 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source .(November 2020) |
Keertichandra Borbarua | |
|---|---|
| Preceded by | Rupchandra Barbarua |
| Succeeded by | Bhadrasen Borborua |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ahom Kingdom |
Keertichandra Borbarua was the Prime Minister of Ahom Kingdom during the reign of Lakshmi Singha. [1] He was a controversial person of Assam History. Though he was a capable statesman, burning the fake Buranjis was the controversial incident of his life.
Keertichandra Borbarua was the son of Rupchandra Barbarua. He was from the house of Bokotiyal. [2] Gendhela was another name of Keertichandra Barbarua. He was assassinated by Moamoria rebel Nahar. [3]
During the reign of Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha an expedition was sent under the leadership of Haranath Phukan to free Manipur from the hand of Burmese. But the soldiers lost their path in the jungle. Naga also killed many soldiers. There was starvation among them. Fever also killed many warriors. At last Harnath Phukan decided to retreat from the jungle. Harnath Phukan informed all of these to Keertichandra Borbarua. [4] Keertichandra told Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha about the matter. Rajeswar Singha decided to send another expedition under the leadership of Keertichandra Borbarua to Manipur. [5]
When Keertichandra Barbarua reached Roha the Burmese decided to retreat from Manipur. So the king of Manipur decided to give his daughter Kuranganayani to Rajeswar Singha as a sign of friendship. Keertichandra Borbarua told the king that the King of Manipur had a daughter whose name is Kuranganayani. The king of Manipur was the descendant of Babrubahan. So there was no doubt that he was Kshatriya for which Swargadeo should marry the princess Kuranganayani. After hearing these Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha decided to marry Kuranganayani. In this marriage the family of Joy Singha was present. The marriage took place at the bank of river Sonai (present-day Cachar district of Assam). It was a Chaklang form of marriage. [6]
Keertichandra Borbarua was from the house of Bokotiyal. One of the ancestors of these house was engaged in the work of tailoring in the house of a Goriya for which the Bokotiyal was called the 'jolombota Goriya'. Disturbed by the influence of Keertichandra Borbarua in the royal court Numali Borgohain decided to write a Buranji humiliating Keertichandra for his low birth. After writing the Buranji Numali Borgohain named it "Chakaree Phetee'. Hearing these Keertichandra Borbarua brought his relative from Burma and proved that he was real Ahom. Keertichandra also decided to burn all the Buranjis where there were wrong. After taking permission of Rajeswar Singha Keertichandra burnt all the Buranjis where he found wrong. Keertichandra Borbarua also returned the Buranjis which he found true. [7]
Swargadeo Lakshmi Singha appointed Keertichandra Borbarua as his Prime Minister. Lakshmi Singha also appointed Ramananda Pushpacharya of Kanauj as his religious teacher. This made the other Mahantas angry. Lakshmi Singha appointed Ramananda Puspacharya by counselling with Keertichandra Borbarua for which the Moamoriya Mahanta scolded Keertichandra by telling him Jolombota. This made the Moamoriya enemy of Keertichandra. One day Lakshmi Singha was coming with Keertichandra Borbarua in a boat. The Moamoriya Mahanta greeted Swargadeo but did not even look at Keertichandra. For this reason Keertichandra also scolded Moamoriya. In those days there was a rule that Moamoriya should give three elephants. One to Swargadeo, One to Burhagohain and one to Borbarua. In the year of 1691 shaka a Naharkhora of the Moamoriya gave one strong elephant to Swargadeo and one strong elephant to Burhagohain but gave a weak elephant to Keertichandra Borbarua. This made Borbarua very angry . He cut two ears of Naharkhora as punishment. Naharkhora told about all of these before the Moamoriya Mahanta. [8]
The Moamoriya was already upset from the days of Siva singha because Bor Roja Phuleshwari marked their head with the blood of sacrifice made before goddess Durga. The incident of Naharkhora increased their anger. They prepared for rebellion. The Moamoriya made the Mohanmala Gohain the son of Rudra Singha their commander. [9] At last the rebellion started. At the beginning of the rebellion the Nahar of Moamoriya killed Keertichandra. Thus Keertichandra Borbarua was assassinated. [10]
The Ahom dynasty (1228–1826) ruled the Ahom Kingdom in present-day Assam, India for nearly 598 years. The dynasty was established by Sukaphaa, a Shan prince of Mong Mao who came to Assam after crossing the Patkai mountains. The rule of this dynasty ended with the Burmese invasion of Assam and the subsequent annexation by the British East India Company following the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826.
