ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res.

11(09), 73-80

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Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/17505

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RESEARCH ARTICLE
DEVELOPMENT AND DEGRADATION IN THE COOCH BEHAR STATE DURING MAHARAJA
NRIPENDRA NARAYAN RULE, 1863-1911

Sajal Adhikary
University of Gour Banga Ph.D. Scholar History Department.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………....
Manuscript Info Abstract
……………………. ………………………………………………………………
Manuscript History The Cooch Behar State was a small princely State of undivided Bengal
Received: 05 July 2023 during British rule. We know the State became a tributary State of the
Final Accepted: 09 August 2023 British East India Company in 1773 A.D. From this time the British
Published: September 2023 ideology introduced in all aspects of the State by the Cooch Behar
Maharajas. During the period of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan, who
Key words:-
Cooch Behar, Land, Revenue, Maharaja was known the modernizer of the Cooch Behar State, the British
ideology had touched the highest stage of modernity during his time.
During his time State introduced the First scientific land revenue
management, Budget System and other developmental works. This had
portrayed him as the modern Maharaja of the State or light side of the
State. But this new land revenue management had sharp impact on the
State environment and ecology and land-based society. This could
portray him as destroyer of State environment and society.

Copy Right, IJAR, 2023,. All rights reserved.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………....
Introduction:-
Cooch Behar State was an only princely State of the undivided Bengal during the British rule. It transform into a
tributary State under the British East India Company in 1773 A.D. From this time onwards the State policy was
indirectly controlled by the British intention. Because all the highest State official authority was under controlled the
British and the Maharaja was depended to this official advices. So this made the British to introduce their ideology
in the State. Especially during the Maharaja Nripendra Narayan period (1863-1911), we have seen an abrupt change
in State policy, specially land revenue management in the State, which had sharp impact on the State environment,
ecology and society. This study will reveal the State scenario on land revenue, environment and land based-society
during the Maharaja Nripendra Narayan rule (1863-1911).

Development
Maharaja Nripendra Narayan came into Cooch Behar throne in 1863, but then he was minor, according the
conventional rule, when Maharaja is minor than the State will run by his mother with the suggestion of officials.
During the minority period the State condition had fully changed by the British official. Moreover, it was significant
to note that the important administrative branches like, Superintendent, Deputy Commissioner were already under
the control of British Civil official, thereby reinforcing a strong British influence in the management of the State. .
Consequently, the British gave utmost importance to the agricultural land of Cooch Behar State. Deforestation was
made by the colonial Government for the expansion of cultivated land by clearing jungle land. In 1871A.D. Deputy
Commissioner of the Cooch Behar State noted that about three-fourths of the jungle was capable of being brought

Corresponding Author:- Sajal Adhikary

Address:- University of Gour Banga Ph.D. Scholar History Department. 73
ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res. 11(09), 73-80

under the plough. 1During his rule many development had concluded in the State, land settlement management was
one of them. We know that the Cooch Behar was a pre-eminently agricultural State, due to its geographical position
and natural environment of the State. The soil of Cooch Behar was an alluvial formation and had a large admixture
of sand. Ploughing became easy and did not entail much labour on the part of the cultivator. 2Soil was very much
productive for large scale of agricultural production.

The condition of the princely state of Cooch Behar was not different from the other Princely States so far as revenue
administration was concerned. Mr. Beveridge, the Deputy Commissioner of Cooch Behar State, had made the
following remarks in 1865 on the affairs of Cooch Behar, „Before the appointment of a British Commissioner the
Government of Cooch Behar was in a deplorable condition‟.3 The resource of the government was not large. The
only source of revenue worth mentioning was land, and even this was not properly taxed. 4 For this reason, they took
a proper manner to increase the land revenue system, and one of the first steps was taken by colonel Hanghton for
making the entire department remit their collection into the Majudat, and to submit bills for their expenditure. In
Cooch Behar a regular budget system of controlling the finance was under order of the British Government,
introduced from 1866-67 A.D.5

Before his (Nripendra Narayan) rule, there has not any good land revenue system. Which existed, there has various
limitations. In this reason the State officials introduced the first land survey in the State in 1868-70 for land
settlement. This had been made for development of State land revenue. Colonial intervention spearheaded a process
of transformation in the Princely State of Cooch Behar. This led to development of land revenue of the State and
Environmental and ecological degradation .For this settlement State was divided into six circuits or Pargana named:
Cooch Behar Sadar, Tufangunj, Dinhata, Lalbazr, Mekhligunj, Mathabhanga. Pargana was divided into Tuluk.
Standard measurement was Bigha, Kata and Dhur.

