Kalindi (rani)
Rani Kalindi (died 1873) was the 46th and last independent ruler of the Chakma Circle.[1] She was only female ruler of the Chakma people.
She was born in the village of Kudukchari near the Rangamati-Khagrachari highway in present-day Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh and was the daughter of a commoner called "Guzong Bujjye" which literally means "bent old man" translated from the Chakma language. She sided with the East India Company during the Indian mutiny.[2] She supported the British Raj in its war against Lushais people during Lushai Expedition.[3]
Raja Dharam Bux Khan married her.
After his death she became the reigning Rani after a brief power struggle with rival queens and the estate manager called Shuklal Dewan backed by Captain Thomas Herbert Lewin the British Superintendent of Chittagong Hill Tracts district.
Achievements
[edit]She institutionalized and patronized Theravada Buddhism in the kingdom by inviting monks from Myanmar.
During her time the Rajbari was at Rajanagar, Rangunia now in Chittagong District.
Death
[edit]She died in 1873 leaving her step-grandson Harish Chandra to be the next Chakma Raja in her place.
References
[edit]- ^ Saigal, Omesh (1978). Tripura. Concept Publishing Company. p. 108.
- ^ Samaddar, Ranabir (2003-07-26). Refugees and the State: Practices of Asylum and Care in India, 1947-2000. SAGE Publications. p. 251. ISBN 978-0-7619-9729-0.
- ^ Chatterjee, Suhas (1994). Making of Mizoram: Role of Laldenga. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 14. ISBN 978-81-85880-38-9.