Chakma Circle

The Chakma Circle (Chakma: 𑄌𑄇𑄴𑄟𑄳𑄦 𑄥𑄢𑄴𑄇𑄬𑄣𑄴), 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 rajpunyah 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.^[7] 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.^[6]^[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.^[7]^[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.^[9]^[10] In 1901, the Bohmong Circle extended 2,421 square miles (6,270 km²).^[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
1	Sudhanyei
2	Moru Dev
3	Champa Kali
4	Langal Dhan
5	Kshudrajeet
6	Samudrajeet
7	Shyamal
8	Champak Kali
9	Shandya Sur
10	Chandra Shug
11	Sadheng Giri
12	Dharma Shug
13	Sudhanyei-II
14	Champasura
15	Bimbasura
16	Shengbuddha
17	Udaya Giri
18	Wijaya Giri
19	Srittoma Shak
20	Sarannama
21	Ulatnama
22	Jamu
23	Kamala Janu
24	Unacha Giri
25	Moichsyagiri
26	Kamala Juga
27	Madana Juga
28	Jeewana Juga
29	Rahtnaagiri
30	Dhanagiri
31	Swarnagiri
32	Buddhtang Giri
33	Dharmagiri	1075 A.D
34	Manorahta
35	Areejiet
36	Moimangsha
37	Kewala
38	Boirindham
39	Gyananu
40	Sweithawrator Chotungxa
41	Shakalia
42	Wangali Sherdhar
43	Manyiggiri
44	Madhalia
45	Ramathongxa
46	Kamala Chege
47	Ratana Giri
48	Hala Thongxa
49	Chakraw Dhaon
50	Phela Dhaveng
51	Shermatte Dhaveng	1300 A.D
52	Yongxa
53	Surayajeeta
54	Satarujeeta
55	Ramthongxa
56	Manyiggiri
57	Toin Surweswari
58	Zonu	Throned in 1516 A.D
59	Sattawa
60	Kattwa Rani
61	Dhavana
62	Dharmmaya	Throned in 1661 A.D
63	Mogol Ley
64	Jubal Khan
64	Jallal Khan	died in 1715
66	Fateh Khan
67	Sherjjan Khan
68	Shermust Khan	During 1730s
69	Shukdev Roy
70	Sher Daulat Khan	1776 - 1782
71	Janbask Khan	1782 - 1789
72	Tabbar Khan	1801 - 1811
73	Jabbar Khan	1811 - 1814
74	Dharam Bux Khan	1814 - 1832
75	Khalindi Rani	1832 - 1873
76	Harish Chandra Rai Bahadur	1873 - 1885
77	Court of Wards(Nil Chandra Dewan & Trilawchana Dewan	1885 - 1897
78	Bhuwana Mohana Roy	7 May 1897 - 17 September 1933
79	Naalinagshaya Roy	7 March 1935 - 7 October 1951
80	Raja Treetip Roy	2 March 1953 - 1971
81	Saamit Roy	1971 - 1977
82	Raja Dewashis Roy	25 December 1977 - till date

References

^ Deakin, Liz; Kshatriya, Mrigesh; Sunderland, Terry (2016). Agrarian change in tropical landscapes. CIFOR. p. 194. ISBN 9786023870226.
^ Ahmed, Kawser (2010). "Defining 'Indigenous' in Bangladesh: International Law in Domestic Context". International Journal on Minority and Group Rights. 17 (1): 47–73. doi:10.1163/157181110X12595859744169. JSTOR 24675834.
^ "Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord" (PDF). 1997-12-02. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-21. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
^ "Rajpunnah in Bandarban today". The Daily Star. 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
^ 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. doi:10.1080/09592318.2013.866419. ISSN 0959-2318. S2CID 144593890.
^ ^a ^b 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. doi:10.1017/S0035869X00166146. JSTOR 25211628. S2CID 161939360.
^ ^a ^b ^c Hutchinson, Robert Henry Sneyd (1906). An Account of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Bengal Secretariat Book Depot. p. xvii.
^ 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. doi:10.1080/19472498.2012.750460. ISSN 1947-2498. S2CID 145139430.
^ ^a ^b 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 (Report). BRAC.
^ "Bandarban wears festive look as Rajpunyah starts". The Daily Star. 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
^ Hutchinson, Robert Henry Sneyd (1906). An Account of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Bengal Secretariat Book Depot. p. 122.
^ Zaman, M. Q. (16 January 1982). "Crisis in Chittagong Hill Tracts: Ethnicity and Integration". Economic and Political Weekly. 17 (3): 75–80. JSTOR 4370578.