The First Anglo-Bhutanese War - 1773 - 1774
The
First Anglo-Bhutanese War - 1773 - 1774[1]
The East India Company in India
The
East India Company was formed among the group of English merchants under the
Royal Charter in 1600. The Portuguese
were the first European country to carry out trade with India. The English were
encouraged to do the same because they have seen the Portuguese making huge
profit. The other European countries followed the England. The Dutch set up its
company in 1602, Danish in 1616 and the French in 1664 respectively. But we will focus for the English East India
Company.
The
East India Company set up its trading post at Madras in 1639 and at Bombay in
1668.The East India Company later shifted its trading centre at Calcutta (now
Kolkata) in 1690. Prior to this period,
East India Company focused on trade only. Their trade items include pepper,
spices, cotton textiles, saltpetre etc. Nearly 60 per cent of the British
imports from Asia consisted of goods from Bengal. The Company paid a sum of Rs. 3000 per annum
to the Mughal Emperor as the company was allowed to trade freely in Bengal.
NOTE: First Governor General, Warren Hastings
In
1772, Warren Hastings was appointed the Governor of Bengal. He was addressed as
the Governor General of India. He did not follow the Clive’s system of dual
Government. Warren Hastings introduced several reforms in Bengal. He brought
the administrations of the Bengal under the direct control of the Governor
General on the order of the Court of Directors.
A Short Anglo-Bhutanese war
As
we have seen in the Bhutan and Cooch Behar, Nazir Deo approached Mr. Purling
the collector of Rangpur. Mr. Purling was
an officer of British East India Company of Bengal. British force
arrived at Mhughalhat under the command of Mr. Purling.[2]
Nazir Deo’s forces also joined the British forces. Then message was sent to the
Bhutanese camp warning them, if the Bhutanese did not vacate the Gitaldaha
Fort, British forces would attack them the following day. Bhutanese did not abandon the fort. Mr.
Purling and his Lieutenant (might be Jones) started marching and crossed the
river Darla. In the meantime, Nazir Deo’s forces attacked the Gitaldaha Fort
and cleared off the Bhutanese forces. The Bhutanese forces took shelter at
Baladanga Fort.
When the Purling forces approached the Baladanga
Fort, Bhutanese forces marched towards the Mr. Purling’s forces to provide
resistances. Mr. Purling ordered his troops to retreat and they were followed
by Bhutanese forces. Actually this was the tricks played by Mr. Purling. When
Bhutanese forces reached within the range of their cannons, Bhutanese were
attacked by firing cannons. Some of the Bhutanese troops were killed while
others ran away for their lives. Mr.
Purling captured the Nazirganj Fort from the Bhutanese. The Bhutanese were
forced to take shelter in the Behar Fort. Then Mr. Purling approached the Behar
capital and set up the camp. He stationed two companies of soldiers to the
southern side of the palace and another two companies at Khagrabari. Many
Bhutanese soldiers fled from the palace that night. In the following days a
fierce battle was fought. In the battle, Bhutanese army commander Zimpon lost
his life. Few Bhutanese soldiers were held prisoners. Flags of the Maharaja and
the Company were hoisted at the palace. Then the Maharaja Dharendra Narayan
entered the palace. Mr. Purling met the Maharaja and stayed five days in
Behar. After stationing of two companies of soldiers at the capital of Behar,
Purling went to Chichakota in the north where Bhutanese forces had taken
shelter. He captured the fort of
Chichakota of the Bhutanese.
Then Mr. Purling reported to
Warren Hastings that Bhutanese forces were defeated and asked further if he
could move into the hilly territory of Bhutanese. The East India Company was
not interested to attack Bhutan further. British sent message to the Desi that
Bhutan to free Maharaja Dhairjendra Narayan, his brother Surendra Narayan and
other prisoners. The Desi of Bhutan agreed to such truce and after meeting
Maharaja Dhairjendra Narayan and his brother were sent to Cooch Behar.
