Beltola is a prime residential area in the southern part of Guwahati, Assam. It is an adjoining area of the Dispur capital complex. During Ahom reign, Beltola was a small Koch kingdom, whose ruler assisted in the administration of the Borphukan in Guwahati, the Ahom viceroy of Lower Assam and in maintaining relations with the communities of Khasi Hills. The kingdom of Beltola survived under the British rule and existed till 1947 when it finally joined the Union of India.
Brief history of Beltola
It is speculated that the word Beltola comes from the word Bilvapatra, which means leaves of Bael tree, used in religious ceremonies. It is said that in the past large quantities of Bael tree leaves were sent to Kamakhya Temple to be used in rituals. The word 'tola' in Bengali refers to a place underneath something. It was from that time that the place was called Beltola.Choudhury Madhuri Rani Lakshmipriya Devi aru Beltolar Itihash or Rani Lakshmipriya Devi and the history of Beltola 2008 page 55 According to legend Beltola was located in the entrance of the old city of Guwahati where the famous temple of Kamakhya is situated, the Ganesh deity at the Ganesh temple in Ganeshguri, serves as a gatekeeper. Therefore, the Ganesh temple may be as ancient as the Kamakhya temple. This theory was inspired by the mythical story of Ganesha guarding the entrance of the house, while his mother Devi Parvati was bathing.
The region was ruled by a chief who styled himself as Herambadhipati (Heramba is another name for Ganesha) in the late 16th century. An inscription mentions that the ruler named Dununtrarāi donated a tank in Pragjyotishpura in the year 1577 A.D."A stone inscription found at Ganeshguri, Beltala-mauza in Guwahati, dated 1499 Śaka (1577 ad), records Dununtrarāi, the Lord of Heḍamba (śrīśrīheḍambādhipati-dununtrarāi), who donated a tank in Pragjyotishpura. Early inhabitants of Beltola consisted mostly of Garos, Karbis, Lalungs, Rabha and Koch-Kachari, while small numbers of Manipuris, Kalitas and Muslims in Beltola are settlers of later periods.
In 1613 CE, Parikshit Narayan, the ruler of Koch Hajo, was defeated by the Mughals. He was taken as a prisoner and was escorted to Delhi, where he had an audience with Mughal Emperor Jahangir. On acknowledging Mughal supremacy and on the agreement of an annual tribute of four lakhs rupees, the Emperor returned his kingdom. While on his way back, Parikshit Narayan fell ill and died. On his death, the Mughals annexed his kingdom and set up Hajo as their headquarters in Assam. Bijit Narayan, the young son of Parikshit Narayan, was set up as a tributary king of a small state, named after him, called Bijni. On the defeat of Parikshit Narayan, his two brothers Balinarayan and Gaj Narayan fled to the Ahom Kingdom and sought refuge from Ahom King Pratap Singha. Pratap Singha had married the daughter of Parikshit Narayan, Mangaldohi, and later set up the Mangaldoi town in her respect. Owing to this matrimonial alliance, Pratap Singha granted refuge to these Koch princes.
Meanwhile, the Mughal Governor demanded their extradition, which Pratap Singha refused. This and other causes of offence led the Mughal Governor to decide on the invasion of the Ahom Kingdom, leading to the Ahom-Mughal conflict. The invading Mughal forces were defeated and driven back to their own territory. After the victory, in 1615 CE Pratap Singha installed Balinarayan as the tributary ruler of Darrang and renamed him as Dharmanarayan, while his brother Gaj Narayan was set up as a tributary ruler in Beltola.Gait E.A. A History of Assam 1926 page 365Choudhury Madhuri Rani Lakshmipriya Devi aru Beltolar Itihash or Rani Lakshmipriya Devi and the history of Beltola 2008 page 65 Gajnarayan was instructed to administer under the supervision of Borphukan, the Ahom viceroy of Lower Assam. Gaj Narayan and his descendants ruled Beltola as tributary chiefs under the Ahom sovereigns. Treasury records of the late Ahom period showed that the rulers of Beltola used to pay 2500 rupees as annual tribute to the Ahom Government.Bhuyan Dr. S.K. Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha 1975 page 246 The Basisthashram or Basistha Temple also comes under Beltola Mouza. It was built by Ahom King Rajeswar Singha in the middle of the 18th century.
After the fall of the Ahom Kingdom in Assam, Beltola came under British occupation. The British divided the erstwhile Ahom Kingdom into Mouzas or revenue circles for smooth administration. In each Mouza, one Mouzadar was appointed who was entrusted with the task of collecting taxes and administration. The British reduced the status of Beltola from a kingdom to a Mouza and that of the ruler from King to Mouzadar, though certain terms were set up in favour of the royal family. Beltola Mouza was specially categorised as Raj Mouza or Principality. The rulers were allowed to retain the title of Raja in their names, and the official post of the Mouzadar of Beltola was made hereditary and was reserved for the royal family of Beltola. After the independence of India in 1947, the Government of India abolished zamindarii or the system of land lords in 1956, due to which the royal family of Beltola lost much of their land rights. Later, in 1974, the Government of India abolished all the special privileges bestowed to former royal families of India. The royal family of Beltola was also affected by these changes, and the rank of Beltola Mouza was demoted from Raj Mouza to that of a general category Mouza. The official post of Mouzadar remained with the royal family, and till now the post of Mouzadar was held hereditarily by them, though they do not have any power of administration except collecting land taxes for the Government of Assam.
