biswa Singha
Biswa Singha | |
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Reign | 1515–1540 |
Coronation | 1515 |
Predecessor | None |
Successor | Nara Narayan |
Issue | Nara Narayan, Chilarai |
Dynasty | Koch dynasty |
Father | Hariya Mandal |
Mother | Hira |
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Biswa Singha (1515–1540) was the progenitor king of the
Historical context of Biswa Singha
After break-up of the
In this political vacuum Biswa Singha managed to unify different tribal groups and establish the Koch dynasty in the seat of the erstwhile Kamata kingdom.
Biography
Rise of Biswa Singha
Bisu, as he was then known, was born to Hariya Mandal of Mount Chikna in present-day
Bisu began his campaign around 1509[10] and successfully managed to unify the Mech, Koch, and Bhutias of Darrang, Karaibari, Atiabari, Kamtabari and Balrampur.[11][12] The Bhuyan chiefs he defeated during his campaign were the Bhuyans of Ouguri, Kusum Bhuyan, Dighala Bhuyan, Kalia Bhuyan, the Bhuyan of Jhargaon, Kabilash Bhuyan, the Bhuyans of Karnapur, Phulaguri, and Bijni and finally the Bhuyan of Pandunath (Pandu at Guwahati). His campaign against the Karnapur Bhuyan was particularly difficult, and he could defeat him only with a stratagem during Bihu.[13] His campaign caused problems for other adjoining Bhuyans, like those Gandharva Ray of Banduka and Sriram Khan of Sajalagram.[14]
At Kamatapur
Brahman priest created a legend of Bisu being born as the son of
In order to maintain a tribe-centric policy, Biswa Singha instructed his ministers not to get brides from foreign people but instead from the Koch, Mech or Kachari tribes.
Death
According to the Darrangraj Vamshavali written in the last quarter of the 18th century, Biswa Singha reigned for 25 years and died of sores; and according to the Kochbiharer Itihas he died of smallpox.[22]
In Yogini Tantra
In Yogini Tantra, a 16th/17th century text describes Biswa Singha as the conqueror of Kàma(rupa) (Kamrup), Saumàra (Ahom) and Gaudapañcama (Gauda).[23]
Buffer state
Even though the restructuring of the Kamata kingdom was done in all earnest, the new administration was still tenuous. The Gaur rulers still had ambitions to conquer the Brahmaputra valley which brought them into conflict with the newly expanded Ahom kingdom. One such invasion was by Turbak, who attacked the Ahoms in 1532–1533.,[24] most likely passing through the Kamata kingdom.[25] Turbak was summarily defeated, and the remnant of his army was pursued to the Karatoya river, the western boundary of the Kamata kingdom, by the Ahom general Tonkham Borgohain. At the end of this expedition, Tonkham Borgohain restored Biswa Singha at his seat of power at Kamata Kingdom to act as a buffer between the Ahom kingdom and the Gaur ambitions in Brahmaputra Valley.
An ambitious person, Biswa Singha could not bear the status of vassalage to the Ahom kingdom, and made an abortive attempt to invade the Ahom kingdom in about 1537. Due to logistical shortcomings, he had to abandon his ambitions, and instead paid a visit to the Ahom court, where he agreed to pay an annual tribute.[26] This was unbearable to him, and his deathbed injunction to his successors were to remove this vassalage.
