Bhutan and Cooch Behar
Bhutan
and Cooch Behar
Bhutan had contact and good relations with the
countries of the south of Bhutan from the ancient time. During the 13th century
CE, Phajo Drugom Zhigpo was given the gifts such as talking parrot and other
items etc. by the ruler of Kamarup.
Bhutanese trader, Darchug Gyaltshen from Chapcha
introduced the Raja of Cooch Behar to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and Cooch
Behar.
Darchug Gyaltshen from Chapcha invited Zhabdrung to
Chapcha. People of Chapcha received blessing from Zhabdrung and people offered
gifts to Zhabdrung. Darchug Gyaltshen
and the Maharja of Cooch Behar were good friends. Darchug Gyaltshen informed
Maharaja Cooch Behar that Zhabdrung Rinpoche was at Chapcha. The Maharaja sent
Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal silver coins, gold coins, an ivory tusk, and cloths
along with letter. Bhutanese ruler Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in return sent the
Cooch Behar Maharaja sacred knotted threads, blessed pills, a saddle and a set
of riding items. Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal wrote the following letter:
“You, my friends have prayed well in your past
life. Though we live in different places, our minds are united. Having received
your letter and precious gifts, I am extremely delighted. I have deeply prayed
for your happiness now and for the future”. [1]
Prior to this event, the Cooch Behar Maharaja was
Bir Narayan (1621-1626). The Portuguese Jesuits after visiting the Raja Bir
Narayan at Cooch Behar came to Bhutan and visited Zhabdrung Rinpoche in 1626.
On another occasion, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal sent a letter advising the
Maharaja of Cooch Behar to practice Buddha Dharma. Maharaja responded by saying
he was practicing the Buddha Dharma and Maharaja sent Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal
a text of Gyatongpa.
The 4th Desi Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye
(reign: 1680-1694) and Cooch Behar
The relations between Cooch Behar and Bhutan
continued even after the passing away of Zhabdrung Rinpoche in 1651. The
successive Desis of Bhutan maintained good relations with Rajas of Cooch Behar
and helped them in maintaining order whenever there were internal disputes and
also further assisted them, whenever there was an invasion from Mughal in the
west. For instance, in 1661, Cooch Behar was invaded by Mir Jumla of Bengal.
Maharaja Pran Narayan fled to Bhutan. The Mughal demanded the surrender of
Maharaja Pran Narayan from Bhutanese Desi. But Bhutan did not yield to the
demand of the Mughal. Maharaja Pran Narayan returned to Cooch Behar in 1663 and
reclaimed the throne with the help of Bhutanese. This incident coincided with
the reign of second Desi Tenzin Drukdra (reign: 1656- 1667). The second Desi
Tenzin Drukdra also received gifts from Raja of Cooch Behar on the occasion of
his Enthronement.
The second Desi Tenzin Drukdra was succeeded by
Chogyal Minjur Tenpa (reign: 1667 – 1680) and became the third Desi of Bhutan.
There was a conflict between the Maharaja Madan or Mod Narayan (1665- 1680),
the 7th Maharaja of Cooch Behar and Nazir Mahi Narayan who was the brother of
Maharaja Pran Narayan. In the beginning, he was an advisor to the Maharaja but
later a conflict arose between the two. A fierce battle was fought. Nazir Mahi
Narayan was defeated in the battle and fled the country. His son came to Bhutan
and took shelter. Nazir’s son attacked Cooch Behar with the help of Bhutan.
However, Bhutanese forces were pushed back to Bhutan.
In the meantime, Basu Dev Narayan (1680 - 1682) was
enthroned as the 8th Maharaja of Cooch Behar. Later on, again the two sons of
Nazir Mahi Narayan, Yajna Narayan and Jagat Narayan with Bhutanese forces
attacked Cooch Behar.
In Bhutan, Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye (reign: 1680-1694)
was enthroned as the fourth Desi. In 1680, during the occasion of the
enthronement of the 4th Desi Tenzin Rabgye, a daughter of Maharaja Pran Narayan
came to Bhutan with 700 gold coins, 1000 silver coins and cloths of five colors
of gifts. Not long after Tenzin Rabgye became the 4th Desi, king of Cooch Behar
sent a letter requesting the Desi to send the Zimpon as a representative.
