Princess/Singer Pratima Barua Of Kochrajbongshi Royal Family

Pratima Barua (Kamatapuri: প্ৰতিমা বৰুৱা ) (3 October 1935 – 27 December 2002) was a popular Kamatapuri folk singer from the Kochrajbongshi royal family of Gauripur in Western Assam's Dhubri district. Pratima Barua , a national awardee, best known for her immortal Kamatapuri songs Hastir Kanya and Mur Mahut Bandhure, was the daughter of Maharaja Prakritish Chandra Barua and niece of famous filmmaker Pramathesh Barua of Devdas fame.

Pratima Barua was born on October 3, 1935, in Calcutta. She pursued her early education in the city’s Gokhale Memorial School, after which she came to Assam to study at the Girls’ High School, Gauripur, home of the royal family. She mostly spent her early years in between the din of Calcutta and the soothing environments of riverside "Gadadhar" at Gauripur. Although she learned

Koch Rajbongshi People

Koch Rajbongshi is an ancient tribe originally from the ancient Koch kingdom. The Rajbongshi tribe is referred to as Koch Rajbongshi, or Rajbanshi, or Rajvanshi. The word "Rajbongshi" literally means "royal community". They have a rich cultural heritage and their own language.

Habitation

The homelands of this ancient tribe include West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and various North Eastern parts of India. The Great Kamatapur was divided into Bangladesh, West Bengal, Assam, Nepal, Meghalaya, Tripura, Bihar and Bhutan, during the British rule and after the independence of India. A large number of Rajbongshi people now live in North Bengal, West Assam, Meghalaya, Bangladesh and Nepal. A large number of political and non-political organizations of this community have been formed in

Founder / Leader Of Koch Rajbanshi..

RAY SAHEB THAKUR PANCHANAN BARMA

RAY SAHEB THAKUR PANCHANAN BARMA (1865–1935), also known as Thakur Panchanan and Ray  Saheb, was a koch-Rajbanshi leader and reformer from  koch Bihar. He established Kshatriya Sabha in order to inculcate Brahminical values and practices among the people from koch-Rajbanshi community. Panchanan Barma originally came from a jotedar
family of koch Behar. He was born at Khalisamari village in erstwhile koch Bihar State. He graduated from Victoria College (koch Bihar) with an honours in Sanskrit in 1893. Later passed MA and LLB in 1897 and 1898 respectively. In the early years of his career, he started practicing law at Rangpur court. In Rangpur he was shocked by the refusal of a high caste lawyer to use a toga (lawyer's gown), previously used by him. In the following years, he led a kshatriyazation  movement among koch-Rajbanshi community of Bengal. In order to be respected and accepted by the upper caste Bengalis Panchanan felt the koch Rajbanshis must get organized and educated, which he tried to achieve through the ‘Kshatriya  Samity’. Understandably, the samity tried to prove that koch-Rajbanshis were Kshatriyas with a royal  lineage, suggesting a historical link with Bhaskar Varman, the king of Koch kingdom. Based on Sanskrit literature and Brahmin pundits they also claimed to be Kshatriyas hiding their true identity for centuries. In support of this claim the  movement involved a ceremonial kshatriyaization process - brahminical rituals were performed to convert thousands of koch- Rajbanshis to ‘Kshatriya koch-Rajbanshi’ in the villages of North Bengal. In 1921, Panchanan was selected to the Bengal Legislative Assembly after winning the general election. Panchanan died in Kolkata on September  9, 1935.Ref Internet Source From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Rajbanshi Nationality

The Rajbanshi tribe migrated to Nepal from West Bengal approximately 250 years ago. There are three groups which are included in this tribe; the Hindu Rajbanshis, the Muslim Rajbanshi and the Koche. Originally they were all one tribe known as the Koche. They had a powerful kingdom led by a king named Hajo, who established a city in India called Koche Behar. The Brahmins (high caste) of the area were so impressed with this powerful king that they elevated him to the caste of Ksetri (warrior) and gave him the title of Rajbanshi from which this group emerged.

Occupationally, the Rajbanshis are farmers, though they also raise chickens, goats, buffaloes and cows. To gain some additional income they will sell milk from these animals in the markets, as well as doing weaving or working in government or private jobs.

