Tripuri Kshatriya
Encyclopedia
Tripuri Kshatriya is a Vaishnav caste group which encompasses almost all the members of the Tripuri, Reang
, Jamatia
and Noatia
ethnic groups, most of whom live in the India
n state of Tripura
. Their Kshatriya
status is actively contested by local as well as foreign Brahmin
s. The Tripuri Royal Family
belonged to the Tripuri ethnic group, from the Deb Barma
clan. Originally the term "Tripur Kshatriya" was used to denote the Tripuri ethnic group only, but in due time, the Maharajah included the remaining three ethnic groups as well, in an attempt to foster a sense of kinship among his people. With the influx of the Bengali immigrants from neighbouring places, the Tripuris lost their majority in their own kingdom and the Maharajah's power was taken away by the Indian government. Formerly, the community was organized under the Tripura Kshatriya Samaj, which was headed by the Maharajah of Tripura himself.
by the Maharajah, which was considered to be one of the highest ranks of nobility in Tripura
.
, who ruled Tripura from 1923 to 1947 was widely criticized for his religious intolerance.
In 1942, the Rai of the Riang area, Debi Singh Riang was dismissed by the Maharajah and Khagendra Riang Chowdhury of Bangafa was appointed as the new Rai. He increased the tax on Ganga Puja by 100%. This caused widespread discontent among the Riangs and lead to the outbreak of a small scale rebellion under the leadership of Ratanmani Noatia, a Vaishnava sadhu. The rebels formed a parallel government, looted the granaries and houses of wealthy Chowdhuries. However, towards the end of 1943, the Maharajah of Tripura with the help of his loyal soldiers drawn from the Tripuri and Jamatia
was able to rout the rebels and arrest the instigators. The Mahajarah's forces arrested more than 300 civilians, including around 200 women and children. Ratanmani Sadhu was taken to the Maharajah's palace, where he was brutally tortured before the execution.
In 1946, the Maharajah decided to evict close to 500 Muslim
families from the outskirts of Agartala. Despite huge outcry from other parts of India and intervention by the leaders of the Indian National Congress, the eviction was carried out.
suddely died on 17 May 1947. After his death, Regent Queen Kanchan Prava Debi took up the administration and decided to merge the Kingdom with India
, despite the advise from most of her ministers like Durjoy Kishore Debbarma for a merger with Pakistan
. Maharajah Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur assumed power in 1947 and ruled until 1949, when the kingdom merged with India. The current incumbent is Maharaja Kirit Pradyot Deb Barman Manikya Bahadur
.
Reang
Reang or Riang, as it may be spelt, is one of the 21 scheduled tribes of Tripura state of India.Reang is mistakenly recorded by the government actually it's Bru. They are mainly dwelling in the North Tripura, Dalai and the South Tripura districts of Tripura state in India, but are also found in...
, Jamatia
Jamatia
Jamatia is one of the 21 scheduled tribes of Tripura state of India. They are mainly dwelling in the West Tripura and the South Tripura districts. They speak the language Kokborok which is of Tibeto-Burmese origin...
and Noatia
Noatia
Noatia is one of the 21 scheduled tribes of the Tripura state of India. The tribe mainly lives in the hills of Dhalai and the North Tripura districts of the Tripura state of India. They speak the Noatia dialect of Kokborok which is of Tibeto-Burmese origin. Their appearance is mongoloid.-See...
ethnic groups, most of whom live in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Tripura
Tripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
. Their Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
status is actively contested by local as well as foreign Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s. The Tripuri Royal Family
Manikya Dynasty
The Kings of Tripura assumed the title of Manikya. The dynasty was of Indo-Mongolian origin and was founded when Ratna Fa assumed the title in 1280....
belonged to the Tripuri ethnic group, from the Deb Barma
Debbarma
Debbarma is the surname or the title generally used by the Borok people, indigenous people of Tripura, a state in India. The mother tongue of this ethnic group is Kokborok.and Bengali-Variations:...
clan. Originally the term "Tripur Kshatriya" was used to denote the Tripuri ethnic group only, but in due time, the Maharajah included the remaining three ethnic groups as well, in an attempt to foster a sense of kinship among his people. With the influx of the Bengali immigrants from neighbouring places, the Tripuris lost their majority in their own kingdom and the Maharajah's power was taken away by the Indian government. Formerly, the community was organized under the Tripura Kshatriya Samaj, which was headed by the Maharajah of Tripura himself.
