Chakma Circle Explained

The Chakma Circle (Chakma:), 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. 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.[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.[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.[10] In 1901, the Bohmong Circle extended 2421mi2.[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
1Sudhanyei
2Moru Dev
3Champa Kali
4Langal Dhan
5Kshudrajeet
6Samudrajeet
7Shyamal
8Champak Kali
9Shandya Sur
10Chandra Shug
11Sadheng Giri
12Dharma Shug
13Sudhanyei-II
14Champasura
15Bimbasura
16Shengbuddha
17Udaya Giri
18Wijaya Giri
19Srittoma Shak
20Sarannama
21Ulatnama
22Jamu
23Kamala Janu
24Unacha Giri
25Moichsyagiri
26Kamala Juga
27Madana Juga
28Jeewana Juga
29Rahtnaagiri
30Dhanagiri
31Swarnagiri
32Buddhtang Giri
33Dharmagiri1075 A.D
34Manorahta
35Areejiet
36Moimangsha
37Kewala
38Boirindham
39Gyananu
40Sweithawrator Chotungxa
41Shakalia
42Wangali Sherdhar
43Manyiggiri
44Madhalia
45Ramathongxa
46Kamala Chege
47Ratana Giri
48Hala Thongxa
49Chakraw Dhaon
50Phela Dhaveng
51Shermatte Dhaveng1300 A.D
52Yongxa
53Surayajeeta
54Satarujeeta
55Ramthongxa
56Manyiggiri
57Toin Surweswari
58ZonuThroned in 1516 A.D
59Sattawa
60Kattwa Rani
61Dhavana
62DharmmayaThroned in 1661 A.D
63Mogol Ley
64Jubal Khan
64Jallal Khandied in 1715
66Fateh Khan
67Sherjjan Khan
68Shermust KhanDuring 1730s
69Shukdev Roy
70Sher Daulat Khan1776 - 1782
71Janbask Khan1782 - 1789
72Tabbar Khan1801 - 1811
73Jabbar Khan1811 - 1814
74Dharam Bux Khan1814 - 1832
75Khalindi Rani1832 - 1873
76Harish Chandra Rai Bahadur1873 - 1885
77Court of Wards(Nil Chandra Dewan & Trilawchana Dewan1885 - 1897
78Bhuwana Mohana Roy7 May 1897 - 17 September 1933
79Naalinagshaya Roy7 March 1935 - 7 October 1951
80Raja Treetip Roy2 March 1953 - 1971
81Saamit Roy1971 - 1977
82Raja Dewashis Roy25 December 1977 - till date

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Agrarian change in tropical landscapes . Deakin . Liz . Kshatriya . Mrigesh . Sunderland . Terry . 2016 . CIFOR . 194 . 9786023870226 . en.
  2. Ahmed . Kawser . 2010 . Defining 'Indigenous' in Bangladesh: International Law in Domestic Context . International Journal on Minority and Group Rights . 17 . 1 . 47–73 . 24675834 . 10.1163/157181110X12595859744169.
  3. Web site: Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord . 1997-12-02 . 2018-09-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181121094208/https://peaceaccords.nd.edu/sites/default/files/accords/Chittagong_Hill_Tracts_Peace_Accord.pdf . 2018-11-21 . dead .
  4. News: Rajpunnah in Bandarban today . 2009-02-04 . The Daily Star . 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 . 10.1080/09592318.2013.866419 . 144593890 . 0959-2318.
  6. 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 . 10.1017/S0035869X00166146 . 25211628. 161939360 .
  7. Book: Hutchinson, Robert Henry Sneyd . An Account of the Chittagong Hill Tracts . 1906 . Bengal Secretariat Book Depot . xvii . en.
  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 . 10.1080/19472498.2012.750460 . 145139430 . 1947-2498.
  9. 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 . BRAC.
  10. News: Bandarban wears festive look as Rajpunyah starts . 2010-01-15 . The Daily Star . 2018-09-19.
  11. Book: Hutchinson, Robert Henry Sneyd . An Account of the Chittagong Hill Tracts . 1906 . Bengal Secretariat Book Depot . 122 . en.
  12. Zaman . M. Q. . 16 January 1982 . Crisis in Chittagong Hill Tracts: Ethnicity and Integration . Economic and Political Weekly . 17 . 3 . 75–80 . 4370578.