Raikut

The Royal Raikut Family

Baikunthopur Raj Estate

Baikunthopur Estate was established by Siswa Singh after defeating the King of Bhutan and Gour in the year 1522 A.D. His capital was at first built in Siliaeguri (Siliguri) in the village of Dabgram within the present Raigunj (P.S Jalpaiguri). The Capital was called Niz-Baikunthopur. It was shifted to the present site in Jalpaiguri town by Jayanto Deb Raikut who ruled during the year 1793- 1800 and the big pond wich exits today near the palace was excavated at the time of arva Dev who ruled from 1800-1847 A.D.

Jion Gomasta Mohammedan from Dinajpur and a Rajbansi form Jalpaiguri were employed as contractors and it is said that they were paid in Cowries (Counch Shell) and not in coins.

Baikunthopur Estate was not included in any Sarkar of Mohammedan division of the country. Although some accounts say that it transferred its allegiance to tem and agreed to pay a nominal tribute. This is said to have signed in 1682 A.D. at the time of Svja Khan. After the battle of plassey the Dewani of Bengal, Bihar and Orisa came under East India Company in the year 1765 A.D. This estatewas then temporarily included in the Dewani and ws placed under Rangpur District and received the benefit of permanent settlement.

The Rajas of Baikunthoupur paid tributes to the Maharaja of Cooch-Behar and held the Royal Umbrella at the coronation uptill to the reigh of Laxminarayan of Cooch-Behar. In 1621 Mahi Dev Raikut the Raikut of Baikunthopur signified his independence by refusing to hold the umbrella over the Cooch-Behar Raja at the coronation of Birnarayan and also refused to pay the annual tribute. Even after that the Rajas of Baikunthopur Bhuj Dev Raikut,a dn Jagat Deb Raikut helped the Maharaja’s of Cooch Behar in 1680 A.D. to drive out the Bhutias who attacked Cooch-Behar. But from 1687 A.D. onwards the Rajas of Baikunthopur and the Mohammedans repeateadly attacked Cooch-Behar . Satyanarayan (according to some Santanarayan) the then Dewan of Cooch-Behar defeated both of them and forced the Moughals to peace in 1771 A.D.

In the year 1773 A.D. Darpa Dev Raikut the Raja of Baikunthopur with the help of Some bandits from Morang hills (Darjeeling & Nepal Terai) called sanyasis and in coloboration with the Bhutias continued attack on the territory of Cooch-Behar and East India Company’s property. Captain Stuart was sent to subdue the rasing of the force. Captain Staurt defeated both Darpa Dev Raikut and the sanyasis and took possession of the town of Jalpaiguri. The letter of Captain Staurt addressed to PM Dacres, Chairman of the committee of circuit Rangpur on 3rd feb 1773 is reproduced below.

“At two in the afternoon I made a second march and took possession in the name of Honorable company of Jellpyegaurie, the fortress and Capital of Baikunthopur country, which the Rajas in the height of his consternation evacuated.”

In the year 1771 A.D after treaty of Bhutan with the East India Company Darpa Dev Raikut who was facing a lot of troubles was placed on the footing as a Zamindar and was accessed a revenue of thirty two thousand per year. The Zamandaery was named Batrishazari.

In the year 1789, a large body of sannyasis occupied Baikuntopur whence they issued on their predatory excursions. They were defeated and practically starved out as British Soldiers closed all roads of exit, within twelve months549 sannyasis were brought to trial the court of Rangapur with what results not exactly known and the rest fled to Nepal & Bhutan.

The district of Jalpaiguri was formed on 1st jan 1869 A.D. with Baikunthopur, western Duars (the portion of land between the river Tista and Sankosh) and the five Chaklas 1) Patgram 2) Devigunj 3)Boda 4) Pachaghar 5) Titalla within the zamindery of Cooch- Behar. Under the redcliffe award of the partion of this district in 1947 A.D. these five Chaklas were transferred to East Pakistan. The present jalpaiguri district consist of the old Baikunthopur Estate and the western Duras.

Thus the independent Baikunghopur Estate ende with Darpa Dev Raikut the 12th ruler 1774 A.D. after the reigh of 230 years and the zamindar was abolished in 1955 A.D after 180 years under the Bengal Estate Acquisition Act of 1954 A.D. The age of Baikunthopur Estate of Siswa Singha is therefore 410 yrs.

Several Law suits regarding the succession of Baikunthopur estate give an insight into some of the manners and customs of the people of this area. In the year 1800 A.D. Sarva Dev Raikut the 14th ruler after Shiva Singha succeded his father Jayanto Dev. His title was disputed by his uncle Protap Dev Raikut on the ground that by family usages a brother succeded a brother in preference to the surviving sons. The case was brought up before the provincial (British) court in Murhidabad but was de3cided in favour of Sarva Dev Raikut (Surrup Deo). This judgement does not rule out entirely the plea that at least in some cased a brother succeded a brother in preference to sons.

Sarva Dev Raikut died in the year 1847 (according to Milligan). He left seven sons . Dogra dev Raikut was the eldest but he could not inherit as he was stated to be the son of a concubine. Rajendra Dev Raikut the sixth 6th son inherited the property as his mother was married in (Phul-Bio). His title was again disputed by the second son Makaranda Dev Raikut on the ground that he as a legimate son of Sarva Dev Raikut as his mother was married in “Gandharbo” fashon. The mother of Makranda being a woman could not succeed according to customs of the family, however the British Court of Rangpur decided in favour of Makranda as both Brahmo marriage of which Rajendra was the son and Gandharbo marriage of which Makranda was the son were legitimate marriage and Makaranda being elder was to succeed Sarvo Dev.After the death of Makaranda his eldest son Chandra Sekhar succeed but after Chandra Sekhar his brother Jogendra Dev became Raikut. In fact the 12 raikuts who successively had possession of the Estate prior to Sarva Dev, there were succeed by 2 brothers and one by a nephew.

After the death of Jogendra Dev Raikut in March 1878 A.D. the 18th ruler of the dynasty a succession case went up to the provincial (Privy) council of England between Fanindra Dev Raikut youngest son of Sarva Dev Raikut and Rajeswar Das (Jagadindra Dev Raikut) minor adopted son and half brother of Rani Jagadeswari one the three wives of late Jogendra Dev Raikut. Fanindra was popularly called “Bhola Saheb”.

Rajeswar Das (Jagindra Dev Raikut) was actually minor adopted son and half brother of Rani Jagedeswari but the Privy council decided in favour of Fanindra Dev Raikut and held that the adoption was invalid.