Therefore, Zimpon Norbu was sent to Pasakha. There was Mughal invasion in Cooch
Behar in 1683. Paro Dronyer Zhidhar and the Dalimkote Dzongpon launched an
attack on the Mughal. The Mughal leader Maha Kumar fled to Nepal. Again there
was a rebellion against the Maharaja by his minister called Kunkuridzoki Dewa.
Although zimpon Norbu was sent for mediation, Bhutan received a letter
requesting for an armed force. Desi therefore sent Bhutanese army to save the
Maharaja. Desi instructed Zimpon Norbu to solve the dispute diplomatically avoiding
killings. In 1691, Raja Rub Narayan visited the court of the Desi Tenzin Rabgye
with lavish gifts.
The 13th Desi Sherab Wangchuk (reign:
1744- 1763)
Bhutan maintained relations with Cooch Behar through
teachings of Buddhism. The Eight Desi Druk Rabgye (reign: 1707 – 1719) banned
the practice of sati in Cooch Behar which did not last long. Later on, the 13th
Desi Sherab Wangchuk (reign: 1744- 1763) continued the teachings and resumed
the abolition of the sati practice. It was successful and thus saved the lives
of many people. Desi also offered generous gift of twenty horses and musk to
the people of Cooch Behar and Mugshudha. The son of Dharam Deva of Cooch Behar
was a follower of Drukpa School. The king and Ministers of Cooch Behar sent to
Desi letters accompanied with many objects of gold and silver.
Bhutan Controlled Cooch Behar Affairs.
There were conflicts among the relatives of the
Royal of Cooch Behar for power. When they could not solve the problems, they
approached the Bhutanese leaders for assistance. Sometimes the situations
became worst and the ruler cannot manage the affairs of the country without the
aid of the Bhutanese leaders. As a
result, Cooch Behar became the dependent of Bhutan from 1765 onwards till 1773.
This is confirmed by Mujamdar (1984). The following paragraphs show us how
Cooch Behar became dependent of Bhutan.
During the reign of Maharaja Upendra Narayan (1714 –
1763), Whyte (2002) writes that Dina Narayan was enthroned as king in 1763 with
the help of Mughal Foujdar of Rangpur. Upendra Narayan reacted by asking
supports from Bhutan. Bhutan helped defeating Mughal. Devendra Narayan (1763 –
1765) became the 12th Maharaja of Cooch Behar. He was a minor of four years
old. There were intrigues and conflicts during his reign in the country. Bhutan
kept its representative at the court of the Maharaja of Cooch Behar. Bhutan
built forts at capital of Cooch Behar. The situations of Cooch Behar became
worst that it was impossible to run the country without Bhutan’s involvement in
the affairs of the Cooch Behar.
Maharaja Dhairjendra Narayan (1765 – 1770) the
cousin of the Maharaja Devendra Narayan became the 13th Maharaja. His reign
also saw the conflicts and intrigues. The former Maharaja Devendra Narayan was
assassinated by Rajguru Ramananda Goswami the loyalist of the Present Maharaja.
Bhutanese Desi sent force to arrest Goswami. Goswami was taken to Bhutan and
imprisoned him or even executed. Bhutan then sent its agent Pagsam Drungpa
(Bhutanese Officer Incharge of Buxa Duar) at the court of the Cooch Behar.
Therefore, Bhutan virtually ruled Cooch Behar during this time of the period.
Desi Zhidar’s attacks on Cooch Behar.
In 1768, Zhidar became the 16th Desi of Bhutan. In
1969, during the enthronement ceremony of the king Kamadatta of Vijaypur, a
small country which is located between the east of Gorkha and south west of
Sikkim, Bhutan was invited for the occasion. In response, Desi Zhidar sent his
representatives. In 1770, Bhutan
attacked Vijaypur as Bhutan was instigated to invade Vijyapur by the relatives
of the assassinated Kamadatta or the other enemies of the Dewan to punish the
Buddhikana. Bhutan’s invasion of Vijaypur was temporary only and later
withdrew. But Phuntsho (2013) writes that Vijyapur ruler did not pay annual tax
tribute to Bhutan.
