HISTORY OF GARHBETA

Garhbeta has a very rich history from ancient era. In the epic age the area of Garhbeta was called
Bakadwip and its span was 450 sq. miles.In the era of Mahabharat this Bakadwip was under the
jurisdiction of Bakasur.Its kingdom was Betrabati.Bhimsen killed Bakasur.Srikrishna came from
Dwaraka to congratulate Bhim. In memory of this Yudhisthir set up an image of Krishna. At present
the image of God Krishna Rai Jew in the village of Krishnanagar is that very image set up by
Yudhisthir.Other opinions about the nomenclature of Grahbeta. A vast area was called Baghratati.
Once Siharuddin Bugrasah, the son of Samaduddiin Firoj Sah, the ruler of Bengal occupied this
area. The place is named Bagri after the name of Siharuddin Bugrasah. During the reign of King
Vikramaditya a Yogi (Sage) came to the kingdom of Bagri.He was charmed to see the beauties of
nature and in order to display his religious devotion, he built the temple of Sarbamangala. Hearing of
the miraculous power of the goddess Sarbamangala. Then King Vikramaditya came to Garhbeta and
devoted himself to meditation on the corpses (Sabsadhana).Being pleased with him the goddess
Sarbamangala blessed him with the power to dominate over Tal Betal, so called supernatural
figures. To prove the success of goddess's blessing showered upon him Vikramaditya ordered Tal
Betal to turn the face of the temple from the south to the north. The order was instantly carried out.
The name of the place was given Beta after the name of Betal.During the reign of Kumar Gupta in
the Gupta Age his courtier Betra Barma founded this town. Probably Betra Barma built a fort for
protection of the town. 'Fort' is called 'Garh' in Bengali. The king excavated a deep canal round the
fort. There were four gates to four sides of the fort. They were Lal Gate to the north, Pesha Gate to
the south, Rahut Gate to the east and Hanuman Gate to the West. Probably at first the town was
named Betra Garh. In course of time the term Betra Garh had been changed into Garh Betra and
then into Garhbeta.
Beginning of the 15th century. The territory of the King of Odisha, Purusottam Gajapati was
extended to Midnapore and Hoogly. One of his sons, Pratap Rudra Gajapati got the right to rule the
area of Garhbeta. He was known as Gajapati Sing. His two chief courtiers were Upendra Bhatta who
was saintly and Rajadhar Roy who was very skill in his office. The then Emperor of Delhi was
Mamud Shah. He conferred the title of 'king' on Gajapati. Gajapati Sing died in 1420 AD. Before his
death Gajapati divided his kingdom between his two sons. The eldest son Dhanapati resided in the
capital of Garhbeta. The youngest son Ganapati founded separate kingdom in Goaltore. Dhanapati
suddenly died in 1440 A.D. Hambir Sing, the only son of Dhanapati succeeded the throne. He was
drunken and disorderly. He reigned for five years. He built a fort named Hambir Garh. Now it is
Hoomgarh. When Hambir died in 1445 A.D. his son Raghunath was minor. Ganapati Sing of
Goaltore built a fort at Nayabasat. Ganapati died without any issue. Hambir's son Ragunath Sing
succeeded the entire kingdom of Bagri. The King's mother,Kalyan Kumari kept a check on the
kingdom on behalf of minor Raghunath. In 1470 A.D. Raghunath became adult and took over the
charge of the Kingdom. He was an ideal and wise king. He built a recreation hall,a hall for prayer in
the mouza of Malibagicha,a temple named Raghunath Bari.He introduced Dole festival of Sri
Krishna Rai Jew. He divided land into three categories and collected, of production as revenue. To
the north in the border of Malla Kingdom he installed military camp in Agragram (at present Agra).
He extended his territory to Chnadrakona. He had confrontation with the king of Maina. Bagri year
started from 1481 A.D. Raghunath Sing was deeply shocked at the pre-mature death of his eldest
son and this shock led him to death in 1540 A.D. After the death of Raghunath Sing his second son
Chitra Sing became the king of Bagri. He was arrogant, proud, worthless and fond of luxury. He
eloped a woman Tulshi by name and installed her in a palace built by him in a place to the South of
Garhbeta. He used to go there every now and then. Gradually the place became populated. The
present name of the place is Tulsi Chati. Oppression of Chitra Sing became unbearable to the
subjects and they began to flee to the kingdom of the Malla King of Bishnupur. In 1548 AD. the Malla
King availabled himself of the chance and suddenly attacked the capital of Bogri. Chitra Sing was
engaged in hilarity. Unprotected helpless king Chitra Sing committed suicide with his family jumping
in the pond of the pleasure garden. Original king dynasty of Garhbeta ends here.