The Commissioner Colonel Hanghton, with a view to get the actual picture proposed and carried out a survey of the
State under Mr.J.H.O‟Donnel,(1868-70) Deputy Superintendent of Revenue survey. Who was specially deputed by
the British Government for this purpose. The Dewan reported that the Izardari system which was originally
prevailed in the State had been condemned by Sir George Campbell, the late Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal. It was
abolished and in its stead the khas tehil system was introduced by Colonel J.C.Haughton in 1872.6 It was the first
Settlement of the State. Mr.J.H.O‟Donnel‟s survey was concluded in 1870 and thereafter started a new process of
implementation. In this settlement the standard measurement area of the land unit was Bighas, kathas and dhurs.
This settlement was made for 12 years. It was the first survey of the State ever attempted in which proper
demarcation was made by Taluks and Parganas. In this settlement, Cooch Behar State was divided into six Parganas,
named Mekhligunj, Mathabhanga, Lalbazar, Dinhata, Cooch Behar and Tufangunj. In 1864, a major reformation
was made by Colonel Hanghton, the existing classified land name, Khangi lands (the revenue of which was
expended for the maintenance of the Maharaja‟s household )subsequently disappeared as a separate class. 7 From
March 1872, the Ijaradari system of the collection was abolished by Sir George Campbell, Lieutenant-Governor, and
on 1st April of 1872, introduced the new settlement in the State.8

Table:- Difference of revenue Collection after the first Settlement:

Pargana Old Jama in Rs. First settlement Jama Rs. Increase Rs.
Mekhiganj 54,169 1,29,555 75,389
Mathabhanga 71,246 1,72,904 1,01,658
Lalbazar 74,476 1,34,198 59,722

1
W.W. Hunter : A Statistical Account Of Bengal: State of Kuch Bihar, Reprinted N.L.Publishers, Shivmandir,
2012, Trubner & Co., London 1876, page-53.
2
Choudhury Harandra: The Cooch Behar State and its Land Revenue Settlements,(Cooch Behar, Cooch Behar
Press, 1903, page-158.
3
Annual Administrative Report of Cooch Behar State, 1865-66, page-28.
4
Op. Cit- Harandra Chaudhury, page- 298.
5
Sekhar Sircar, Land Settlement and Revenue Administration under Maharaja of Cooch Behar State (1772-1949),
Unpublished Ph.D Thesis, N.B.University, 1990, page- chapter. 4.
6
Cooch Behar State Council Proceeding, 1882-93, page-. 77.
7
Op. Cit. Harandra Choudhury, page- 442.
8
Ibid., p. 452.

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Dinhata 76,451 1,74,034 97,583

Cooch Behar 71,520 2,32,040 1,60,520
Tufanganj 16,277 95,879 79,602
Total 3,64,139 9,38,610 5,74,471
(Source: H. N. Choudhury, The Cooch Behar state and its land Revenue Settlement, Cooch Behar State Press,
Cooch Behar 1903, page- 453.)

The first Settlement was concluded with the Jotedars for a term that varied from 8 to 13 years for different Parganas.
The amount of increase obtained by the State did not, however, represent the increase which developed upon the
Jotedars. The actual increase of revenue,(table no.1.3) shown above was due to the Settlement alone . As already
noted large quantities of invalid rent-free, Mokarari and Jaigir lands were resumed in course of settlement operations
and brought under assessment. Khas lands together with newly cultivated and incorporated land of Jotes, were also
started to be assessed with the lands of the Jotes.

