Kirti Chandra Borbarua

Kirtichandra Borbarua
Preceded by	Rupchandra Barbarua
Succeeded by	Bhadrasen Borborua
Personal details
Born	Ahom Kingdom

Kirtichandra Borbarua was the Prime Minister of Ahom Kingdom during the reign of Lakshmi Singha. He was a controversial person of Assam History. Though he was a capable statesman, burning Buranjis was the controversial incident of his life.

Ancestry

Kirtichandra Borbarua was the son of Rupchandra Barbarua, a Buruk Chutia by caste whose father was employed as a rope maker by a Musalman. His ancestors were included in the Bakatial Ahom clan. Gendhela was another name of Kirtichandra Barbarua. He was assassinated by Moamoria rebel Nahar.

It is further mentioned in Buranjis, that a Chutia family brought in by Sukapha was first named as Chang-sai or Jalambata and later as Bakatial. The family,‌ employed as a net-maker or rope-maker (Jalam-bata), was absorbed into the Ahom fold. Kirtichandra Barbarua's family was also known as Jalambata

Lota Kota Ron

During the reign of Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha an expedition was sent under the leadership of Haranath Phukan to free Manipur from the hand of Burmese. But the soldiers lost their path in the jungle. Naga also killed many soldiers. There was starvation among them. Fever also killed many warriors. At last Harnath Phukan decided to retreat from the jungle. Harnath Phukan informed all of these to Kirtichandra Borbarua. Kirtichandra told Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha about the matter. Rajeswar Singha decided to send another expedition under the leadership of Kirtichandra Borbarua to Manipur.

Role in the marriage of Kuranganayani

When Kirtichandra Barbarua reached Roha the Burmese decided to retreat from Manipur. So the king of Manipur decided to give his daughter Kuranganayani to Rajeswar Singha as a sign of friendship. Kirtichandra Borbarua told the king that the King of Manipur had a daughter whose name is Kuranganayani. The king of Manipur was the descendant of Babrubahan. So there was no doubt that he was Kshatriya for which Swargadeo should marry the princess Kuranganayani. After hearing these Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha decided to marry Kuranganayani. In this marriage the family of Joy Singha was present. The marriage took place at the bank of river Sonai (present-day Cachar district of Assam). It was a Chaklang form of marriage.

Burning of the Buranjis

Kirtichandra Borbarua was from the house of Bakatial. His grandfather (father of Rupchandra Barbarua) belonging to the Bakatial house was engaged in the work of tailoring in the house of a Musalman. Disturbed by the influence of Kirtichandra Borbarua in the royal court Numali Borgohain decided to write a Buranji humiliating Kirtichandra for his low birth. After writing the Buranji Numali Borgohain named it Chakari Pheti. Hearing these Kirtichandra Borbarua brought some people from Burma claiming to be his relatives (as a member of the Bakatial Ahom clan) and thus assured the king that he was an Ahom. Kirtichandra also decided to burn all the Buranjis where there were wrong. After taking permission of Rajeswar Singha, Kirtichandra burnt all the Buranjis where he found wrong. Kirtichandra Borbarua also returned the Buranjis which he agreed with.

Conflicts with the Moamoriya

Swargadeo Lakshmi Singha appointed Kirtichandra Borbarua as his Prime Minister. Lakshmi Singha also appointed Ramananda Pushpacharya of Kanauj as his religious teacher. This made the other Mahantas angry. Lakshmi Singha appointed Ramananda Puspacharya by counselling with Kirtichandra Borbarua for which the Moamoriya Mahanta scolded Kirtichandra by telling him Jolombota. This made the Moamoriya enemy of Kirtichandra. One day Lakshmi Singha was coming with Kirtichandra Borbarua in a boat. The Moamoriya Mahanta greeted Swargadeo but did not even look at Kirtichandra. For this reason Kirtichandra also scolded Moamoriya. In those days there was a rule that Moamoriya should give three elephants. One to Swargadeo, One to Burhagohain and one to Borbarua. In the year of 1691 shaka a Naharkhora of the Moamoriya gave one strong elephant to Swargadeo and one strong elephant to Burhagohain but gave a weak elephant to Kirtichandra Borbarua. This made Borbarua very angry . He cut two ears of Naharkhora as punishment. Naharkhora told about all of these before the Moamoriya Mahanta.

Assassination

The Moamoriya was already upset from the days of Siva singha because Bor Roja Phuleshwari marked their head with the blood of sacrifice made before goddess Durga. The incident of Naharkhora increased their anger. They prepared for rebellion. The Moamoriya made the Mohanmala Gohain the son of Rudra Singha their commander. At last the rebellion started. At the beginning of the rebellion the Nahar of Moamoriya killed Kirtichandra. Thus Kirtichandra Borbarua was assassinated.

References

• Borbarua, Hiteswar (2018). Ahomar Din. Publication Board Assam.
• Barbarua, Srinath Duara (2010). Tungkhungiya Buranjee. Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies.
• Barua, Golap Chandra (1930). Ahom Buranji: With Parallel English Translation from the Earliest Time to the End of Ahom Rule. Published under the Authority of the Assam Administration.