He invaded the kingdoms of Soumarpith,
He sent his two son Nara Narayan & Sukladhaj (Chilarai) to a
Legacy
Biswa Singha had the skill, intelligence and power which enabled him lay the foundation of a strong kingdom on the ruins of Kamarupa-Kamanta. He proved himself to be a successful conqueror and a efficient administrator. He had the qualities of a statesman which is evident from his relations with
Notes
- ^ "Bisu organised the different Bodo tribes of the region under his banner and launched a career of war and conquest and made the koches a power to be reckoned with.."(Nath 1989:16)
- ^ (Nath 1989:19)
- ^ " Haria Mandal who was the head of twelve leading Mech families and inhabited Chiknabari in Mount Chikna near Bhutan hills"(Shin 2021:30)
- ^ "The Koches 'who had a number of chiefs, at first independent, but who gradually united under the authority of one of themselves named Hajo. occupied Rangpur and Kamrup. He had two daughters, Hira and Jira of whom Hira was married to Hariya, a member of the "impure tribe" called Mech"(Nath 1989:17)
- ^ "It is interesting to note that Bisu, the founder of the dynasty and son of Haria Mandal, a chieftain of the Tibeto–Burman origin, discarded the tribal affinity of his father, but retained Koch identity of his mother (Bisu’s mother, Hira belonged to the Koch origin)"(Roy 2020)
- ^ (Nath 1989:197)
- ^ "In the records of the later Koch kings, we find an era dating from 1509/1510...(it is) but a commemoration date of (Bisu's) inheritance to his grandfather's property." (Nath 1989:28)
- ^ (Nath 1989:28–29)
- ^ "Bisu, who might have fought Alauddin Hussain Shah or his government in Kamrup under the leadership of the Bhuyans and had a knowledge of their (the Bhuyans') military tactics..." (Nath 1989:22–23)
- ^ (Nath 1989:28–29)
- ^ (Shin 2021:33)
- ^ (Nath 1989:23–24)
- ^ (Nath 1989:25)
- ^ (Nath 1989:24)
- ^ "It is common to believe Biswa Singha's origin as son of Siva was nothing but creation of the Brahmans...The Brahmans needed royal patronage and the king wanted legitimacy which could be obtained through the universal religion to teach the people to be obedient, patient and submissive"(Sheikh 2012:250)
- ^ Sheikh 2012, p. 252.
- ^ (Nath 1989:28)
- ^ (Shin 2021:33)
- ^ (Nath 1989:29–32)
- ^ "One such Brahman was Swarbabhuma who was appointed as Rajapurahita or royal priest and also adviser to the king"(Sheikh 2012:251)
- ^ (Shin 2021:33)
- ^ Shin (2021, p. 32,32f)
- ^ (Shin 2021:31)
- ^ (Nath 1989:33)
- ^ (Nath 1989:34–35)
- ^ (Nath 1989:33–34)
- ^ (Sheikh 2012:251)
- ^ "He brought some learned Brahmanas from Mithila, Benaras, Kanauj, and Srikshetra (Puri) to his kingdom in order to perform the Brahminical rituals....all these factors went a long way in effecting a rapid transformation of Koch Behar royal family from tribalism to Saivaism and Vaisnavism"(Sheikh 2012:251)
- ^ (Baruah 1986:206)
References
- Baruah, S L (1986), A Comprehensive History of Assam, Munshiram Manoharlal
- BARMAN, RUP KUMAR (2014). State Formation, Legitimization and Cultural Change A Study of Koch Kingdom (PDF). Vol. 12. The NEHU Journal. pp. 17–35.
- Shin, Jae-Eun (2021). "Sword and Words: A Conflict Between Kings and Brahmins in the Bengal Frontier, Kāmatāpur 15th–16th Centuries". Journal of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums. 3. Government of West Bengal: 21–36.
- Sharma, Chandan Kumar (2009). "Tribe Caste Continuum and the Formation of Assamese Identity". In Medhi, B.K (ed.). Tribes of North-East India: Issues and Challenges. Delhi: Omsons Publications. pp. 354–366.
- Nath, D (1989). History of the Koch Kingdom: 1515–1615. Delhi: Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-109-0.
- Gogoi, Jahnavi (2002). Agrarian System of Medieval Assam. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company.
- Sheikh, Amiruzzaman (2012). "The 16th century Koch kingdom: Evolving patterns of sanskritisation". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 73: 249–254. JSTOR 44156212.
- Roy, Gautam Chandra (2020), "Negotiating with the Changing Landscape: The Case of the Rajbanshi Community", Political Weekly, 55 (39)