The Rajbanshis use the language of the Koche along with another language spoken by what they call the "true Rajbanshi" called Rajbanshi Bhasa. This is very similar to Bengali. Most Rajbanshis also speak Nepali in order to cornmunicate with the other tribes living close by. This predominantly Hindu group are quite devout and particularly worship the Hindu goddess of destruction - Kali. Every village has a separate hut dedicated to this goddess. They are known to have elaborate death, birth and marriage rites and ceremonies.

This proud high-caste group has been resistant to the gospel(Cristianity) and is in great need of a consistent gospel witness. Despite the fact that most Rajbanshis have heard the gospel message, this group remains very closed to Christianity, with well under 1% being Christians.

Key Prayer Points:

•Pray against the fear of the goddess of destruction (Kali) and the ancestral godess of death (Thakuur Brahmani).

•The two most important festivals among the Rajbanshis are Depavali, where they worship Laxmi (the goddess of wealth) and Lotha Poutha, where they look for strength from the gods. Pray that God will show them that He is their provider and their strength.

•They have a tremendous fear of having to leave their home, village, or community and being treated as an outcast if they accepted Christ. Their society is not open to any kind of change. Pray that God would set them free from their fears and cause their society to be more open to receive the gospel(Cristainty).

•Pray for the few Rajbanshi Christians as they often have to undergo severe persecution.

History Of Rajbanshi In Nepal

Rajbanshis live in the Nepal-India borderlands of the districts of Jhapa and Morang of east Nepal. Anthropologists opine that they are the kiths and kin of the peripheral Koch people of the adjacent states of West Bengal and Asom (Assam) in India. Though having Mongoloid features - they consider themselves as a branch of the Kirants - their language is akin to Bengali and Assamese. They wear clothes conforming to their climate and weather. They worship Thakur Brahmani and also practice shamanism. Consumption of alcohol is a must for worshiping the gods. They play with mud and water during their major festivals. The groom's side makes monetary payment to the bride's family during their marriage. This custom also prevails among some other ethnic groups of Nepal. Their principal occupation is agriculture. Rajbanshis were the indigenous people of Jhapa and Morang before the hill migrants of Nepal overwhelmed them. Most of the Rajbanshis bury their dead but now-a-days some of them have adopted cremation formalities. According to Census 2001, their population is 95,812.

Rajbanshi is the name of an indigenous people settled in Jhapa, Morang and in some number in Sunsari district. It is conjectured that they belong to a mixed race of Austroasian or Dravidian and Mongolian. Rajbanshis and Satars have settled in the eastern Terai in the same process as Tharus and Danuwars were settled in Western Terai of Nepal. When these peoples entered Morang they entered as Rajbanshis. The name Rajbanshi was given after AD1515. The original tribal name of Rajbanshis is Koch or Koche. Worshippers of nature and followers of shamanistic religion these indigenous Koch people have changed their names to Rajbhanshi after coming into contact with Hindus (Sharma, BS2045; Upadhyaya, BS2051-052). They have a lifted bone over their throat a little higher than the average height. The structure of their eyes and forehead, etc is like those of a mix of Aryan-Mongloid, Austric, Negrito, Dravidian. A mix of the culture of worshippping nature and Hindu culture however seems to have developed among the Rajbanshis of Nepal.

Rajbanshis are found mainly in Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari. Their place of origin is the setlement area of Koch in Bihar, Bengal and Assam of India and also Bangladesh. But the largest settlement of Koches with their name Rajbanshi is in Nepal only. According to the census of 2001, their population is 95,812. The language of Rajbanshis is called Rajbanshi Bhasa. It is a mix of Bengali and Maithili. The language of Koches, who are considered the original ethnonym of Rajbanshis, has commonalities with the language of Garo (Bista, 1996).

Facts about the Rajbanshi people:

•The Rajbanshi are a dark-skinned people of medium height.
•Their language is also called Rajbanshi. Some of the people can also speak

Nepali, which is the official language of Nepal.

•Most Rajbanshi are farmers who only grow enough food for their own families.

