Pratapgarh State (Northeast India)

Early History

The heartland of the later Pratapgarh State, located on the present border of southern Sylhet and the Indian state of Tripura, has undergone several name changes in its history. Originally called Sonai Kachanpur, the area was renamed Chatachura after the wandering Magadhan prince Chatra Singh, who received the land as a gift from the Maharaja of Tripura around 1260.^[1][2]

Singh's new kingdom was hilly country, being on the south-eastern corner of the Adal-ail and Du-ail hills and was inhabited principally by Kuki tribes. It stretched from Karimganj up to parts of the Lushai Hills and had its capital in Kanakpur. Singh's grandson Pratap Singh later founded a new town which he named Pratapgarh after himself.^[3]

Pratap Singh appears to have maintained relations with contemporary neighbouring kingdoms. This may be shown by his sister, Santipriya marrying a Prince of Sylhet, a cousin to its last independent king Gour Govinda.^[3] Singh's own family may not have left heirs however, as by the 15th century his royal palace was in the hands of Muslim lords.^[4]

It has been suggested that Pratapgarh State, established centuries later received its name from Pratap Singh and the town he had founded.^[5] Alternatively the name may have come from the first ruler of the state, the Muslim Malik Pratap.^[4]

Founding of the Royal Dynasty

The earliest recorded member of the ruling family of Pratapgarh was a young Persian noble, Mirza Malik Muhammad Turani who lived at the close of the 14th century. Turani, following a family dispute in his native Iran, migrated to India in 1384 with a large force, first going to Delhi before settling in present-day Karimganj.^[4][6] Although by this point nearby Sylhet had long since been conquered for Islam by the warrior-saint Shah Jalal, the area to which Turani arrived was in the dominion of the Maharaja of Tripura, still under the control of Hindu tribes.^[7]

According to local legend Turani, after settling into the area came upon a beautiful woman bathing in the river and immediately fell in love with her. After discovering that the woman, Umavati was of noble birth he went to her father, the local Khasi governor Pura Raja to ask for her hand in marriage. Reluctant to marry his daughter to a Muslim, Pura Raja rejected the proposal. Turani, humiliated led his forces in an attack of Pura Raja’s fort and captured it, forcing the governor to agree to the marriage. Further to this, as he had no sons, Pura Raja also agreed to name Turani his successor.^[4]

Independence from Tripura

In the late 15th century Turani’s great-great-grandson, Malik Pratap was the ruler of Pratapgarh. By this point Pratap had gained the former lands, as well as the palace of Pratap Singh in Patharkandi by marrying the daughter of the then-current owner, Amir Ajfar.^[4]

In 1489 the Maharaja of Tripura, Pratap Manikya II was engaged in a war against his elder brother Dhanya after taking the throne with the help of his army generals. While the Maharaja was distracted and lacked the means to intervene, Malik Pratap seceded Pratapgarh from Tripura and declared himself its independent ruler.^[4]

Malik Pratap then aided the Maharaja in his war, and through his help and courage, earned his friendship. In thanks for his assistance, Manikya recognised Pratapgarhs independence and awarded Malik Pratap the title of ‘Raja’. Further to this, the Maharaja gave his daughter Ratnavati Devi in marriage to Malik Pratap’s grandson, Bazid.^[4] However, in 1490 Pratap Manikya was assassinated by his generals, with Malik Pratap dying soon afterwards.^[8]

War Against Bengal

After ascending the throne, Bazid repulsed an invasion by the powerful neighbouring Kingdom of Kachar. He then expanded the power and influence of his own kingdom, stretching its frontiers as far west as the borders of Jangalbari in modern-day Kishoreganj. In light of these achievements, Bazid gave himself the new title of ‘Sultan’, placing himself on the same level as the mighty Sultan of Bengal.^[9]

It was at this time that Gouhar Khan, the Bengali governor of Sylhet died. His assistants, Subid Ram and Ramdas took advantage of his death and embezzled a large amount of money from the state government. Then, fearing the response of the Sultan of Bengal, Alauddin Husain Shah, they fled to Pratapgarh.^[9] Bazid gave his protection to the two fugitives and seeing the current disunity in Sylhet, also seized control of the district and added it to his own domain.^[10]

Hussain Shah, wishing to avoid war sent one of his nobles, a Hindu convert from Sylhet named Surwar Khan to negotiate with the Sultan of Pratapgarh.^[11][9] Surwar Khan was unsuccessful in this and was forced to face Bazid, along with his allies, the Zamindars of Ita and Kanihati in battle.^[12]

Though the rebels reportedly fought well, with Bazid’s son Marhamat Khan in particular fighting with distinction, eventually Bazid and the two zamindars were captured.^[9]

Hussain Shah agreed to allow Bazid to continue as Raja of Pratapgarh with relative independence, but was required to surrender his control of Sylhet and give up the title of ‘Sultan’. A tribute of money and elephants was given to show Bazid’s loyalty and the two fugitives, Subid Ram and Ramdas were sent to Hussain Shah to face punishment. Finally Surwar Khan was named the new governor of Sylhet, with Bazid’s daughter Lavanyavati being given in marriage to Surwar’s son and eventual successor Mir Khan.^[13][14] The elderly Bazid died soon after this defeat.^[13]