Extent of Beltola Mouza
The kingdom of Beltola extended from the borders of the kingdom of Rani in the west, while in the east it extends to the borders of the kingdom of Mayong and Dimorua. After the fall of the Ahom kingdom and the British occupation of Assam, Beltola lost its status as an independent kingdom and was converted into a Mouza or revenue circle. Under British rule, the size of the Beltola Mouza was much reduced. Presently, Beltola Mouza consists of several parts of modern-day Guwahati city. Centrally located around Beltola haat or Beltola Bazaar, the Mouza or estate covers the area of Narengi, Birkuchi, Hengrabari, Panjabari, Hatigaon, Bhetapara, Maidam gaon, Rukminigaon, Khanapara, Kahilipara, Ganeshguri and Basistha Mandir. It was said that the Royal residence of the Beltola royal family was in Rukminigaon, while the place where the royal elephants were kept and trained was Hatigaon, literally meaning village of elephants (in Assamese Hati means elephant; gaon means village). Maidam gaon was said to be the place of cremation of the royal family members. It was said that the ruler of Beltola used to capture elephants and indulge in the profitable business of selling elephants. It can be assumed that the Khasi people living in that region were involved in capturing elephants for the rulers of Beltola, due to which the name Kainapara or later Khanapara came into existence. The old name of Khanapara was Kainapara. Kaina is a Khasi word, which means elephant, while Para in Khasi language means human settlements or colony Birkuchi name comes from the combination of two words: Bir means heroes, and Kuchi means camp. It was said that the Koch army of Chilarai had set up a camp in the area, and thus the place got its name.
Koch rulers of Beltola
Raja Gaj Narayan Dev (brother of Parikshit Narayan, last ruler of Koch Hajo, brother of Balinarayan, first Koch ruler of Darrang). Raja Shivendra Narayan Dev (Son of Raja Gaj Narayan) Raja Gandharva Narayan Dev (Son of Raja Shivendra Narayan):
Raja Gandharva Narayan Dev witnessed the climax of Ahom-Mughal conflicts. When he was still a prince, he joined the Ahom forces led by Lachit Borphukan against the invading Mughal forces led by Raja Ram Singh I of Amber and participated in the famous Battle of Saraighat, in which the Ahoms won a decisive victory against the Mughals. After the victory, Lachit Borphukan received permission from the Ahom king Udayaditya Singha to install Gandharva Narayan as the king of Beltola.Gait E.A. A History of Assam 2nd Edition 1926 Thackar & Co. Calcutta page 157
Raja Uttam Narayan Dev (Son of Raja Gandharva Narayan Dev) Raja Dhwaja Narayan Dev (Son of Raja Uttam Narayan Dev) Raja Jay Narayan Dev (Son of Raja Dhwaja Narayan Dev) Raja Lambodar Narayan Dev (Son of Raja Jay Narayan Dev):
Raja Lambodar Narayan Dev witnessed the fall of Ahom supremacy and the decline of Ahom Kingdom. The British, after driving the Konbaung dynasty of Burma out of Assam, became the new masters of the Brahmaputra valley. In October 1826, Raja Lombodar Narayan Dev signed an ordinance with the British East India Company, acknowledging their overlordship.Choudhury Madhuri Rani Lakshmipriya Devi aru Beltolar Itihash or Rani Lakshmipriya Devi and the history of Beltola 2008 page 41 Raja Lambodar Narayan Dev married a Manipuri Princess, who was accompanied by a caravan of Manipuri people. These Manipuri people were settled in Beltola, and their settlement was known as Manipuri Basti (not to be confused with Manipuri Basti of present-day Guwahati city).Choudhury Madhuri Rani Lakshmipriya Devi aru Beltolar Itihash or Rani Lakshmipriya Devi and the history of Beltola 2008 page 39-41
Raja Lokpal Narayan Dev (Son of Raja Lambodar Narayan Dev):
Raja Lokpal Narayan Dev succeeded Raja Lambodar Narayan Dev as the new ruler of Beltola. It was during his reign that the British reduced the status of Beltola from a kingdom to that of a Mouza or revenue circle. The status of the ruler was reduced to that of an official post of Mouzadar, one who collects revenue and administers the Mouza. Yet, some of the terms and conditions were framed in favour of Raja Lokpal Narayan Dev. Beltola Mouza was listed specially in the category of Raj Mouza. The rulers of Beltola were allowed to retain the title of Raja in their names, and the official post of Mouzadar would be held hereditarily by the royal family of Beltola. Still communication letters between Raja Lokpal Narayan Dev and the British officials suggested that Raja Lokpal Narayan Dev was not happy with the treatment meted out by the British towards him.Choudhury Madhuri Rani Lakshmipriya Devi aru Beltolar Itihash or Rani Lakshmipriya Devi and the history of Beltola 2008 page 41-42 Raja Lokpal Narayan Dev married Padmavati Devi alias Padumi. She was the daughter of the king of Mayong. The couple had three sons, Amrit Narayan Dev, Chandra Narayan Dev and Lakshmi Narayan Dev. Raja Lokpal Narayan Dev died in 1863 CE.
Raja Amrit Narayan Dev (Son of Raja Lokpal Narayan Dev):
Raja Amrit Narayan Dev was the elder son of Raja Lokpal Narayan Dev and succeeded his father as the ruler of Beltola. He married Rani Lambeswari Devi, who was a princess of the neighbouring kingdom of Dimorua. The couple was childless. During his reign, due to some irregularity in the payment of revenue by him, the British Government officially reduced the size of the Beltola Mouza.Choudhury Madhuri Rani Lakshmipriya Devi aru Beltolar Itihash or Rani Lakshmipriya Devi and the history of Beltola 2008 page 38
Raja Chandra Narayan Dev (Son of Raja Lokpal Narayan Dev):