Many notable events, With the live story of ups and downs Ahom had a reign of 60-years. During this period various people accepted sacrifices in various ways in collective interest. Similarly, different people took up various immoral activities to protect their vested interests and pushed everyone into danger. Badan Chandra Borphukan is one of the important characters of this period of Ahom Raj. Badan Chandra Borphukan’s character in Assam history is very ignored, disgusting and vile/inferior. Badan Chandra Borphukan played an important role in the loss of freedom in Assam. Even today Assamese people are angry with Badan Chandra Borphukan and hate him. In one word, Badan Chandra Borphukan is the villain of the history of Assam.
Biography of Badan Chandra Borphukan
| Name | Badan Chandra Borphukan[1] |
| Position | Chandrakanta Singha’s precious/priceless Borphukan and subsequently Borgohain’s responsibilities. |
| Father | Harnath |
| Death | 1818 AD |
Early stage
Importantly, Until the British East India Company intervened the Ahom monarchy deteriorated due to the inability of the kings of the Ahom monarchy, and mutual enmity among the officials. The situation worsened after the death of Kamleswar Singha in 1811. After his death Purnananda Burhagohain and other officials Kamaleshwar Singha’s brother Chandrakanta Singha was brought to the throne. It may be recalled that Purnananda Burhagohain used this opportunity to play a major role in the governance of the state of Ahom as Chandrakanta Singha was a infant while taking charge of the regime. Chandrakanta Singha was brought down to the putola raja(toy king) as he was a infant. But Chandrakanta Singha did not want to remain as toy king for a long period of time. Though he was a peace loving ruler but he craved for power. Because of which Chandrakanta Singha developed a relationship with his peer horse trained caretaker Sat Ram and this relationship seemed to have a significant impact on the political arena at that time. Chandrakanta Singha appointed Satram as Charingiya phukan. Importantly, under the patronage of Chandrakanta Singha, Satram became so strong that he dreamt of becoming king himself. For which Satram hatched a conspiracy to kill Purnananda Burhagohain subject to the secret approval of Chandrakanta Singha. However, the conspiracy of Satram was subsequently detected and the rest of the persons involved in the conspiracy were killed and Satram was banished/exiled. However, he later died in exile.
Also Read: Biography of Lachit Borphukan
Appointment to the post of Borphukan
It is to be noted that during this time after the death of Koliyavumura Borphukan, Harnath’s son Ghinai alias Badan Chandra was appointed as Borphukan (state representative in charge of lower Assam) in Guwahati. The appointment of Badan Chandra as Borphukan had a significant impact on Assam politics. Badan Chandra Borphukan was extremely selfish and very cruel. Infact there was also a conflict with Purnananda Burhagohain by Badan Chandra Borphukan. Dr° SL Baruah commented that through this action, the he not only dug his own grave, It also brought a huge flood of attacks in Assam. On the other hand Purnananda Burhagohain and Badan Chandra also had a personal relationship. Badan Chandra Borphukan’s daughter Pijou Gabhoru was the daughter-in-law of Purnananda Burhagohain.
Badan Chandra performed his duties smoothly for a few days in the early days before taking over as charge of Borphukan. But in a very short span of time Badan Chandra resorted to dictatorship instead of his responsibility and carried out brutal rule and terror over kamrup’s people. Importantly, for no reason or for small fault, the king of the bhati block of the state of Ahom Badan Chandra, who was in charge of the king’s representative Borphukan, took away property, wealth and gold by conquering the people’s. Even eating cannabis made the elephant mad and the villagers were terrified. Purnananda Burhagohain sent a group of soldiers to catch Borphukan to end the cruelty of Badan Chandra Borphukan, who’s torture and abuse got extreme. But Badan Chandra got to know about this from his daughter Pijou Gabhoru and managed to escape to Bangladesh.
On his way to Bangladesh, Badan Chandra Borphukan expressed everything to the Governor General and begged for help, But the Governor General refused to help him because of his alliance with Assam. This was followed by Badan Chandra Borphukan with Manar Kataki, through Kin or Iravati river he went to Burma and stayed with the Burmese king and begged for help from him. Importantly, he got a positive response from maan raja (king).
