Historical Background of Bam

 

Upon examining history, it is found that in the book "History of Cachar," Upendra Chandra Guha describes Bam as follows: "On the banks of the Rukni River in Bam, the capital of the Tripura kingdom was located. Later, the capital was moved to Jaipur in Kailashsahar. The capital was shifted from Jaipur to Manik Bhandar, then relocated to Agartala. Agartala remains the capital of Tripura today." The history book also mentions  Rajghat as the capital of the Tippra kingdom and references the Rajar Dighi in Islamabad, which remains intact.

 In ancient times, kings and rulers dug large water tanks in various locations in their kingdoms to leave behind a lasting legacy. Examples include the Udhardhand's Ranir Dighi of the Cachari king Lakshichandra, the Rajdighi of Pangram, the Shak-Alar Dighi of Hailakandi, and the Joysagar Dighi of Sivasagar. The Rajar Dighi in Bam is one such large pond that still commemorates the once-glorious royal power of the region.

 This vast pond covers 14 bighas (approximately 5 acres). However, in 1957, the Assam government included this pond in a fishery project. On the expansive banks of the pond, offices for the Fishery Department and residential buildings for its employees have been constructed.

 The reasons for the transfer of the capital from Bam to Agartala are still unknown. Investigative researchers are likely to explore this further. One possible reason for the Tripuri rulers' move from Bam could be to escape external threats. British administrative reports from that time serve as reliable documents for historical reference.

 

When Upendra Chandra Guha states in his "History of Cachar" that the Tripura king's capital was in Bam's Rajghat, Ram Mohon Nath, in his book "Antiquities of Cachar," mentions many old ponds, raised earthen forts, and remnants of old buildings or ruins scattered in Telichiba (a part of the village of Islamabad). According to him, these are linked with the headquarters of high-ranking Tripuri officials. Nath also notes that the "Tripura Rajmala" mentions that the Sonai or Rukni valley was known as "Purba-Kul" and that bathing in the Rukni River would absolve one of all sins. The Kukis would come from distant places to fetch water from the Rukni River using bamboo tubes or baskets. This is a real description; the author of the current article observed this practice in his childhood when the Kukis from Kungapunji of Rajgobindapur would come to Rajghat to collect water from the Rukni River in bamboo tubes.

 Evidence of dense habitation in Bam can be found in a report by Lieutenant T. Fisher, an English officer of Cachar, sent to his superior, David Scott, on July 29, 1831. Fisher reported that in the villages on the banks of the Rukni River in Bam, many ruins of old houses were scattered. It is inferred that these places were once inhabited but were vacated for some reason.

 During British rule, the Kukis became increasingly aggressive in the region, often launching sudden and violent attacks on settlements. The Kukis were a pre-Mizo ethnic group. The fearsome memories of their attacks led to proverbs such as "Kuki Bhagan" (flight due to fear of Kukis), "Magar Bhagan" (flight due to fear of Magars), "Jungir Ladai" (the Sepoy Rebellion), "Burma Bhagan" (flight due to Burmese oppression), and "Choytish Banglar Pani" (the great flood of 1336 in Bangladesh). The term "Bhagan" refers to fleeing or taking refuge due to fear of a specific event or oppression. The tales of terror from Bam lingered in popular lore for a long time.

 There are no historical artifacts or analyses that reveal the origin of the name "Bam." Nor is there any apparent logic to the name's origins in popular narratives. It might have been given by non-Aryan tribes. In the Dimasa language, "Bam" means "to take up in the arms or lap." After the rule of the Tripuris in Cachar, the Dimasa Cacharis took over and ruled for a long period. Therefore, the name "Bam" might have originated from the Dimasa language. Dr. Nalini Kanta Sinha, a former Associate Professor in the Geography Department at Northeastern Hill University, suggests that according to the "Assamese Practical Dictionary," the term "Bam" means a high land that is not easily prone to flooding. This meaning fits well with the region of Bam, which is comparatively elevated. Researchers might explore this angle for  the origin of the name "Bam." It can also be investigated whether the term "Bam" came from any language of the neighboring state of Mizoram or Kokborok the language of the then Tripuri rulers.

In the northeastern Manipur state, there is an area named "Jiribam." Whether there is any social, cultural, historical, or political connection between Jiribam and Bam could be a subject of discussion. The Jiribam River flows alongside Jiribam, while the Rukni River flows through South Cachar's "Bam," which could be referred to as Rukni-Bam. However, the region was known as "Bam" even before resettlement. Later, the Davidsonabad sub-district was formed in this Bam region.

                                                                Rajdighi ,Ialamabad