Koch dynasty
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The Koch dynasty of Assam and Bengal, named after the Koch tribe of Tibeto-Burmese affiliation, took control of the Kamata kingdom in 1515 after the fall of the Khen dynasty in 1498. The capital was located at Cooch Behar town.
The first major king was Vishwa Singha, who established himself in 1515 as the ruler of the Kamata kingdom after the Khen dynasty was defeated by Alauddin Hussein Shah in 1498. According to Jadunath Sarkar (Sarkar 1992, pp69), Viswa Singha belonged to one of the dominant Koch tribes, which were a collection Mongoloid tribes, closely allied to the Meches, Garos, Tharus and also Dravidians. They had adopted Hinduism a few generations before Vishwa Singha and claimed the Kshatriya varna. The earliest known ancestor of Viswa Singha was Haria Mandal (Sarkar 1992, ff70), from the Chiknabari village in Goalpara district, the head of the twelve most powerful Koch families. He was married to Jira and Hira, daughters of a Koch chief named Hajo, after whom Koch Hajo was named. Viswa Singha was the son of Haria Mandal and Hira.
Viswa Singha's two sons, Naranarayan and Shukladhwaj (Chilarai), the king and the commander-in-chief of the army respectively, took the kingdom to its zenith. Nara Narayan made Raghudev, the son of Chilarai, the governor of Koch Hajo, the eastern portion of the country. After the death of Nara Narayan, Raghudev declared independence. The division of the Kamata kingdom into Koch Bihar and Koch Hajo was permanent.
Nara Narayan was impressed by the bhakti saint Srimanta Sankardeva who became a member of his court in the last three years of his life and who established a sattra in the kingdom.
[edit] Early History
In earlier time in the north eastern frontier of India which was known as Pragjyotishpur, which later came to be known as Kamarupa. Ancient Kamrup was divided into four parts, namely Kampith, Ratnapith, Subarnapith and Soumarpith. Ancient Kamrup was ruled by many dynasties.
The princely state known as Cooch Behar during the British rule was a part of the Kamarupa Kingdom from 4th century–12th century ruled by the Varman, Mlechchha and Pala dynasties. From 12th century, the area became a part of Kamata kingdom, first ruled by the Khen dynasty from their capital at Kamatapur. The most important Khen rulers were Niladhaj (1440-1460), Chakradhaj (1460-1480) and Nilambar (1480-1498) The Khens were an indigenous tribe and they ruled till about 1498 CE when they fell into the trick of Alauddin Hossein Shah, the independent Pathan Sultan of Gaur, West Bengal and lost their empire. The new invaders came into conflict with the local Bhuiyan chieftains and the Ahom king Suhung, and lost control of the region.
After the muslims left the area there was confusion and commotion in the country. During this time independent Bhuiyans started ruling over small areas. Among these a Koch Bhuiyan named Hajo had two daughters named Jira and Hira. On the other side there was a small territory at Chikna Mountains situated between Sankosh river and Champabati river about 80 kilometer north of Dhubri in present Goalapara District of Assam. This territory was ruled by Haridas Mondal, a Mech chieftain. To establish unity wih Chikna, Hajo wedded off his daughters to Haridas. In due time Jira gave birth to Madan & Chandan while Hira gave birth to Sishu (Sisya Singha) & Bishu (Biswa Singha). Among the four brothers Bishu was the cleverest and strongest.
One day the four brothers were praying to Goddess Bhagwati in a playful mood and they offered one of their friend for sacrifice and it is believed that mysteriously the head of the friend was cut off his body. Turka Kotwal ordered to arrest them, fearing arrest they took shelter in the forest.
Later they collected soldiers, elephants and horses and attacked the Turka Kotwal. Madan was killed in the battle; to take revenge Biswa Singha killed Turka Kotwal. To please step-mother Jira, whose son Madan was killed instead of becoming himself the king; Biswa Singha enthroned Chandan as the King. In this way in 1510 the Koch kingdom was started.
[edit] Kings
- Viswa Singha (1515-1540)
- Nara Narayan (1540-1586)
- Lakshmi Narayan (King of only Koch Bihar)
- Bir Narayan
- Pran Narayan
- Basudev Narayan
- Mahindra Narayan
- Roop Narayan
- Upendra Narayan
- Devendra Narayan
- Dhairjendra Narayan
- Rajendra Narayan
- Dharendra Narayan
- Harendra Narayan
- Shivendra Narayan
- Narendra Narayan
- Nripendra Narayan
- Rajrajendra Narayan
- Jitendra Narayan
- Jagadipendra Narayan
[edit] References
- Sarkar, J N (1992) Chapter IV: Early Rulers of Koch Bihar in The Comprehensive History of Assam, Vol II, (ed H K Barpujari), Publication Board, Assam.
- Royal History of Koch Bihar.