In March 1817, 8000 soldiers were sent to attack Assam under Badan Chandra Borphukan. This was the Mann’s first attack under Badan Chandra Borphukan’s initiative. As the mann moved to Assam via N’ Nangiyang, the strength of the troops increased to 16,000 as some local rulers joined them. The Ahom monarchy was not ready for this attack of standards because it occurred unexpectedly. Yet Ahom’s army was ready to face the standard attack with fewer soldiers. The first battle of Assamese soldiers with Burmese took place on March 27, 1817 at a place called Ghiladhari. In this battle, the Maan Sena won. It may be recalled that at this time Purnananda Burhagohain also died. It is said that Purananda Burhagohain died after getting the news of loosing the war as per the proverb. Importantly, after they defeated the Ahoms in the war, the Maan Sena returned to its country with the responsibility of giving silver 24,000, gold stamp 8000, Rs 1 lakh as compensation and by robbing many other property and giving the responsibility of Chandrakanta Singha as king and Badan Chandra as Burhagohain they returned to their own country. After the returning of Maan, Badan Chandra Borphukan became the best with the responsibility of Burhagohain given by the Burmese. Even after gaining the power, Badan Chandra falsely punished the family members of Purnananda Burhagohain.
Parallel to the internal turmoil of the Ahom monarchy reaching the final stage, Ahom Rajamao of that time took a final decision to kill Badanchandra by discussing with the officials as the dictatorship of Badan Chandra Borphukan reached its final stage. As a result, Badan Chandra was killed in an unarmed state by a Hindustani Sepoy named Roop Singha Subedar and Rahman Khai. Importantly, after killing Badan Chandra the killers Bengal Roop Singha Subedar and Rahman Khai the Weapon wash of Jorhat city the Bengal pond next to Na-Ali is still abandoned today.
Conclusion
After the death of Badan Chandra Borphukan, the home board of the Ahom monarchy under the initiative of Ruchinath Burhagohai found such a situation that Chandrakanta Singha was dethroned and the right ear was cut off so that he could not become king again. Apart from this, grandson of Rajeshwar Singha, who was in Shilmari, Brajanath is injured because of which his son Purandar was established to the throne. Importantly, when Maanraja (king) came to know about these things, he sent a strong army to re-establish Chandrakanta Singha in the throne. This led to the second round of attacks in 1919. Ahom King Purandar Singha fled to Guwahati. Chandrakanta Singha was again swayed in throne by Burmese. The king of Burmese got the advantage of attacking Assam again and again based on the call made by Badan Chandra Borphukan. Chandrakanta Singha was occupying the throne of Ahom Rajpat only for the shake of name. It was Maansena’s authority that prevailed in every word and action. Importantly, Assam invaded again in 1821. Not only the authority was extended but also the atrocities were committed against the general public. No one was escaped from this cruelty of Burmese.
To escape from Maan’s torture, the unmeans Assamese begged for the help from the British. The war between British soldiers and the Burmese soldiers in 1826 led Burmese to lost the war. The 600-year-old Ahom rule ended with the signing of an agreement between the English and The Maan(Burmese) on February 24, 1826, at Yandaboo. The Ahom reign came to an end because of Badan Chandra Borphukan’s passion for power. Badan Chandra Borphukan, who has a bad desire for political power, is a villain in the eyes of Assamese today. Even today, he is a reminder of the time when innocent Assamese were tortured by the Maan Sena(Burmese Soldiers) and the whole Assam was covered with blood. The idea of anger, hatred and extreme contempt spreads in the minds of Assamese when it is called Badan Chandra Borphukan, who is adorned with seditious motives (anti-racism).
It was because of Badan Chandra Borphukan that the independence of Assam sanked. Assamese have been the victims of British rule exploitation due to the power of Badan Chandra Borphukan. He is the ignored, disgusting and vile character of Assam history that takes care to bring down freedom to Assam by becoming a refugee of foreign standards with great anger and aggressiveness in the interest of power.
FAQ
1. Who is Badan Chandra Borphukan?
Ans: Badan Chandra Borphukan was the chief of Ahom forces in Lower Assam and betrayed the kingdom by inviting the Burmese to invade Assam.
2. Who was the daughter of Badan Chandra Borphukan?
Ans: Pijou Gabhoru was the daughter of Badan Chandra.
3. When did the first battle of Assamese soldiers with Burmese took place?
Ans: The first battle of Assamese soldiers with Burmese took place on March 27,1817 at a place called Ghiladhari.
4. When did the Yandaboo treaty was signed and between whom ?
Ans: Yandaboo treaty was signed on February 24, 1826, the agreement was signed between the English and The Maan(Burmese).
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