Patit Charcha Settlement (1884-86):

The first settlement of the State, successfully concluded under the supervision of the British Government, expired at
the close of 1883-84. British Government took a big step for wasteland in colonial India. A similar picture was
visible in Cooch Behar State. The State took a major step on Patit or waste land for the increase of land revenue in
1884-86; The State implemented a Settlement on wasteland, which was popularly known as Patit Charcha
Settlement. But State tried many times to use wasteland to convert into cultivated land. Mr. Richard Ahmuty in 1797
gave great encouragement to convert waste land into cultivated land in the State. 9 Mr G.J.B.T. Dalton (Deputy
Commissioner of the State) first brought to the notice of to the Commissioner of the State in 20-01-1883 regarding
the Patit land by letter no. 1560. The Patit Charcha Operations were supplementary to the first settlement; only the
fallow lands included within the Jotes in the course of the first Settlement and brought under cultivation. Later on
the Patit Charcha Operation were assessed at the rate applicable to cultivated lands. The policy followed by the
State for the Settlement of Wasteland brought about its effects on the economy of the State. Both the first Survey
Settlement and the Patit Charcha Settlement, the spirit of Regulations VII of 1822 of 1825 and IX of 1833 of the
Bengal Code was followed in the State.10 It was mentioned earlier that no special rules had been in operation in
Cooch Behar State for the Settlement of wasteland. No new rates had to be set for these operations. Patit or waste
lands were those lands that did not pay any revenue, because those were wasted and unoccupied. When British rule
began in Bengal, it was estimated that from one-third to one-half of the total area of the province was waste and
uncultivated.11 This Patit Charcha settlement was taken in hand to assess the fallow or wastelands that had come
under cultivation since the first Settlement (1872).

The State wanted to increase more land revenue in the State. This led to the clearance of Jungles and to convert
them into agricultural lands. The State used to clear Jungle by burning down the grass and weeds, so far as
practicable. That was generally performed in March when leaves become dry, and facilitated the progress of fire. In
light grass Jungles this was sufficient for effecting a clearance. On the other hand, the bushes and thickets were
heavy, and there was a large admixture of trees in the Jungles. The axe had to be freely brought into play, the use of
the „dao‟ being always necessary for removing the half burnt stalks of reed, khagra, kasia and the like. Sometimes,
after the cutting down of trees, they were left in the ground to rot for one whole year. Fire was then used to apply
once more to complete the work of destruction. The big stumps and roots were brought out with the spade. The
ground was then tilled, or rather scratched with the plough. In the first year of operation heavy tilling was neither
necessary nor possible. The farmers tried to sow grains or planted crops on these cleared lands and thus started
making profits of the lands. These lands required less effort compared to the previous ploughing and they made the
farmers more affectionate and attractive to these virgin lands. Large clearances were not affected all at once. At first
a plot of open ground was used to select according to the requirement of each case, clearance then continued
slowly, year after year a small patch was added every year with the broken area. 12

Another type of Jungle clearance was made by the local people in the region. The Meches and Garos were very good
„breakers‟ of Jungles, they were encouraged by the farmers to settle on the tract to be cleared by providing them

9
Cooch Behar Select Records, Vol. I., page- 48. Para. 14.
10
Annual Administrative Report of Cooch Behar State 1888-89, page- 20.
11
B. H. Baden. Powel, Land Revenue and Tenure in British India, Oxford, 1907, page- 56.
12
Op. Cit. Harandra Narayan Choudhury, page- 508.

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crops and cattle and even cash was handed over to them. These people lived in the Jungle and were accustomed to
the hot air of the wastes which they believed to be injurious to the health for men living in the open country .They
used to clear on behalf of their masters and when the work was done, they were often turned out of the land to make
room for civilized tenants. Sometimes these people by concluding a lease directly with the State used to settle down
as Jotedars. But they were so shy and fond of roving that they were very seldom be counted among the permanent
settlers.13