There were three Burmese invasions of Assam between 1817 and 1826, during which time the Kingdom of Assam came under the control of Burma from 1821 to 1825. Locally, this period, called the manor din by the Indigenous Assamese people is remembered with horror. The sharp drop in population due both to depredations as well emigrations left the erstwhile kingdom in shambles. It was the climactic period of the Ahom kingdom. The British, who were earlier reluctant to colonise Assam, came into direct contact with a belligerent Burmese occupying force. Following the First Anglo-Burmese War they annexed Assam and took Manipur as a subsidiary state.
The Ahom kingdom was a late medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra Valley. It maintained its sovereignty for nearly 600 years having successfully resisted Mughal expansion in Northeast India. Established by Sukaphaa, a Tai prince from Mong Mao, it began as a mong in the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra based on wet rice agriculture. It expanded suddenly under Suhungmung in the 16th century and became multi-ethnic in character, casting a profound effect on the political and social life of the entire Brahmaputra valley. The kingdom became weaker with the rise of the Moamoria rebellion, and subsequently fell to repeated Burmese invasions of Assam. With the defeat of the Burmese after the First Anglo-Burmese War and the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826, control of the kingdom passed into East India Company hands.
Borboruah was one of the five patra mantris (councillors) in the Ahom kingdom, a position created by the Ahom king Prataap Singha in 1621. The position included both executive and judicial powers, with jurisdiction of the Ahom kingdom east of Kaliabor river and those regions not governed by the three great Gohains, and the princely estates. The region to the west of Kaliabor was governed by the Borphukan.
Suremphaa, or Rajeswar Singha, the fourth son of Rudra Singha, became the king of the Ahom kingdom after the death of his brother King Pramatta Singha. Rudra Singha's third son, Mohanmala Maladev Gohain, was considered ineligible for kingship as his face was pitted with smallpox marks. According to the norm established after Sulikphaa Lora Roja, an Ahom prince had to be free from any physical disability, defects or deformities to become a king.
Sunenphaa also, Pramatta Singha, was the king of Ahom Kingdom. He succeeded his elder brother Swargadeo Siva Singha, as the king of Ahom Kingdom. His reign of seven years was peaceful and prosperous. He constructed numerous buildings and temples. The most famous of his buildings was the Rang Ghar, which is also considered as the oldest amphitheatre in Asia.
Suklingphaa, or Kamaleswar Singha, was a king of the Ahom kingdom. He came to power when he was a toddler, and died in his teens during a small pox epidemic. The de facto ruler during his reign was Purnanada Burhagohain, who was able to consolidate power after installing him on the throne; and his parents Kadamdighala and Numali also were very powerful. Kamaleswar Singha's reign witnessed the suppression of Moamoria rebellion and restoration of Ahom rule over Upper Assam. The Dundiya Revolution in Kamrup was also suppressed during his reign. In Nagaon, the Ahom army also managed to defeat a coalition of Moamoria rebels and the Kacharis of Kachari Kingdom. Much of this was the handiwork of Purnananda Burhagohain and not Kamaleshwar Singha.
Suklamphaa also Ramadhwaj Singha was a king of the Ahom kingdom. His reign is known for the rise in power of Debera Borbarua and the beginning of a ten-year period of power struggles among high officials of the kingdom that saw quick changes in kings via court intrigues and internal armed conflicts.