They also raise some animals.

•Some Rajbanshi have begun to earn money by their excellent weaving.

•Rajbanshi fathers are the head of the household.

The father’s arrange most marriages. The actual marriage follows the old Hindu

rites and ceremonies.

•The Rajbanshi people dress very simply. Men wear knee length dhotis, (a baggy

type of trousers) and loincloths.

•Rajbanshi women wear pieces of cloth wrapped around their bodies that cover

down to their knees.

•The Rajbanshi people are Hindus. They worship hundreds of gods and

goddesses.

•Every village has a separate hut for worship of the goddess Kali.

•Only a tiny handful of Rajbanshi believe in Jesus.

Memories Of Rajbanshi Queen

Maharani Gayatri Devi was the last of the Queens of Jaipur in Rajasthan , India.Gayatri Devi was listed by the Vogue as one of the world's most beautful women, and was a favourite of society columnists and photographers.Gayatri Devi was the daugher of Maharaja Jitendra Narayan and Mahrani Indira Devi of the 'Koch' dynasty of Cooch Behar.Born in 23rd May, 1919.Gayatri Devi travelled extensivley with her mother and family in Europe.Gayatri Devi Studied at Shantiniketan and abroad, and speaks several languages.At the age of 19, she fell in love with Man Singh, the heir to the Jaipur throne.Their marriage was initially opposed by her parents, as Man Singh already had two wives, the daughters of the Maharaja Jodhpur.However, they gave in to her determination, and she was married in 1939.The jaipur royal family lived a lavish life with hunting, summers in London,children educated in England, and streams of famous visitors which was normal for rulers of principalities at that time.

Cooch Bihar Royal Dynasty-Rajbanshi History Says

---Royal Family Tree Of Koch (Rajbanshi) Kings---

Maharaja Jirendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur of Koch Behar Royal Family

H.H. Maharani Sinti Devi, CI (18 March, 1887)

(Born at Sens House, Calcutta, 1864, Died at Ranchi, 10th Nov, 1932)

Somtime regent at Cooch Bihar, President of the State Council

The eldest daughter of Babu Keshab Chandra Sen

Married 5 March1878 Colonel H.H, Maharaja Shri Sir Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur

Colonel H.H Sir Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Behar

Four sons of H.H Sir Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch Bihar

(dated 26th Sept, 1913)

Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur (1913-1922)

Maharaja Jagad Dipendra Narayan(left-side),Rajmata Indiradevi (centre), Prince Indrajit Narayan(left-side)

(dated 23rd Oct, 1902)

Maharaja Raj Rajendra Narayan (1911-1913)

Maharaha Nripendra Narayan

6th Jan, 1899

dated 1863-1911

Maharaja Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur

The Cooch Behar Palace, of the royal "Koch" dynasty & remarkable for its wonderful architechture & grandeur, is undertaken & being developed by the Archeological Survey of India as museum

Rajbari-Durbar Floor

Rajbari Exibits

Rajbari -Billiards

Royal symbol ko 'koch' dynasty

Rajbari musical Instruments

Eladevi- daughter of Maharaja Jitendra Narayan

Suniti Devi-Queen

Rajbari Stone Sculpture

Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur

Coins

Rajbari,CoochBihar

Ref::
http://www.coochbehar.gov.in/

History

Rajbanshi is an ancient tribe originally from the ancient Koch Kingdom. The Rajbanshi Tribe is referred to as Koch/Rajbongshi/Rajvanshi. The word Rajbanshi means literally "Royal community". They have a rich cultural heritage and their own language.