Pai System.
Different kinds of Jungle clearance practice were running in Cooch Behar State. „PAI‟ system was one of them this
practice of giving Jungle lands to royts for clearance were rent-free for the first few years of the tenancy. This was
called „PAI‟ system meaning remission of rent. It generally varied from 1-5 years, according to the nature of the
Jungle to be cut. After the expiry of that period the land was brought under assessment. 14 The revenue policy of the
British was to colonize land aggressively for agriculture even at the expense of forest tracts. They did not even
bother of wild ecology. 15Similarly, in Cooch Behar State it used to infest the wild beasts around Patlakhawa,
Pundibari, Guard Hat and Mahiskhuchi; and, although owing to the spread of cultivation and human habitation in
those tracts, the bigger animals like tiger, rhinoceros became almost extinct. Leopards and black bears were still to
be found in these parts in large number. The State used to offer a reward of Rs.10 for each beast killed, the rate of
tiger being Rs. 20 per head. 16 (See the expenditure Table on Reward for the destruction of wild beasts in five chapter
Table No. 5.1.) It was noteworthy that between 1872 and 1881 (A.D.) the highest number of population was
increased in the State, nearly 13.15%. Number population in the State in 1872 A.D. was 5, 32,565, and in 1881
A.D., the population was 6, 02,624.17 As population increased it became difficult to obtain lands for agricultural
purposes, it was but natural that the junior members of a family tried to shift elsewhere. It was in this way that
cultivation had gradually extended to tracts erlier covered with Jungle. 18

Fire used at forests for the expansion of agricultural land, resulted in ecological change. The soil macronutrients
were the elements considered essential for plant growth. Extinction of those created huge impact on site productivity
and vegetation dynamics. Forest fires usually decreased the total nutrient pool on a site (the total amount of nutrients
present) through some combination of oxidation, volatilization, ash transport, leaching and erosion. It is true that fire
diminished nutrient pool, Simultaneously it is true that a new kind of nutrients increase in the same causing soil
fertility. Since fire chemically converts nutrients bound in dead plant tissues and the soil surface to more available
forms or the fire indirectly increases mineralization rates through its impacts on soil microorganisms. 19

After the Patit Charcha pretty Settlement (1884-86), State started the Re-settlement (Rakam Charcha Settlement
(1886-91).At the time of Re-settlement of Cooch Behar State in 1887, the area covered by waste land was 6, 44,991
Bighas. The Pargana wise detailed information is given below:-

Table:- Decrease of Patit Land after the Patit Charcha Settlement:

Name of Pargana Total assessed Recorded as Incorporated with Total %of waste lands
and khas lands khas Jotes on total lands
Mekhiganj 3,25,851 8,580 68,638 77,218 23
Matthabanga 4,11,498 6,626 1,00,831 1,07,461 25
Lalbazar 3,16,530 5,616 53,831 59,444 19
Dinhata 3,94,649 11,599 66,685 78,464 20
Cooch Behar 5,67,113 27,323 1,46,764 1,74,087 30
Tufangunj 3,62,726 54,801 93,516 1,48,319 40

13
Ibid, page. 508.
14
Ibid., page. 509.
15
V. Damodaran, Indigenous Forests: Right, Discourses and Resistance in Chotonagpur, 1860-2002‟‟, in Ecological
Nationalism: Nature, livelihood and Identities in South Asia, K. Sivaramkrishnan, G.Cederolf(eds), Permanent
Black, New Delhi 2005,page- 118.
16
Op. Cit, Harandra Narayan Choudhury, page- 98.
17
Annual Administrative Report of the Cooch Behar State, 1880-81, page- 69, para. 319.
18
Annual Administrative Report of the Cooch Behar State, 1885-86, page- 10, para. 44.
19
Forest Encyclopaedia network. Fire effects on soil nutrients

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Total 23,78,367 1,14,542 5,30,449 6,44,991 27

(Source: H.N.Choudhury, The Cooch Behar State and Its Land Revenue Settlement, Cooch Behar Press, Cooch
Behar, page-507.)

General Re-Settlement of the Cooch Behar State held in 1886-91 (Popularly known as Rakamcharcha, owing
to the introduction of detailed classification of lands).
The resettlement had been concluded for 30 years ending in 1928. On the six Parganas the re-settlement had been
effective from 1890.It was already known that in the first settlement of the state, cultivated lands were not classified.
From that settlement a detailed settlement of land was introduced. There was one rate (8 Annas per Bigha) for all
classes of cultivated land all over the State.20 There were small patches of Khas lands situated all over the State.
These were the old sites of Hats or Bunders, schools, and cattle-pounds, etc. This land for long had ceased to exist.
There were also some dried beds of unsettled char lands. The extent of these was ascertained in the course of the Re-
Settlement operations.21The examination and classification of the soil always formed an important necessary feature
for the settlement of land revenue. Before the Re-Settlement or Rakamcharcha elaborate classification was never
attempted or done. The principle of difference of the revenue according to the productive power of the soil was
never accepted earlier. The division of cultivated lands according to the richness of the soil was necessary not only
for consistency, but also for affording relief to the tenants by making the rate of rent different according to the nature
of the soil. 22 Before framing the rule to the new settlement, Dewan of the State said that, we would have always to
remember that this State had a powerful rival in Bhutan Duars. The soil there was rich and the rates was low. As
clearances were being made, people were shifting and setting there. From the immigration data of the previous
report, several of our ryots had gone from Taluks near the frontier. An inquiry had been made and found that the
men who left were mostly people much involved in debts; whenever they were hard-pressed by their cruel Mahajans
or landlords, they thought of setting in the Duars.23 .