The Malla King of Bishnupur was Dhari Malla. His representative in Garhbeta was Sur Malla. Malla
representative ruled here only for seven years. Chouhan Sing killed Sur Malla and occupied power.
There are two opinions about the identity of this Chauhan Sing. First opinion - when Chitra Sing
committed suicide, one of his sons fled away secretly and gathered power and thereafter rescued
his paternal kingdom. This person is Chauan Sing. Second opinion - Chauhan Sing was an expelled
prince of the Malla dynasty. Chauhan Sing was a good ruler. He divided his kingdom into 12 Dihis
and appointed a Dihidar in each Dihi. He established rule of law and peace. He rugularised
collection of revenue. He surveyed the land and assessed revenue. He excavated these founds -
Jaltungi, Indra Puskarini, Pathar, Hedua, Mangala, Kalas Dighi, Amra Puskarini and Kanchan Dighi
in Raskundu. Chauhan died in 1570 AD after 15 years' reign. After the death of Chauhan Sing his
worthless son Buttar Sing ascended the throne of Garhbeta. He reigned for ten years. He died
survived by no issue.
A Kin's son of Buttar Sing named Chhatra Sing captured the Kingdom of Garhbeta. He oppressed
the subjects and snatched the properties of the well-to-do families. He reigned for 40 years. In 1620
Chhatra Sing died. After the death of Chhatra Sing his honest pious and education loving son Tilak
Chandra Sing became the king of Garhbeta. He was an ideal and wise king. He ruled over his
subjects with paternal affection. Many talented persons began to migrate to Garhbeta from other
kingdoms and permanently reside here. He reduced the rate of revenue of the subjects and thereby
lightened their burden. The subjects during his reign were happy. In 1643 A.D. Tilak Chandra died.
After the death of Tilak Chandra his son Tejchandra Sing became the king of Garhbeta. He was ill
fated. He was the last king of the Chauhan dynasty. He did many works for the wellbeing of his
subjects. The other name of Tejchandra was Rahut. He excavated a pond in the middle of the town
of Garhbeta. The present name of the pond is Raota. The chief of his army was Gorakhan. The king
was engaged in subduing the enemy. The Malla king of Bishnupur took the chance and attacked
Garhbeta. The fort keeper Gorakhan died by cannon shot. Tejchandra was deeply shocked and hid
himself. Here after there was no news about him. Queen Kanakprava with her baby son took shelter
in the palace of the king of Mayur Bhanja, her husband's friend. Malla King Durjan Sing became the
king of Garhbeta. He was cruel and oppressor. He was devoted to the God Bishnu. He founded the
temple of Radhaballav Jiu in 1686 A.D. Dacoity at that time was rampant, Khayer Malla, a leader of
the dacoits killed Durjan Sing in the open field of Gangani in course of his morning walk (1710 A.D.).
Khayer Malla, the leader of the dacoits became the king of Garhbeta. During his reign there were
unrestrained oppression, plunder and disorder. This condition continued for ten years. Tejchandra
and Kanakprava's son Dasarathi became adult in the palace of Mayurbhanja and attacked Garhbeta
with the help of the king of Mayurbhanja in 1720 A.D. Khayer Malla was defeated and killed.
Dasarathi became known as Samser Bahadur. Samser Bahadur ascended the throne of Garhbeta in
1720 A.D. He was a proficient ruler. He built separate palace in Monglapota and used to reside
there. Samser Bahadur made some reforms in administration and revenue. He did many works
beneficial to the subjects. He excavated wells and ponds. Bagri (Maratha cavalry) raid took place
during his reign. Samser Bahadur died in 1744 A.D. After the death of Samser Bahadur his son
Baisnab Charan Sing ascended the throne of Bagri. He was a pious honest and good ruler. He
appointed governors entitled Mandal. He appointed high official entitled Rajadhyaksha.
Baisnabcharan Sing reigned for 16 years. He died in 1760 A.D.