Bhutan
invited Cooch Behar to join Bhutan in the invasion of Vijyapur. The Dewan Ram
Narayan led the forces of Cooch Behar. The joint forces of Bhutan and Cooch
Behar defeated the ruler of Vijaypur. Dewan Ram Narayan returned with large
captured properties. He gave Maharaja small portion and kept himself large
chunk of the property, which he got as war booty. Therefore, Dewan Ram Narayan
was killed by the Maharaja’s agent. Bhutan captured Maharaja Dhairjendra at
Buxa Duar in the annual party organized by the Bhutan. He was taken to Punakha
the then capital of Bhutan.
Maharaja Rajendra Narayan (1770 – 1772) was crowned
as the 14th Maharaja by Bhutan. He was the second elder brother of Maharaja
Dhairjendra. But the Maharaja did not have power to run the administration of
the country. Of course the country was ruled by the Bhutanese agent who was
posted at the court of the Cooch Behar. Rajendra Narayan passed away in 1772
A.D. due to illness. Maharaja Dharendra Narayan (1772 – 1775) became the 15th
Maharaja of Cooch Behar. Maharaja Rajendra Narayan did not have his successor
to the throne. The Nazir Deo, Queen and other Royal courtiers met and decided
to enthrone Dharendra Narayan, the son of former Maharaja Dhairjendra as the
next Maharaja.The decision was not approved by the Bhutanese agent at Cooch
Behar. He came to Bhutan and reported the situations at Cooch Behar to Desi
Zhidar. Furious with the circumstances, Desi Zhidar sent an army of 40, 000 to
invade the capital of Cooch Behar. The Nazir Deo also came with his forces to
counterattack Bhutanese forces. Bhutanese forces were defeated and they were
forced to retreat. Desi Zhidar sent additional 18000 soldiers led by Zimpon to
fight back the forces of Nazir Deo. This time, Nazir Deo’s forces were
defeated. Bhutanese forces captured capital of Cooch Behar. Then Bhutanese
enthroned Birendra Narayan, the son of Dewan as the 16th Maharaja of Cooch
Behar. At this juncture, Nazir Deo approached the East India Company for help
to oust the Bhutanese forces from Cooch Behar. The East India Company readily
came to the rescue of the Cooch Behar. Bhutan was defeated and pushed back to
the hills of Bhutan. The East India Company and Cooch Behar signed a treaty in
1773. Since then Cooch Behar became the protectorate of the East India Company.
References
Dzongkha Sources
§ Tshewang,
Lopon Padma. 1994. Druk Gi Gyalrab, Druk Salwai Dron Me, National Library,
Thimphu.
§ Lhundrup,
Je Ngawang. (..), 2005. Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye’s Biography, KMT, Thimphu.
English Sources
§ Baillie,
Luiza Maria. Father Estevao Cacella’s Report on Bhutan in 1627, Journal of
Bhutan Studies, Thimphu.
§ Rhodes,
N.G. Coinage in Cooch Behar
§ Ryley,
J. Horton. 1899. Ralph Fitch, England’s Pioneer to India and Burma, His
Companions and Contemporaries, with his remarkable narrative told in his own
words, London, T. Fisher Unwinpaternoster Square.
§ Subedi,
Dr. Raja Ram. Historical Entity of
Vijayapur State, retrieved from (https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/VOH/article/view/83/76)
§ Tshewang,
Lopon Padma. 1994. (Translated by Jagar Dorji). History of Bhutan, The Luminous
Mirror to the Land of the Dragon, KMT Printers and Publisher, Thimphu.
§ Whyte,
Brendan. R. 2002. Waiting for the Esquimo, and historical and documentary study
of the Cooch Behar enclaves of India and Bangladesh, retrieved from (https://minervaaccess.unimelb.edu.au/bitstream/handle/11343/34051/66438_00001443_01_whyte.pdf
§ http://coochbehar.nic.in/Htmfiles/royal_history.html,
"Kochbiharer Itihas", 2nd edition (1988), by Shri. Hemanta Kumar Rai
Barma
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