The following 16 fold classification was adopted during the Re-Settlement of the State:-
1. Betelnut land
2. Bastu or homestead.
3. Udbastu or land adjoining to Bastu or homestead.
4. Garden.
5. Bamboo
6. Tobacco first class.
7. Tobacco 2nd class.
8. Tobacco 3rd class.
9. Awal or 1st class cultivated land.
10. Dulum or 2nd class cultivated land.
11. Saium or 3rd class cultivated land.
12. Chaharam 4th class cultivated land.
13. San or thatching grassland.
14. Laik Patit.
15. Garlaik Patit.
16. Jala or fishery.

This classification was applied only on such estates as were open to re-settlement. This Re-Settlement gave birth to a
distinct class brought into existence under “Jalas”. 24 The revenue-paying estates in the State were called „Jotes‟.
There were Mokararis or permanently settled estates that had been in existence for a long time, and which were
settled permanently at the time of first settlement. Some of the Mokararis and rent free holdings, which were
resumed in the course of the first settlement, were settled at half rate for a fixed number of years or until a future
contingency, such as the death of the holder, should arise. These lands were not open to enhancement when the
resettlement of the temporarily settled Jotes was taken up. 25

20
Op. Cit, Sekhar Sircar, page- Chapter. 7.
21
Op. Cit., Harandra Narayan Choudhury, page- 364.
22
Op. Cit., Sekhar Sircar, page- Chapter. 7.
23
Cooch Behar State Council Proceeding, 1885-86., Vol III, page- 160.
24
Op, Cit, Harandra Narayan Choudhry,page- 487.
25
Ibid., page- 488.

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The total revenue obtained by the resettlement was Rs.12, 41,060. An increase of Rs.2, 88,418 or 30% over the first
settlement and Patit Charcha settlement revenue was Rs.9, 52,642.26

Re-Settlement in the Jungle Tracts in the State:

There were two parts in the State known as Girds Chowra and Shandara, which were always treated exceptionally in
land revenue settlement due to their location and environment. Girds Chowra was situated to the north of Pargana
Cooch Behar, and Gird Shandara from the north-eastern portion of Pargana Tufangunj. The 9 Taluks i.e.
1.Singimari;Pachaniarpar;2.ChatSingimari;3.Shukdhanerkuti;4.Shakunibala;5.Kalarayerkuti;6.Khagribari;7.Sajerpar
Ghoramara;8.Basdaho;9.Putimari Bakshibos, were situated in Gird Chowra and also the tract of country in Gird
Shandara lying to the east of the old Rydak which was known as Bilat Bishguri. 27 These two Girds were thinly
populated and situated very near the Bhutan Duars, for which reason they always received exceptional treatment
from a revenue point of view. Considering the ill condition of cultivation in these parts of the State, the State
exempted Re-Settlement operations for 10 years from 1889-90 A.D.(1296 B.S.) It also appears that in the old
Nirikhnamah there were three different schedules of rates and the third or the lowest schedule of rates applied to
Girds Chowra and Shandra and the rates in the latter schedule were one-fourth less than those applicable to the
greater portion of the State. This principle was also adhered to in respect of these Girds on the occasion of the first
settlement. The soil of these Girds was not poor, the winder paddy being grown in abundance; but there were no
other principal crops. Tobacco was cultivated in small patches of ground. Cultivation of Jute was in its infancy, but
still, the people of this parts had been made considerable progress in their material condition within the last 25 years.
Extensive clearance had been made; from the last census, it would appear that there had been an increase in the
population in Gird Shandara. The extension of the Northern Bengal State Railway to the Duars and the opening of
the Tea gardens have given an impetus to trade in Chowra and served to increase the value of products and both
Girds were benefited by the opening of the Cooch Behr State Railway. 28