After the death of Baisnab Charan his son Yadab Sing ascended the throne. He suffered the irony of
fate. In the mean time the British company won the Battle of Plassy in 1757 A.D. In 1760 A.D. Major
Johnton obtained the right to collect the revenue of Midnapore district from Mirkasim. The collectors
appointed by the East India Company were empowered to collect revenue all over the country.
Yadab Chandra Sing paid Rupees 12549 and 4 annas as annual revenue to the collector of
Burdwan. Yadab Chandra founded Yadabnagar. During his reign the devastating famine of 76 (1769
A.D., Bengali era 1176) saturated Bengal. Yadab Chandra could not send revenue to the collector of
Burdwan. He informed the company of his distress. The Company suspected that the king
intentionally stopped payment of revenue. The Council sent order to the king to appear before the
council. The king did not respond. Suspension of the Company was confirmed. The Company
suspected the king insurgent. The Company mobilized British soldiers in Sahebdanga. The British
soldiers captivated Yadab Chandra and brought him to the Fort William. The company confiscated
the kingdom of Bagri on the ground of non-payment of revenue. The subjects were reluctant to pay
revenue to any person other than that of the royal family. In 1772 A.D. Yadab Chandra died in Fort
William.There is a hearsay that Yadab Chandra committed suicide by sucking diamond ring.
Company rule continued for 7 years. Failing to collect revenue the company granted Charter of Bagri
to Yadab Chandra's son Chhatra Sing (II) in 1779 A.D. The subjects continued demonstration of
agitation. Agitation turned into insurgency. The English writers called the offened subjects 'rowdy'
(Chuar) and called the mass agitation 'Rowdy Rebellion' (Chuar Bidroha),Under the leadership of
Achal Sing, the Commander-in-Chief of Chhatrapati Sing II the rebels became terrific. The British
soldiers could not captivate Achal Sing. Chhatra Sing could not meet the demand of revenue. Again
in 1784 A.D. Bagri Kingdom was confiscated 146 villages were conferred to the king of Bagri as
freehold. Collection of revenue came under the control of the company. A permanent collector was
appointed. In 1806 A.D. the revolt under the leadership of Achal Sing became very strong. The
opportunist British took refuge to Chhatra Sing. As a result of joint conspiracy of the king and the
company Achal Sing was caught. In the other opinion a faithful follower of Achal Sing betrayed and
caused to catch him in temptation of rent-free landed property. Without trial Achal Sing and 13/14
other rebel leaders were sentenced to death by hanging. Even after Achal Sing's death by hanging
the suspension of the British towards Chhatra Sing was not removed. Three hundred soldiers were
sent under the commandership of Charles Richard Barwell and Henry Okbay to subdue the rebels.
At first Chhatra Sing II was captivated and sent to the bunglow of Hooghly. On 11 April 1817 his
power was seized. He was endowed an annual grant of Rs. 6000/-.His entrance in Bagri was
prohibited. Chhatra Sing had no son but only one daughter. His daughter had three sons - Gajaraj,
Chadra Mohan and Manomohan. For extriction of their maternal grandfather Chandra Mohan and
Monomohan were busy in adulation of the British. A rebel Biswanath by name was very powerful. He
had a bulky body. So people called him Bhoda (Fatty). A reward was declared for his catch and it
was also proclaimed that his catch would ensure the king's extrication. Chandra Mohan and
Monomohan killed Biswanath and displayed his truncated head and thereby obtained a reward of
Rs. 500/- and a certificate of loyalty to king. In 1823 A.D. (Bengali Era 1230, 7th Kartik) Chhatrapati
Sing II was acquitted on the bond containing six conditions. After enjoying grant for sometime
Chhatrapati Sing died on 25 May 1825. Chhatra Sing nominated Manomohan the successor of his
throne. On 6 August 1825 Company sanctioned Rs. 6000/- as annual grant for him. Manomohan
died on 1 April 1873. Monomohan had three sons - Jagajjiban, Mitrajit and Jagattaran. They were
not allowed annual grant. Afterwards H. L. Harison initiated to sanction them an annual grant of Rs.
1500/- with effect from 3 September 1878. Jagajjiban died on 25 April 1906 and thereafter the
annual grant stopped for ever. Jagajjiban had three sons - Rajaram, Keshari and Ramchandra. In
spite of their utmost effort they were refused annual grant. At Present their successors are at
Monglapota.