Historical research reveals that in his book 'Kacharer Itibritta' (History of Cachar), Upendra Chandra Guha, while describing Bam, stated that the capital of the Tripura kingdom was located at Rajghat on the banks of the Rukni River in Bam. Upendra Chandra Guha also mentioned that in present-day Islamabad (Islampur), "the old royal road, ponds, brick-built steps, etc., still exist in that place and the surrounding area." This pond, known as Rajdighi among the residents of Bam, remains intact to this day. The book 'Kacharer Itibritta' was published in 1910. According to information, Upendra Chandra Guha himself visited this Rajdighi in Bam. Later, the capital was shifted from Bam to Jaipur in Kailashahar. From Jaipur, the capital was moved to a place called Manik Bhandar. After that, the capital was shifted to Agartala. The capital of Tripura is still located in Agartala. Many folk tales about Bam are prevalent among the Tripuri people. Upendra Chandra Guha has mentioned several such folk tales in his book 'Kacharer Itibritta'. These folk tales suggest that at one time, Bam was the capital or kingdom of the Tripuris.
In ancient times, kings and
rulers, to leave a lasting legacy of their achievements, would excavate large
ponds in various parts of their kingdoms. There are examples of this, such as
the Rani's pond in Udharband of the Cachar king Lakshmichandra, the Rajdighi of
Pangram, or the Shak-Ala pond of Hailakandi, the Jaysagar pond of Sibsagar,
etc. The Rajdighi of Islamabad in Bam is also one such large pond that
commemorates the glorious royal power of the past in the area.
This vast pond covers
approximately 10-12 bighas of land. In 1957, the Assam government included this
pond in its fisheries project. The Fisheries Department's own office and
residential buildings for its employees have been constructed on the wide banks
of the pond.
However, the reason why the
capital of Tripura was shifted from Bam to Agartala is still unknown.
Investigative researchers will surely explore the reasons for this. One reason
the Tripuri kings moved away from Bam was likely to protect themselves from attacks
by external enemies. The reports of British colonial officials on this matter
are undoubtedly reliable historical documents.
When Upendra Chandra Guha, in
his book "Itibritta of Cachar," suggests that the Tipra king's
capital was located at Rajghat in Bam, Rajmohan Nath, in his book
"Antiquities of Cachar," mentions numerous old ponds, earthen forts,
and bricks at a place called Telichiba in Bam (which is part of Islamabad
village). According to him, these are connected to the headquarters of
high-ranking officials of the Tripura kingdom. Rajmohan Nath further mentions
that the "Tripura Rajmala" states that the Cachar plains, encompassing
the Sonai or Rukni valley, were known as the "Purvakul" province, and
that a dip in the Rukni River would absolve one of all sins. The Kukis would
come from far and wide to collect water from the Rukni River in bamboo tubes.
This is a factual description, as the present author witnessed this phenomenon
in his childhood: the Kukis of Kunga Punji in Rajgovindpur would come to
Rajghat and fill bamboo tubes with water from the Rukni River.
Evidence of a once densely populated area in Bam can be found in the report on Cachar sent by the English ruler of Cachar, Lieutenant T. Fisher, to his superior British officer, David Scott, on July 29, 1831. Regarding Bam, he stated that numerous ruins of old houses are scattered in the villages along the banks of the Rukni River – suggesting that the area was once inhabited, but for some reason, the people left and moved elsewhere.
The atrocities of the Kukis had
increased in the area under British rule. The Kukis frequently launched sudden
and violent attacks on the settlements. They were primarily a community
preceding the Mar-Mizos. The horrific memories of their attacks were later
preserved in proverbs that were passed down orally, as the ancients used to
say—'Kuki Bhagān' (fleeing in fear of the Kukis), 'Magar Bhagān' (fleeing in fear of the Magh
pirates). Similarly, 'Jangir Larai' (the Sepoy Mutiny's war against the
British), 'Burmar Bhagān' (fleeing in fear of the atrocities of the Burmese army), 'Chhatish
Banglar Pani' (the great flood of 1336 Bengali year), etc. The word 'Bhagān' refers to fleeing or moving
elsewhere in a state of confusion for self-preservation due to fear of a
particular event or atrocity. Because this terrorist incident occurred in the
Bam region, the stories of 'Bhagān' remained prevalent in folklore for a long time.
In the mid-seventeenth century,
after the decline of the Tripura kingdom, a small king named Madan Raja
appeared on the banks of the Rukni River. However, no historical account of
Madan Raja has been found. Although many folk tales and village songs about
Madan Raja were prevalent. Probably his kingdom existed in a few villages at
the northern end of Bam.
There are no historical records or analyses available to explain the origin of the name 'Bam'. Nor can any logic be found in the folk explanations of the naming of 'Bam'. It is possible that this name was given by non-Aryan tribes. In the Dimasa language, the word "Bam" means to be taken into the lap or embrace. After the rule of the Tripuri kings in Cachar, it came under the rule of the Dimasa Kacharis, and they ruled in Cachar for a long time. Therefore, the name Bam may have originated from the Dimasa language. Dr. Nalini Kanta Sinha of Bekirpar, former Associate Professor of the Geography Department of North Eastern Hill University, believes that according to the "Assamese Practical Dictionary," the word Bam means high land surrounded by water.This meaning fits the "Bam" region. The "Bam" region is a relatively elevated area, and the name "Bam" may also originate from this Assamese word.
In the mid-16th century, Tripuri
rule in Cachar came to an end when the Koch general Chilarai defeated the
Tripuris. The Koch kings ruled from Khaspur for some time. They were known as
"Dheyan". There is still an Assamese village near Udharband. Many
Assamese or Dheyan words have found their way into the local vocabulary of
Cachar, such as 'bikroy-becha' (buying and selling), 'bar cha' (wait), 'cha'
(tree), 'theng' (leg), 'pani' (water), 'panimach' (turtle). Similarly, the word
'Bam' is also likely to have come from the Assamese language.
Researchers can examine this
claim regarding the origin of the name Bam. It can also be investigated whether
the word "Bam" originated from any language of the neighboring state
of Mizoram, or from Kokborok, the language of the Tripuris, who were the rulers
of Bam at that time.
In the northeastern region, in
the state of Manipur, there is an area called 'Jiribam'. Whether there is any
social, cultural, historical, or political connection between Jiri-Bam and Bam
can also be a subject of discussion. The Jiri River flows beside Jiri-Bam, and
in the "Bam" of South Cachar, there is the Rukni River, which can be
called Rukni-Bam. Until the British annexation of the Cachar kingdom in 1832,
Jiribam was a part of the Cachar kingdom.
According to some, the area
finally established on the left bank of the Barak River is known as Bam. Many
believe that the area between the present-day Panibhara and Ramprasadpur
villages, up to the Inner Line, was previously under the control of the Mizos.
Later, for various reasons, the Mizos left this place. Later, non-Mizo people
started living here. Therefore, because it was a non-Mizo inhabited area, it
was named Bairam, and from Bairam came Bam. The meaning is the dwelling place
of non-Mizo people. However, some people say that the word Dimasa originated
from the word Bam Dig Dig, and the name Bam is derived from it.
But it is true that this region
was known as "Bam" even before the resettlement of the Bams. The
Davidsonabad pargana was later formed from this Bam region.
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