It appears that the condition of the lands included in the above tract and Taluks not having sufficiently improved,
they were exempted from the operations of the Re-Settlement for ten years from1889-90 A.D.(1296 B.S.) The lands
comprised an area of 1,80,000 Bighas. The Dewan observed that much extension of cultivation in the Taluks of Gird
Chawra had been started due to large clearance has been made in Bilat Bisguri. From the First Settlement of 1872 to
the subsequent Patit Charcha(1884-86) the said two operations were not extended in this area. But during this time a
noticeable changes had been taken place in this area. The Dewan proposed that in the interest of the State Bilat
Bisguri and Gird Chowra be reserved and resettled at the rates already proposed by Dewan, with effect from 1899-
1900 A.D ( 1306 B.S)., 29 After the Re-Settlement, a probable quantity of area under rice cultivation in Bilat
Bishguri and the 9 Taluks of Chowra which remained to be re-settled included in Mukuree Mehals 39,000 Bighas. 30

Degradation:
Another report of Babu Calica Doss Dutt, Dewan of Cooch Behar, vividly highlights the situation of the ryots during
the Jotedari system in the State: Many poor ryots were very deeply involved in debts during 1884-85. They found it
impossible to extricate themselves from their difficulties unless they took some bold steps. Under these
circumstances, it was but natural that the thought of setting in the Duars Jotedars, who offered to give them lands on
very favourable terms, and all that they had to do was to fly from their homes with their bullocks in the dead of
night, as secretly as they could, so that no obstruction might be caused by their creditors. Once beyond the border,
they could not be arrested by our peons and they could fully depend upon the support of the local Government
officers. I visited several Taluks from which the ryots had fled and saw some deserted houses. Those ryots were
mostly under-tenants, of the lowest grade, who had to pay high rents to the Chukinidars or Dur-Chukinidars; many
of them were Adhiars who had no right to the land they tilled, and who were very anxious to secure such right. The
houses, they used to live in, were small huts with mat walls; such huts could be easily built by them in the Duars at a
very little expense.”31

26
Ibid., page- 12.
27
Ibid., page- 6.
28
Cooch Behar State Council Proceeding, 1893-94, page- 375.
29
Cooch Behar State Council Proceeding, 1895-96, page- 220.
30
Cooch Behar State Council Proceeding, 1896-97, page- 334.
31
Annual Administrative Report of the Cooch Behar State, 1885-86, page- 10.

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The above table shows that the state was drastically reduced the laik-patit and Gar-laik patit wastelands in between
the Rakam Charcha Settlement to Present resettlement, and increased the cultivated land which led to an ecological
impact on animals specially the cattle. Deforestation also made environmental degradation in the State. The Jungly
tract of the State was converted to cultivated lands by different Settlement Operations year by year. It proved that
there is a relation between the Jungle and the weather. It is noteworthy that the rainfall had been gradually
decreasing in the State, as the figures given below show:-

Table:- Average Inch of rainfall in the State.

Average for the five years from Year to Year Inches
1876-77 To 1880-81 138.14
1881-82 To 1885-86 132.39
1886-77To 1890-91 139.59
1891-92 To 1895-96 129.64
1896-97 To 1900-01 120.17
(Source: Annual Administrative Report of the Cooch Behar State, 1901-02, page- 17, Point. 12.)

The report of the Rai Calica Doss Dutt Bahadur (Dewan of the Cooch Behar State) in 1901-02, showed how the
average rainfall had come down from 138 to 120 inchs. Since 1880-81 this decrease might be due to clearance of
jungle and extension of cultivation in the Duars. There was an unusually large fall of rain in 1890-91; this explains
the rise in the average of the five years ending with 1890-91.32 We know that there is close relation between tree and
rainfall. If we see contemporary picture of the adjacent area of western duars, we find that large deforestation was
taken for tea plantation. The first tea plantation took place in 1874 A.D. In 1870s and throughout the 1880s and
1890s clearing of jangles and reclamation of land for ordinary cultivation as well as for plantation made rapid
progress. By the turn of the century Duars changed from jangle wastelands into cultivated land. 33

