Varendra rebellion

The Varendra rebellion (also known as the Kaivarta revolt) was the revolt against King Mahipala II led by Kaivarta chieftain Divya (Dibyak), a feudal lord of Northern Bengal. The Kaivartas were able to capture Varendra by this rebellion. The revolt might have been the first peasant revolt in Indian history.[1][2][3] However, the first phase of the revolt would more appropriately be described as a rebellion of feudal lords(Samantas), who would have mobilized the peasants, and the last phase of the revolt was a spontaneous mass uprising.[4][1][5]

The map of Pala dynasty during the reign of Dharmapal(violet)

Varendra rebellion
Varendri
Varendra region
Location
Varendra (present day Dinajpur, Malda and Rajshahi regions)
Result

Varendra became an independent state for around 50 years

  • Collapse of the Pala Empire in Varendra, which substantially weakened Pala empire and subsequently led to its final decline
  • Assassination of Mahipala II
  • Capital punishment of Bhima after losing the final battle
Territorial
changes		 Varendra secedes from Pala Empire and becomes independent for a half century
Belligerents
Cāsi Kaivarta Pala Empire
Commanders and leaders
  • Dibyak (Divya)
  • Rudok
  • Bhima

Sources for history of the rebellion and the dynasty
  • Ramacharitam by Sandhyakar Nandi
  • Bhaturiya Inscription of Rajyapala
  • Belava plate of Bhojvarman
  • Manahali Cooper plate inscription of Madanpala
  • Kamauli copper plate inscription of Vaidyadeva
  • Taranatha's history of Buddhism in India

Identification of rebels

In the early ancient period the Kaivartas were rated low, associated with boatmen, fishermen, or else forest-settlers hunters and raiders like the Niṣāda or even the dāsas, or were described as a mixed caste—sankīrṇa jāti, or as antyajas.[6] The Vaṃśānucarita  of the Viṣṇu  Purāṇa mentioned that a king of Magadha, having overthrown the traditionally accepted kṣatriyas would create new category of kṣatriyas. Romila Thapar notes that the list of other varṇas converted to Kṣatriya status through this process includes the Kaivarta.[7] The Sultanpur copperplate inscription of the 5th century brings to light the presence of Kaivartaśarman in the local assembly (adhikaraṇa) as a member of Kuṭumbin (peasant landholders) in Gupta Bengal. Swapna Bhattacharya notes that in Varendra Kaivartas were represented not only as fishermen and cultivators, but Brahmins as well.[8][9] R. C. Majumdar and RS Sharma mentioned the merger of this tribe or clan with Aryan or Brahmanical society and later getting affiliated with Mahishya, an offspring of Kshatriya father and Vaishya mother.[10][11]

Coin of a king of the Kaivartas in Varendra, circa 640–730 CE.

The name of Kaivartas appeared in a grant of Gopāla II as one of the lowest categories of rural residents. There are reference to vṛttis of Kaivartas like Osinnakaivartavṛtti, Uddhannakaivartavṛttivahikala, in the copperplates of Mahīpāla I and Vigrahapāla III. According to Ryosuke Furui, these vṛttis or lands, given for livelihoods or some services, connote their settling in agrarian frontier and the growth of some section to a class of landholders.[12] The Kaivartas acquired the position of subordinate rulers through their association with the Pāla kings in the forms of military or other services and the appointment to administrative positions.[13]

The dynasty

Origin

SP Lahiry argued that Divya was from the family of Yasodāsa who was the prime minister in royal court of Rajyapala.[14][5][15] This dāsa dynasty of cāsi Kaivarta clan, of which Yasodāsa's ancestors Malhadāsa, Suradāsa, and Sanghadāsa were important members, were known for their wealth and prowess. When Yasodas was the prime minister, the king commanded allegiance with Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Suhma, Pandya, Karnata, Gurjara etc. Yasodasa is said to have performed many humanitarian and religious activities in the form of excavation of tanks, construction of temples, monasteries, palaces and bridges etc.[15]

Divya, Rudok and Bhima ruled Varendra for around half a century.[16]

Divya

Divya held very high royal office, presumably commander-in-chief of royal army.[15] The rebels responded to his call and were easily able to capture Varendra. Mahipala II was killed by the rebels and the Pala armies were forced to fall back. As a result, Varendra was declared a separate state by Divya. During his rule Jatavarman of Varman Dynasty in Vanga attacked Varendra with a hostility towards Buddhism . Though Divya did not suffer any loss, a part of Buddhist monastery of Somapura was destroyed by fire set by Jatavarman's army.[17] Divya consolidated his position in Varendra. He was a powerful ruler and invaded Ramapala's dominion. He left a peaceful kingdom to his Brother Rudok, but nothing is known of him.[18]

Dibar Dighi(Divya's Lake) was excavated and a granite pillar was commissioned to celebrate Divya's victory ( now in Dinajpur,Bangladesh)

Bhima

Rudok was succeeded by his son Bhima, who successfully ruled the region for 30 years.[16] After becoming the master of Varendri, Bhima, a popular king who is remembered still, reinforced the already well-established Kaivarta power. Bhima made the war-torn Varendra prosper. Bhima dispossessed brahmanical and other religious agents from their lands, which were granted by Pala kings. He prioritised the interests of peasants who happened to be his kith and kin.[3]