Sudingphaa also, Chandrakanta Singha, was a Tungkhungia king of the Ahom dynasty, who ruled at the climactic of the Ahom kingdom. His reign witnessed the invasion of Burmese on Assam and its subsequent occupation by British East India Company. He was installed as King twice. His first reign ended when Ruchinath Burhagohain deposed him and installed Purandar Singha in his stead. His second reign ended with his defeat at the hands of the invading Burmese army. He continued his militant efforts to regain his kingdom as well as to keep Purandar Singha at bay. Finally he submitted himself to Burmese who induced him to believe that they will make him king. Instead he was seized and placed in confinement at Rangpur. After the defeat of Burmese in the First Anglo-Burmese War and subsequent peace Treaty of Yandabo on 24 February 1826 CE, Assam passed into the hand of British. Most of the members of Ahom Royal family were granted pensions. Chandrakanta Singha received a pension of 500 rupees. He first lived in Kaliabor and later on at Guwahati. He visited Calcutta in order to request the restoration of his kingdom but in vain. He died in 1839 CE soon after his return to Guwahati.
Purandar Singha was the last king of the Ahom kingdom in Assam. He was installed as king twice. The first time, he was installed by Ruchinath Burhagohain in 1818 CE, after the latter deposed Chandrakanta Singha from the throne. His first reign ended in 1819 CE, during the second Burmese invasion of Assam, when his forces were defeated and the Burmese reinstalled Chandrakanta Singha on the throne. He along with Ruchinath Burhagohain continued their efforts to expel Burmese invaders, by seeking help from British and through armed struggle. After First Anglo-Burmese War, the British East India Company took over Assam from the Burmese invaders. Finding it difficult to administer an unfamiliar region and sensing discontent among the local inhabitants to foreign rule, the British authorities decided to restore Upper Assam to a prince of Ahom Dynasty. Purander Singha was found suitable for this post and therefore, in April 1833 CE, except for Sadiya and Matak rajya, the entire territory of Upper Assam was formally made over to him, on the condition of yearly tribute of 50,000 rupees. Later, in 1838 CE, finding him incompetent and a defaulter in payments of revenue, the British formally annexed his kingdom, putting an end to a 600 years reign of the Ahom dynasty. When Purandar Singha accepted the position of prince over upper Assam, he did not realize the difficulties of his new position.
Singarigharutha was the traditional coronation ceremony of the king of the Ahom kingdom, a medieval kingdom in Assam. During the period of Ahom supremacy in Assam, the Singarigharutha ceremony had important constitutional significance. It was believed that even though an Ahom prince became king, he could not attain the status of full-fledged monarch until his Singarigharutha ceremony was completely performed. Therefore, each Ahom ruler after their accession to the throne tried to organize the ceremony as soon as possible. But it was not as easy since the ceremony was very expensive and there were records when some of the Ahom kings had to postpone it owing to emergency situations or due to financial crisis of the state.
Jogeswar Singha was installed as the king of Ahom kingdom in 1821 CE, by the Burmese. He was more or less a puppet in the hands of the Burmese, who held the real power of administration. His reign witnessed Burmese atrocities on the people of Assam and the attempts made by Chandrakanta Singha and Purandar Singha to expel Burmese invaders. Historians dispute regarding the date of his deposition from the throne, as some historians claimed that he was deposed by his Burmese masters, after they secured complete victory over the forces of Chandrakanta Singha in 1822 CE, while some sources claimed that he remained as a puppet ruler till termination of Burmese rule in Assam by British East India Company, in 1825 CE, during First Anglo-Burmese War.
Sunyatphaa also Udayaditya Singha was the king of Ahom Kingdom from 1670 CE to 1672 CE. After his elder brother Swargadeo Chakradhwaj Singha died in the middle of Ahom-Mughal war, Udayaditya Singha succeeded to the throne. His reign witnessed the end of Ahom-Mughal war, which started during the reign of Chakradhwaj Singha, when the Mughal army led by Rajput prince, Ram Singh I of Amber, was decisively defeated by the Ahom forces led by Ahom commander Lachit Borphukan in the Battle of Saraighat. The later part of his reign was characterized by the failure of military expedition against the Dafala tribes and the influence of Paramananda Sannyasi, a saintly figure from Brindaban, over Udayaditya Singha. Udayaditya's over exerted devotion towards Paramananda Sanyasi, aroused dissatisfaction among the nobles, which ultimately caused his deposition and execution. His reign was followed by a series of political anarchy and internal disturbances in the Ahom kingdom which continued till the accession of Gadadhar Singha in 1681 CE.