Kachari Invasion

By the early 18th century Aftab ud-Din, the grandson of Marhamat Khan was the Raja of Pratapgarh. During this time, he entered a dispute with the king of Kachar.^[13] There is some dispute about the identity of this king, who is unnamed in local histories. A.C. Choudhury believes that this ruler was Tulsidhaja, who reigned after 1730.^[15][16] Alternatively, U. Guha suggests that it was Tamradhaja, who ruled a generation earlier, placing these events around 1708.^[17]

This dispute reached the point where Kachar launched an invasion, the second in Pratapgarhs history, led by the Kachari king himself. Aftab ud-Din and his soldiers met the invading army before it had entered too far into his territory and in the ensuing battle, the Kachari king was killed.^[15]

Kamala, the Kachari queen was shocked by her husband’s death and in her fury led a second, much larger army against Pratapgarh. Aftab ud-Din’s forces were much weaker and though they were reported to have fought valiantly, “like floating grass in the face of a flood” they were eventually swept away. Kamala then had Aftab ud-Din’s palace in Patharkandi looted in revenge.^[15]

The Raja and the remaining royal family were forced to flee to their allies in Jangalbari (to whom they were related through Aftab ud-Din’s grandmother) while Pratapgarh was incorporated into the Kachari Kingdom.^[15][18]

The Revolt of Radharam

‘The Chargola Uprising of 1786’, also called ‘the Revolt of Radharam’ was a rebellion against the authority of the East India Company perpetrated by Radharam, the Zamindar of Chargola, in what was formerly the Pratapgarh Kingdom. It was one of the earliest struggles against British authority in Northeast India.^[22]

The initial factors of the revolt may be traced to the 1760s, when the Zamindar of Pratapgarh was Ghulam Ali Choudhury, a great-grandson of Sultan Muhammad. At this time Radharam Datta, of Taltala village in Sylhet moved to an area of Choudhury’s estate named Chargola, located at the tri-juncture between Sylhet, Tripura and the Mizo Hills.^[23][24] Here he operated a successful business selling various commodities and provisions. One of his customers was the Zamindar himself, to whom he sold provisions on credit when Choudhury lacked the funds, as well as occasionally loaning money. As collateral against these increasing debts, Choudhury promised Radharam ever greater amounts of lands from his estate. By the time Ghulam Ali Choudhury died, Radharam was poised to become his chief beneficiary.^[23]

However the late Zamindar’s son, Ghulam Raja Choudhury believed that Radharam had cheated his father and went to the British Sadr Nizamat in Calcutta to contest the inheritance. The Courts ruled in favour of Choudhury and split Pratapgarhs lands, awarding one half each to him and Radharam.^[25] Radharam was angered by the decision and it has been suggested that his enmity with the British began at this point.^[25]

Despite this loss, Radharam’s power increased. Among his most important customers were Kuki chieftains with whom he maintained good relations, as well as offering employment to members of their tribes. This allowed him to expand his control and influence over the Kuki villages which he used to raise a personal armed militia, commanded by his son Ranamangal.^[26] He gained influence over the Maharaja of Tripura, Durga Manikya who granted him the right to govern Chargola as its zamindar.^[27][28] Radharam created his own fort, courts and prison, effectively ruling as an independent chief, with the inhabitants of his land referring to him as ‘Nawab’.^[28][23]

Since 1765, when the East India Company gained the Diwani of Bengal from the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, all landowners were required to register themselves as Zamindars, initially under one, then five followed by ten-year settlements before finally Permanent Settlement was enacted under Lord Cornwallis. Radharam refused to submit to Company authority and proclaimed himself the independent Nawab of Chargola. Upon hearing that Ghulam Raja Choudhury had registered his own lands, Radharam was furious and decided to punish Choudhury for his loyalty to the Company. He began to use his militia to take control of parts of Pratapgarh, with the eventual goal to dislodge Choudhury from his lands.^[23] Choudhury himself was attacked at his family home by the Kuki soldiers. Though he survived, there were many casualties.^[29] When he, along with other local Zamindars facing similar attacks complained, the District Collector of Sylhet Robert Lindsay created a Police outpost on the borders of Chargola to keep Radharam in check.^[26]

Within a few months of its establishment in 1786, the outpost was attacked and its inhabitants killed on Radharam’s orders, who then had a fort manned by his Kuki soldiers erected in its place. After another similar attack, Lindsay had a fleet of war-boats attack Chargola in a battle that lasted several days. At the same time the Company sent an army of foot soldiers to attack from another direction, with Radharam’s commander, his son Ranamangal being killed in the ensuing battle and his soldiers fleeing. Chargola was occupied and his three other sons were captured, though Radharam himself escaped.^[26]

Though he evaded capture for several months, Radharam was eventually arrested while in disguise attending a religious festival. He was put in a cage and according to official reports, committed suicide on his way to prison, although there are some suggestions that he was killed in police custody in Sylhet.^[30] While initially Chargola was given to Ghulam Raja Choudhury, it was returned to Radharam’s sons after they swore their loyalty to the Company.^[31] It was divided into three parts between them, though only the eldest, Jaymangmal was recognised as the Zamindar, with the estate being permanently settled under the Bengal Presidency.^[30]