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The Chakma Circle (Chakma: 𑄌𑄇𑄴𑄟𑄳𑄦 𑄥𑄢𑄴𑄇𑄬𑄣𑄴), also known as the Chakma Raj, is one of three hereditary chiefdoms (or "circles") in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of modern-day Bangladesh.[1] The Chakma Circle encompasses parts of Rangamati Hill District and Dighinala and Rajasthali Upazilas in neighbouring Khagrachari District and Bandarban District respectively. The chiefdom's members are of Chakma descent.

Leadership

The Chakma Circle is led by a hereditary chieftain called a "raja," whose role encompasses judicial, administrative, ceremonial, legal and social responsibilities. Political power is passed from the father to the first-born son.[2]

The incumbent chieftain is Devasish Roy (b. 10 April 1959), according to the Chakma Bijok, a compilation of the Chakma history (1876-1934 CE). The Chakma chieftain also sits on the Advisory Council for the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs and the Rangamati Hill District Council.[3] The Chakma chieftain leads a "rajpunnah" festival.[4]

History

Pre-colonial era

The lineage of Chakma chieftains may date to the 11th century or mid-16th century.[5] Chakma folklore and tradition ascribe the Chakma origins to the warrior castes of Bhagalpur in modern-day India.[6] The legendary raja Bijoy Giri (c. 1630), who is believed to have migrated the ancestors of the Chakma people north of the Naf River.[7] Through intermarriages with the Rakhine people, the Chakmas eventually converted to Buddhism.[7] Extant historical records date to the 1700s. Following the expansion of the Mughal Empire into Chakma territory, Chakma chieftains adopted Muslim names and titles (e.g., Khan) in exchange for tributary payments.[6][8]

British rule and modern era

During British rule, the Chittagong Hill Tracts were administratively divided into three circles in 1884, namely the Chakma Circle, the Bohmong Circle, and the Mong Circles, each presided over by a hereditary chief from the Chakma and Marma peoples.[7][9] The circles were codified into law with the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulations, 1900, which eased revenue collection and administrative burdens on British authorities by delegating tax collection, land administration management and social arbitration responsibilities to the chieftains.[9][10] In 1901, the Bohmong Circle extended 2,421 square miles (6,270 km2).[11] This administrative structure remained in place until 1964, when the introduction of local self-government abolished the special status of these circles and brought local administration under the control of the central government.[12]

List of leaders

Serial

No

Name of the Ruler Period ruled
1 Sudhanyei
2 Moru Dev
3 Champa Kali
4 Langal Dhan
5 Kshudrajeet
6 Samudrajeet
7 Shyamal
8 Champak Kali
9 Shandya Sur
10 Chandra Shug
11 Sadheng Giri
12 Dharma Shug
13 Sudhanyei-II
14 Champasura
15 Bimbasura
16 Shengbuddha
17 Udaya Giri
18 Wijaya Giri
19 Srittoma Shak
20 Sarannama
21 Ulatnama
22 Jamu
23 Kamala Janu
24 Unacha Giri
25 Moichsyagiri
26 Kamala Juga
27 Madana Juga
28 Jeewana Juga
29 Rahtnaagiri
30 Dhanagiri
31 Swarnagiri
32 Buddhtang Giri
33 Dharmagiri 1075 A.D
34 Manorahta
35 Areejiet
36 Moimangsha
37 Kewala
38 Boirindham
39 Gyananu
40 Sweithawrator Chotungxa
41 Shakalia
42 Wangali Sherdhar
43 Manyiggiri
44 Madhalia
45 Ramathongxa
46 Kamala Chege
47 Ratana Giri
48 Hala Thongxa
49 Chakraw Dhaon
50 Phela Dhaveng
51 Shermatte Dhaveng 1300 A.D
52 Yongxa
53 Surayajeeta
54 Satarujeeta
55 Ramthongxa
56 Manyiggiri
57 Toin Surweswari
58 Zonu Throned in 1516 A.D
59 Sattawa
60 Kattwa Rani
61 Dhavana
62 Dharmmaya Throned in 1661 A.D
63 Mogol Ley
64 Jubal Khan
64 Jallal Khan died in 1715
66 Fateh Khan
67 Sherjjan Khan
68 Shermust Khan During 1730s
69 Shukdev Roy
70 Sher Daulat Khan 1776 - 1782
71 Janbask Khan 1782 - 1789
72 Tabbar Khan 1801 - 1811
73 Jabbar Khan 1811 - 1814
74 Dharam Bux Khan 1814 - 1832
75 Khalindi Rani 1832 - 1873
76 Harish Chandra Rai Bahadur 1873 - 1885
77 Court of Wards(Nil Chandra Dewan & Trilawchana Dewan 1885 - 1897
78 Bhuwana Mohana Roy 7 May 1897 - 17 September 1933
79 Naalinagshaya Roy 7 March 1935 - 7 October 1951
80 Raja Treetip Roy 2 March 1953 - 1971
81 Saamit Roy 1971 - 1977
82 Raja Dewashis Roy 25 December 1977 - till date

See also

References

  1. ^ Deakin, Liz; Kshatriya, Mrigesh; Sunderland, Terry (2016). Agrarian change in tropical landscapes. CIFOR. p. 194. ISBN 9786023870226.
  2. ^ Ahmed, Kawser (2010). "Defining 'Indigenous' in Bangladesh: International Law in Domestic Context". International Journal on Minority and Group Rights. 17 (1): 47–73. doi:10.1163/157181110X12595859744169. JSTOR 24675834.
  3. ^ "Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord" (PDF). 1997-12-02. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-21. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  4. ^ "Rajpunnah in Bandarban today". The Daily Star. 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  5. ^ Dowlah, Caf (October 2013). "Jumma insurgency in Chittagong Hills Tracts: how serious is the threat to Bangladesh's national integration and what can be done?". Small Wars & Insurgencies. 24 (5): 773–794. doi:10.1080/09592318.2013.866419. ISSN 0959-2318. S2CID 144593890.
  6. ^ a b Serajuddin, A. M.; Buller, John (1984). "The Chakma Tribe of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the 18th Century". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. 116 (1): 90–98. doi:10.1017/S0035869X00166146. JSTOR 25211628. S2CID 161939360.
  7. ^ a b c Hutchinson, Robert Henry Sneyd (1906). An Account of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Bengal Secretariat Book Depot. p. xvii.
  8. ^ Jhala, Angma D. (January 2013). "Daughters of the Hills: legacies of colonialism, nationalism and religious communalism in the Chakma Raj family, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bengal c. 1900–1972". South Asian History and Culture. 4 (1): 107–125. doi:10.1080/19472498.2012.750460. ISSN 1947-2498. S2CID 145139430.
  9. ^ a b Kundu, Debasish; Samadder, Mrinmoy; Khan, Ashrafuzzaman; Shajahan Naomi, Sharin (January 2011). State of Justice in Chittagong Hill Tracts: Exploring the Formal and Informal Justice Institutions of Indigenous Communities (Report). BRAC.
  10. ^ "Bandarban wears festive look as Rajpunyah starts". The Daily Star. 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  11. ^ Hutchinson, Robert Henry Sneyd (1906). An Account of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Bengal Secretariat Book Depot. p. 122.
  12. ^ Zaman, M. Q. (16 January 1982). "Crisis in Chittagong Hill Tracts: Ethnicity and Integration". Economic and Political Weekly. 17 (3): 75–80. JSTOR 4370578.