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Raikat
The Raikut family was a princely family that controlled large estates in Jalpaiguri what is now West Bengal, India, first as subjects to the state of Koch Bihar, later as Zamindars to the Mughal rulers of Bengal, and then to British Raj. Their story parallels that of the Bardhaman Raj, from the same region.
The Raikut family is a collateral branch of Koch dynasty which took control of the Kamata Kingdom in 1515. The family founder was Sisya Singha (earlier known as Sisu), brother of Biswa Singha who established the Koch dynasty. Sisya Singha held the umbrella during Biswa Singha's coronation and was made the Raikut (lit: chieftain of the fortress) and commander-in-chief of the Koch army. He was given the region called Vaikunthapur (present-day Jalpaiguri district) as appanage. He established his seat at Siliaguri or Silikhaguri (modern-day Siliguri).
The seat of the Raikut family was shifted to the present site in Jalpaiguri city by Jayanto Deb Raikat, who ruled during the years 1793–1800. The big pond which exits today near the palace was excavated at the time of Sarva Dev, who ruled from 1800 to 1847.
Baikunthopur Estate was not included in any Sarkar of Muslim division of the country. Although some accounts say that it transferred its allegiance to them and agreed to pay a nominal tribute. This is said to have signed in 1682 at the time of Svja Khan. After the Battle of Plassey, the Dewani of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha came under East India Company in 1765. This estate was then temporarily included in the Dewani, placed under Rangpur District and received the benefit of permanent settlement.
The Rajas of Baikunthoupur paid tributes to the Maharaja of Cooch-Behar. In 1621, Mahi Dev Raikut, the Raikut of Vaikunthapur signified his independence by refusing to hold the umbrella over the Cooch-Behar Raja at the coronation of Birnarayan, and also refused to pay the annual tribute. Even after that, the Rajas of Baikunthopur, Bhuj Dev Raikut and Jagat Deb Raikut helped the Maharajas of Cooch-Behar in 1680, to drive out the Bhutias who attacked Cooch-Behar. But from 1687 onwards, the Rajas of Vaikunthapur and the Muslims repeatedly attacked Cooch-Behar. Satyanarayan (according to some "Santanarayan"), the then-Dewan of Cooch-Behar, defeated both of them and forced the Mughals to peace in 1771.[citation needed]
On the death of Maharajah Madan Narayan of Koch Bihar in 1680, with no immediate successor, Koch Bihar was attacked by the Bhutan army. The Raikuts of Baikunthapur sent troops and helped force the Bhutia army to retreat. The Raikats crowned Basudev Narayan (1680–1682 CE) as Maharajah and helped establish peace, before returning to their home. Two years later, the Bhutanese attacked again, captured the palace and massacred the royal family, including Basudev Narayan. The Raikuts Yogya dev and Bhuj dev intervened again, defeating the invaders in a fierce battle on the banks of the Manas River. The Raikuts then crowned Mahendra Narayan (1682–1693 CE), a five-year-old grandson of Pran Narayan, as the next Maharajah.[citation needed]
During the minority rule of Mahendra Narayan, Koch Bihar was unsettled. The lords of southern regions rejected Bihari rule, in place of direct tribute to the Mughal rulers as zamindars (landlords) of their territories. They accepted the authority of – and paid taxes to – Ibrahim Khan (ruler of Dhaka) and the Fauzdar of Ghoraghat. Even the Raikut princes of Baikunthopur and Pangar transferred loyalty to these powers, although perhaps only nominally. But from 1687 onwards, the Rajas of Baikunthopur and the Muslim rulers of Bengal repeatedly attacked Koch Bihar, now dominated by Bhutan.
The Faujdar of Rangpur, representing the Nawab of Bengal Shuja-ud-din (1727–1739), pressured the Raikuts to accept the suzerainty of the Nawab, sometime between 1736 and 1739. However, the Faujdar had to invade the territory in 1756 to enforce the claim. As late as 1772, the Raikuts were paying only Rs. 10,000 tribute, instead of the Rs. 30,651 agreed in 1763.