Local Organization
The Maharajah appointed governors, known as Rai to help him in administration. These governors oversaw the governing of various districts. The governorates were again subdivided in to chiefdoms, which were administrated by a Chowdhury. The families who were considered close to the Royal Family were granted the title ThakurThakur (Indian title)
Thakur is an Indian feudal title in several Indian languages, literally meaning "lord". A Thikana is the state or estate of a Thakur. A Thakurani is the wife of a Thakur...
by the Maharajah, which was considered to be one of the highest ranks of nobility in Tripura
Tripura
Tripura is a state in North-East India, with an area of . It is the third smallest state of India, according to area. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south, and west. The Indian states of Assam and Mizoram lie to the east. The capital is Agartala and the main languages spoken are...
.
Religious intolerance
Maharajah Bir Bikram Kishore Debbarman Manikya BahadurBir Bikram Kishore Debbarman
Bir Bikram Kishore Debbarman Manikya Bahadur was a king of Tripura.He was the king before the merger of Tripura with India. He succeeded his father, Birendra Kishore Debbarman, after the elder man's death on 13 August 1923...
, who ruled Tripura from 1923 to 1947 was widely criticized for his religious intolerance.
In 1942, the Rai of the Riang area, Debi Singh Riang was dismissed by the Maharajah and Khagendra Riang Chowdhury of Bangafa was appointed as the new Rai. He increased the tax on Ganga Puja by 100%. This caused widespread discontent among the Riangs and lead to the outbreak of a small scale rebellion under the leadership of Ratanmani Noatia, a Vaishnava sadhu. The rebels formed a parallel government, looted the granaries and houses of wealthy Chowdhuries. However, towards the end of 1943, the Maharajah of Tripura with the help of his loyal soldiers drawn from the Tripuri and Jamatia
Jamatia
Jamatia is one of the 21 scheduled tribes of Tripura state of India. They are mainly dwelling in the West Tripura and the South Tripura districts. They speak the language Kokborok which is of Tibeto-Burmese origin...
was able to rout the rebels and arrest the instigators. The Mahajarah's forces arrested more than 300 civilians, including around 200 women and children. Ratanmani Sadhu was taken to the Maharajah's palace, where he was brutally tortured before the execution.
In 1946, the Maharajah decided to evict close to 500 Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
families from the outskirts of Agartala. Despite huge outcry from other parts of India and intervention by the leaders of the Indian National Congress, the eviction was carried out.
Decline of power
Maharajah Bir Bikram Kishore ManikyaBir Bikram Kishore Debbarman
Bir Bikram Kishore Debbarman Manikya Bahadur was a king of Tripura.He was the king before the merger of Tripura with India. He succeeded his father, Birendra Kishore Debbarman, after the elder man's death on 13 August 1923...
suddely died on 17 May 1947. After his death, Regent Queen Kanchan Prava Debi took up the administration and decided to merge the Kingdom with India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, despite the advise from most of her ministers like Durjoy Kishore Debbarma for a merger with Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Maharajah Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur assumed power in 1947 and ruled until 1949, when the kingdom merged with India. The current incumbent is Maharaja Kirit Pradyot Deb Barman Manikya Bahadur
Kirit Pradyot Deb Barman
Kirit Pradyot Deb Barman Manikya BahadurAlso Known as P.B.K Manikya is a public figure from the Indian state of Tripura...
.
See also
- Death of the last ruler at Indigenousherald.com
- Royal Family Profile at uq.net.au