Varendra rebellion

The Varendra rebellion (also known as the Kaivarta revolt) was the revolt against King Mahipala II led by Kaivarta chieftain Divya (Divvoka), 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 description seems more appropriate to a rebellion of feudal lords(Samantas), who would have mobilized the peasants.[4][1][5]

Varendra rebellion

Varendra region in Bangladesh
Location
Varendra, Dinajpur, Bengal (modern day Bangladesh)
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
  • Divvoka (Divya)
  • Ruddoka
  • Bhima

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]

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

It is hard to determine the causes and nature of the revolt. King Mahipala II arrested his two brothers Shurapala II and Rampala II in the time of ascending the throne. Soon the vassal chiefs rebelled, which was believed to be because of the weakened state of the central authority rather than the immediate actions of Mahipala II. When the king tried to counter with a small army, he was defeated and killed by a Kaivarta chieftain by the name Divya (or Divokka). Divya established a new dynasty in north Bengal for a half century.[14]

The Pala dynasty is known as golden age of Bengal. But after the golden age of Dharmapala and Devpala, the Pala emperors started to lose their glory. Their rule became weak and disorganisation broke out. The principal aim of the rebellion was to bring back the maintenance.

Uprising

Pala employee Divya called for revolution. The Kaivartas responded on his call and the rebels were easily able to capture the Varendra. As the Kaivartas were very expert in boating, they capitalised on naval war. 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. After the death of Divya, first Divya's brother Ruddoka and then Ruddoka's son Bhima were declared king of Varendra. The Kaivarta kings successfully ruled the region for around half a century.[15] Bhima established himself as a successful and expert ruler. Bhima made the war-torn Varendra prosper. The Kaivarta pillar is still standing in Dinajpur of Bangladesh as a sign of the dynasty.[16][17][18]

'The Kaivarta pillar in Dibar Dighi(Divya's Lake) in Dinajpur,Bangladesh

Recapture of Varendra

Seeing the prosperity of Varendra and popularity of Bhima, Rampala became worried after ascending the throne. He was afraid of losing more of Pala territory. Because of this, he managed the neighbouring vassals with a lot of money and property for assistance in the war. It was difficult for Bhima and the newly formed state Varendra to defend against the large combined army of Rampala. He was imprisoned at the north shore of the Ganges river while fighting. The Pala armies looted the countless treasures of Varendra.

When Bhima was imprisoned, his faithful worker Hari reorganised the army and attacked Rampala again. When Hari was on the verge of victory, Rampala enchanted him with wealth. Thus, the dream of the liberty of Varendra was spoiled and Varendra was again part of the Pala empire.

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. 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. Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. p. 282. ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  15. 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.
  16. Indian Information Series. 1939.
  17. কালের সাক্ষী নওগাঁর ঐতিহাসিক দিবর দীঘি. Ekushey TV (in Bengali). Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  18. এলিজার দেখা ৭. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  • ""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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