Dibyak Jayastambha or Kaivarta pillar is still standing in Dinajpur of Bangladesh as a sign of the dynasty.[19][20][21] Bhima's Dyeing, Bhima's Jangal, Bhima Sagar, Bhima's Panti etc. in Varendra still bear his memory.[22][23][24]

Analysis of reasons and consequences

According to Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya, the Kaivarta rebellion is associated with the Siddha movement. The story of the Buddhist Mahasiddhas inspired them to revolt.[25]

Romila Thapar mentioned that the rebels were associated with Buddhist and Tantric sects - Vajrayana which was popular then in the region. The rebels, who confiscated granted (agrahara) lands to Brahmins, were probably unhappy with growing influence of Brahmins with royal patronage.[26]

Ram Sharan Sharma described that Bhima had popular support of masses, but the samantas did not support him as the rebels were inspired by egalitarian spirit. Ramapala had to beg the supports of independent chiefs and donate them profusely in land and cash. Bhima's ill-equipped and untrained army of peasants and commoners were no match for the consolidated army of Palas, Rashtrakutas and more than a dozen samantas. After regaining Varendra Ramapala built temples of Bhavani and Shiva to pacify the Kaivartas; He also had to adopt mild taxation to appease the peasants.[3]

Ryosuke Furui noted[27]:

Kaivarta rebellion...was a critical event in the early history of Bengal. It temporarily ousted the Palas from their ancestral territory of Varendra and decisively weakened their control over subordinate rulers. It also paved the way for their fall in the hands of another power, the Senas, who rose after the event.

References
  1. Thapar, Romila (February 2004). Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-24225-8.
  2. Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra (1977). Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 978-81-208-0436-4.
  3. Sharma, R. S.; Sharma, Ram Sharan (2003). Early Medieval Indian Society: A Study in Feudalisation. Orient Blackswan. pp. 221–227. ISBN 978-81-250-2523-8.
  4. "Varendra Rebellion". Banglapedia. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  5. Thapar, Romila (2013). The Past Before Us. Harvard University Press. pp. 500–1. ISBN 978-0-674-72651-2.
  6. Romila Thapar (2013). The Past Before Us. p. 529. ISBN 9780674726512.
  7. Thapar, Romila (2013). The Past Before Us. Harvard University Press. p. 310. ISBN 978-0-674-72651-2.
  8. Bhattacharya, Swapna (1985). Landschenkungen und staatliche Entwicklung im frühmittelalterlichen Bengalen (5. bis 13. Jh. n. Chr.) (in German). F. Steiner Verlag Wiesbaden. p. 166. ISBN 978-3-515-04534-6.
  9. Furui, Ryosuke (2019). Land and Society in Early South Asia: Eastern India 400–1250 AD. Taylor & Francis. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-000-08480-1.
  10. Sharma, R. S.; Sharma, Ram Sharan (2003). Early Medieval Indian Society (pb). Orient Blackswan. p. 221. ISBN 978-81-250-2523-8.
  11. "The History of Bengal Vol. I: Hindu Period". Indian Culture. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  12. Furui, Ryosuke (2019). Land and Society in Early South Asia: Eastern India 400–1250 AD. Taylor & Francis. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-000-08480-1.
  13. Furui, Ryosuke (2019). Land and Society in Early South Asia: Eastern India 400–1250 AD. Taylor & Francis. p. 142. ISBN 978-1-000-08480-1.
  14. Caudhurī, Ābadula Mamina (1967). Dynastic History of Bengal, C. 750-1200 A.D. Asiatic Society of Pakistan. p. 61.
  15. The Indian Historical Quarterly, Vol.31,no.1-4(mar-dec). 1955. pp. 215–31.
  16. Sengupta, Nitish K. (2011). Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib. Penguin Books India. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-14-341678-4.
  17. Ray, Niharranjan (1994). History of the Bengali People: Ancient Period. Orient Longman. pp. 185, 331, 353. ISBN 978-0-86311-378-9.
  18. Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. p. 282. ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  19. Indian Information Series. 1939.
  20. কালের সাক্ষী নওগাঁর ঐতিহাসিক দিবর দীঘি. Ekushey TV (in Bengali). Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  21. এলিজার দেখা ৭. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  22. "ভীমের জাঙ্গাল - বাংলাপিডিয়া". bn.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  23. Pratidin, Bangladesh (22 January 2019). "নওগাঁয় এক রাতে তৈরি ঐতিহাসিক দিবর দীঘি". বাংলাদেশ প্রতিদিন (in Bengali). Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  24. মাহমুদ, অরিন্দম. "ভীমের পান্টি কি হারিয়েই যাবে". www.prothomalo.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  25. Chattopadhyay, Deviprasad. Churasi siddher kahini (in Bengali). Kolkata: Anushtap. pp. 51–66.
  26. Thapar, Romila (14 October 2013). The Past Before Us. Harvard University Press. p. 534. ISBN 978-0-674-72651-2.
  27. Furui, Ryosuke (2014). "Characteristics of Kaivarta Rebellion Delineated from the Rāmacarita". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 75: 93–98. ISSN 2249-1937.
  • ""বিদ্রোহী কৈবর্ত""। সত্যেন সেন
Bibliography
  • Sharma, Ram Sharan (2003). Early medieval Indian society: a study in feudalisation. Orient Longman. ISBN 8125025235. OCLC 77538061.
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