Borpatragohain

Borpatragohain (Ahom: Chao Sheng Lung) was the third of the three great Gohains (counsellors) in the Ahom kingdom. This position was created by Suhungmung Dihingia Raja in 1527, when Konsheng was appointed the first Borpatrogohain.[1] Saikia(1997) notes that, following the defeat of the Chutias and the annexation of their domain and people into the Ahom kingdom, “a third ministerial office of the Bar Patra Gohain was created”.[2] The designation was borrowed from Vrihat-patra, the Habung dependent of the Chutia king.[3] The Buranji chronicles mention the Chutia official as Pator-Lung (Lung meaning “Great” in Ahom) who fought alongside Kasitara Barua against Phrasenmung Borgohain and Klinglun Burhagohain in the Ahom-Sutia battle at Dibrugarh.[4][5] The Chutia Borpatra official appears to have been retained until the later part of the reign of Suklenmung. He was killed following a rebellion led by a Brahmin official against the king; the rebel Brahmin, however, escaped and fled to Koch Bihar.[6]

The other two counselors of the Ahom kingdom, the Burhagohain and the Borgohain, strongly opposed the creation of this office. However, the king successfully instituted this by claiming that three ministers are now required to stabilize the kingdom. Suhungmung claimed that Konsheng, a formidable warrior was his half-brother who had grown up in a Naga chieftain's house.[7] Since the other two counsellors refused to transfer portions of the Ahom militia (hatimur) under their command to the new office, Suhungmung instead transferred his own non-Ahom militia to the Borpatrogohain and brought part of the Ahom militia of the two older Gohains under direct royal control.[8] The Chutias, Barahis, and Morans who had not already been placed under either of the other two Gohains were consequently assigned to the Borpatrogohain.[9] To placate the aggrieved two counselors, Suhungmung created two additional frontier Gohain positions that were exclusive to the two lineages, and offered the Sadiya and Dihing provinces to the Borgohain and Burhagohain respectively.[10] He also ruled that the Borpatragohain's family could not have any marital relationship with the king's lineage.[11]

In later times, people from non-Ahoms families, like those of Garhgayan Patar and Maran Patar were also made Borpatragohain in later times.[12] The Borpatrogohains administered the region from the Daphla Hills to the Brahmaputra, and between the Gerelua and Pichalua rivers.

List of Borpatragohains

  • Kon-Sheng/Kan-Seng
  • Klan-Jang
  • Ban Jangi
  • Laku Borpatragohain
  • Banchangia Borpatragohain
  • Lai Borpatragohain
  • Chereli Borpatragohain
  • Bhaga Borpatragohain
  • Achuk Borpatragohain
  • Kenduguria Sengkong Borpatragohain
  • Paramananda Borpatragohain
  • Kalugayan Harinath Borpatragohain
  • Kenduguria Mrittunjay Borpatragohain
  • Redeshwar Borpatragohain
  • Maran Borpatragohain
  • Kenduguria Rudresvar Borpatragohain

Notes

  1. ↑ (Barua 1939:61) "Thaomung-mungteu Konsheng was made Chao-sheng-lung (Borpatrogohain) in Lakni Rungrao 1527."
  2. ↑ Saikia, Yasmin (1997). In the Meadows of Gold: Telling Tales of the Swargadeos at the Crossroads of Assam. Guwahati and Delhi: Spectrum Publications. p. 219. ISBN 8185319618. "In the reign of Dihingiya Raja, after the defeat of the Chutias and the annexation of their domain along with the people into the Tai-Ahom kingdom, a third ministerial office of the Bar Patra Gohain was created."
  3. ↑ (Guha 1983:20) "It appears that the novel designation of Barpatragohain was borrowed from the civil list of Habung where the local ruler, a dependent of the Chutiya king, had the title of Vrhat-Patra."
  4. ↑ Barua, Gopal Chandra, Ahom Buranji, p. 55
  5. ↑ Bhuyan, S.K., Deodhai Asam Buranji, Chapter 31
  6. ↑ Mahanta, Sukumar, Assam Buranji, p.25, "At that time, the king said, 'By subduing the Sutias and suppressing the Bhuyans, my father and I have taken their kingdom. Why, then, is a Brahmin seeking to become king—why have I appointed the Sutia Borpatro for?' Saying this, the Borpatra was executed. The king then attempted to execute the Brahmin as well, but he fled and escaped to Koch Bihar."
  7. ↑ (Guha 1983:20) "The third counselor so appointed, was publicly claimed by the king to be his own half-brother, posthumously born to a banished queen in a Naga chief's house."
  8. ↑ Guha 1983, p. 20.
  9. ↑ (Gait 1906:87)
  10. ↑ (Bhuyan 1964:68) "Borgohain and Buragohain were given the charge of Sadiya and Dihing province respectively."
  11. ↑ (Guha 1983:20)
  12. ↑ (Barua 1993:26)

Bibliography

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