Suhung also known as Samaguria Rojaa Khamjang was a king of the medieval Indian Ahom kingdom who ruled for a very short period. While most of the chronicles put the number of days of his reign as 20, in some chronicles the duration of his reign was shown as one month and fifteen days. Suhung was installed as king of Ahom kingdom by Debera Borbarua after the latter poisoned Ahom king Ramdhwaj Singha. His reign was characterized by the atrocities committed by his minister Debera Borbarua. Finally, Suhung decided to get rid of Debera Borbarua and put an end to his reign of tyranny, but the powerful minister outsmarted the king, by secretly poisoning his medicine and killing him.
Gobar was the king of the Ahom kingdom for a duration of about three weeks. He was the first king from Tungkhungia line of Ahom dynasty, and the father of Gadadhar Singha, a later Ahom king. He was installed by Debera Borbarua, a powerful officer in the capital Garhgaon. Gobar was the last king installed by Debera before both were removed and executed by the Saraighatia Ahom officers under the leadership of Atan Burhagohain.
Sudoiphaa or Tej Singha was the king of Ahom kingdom from 1677 CE to 1679 CE. After deposing king Sujinphaa, Atan Burhagohain, the Prime-Minister of Ahom Kingdom, installed Sudoiphaa in the throne. Sudoiphaa's reign witnessed the end of the ministerial dictatorship of Atan Burhagohain and rise of Laluksola Borphukan, the Ahom Viceroy of Guwahati and Lower Assam, as the real authority behind the throne. In order to gain absolute authority in the Royal Court, Laluksola Borphukan, treacherously surrendered the garrison of Guwahati to Mughals, and held Atan Burhagohain and other nobles as captive. Sudoiphaa's effort to reestablish his authority and bring the ambitious Laluk Sola Borphukan to justice for his treachery against his country and collaboration with the foreigners, finally led to his own deposition and execution by the ambitious minister.
Sulikphaa also, Ratnadhwaj Singha was the twenty-eighth king of the Ahom Kingdom. He was only 14 years of age when Laluksola Borphukan, the Ahom viceroy of Guwahati and Lower Assam, raised him to the throne, after deposing the former king, Sudoiphaa. Due to his young age at the time of his accession, he was generally known as Lora Raja or the Boy-king. His reign was characterized by the atrocities committed by Laluksola Borphukan, who held the real authority behind the throne, in his name. The most notorious act which occurred during his reign was the mutilation of Ahom princes belonging to different phoids or clans of the Royal Ahom Dynasty. While most of the Ahom princes suffered mutilation, Prince Gadapani, the future king Gadadhar Singha, from the Tungkhungia branch of the Royal Ahom Dynasty, escaped, due to the efforts of his illustrious wife, Joymoti Konwari, who refused to divulge any information regarding her husband's whereabouts even in face of the tortures inflicted by the henchmen of Lora Raja. After Laluksola Borphukan was assassinated in court intrigues, the nobles at Kaliabar decided to get rid of the incompetent Lora Raja and put an able prince on the throne. Prince Gadapani, who was living incognito at a place called Rani in Kamrup at that time, was nominated for the throne. Sulikphaa or Lora Raja was deposed and exiled to Namrup, only to be executed later on.
Bora, also spelled Borah or Barah, is an Assamese surname used commonly throughout Assam.
Kuranganayani was a Manipuri princess who became Queen of the Ahom Kingdom. She was the daughter of Jai Singh, she was married to Rajeswar Singha. She was instrumental in killing Moamoria rebel Raghab Borbarua.
Mohanmala Maladev Gohain, Barjana Gohain or simply known as Mohanmala Gohain, was the third son of Rudra Singha, a king of the medieval kingdom of Ahom in Assam, present-day India.
 | This article needs additional or more specific categories .(November 2021) |