Table:- Land revenue comparison with the neighbouring area with the State in 1892-93.
Name of the Area in square Population Total Land Revenue payable Revenue payable
Districts miles Revenue perhead acre
Cooch Behar 1307 578054 1260616 2.1 1.51
Rajshye 2330 1133336 890479 0.6 0.59
Dinajpore 4118 1555835 1655516 1.0 0.62
Julpaiguri 2962 681852 503371 0.7 0.26
Rungpore 3486 2065464 1005068 0.4 0.45
Bogra 1452 817494 491870 0.6 0.53
Pubna 1839 1362392 395535 0.2 0.33
(Source: The supplement to the Calcutta Gazette, 18th October 1893, p.1938-50, Para. 13 and AARCBS 1894-95,
page-6.)

Table:- The population of Cooch Behar State.

Years Population
1881 6,02,624
1891 5,78,868
1901 5,66,973
(Source: H.N.Choudhury, The Cooch Behar State and its land revenue Settlement, Cooch Behar Press, Cooch
Behar,1903, page- 5.)

The population had decreased chiefly due to an unusually severe epidemic of cholera in 1891, just when the census
was being taken. The decrease in population happened also due to immigration. Immigration due to Introduction of
Patit Charcha Settlement, which was primarily introduced for converting Jungle land to cultivated land. Initially the
State gave the tenant opportunity to cultivate jungle land with a nominal rent and after the term of 5 years, its rent

32
Annual Administrative Reprot of the Cooch Behar State, 1901-02, page- 17, Para. 12.
33
Sukanya Majumdar, Tea Plantataion and Ecological Changes in the District of Jalpaiguri:1860-1947, Ph.D.
Thesis, Jadavpur University, 2013, p.153. (J.F. Grunning, „Eastern Bengal and Assam District Gazetteers:
Jalpaiguri; Allahabad, 1911, page- 292.)

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had reached at a similar rate of revenue of cultivated land. So it may have caused the immigration of people of the
State and fall of population was the result. In 1884-85, Dewan of the State reported that many poor ryots were very
deeply involved in debts. They found it impossible to extricate themselves from their difficulties unless they took
some bold steps. Under the circumstances, it was but natural that the thought of setting in the Duars would strike
them. They put themselves in communication with some of the Duar Jotedars, who offered to give them lands on
very favourable terms, ands all that they had to do was to fly from their homes with their bullocks in the dead night,
as secretly as they could, so that no obstruction might be caused by their creditors.34 According to the census report
of Jalpaiguri district in the year of 1872-1881-1891 population was 100,111—182687—296964. Showing an
increased of 114,277 in the population of the Duars. Increasing population in duars on last decade due to immigrants
from various area, and highest immigrants people were also from the State of Cooch Behar.

Table:- Immigration Data of Jalpaiguri district.

Area Population
Immigrants from Darjeeling 1588
Immigrants from Dinajpur 505
Immigrants from Rangpur 10,101
Immigrants from Cooch Behar 32,224
( Source:Survey and Settlement of the Western Duars in the district of Jalpaiguri 1889-1895A.D. page- 151.)

The immigrant people from Cooch Behar were very large, and were chiefly from the Chukinidar and adhiar class of
tenants who had taken up land in Falakata and Alipur tahsils as Jotedars. The cause of leaving Cooch Behar, and had
invariably been told that rent for land was too high there. That the Jotedars were oppressive, and sometimes that the
productive powers of soil had decreased, but have no doubt that the cheapness of land in the duars the facility with
which crops could be sold, and good prices which were always obtained here, were a great attraction. 35

Conclusion:-
It appears that during the rule of Maharaja Nripendendra Narayan the State had gained more and more revenue from
the scientific land management. But the other side who given the revenue their condition was so deperoble year by
year, which led them to migrate other nearby british area, like, Jalpaiguri, Goal para. It is acknowledge that they
land based society was under pressure for the revenue.

On the other hand due to increase of agriculture land in jungle area, which led to destruction of wild ecology and
environment of the State.

34
Annual Administrative Report of the Cooch Behar State 1885-86, page- 10, Para. 44.
35
D.H.E. Sunder, Survey and Settlement of the Western Duars in the District of Jalpaiguri 1889-1895, page- 151.

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