Language Name: Rajbanshi
Alternate Name(s):

Kamtapuri

Koch

Koche

Rajbangsi

Rajbansi

Rajbongshi

Tajpuri

Tajpuria

Dialect Name(s):

Bahe

Central Rajbanshi

Eastern Rajbanshi

Western Rajbanshi

Spoken in:

Bangladesh

India

Nepal

History of Kamatapur

The history of Kamatapur is not properly represented in the modern day historical writings. Unfortunately, it’s not part of any post colonial nationalistic history of the Indian sub continent. The history of Kamatapur is partial history of present West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Meghalaya of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. The disappearance of Kamatapur as a region and emergence of Assamese and Bengali, two language based nationalism is the main reason behind the neglect of the History of Kamatapur. However, a glimpses into the pages of history books, particularly Assam, tells the rich and colourful history of Kamatapur without any doubt. Kamatapur is the other name of ancient Kamrup kingdom, medieval Kamrup Kamata or Koch Kamata kingdom and the native Koch Bihar (Cooch Behar) State of British India. When the kingdom of Kamrup of South Asia was invaded by Tughril Khan Malik Yuzbeg, the capital of the kingdom was transferred from Kamrup Nagar (North Guwahati) to Kamatapur (Koch Behar). From that time onward this kingdom was known as Kamata or Kamrup-Kamata Kingdom. At that time the Kingdom of Kamata comprised areas of Assam and undivided Bengal. Kamata was ruled by different rulers of different dynasties from the period of mid 13th century to 15th century, until the rise of the Koch Dynasty. Being at the entry point of present Northeast India the Kingdom of Kamata had to face the invaders coming from both Indian and Bhutan side. An attack on Kamata by Sultan Barbak in the mid 15th century was resisted by the then ruler of Kamatapur Chakradhvaj. Later at the end 15th Century during the reign of Nilambar (Son of Chakradhvaj), the Kingdom was attacked by the ruler of Bengal (Gaura), Hussain Shah. Hussain Shah destroyed the capital Kamatapur and established an Afghan colony over there. The people and the Bhuyans (Land Lords) of Kamata united under the able leadership of Bishwa Singha, an ambitious Koch youth from present Kokrajhar of Assam and throne way the Afghan colony from Kamatapur. Bishwa Singha established the Koch Dynasty in Kamatapur in the early of 16th Century and brought political stability in the Kamrup Kamata region. After Bishwa Singha, his elder son Nara Singha ruled Kamata for a while till his bother Naranaryan ascended the throne. Narnarayan, with the help of his bother Chilarai (also Minister and Commander in chief of the Koch Kamata Army) established the Koch sovereignty almost on entire Northeast Indian Kingdoms (Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Khasi, Jayantiya etc) and established cordial relationship with the Mughal. This period of Koch rule is regarded as golden period in the history of the region since many valuable literary works were completed under the patronage of Narnarayan. Sankardev, the great scholar and saint of that time composed most of his major work under the patronage of these two brothers. After the death of Chilarai, Kamata Kingdom was split into two parts between Raghudev Narayan, son of Chilarai and Naranaryan as Koch Kamata (also Koch Behar) and Koch Hajo (Kamrup). The partition weakened the power of the Koches. The Koch Hajo Kingdom suffered several partitions in the later period and smaller kingdoms like Bijni, Darang and Beltola emerged from Koch Hajo. The Koch Kamata or the Koch Behar Kingdom became smaller and lost its sovereignty to the Mughals of India. It should be mentioned here that the independent minded Koches always tried to retain there sovereignty . In 1773, during the rule of Dharmendra Narayan Koch Behar came under the British India by a treaty were British agreed to drive away the Bhutiyas from the Kingdom. Thus Kamrup Kamata Kingdom became a princely state of British India. The territories were gradually lost to the British due to various conspiracy and politics and when Koch Behar joined the Indian Domain in 28th August of 1949 it was only a symbolic version of the vast Kamrup Kamta kingdom of 16th century. It was hoped that Koch Behar would soon became an Indian state like other princely states of British India, but unfortunately Koch Behar was merged as a District of present West Bengal of India, despite opposition from the people of Koch Behar.

          Various Links::

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  Royal history of Cooch Behar
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  Koch Bihar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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  NIC Cooch Behar's Favourites
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  Koch dynasty - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• 
  
  History, Geography, Tourism and Map of Koch Bihar
• 
  
  Koch dynasty
• 
  
  Cooch Behar - Gorkhapedia
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  Cooch Bihar, Districts of West Bengal, Cooch Bihar Information
• 
  
  Cooch Behar India - Cooch Behar West Bengal, Cooch Behar Tourism
• 
  
  TripAtlas.com - About History_of_Assam