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Raikat
The Raikut family was a princely family that controlled large estates in Jalpaiguri what is now West Bengal, India, first as subjects to the state of Koch Bihar, later as Zamindars to the Mughal rulers of Bengal, and then to British Raj. Their story parallels that of the Bardhaman Raj, from the same region.
The Raikut family is a collateral branch of Koch dynasty which took control of the Kamata Kingdom in 1515. The family founder was Sisya Singha (earlier known as Sisu), brother of Biswa Singha who established the Koch dynasty. Sisya Singha held the umbrella during Biswa Singha's coronation and was made the Raikut (lit: chieftain of the fortress) and commander-in-chief of the Koch army. He was given the region called Vaikunthapur (present-day Jalpaiguri district) as appanage. He established his seat at Siliaguri or Silikhaguri (modern-day Siliguri).
The seat of the Raikut family was shifted to the present site in Jalpaiguri city by Jayanto Deb Raikat, who ruled during the years 1793–1800. The big pond which exits today near the palace was excavated at the time of Sarva Dev, who ruled from 1800 to 1847.
Baikunthopur Estate was not included in any Sarkar of Muslim division of the country. Although some accounts say that it transferred its allegiance to them and agreed to pay a nominal tribute. This is said to have signed in 1682 at the time of Svja Khan. After the Battle of Plassey, the Dewani of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha came under East India Company in 1765. This estate was then temporarily included in the Dewani, placed under Rangpur District and received the benefit of permanent settlement.
The Rajas of Baikunthoupur paid tributes to the Maharaja of Cooch-Behar. In 1621, Mahi Dev Raikut, the Raikut of Vaikunthapur signified his independence by refusing to hold the umbrella over the Cooch-Behar Raja at the coronation of Birnarayan, and also refused to pay the annual tribute. Even after that, the Rajas of Baikunthopur, Bhuj Dev Raikut and Jagat Deb Raikut helped the Maharajas of Cooch-Behar in 1680, to drive out the Bhutias who attacked Cooch-Behar. But from 1687 onwards, the Rajas of Vaikunthapur and the Muslims repeatedly attacked Cooch-Behar. Satyanarayan (according to some "Santanarayan"), the then-Dewan of Cooch-Behar, defeated both of them and forced the Mughals to peace in 1771.[citation needed]
On the death of Maharajah Madan Narayan of Koch Bihar in 1680, with no immediate successor, Koch Bihar was attacked by the Bhutan army. The Raikuts of Baikunthapur sent troops and helped force the Bhutia army to retreat. The Raikats crowned Basudev Narayan (1680–1682 CE) as Maharajah and helped establish peace, before returning to their home. Two years later, the Bhutanese attacked again, captured the palace and massacred the royal family, including Basudev Narayan. The Raikuts Yogya dev and Bhuj dev intervened again, defeating the invaders in a fierce battle on the banks of the Manas River. The Raikuts then crowned Mahendra Narayan (1682–1693 CE), a five-year-old grandson of Pran Narayan, as the next Maharajah.[citation needed]
During the minority rule of Mahendra Narayan, Koch Bihar was unsettled. The lords of southern regions rejected Bihari rule, in place of direct tribute to the Mughal rulers as zamindars (landlords) of their territories. They accepted the authority of – and paid taxes to – Ibrahim Khan (ruler of Dhaka) and the Fauzdar of Ghoraghat. Even the Raikut princes of Baikunthopur and Pangar transferred loyalty to these powers, although perhaps only nominally. But from 1687 onwards, the Rajas of Baikunthopur and the Muslim rulers of Bengal repeatedly attacked Koch Bihar, now dominated by Bhutan.
The Faujdar of Rangpur, representing the Nawab of Bengal Shuja-ud-din (1727–1739), pressured the Raikuts to accept the suzerainty of the Nawab, sometime between 1736 and 1739. However, the Faujdar had to invade the territory in 1756 to enforce the claim. As late as 1772, the Raikuts were paying only Rs. 10,000 tribute, instead of the Rs. 30,651 agreed in 1763.