During this time of the war, Desi
Zhidar of Bhutan sent an envoy to Panchen Lama with presents. In response,
Panchen Lama sent his Secretary to Zhidar with a letter of advice. Panchen Lama
sent a messenger to Bhutan to immediately release of the captives of Cooch
Behar. Desi Zhidar of Bhutan replied that he would obey the command of the
Panchen Lama which made Panchen Lama delighted greatly.[3] There is another story where Majumbar writes
that Mr. Purling reported to the Governor General of Bengal the political situations
of Cooch Behar. The Governor General sent four companies of soldiers under
Captain Jones. Jones marched towards Cooch Behar on 22 December 1772, the main
Fort of Cooch Behar was occupied with a loss 18 British soldiers.
Bhutanese retreated leaving
behind 600 soldiers dead. Bhutanese moved out from Cooch Behar to Chichakota
Fort in the north and proposed peace. Mr. Purling not considering the Bhutanese
peace proposal, dispatched troops under Lieutenant Dickson to capture
Chichakota Fort. When Lt. Dickson arrived at Chichakota, he found that the area
was deserted by the Bhutanese. However, Lt. Dickson continued his marching and
on 23 February 1773, he captured the Chichakota fort.
Then Lt. Dickson moved to Buxa. They stayed
there three days. There was heavy rainfall. The Company posts were constantly
attacked by the Bhutanese. Lt. Dickson on hearing the news that he would be
surrounded by a large number of Bhutanese army, retreated to Chichakota. In the
process of retreating, 40 soldiers died when Bhutanese soldiers rolled down
boulders upon the company forces from the hills above. Bhutanese attempted to
recapture Chichakota fort from company forces. On 16 March, they moved
carefully at the dawn of the day and attacked company forces. However, their plan
failed and company pushed them back with much difficulty. The battle was fought
in the Baikunthapur province, the western front of the Cooch Behar. Captain
Jones marched towards Baikunthapur where the battle was won with ease. In the
meantime, Captain Stuart of 19 Battalion also attacked Jaipaiguri from Dinajpur
on 3 February 1773, the Darpa Dev’s troops clashed with Captain Stuart. During
the battle, only two soldiers of Stuart injured whereas there was casualty of
14 soldiers of the Darpa Dev. Captain Jones attacked the Dalimkote Fort of
Bhutanese and took hold of it.
From the autumn 1773, operations were resumed by Company
forces. But the situation in Bhutan was not stable. The government of Bhutan was not
supporting the Desi’s plan of fighting a war in the south. There was a
“coup d’état” against him. Tshenyi Lopon became the next Desi. Desi Zhidar was
not allowed to come back to country. Orders were issued in every check post to
kill him in case he enters into country. However, he managed to reach Paro but
killed somehow later[4].
But, Mr. Bogle
wrote that Desi Zhidar went to the court of the Panchen Lama. Bogle further
wrote the Desi Zhidar passed a night in the neighborhood of the Bogle and his
team at Gyantse.
Bogle also saw
some supporters of the Desi Zhidar at Phari Dzong when arrived at Phari.[5]
Later, the
Government of Lhasa ordered Desi Zhidar to be confined. Therefore, Desi Zhidar
was arrested at dinner time. He was handcuffed and kept him confined at
Gyangtse. Desi Zhidar was executed for trying to raise some commotions in
Tibet. He was also found maintaining correspondence with Gorkha[6].
However, it needs confirmation from the Tibetan history.
Intervention from Panchen Lama on the
Anglo-Bhutanese war
Gorkhar King
Prithvi Narayan did not like the expansion of the East India Company towards
the Himalayan region. King Prithvi Narayan, Panchen Lama and Desi Zhidar were
good friends. He requested the Panchen Lama to intervene in the conflict
between Bhutan and East India Company.[7]
However, there is a mention, where Desi Zhidar of Bhutan himself approached the
Panchen Lama for his mercy and intervention between Bhutan and the East India
Company.[8] Dr.
Karma Phuntsho confirms this point.
Therefore, the third Panchen Lama
of Tibet intervened. Panchen Lama deputed Tibetan Pema and a Hindu Purangir
Gossain to the court of the Warren Hastings the Governor General of Bengal at
Calcutta. A letter was handed to the Warren Hastings on 29 March 1774. Panchen
Lama offered him as a mediator for the peace between Bhutan and East India
Company.
This was how the East India
Company, Bhutan and Tibet met for the first time. Since then the East India
Company’s interest grew and began to send Missions to Bhutan and Tibet.
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