Cooch

COOCH BEHAR

The Narayan Dynasty

BRIEF HISTORY

The Narayan dynasty founded the principality on the ruins of the ancient Hindu kingdom of Kamarupa. The first Raja, Chandan Narayan, of Koch and Mech descent, established himself on Mount Chikna in 1510. His half-brother and successor, Maharaja Vishnu Narayan, greatly expanded his domains and established his capital in the plains. Vishnu's son, Maharaja Nara Narayan, conquered vast territories and subjugated most of the surrounding principalities. Their successors maintained their independence until the late seventeenth century, when Maharaja Mahendra Narayan faced repeated attacks by the Mughal Nawab-Nazims of Bengal. His successor ceded half his principality and became their tributary in 1711. The state came under British protection after the aquisition of the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, by Lord Clive of Plassey in 1765. Bhutanese intervention in succession disputes prompted a formal treaty between the rightful heir and the British in 1775. The family, belonging to the Rajbhansi and Sudra caste, was highly cultured and of modern outlook, championing education, Hindu reform and Indian literature. Maharaja Sir Nripendra Narayan, and his wife Maharani Siniti Devi, were court favourites of the Queen-Empress Victoria. Their children were educated in England and two of their daughters married Europeans. The state acceded to the Dominion of India in 1947 and merged with the state of West Bengal in 1950.

SALUTE: 13-guns.

ARMS:

Purpure an annulet or, between a sword blade vert and a sword proper hilted of the second. Crest: Monkey sejant argent. Supporters: Lion and elephant proper. Motto: "Jato Dharma Stato Jaya" (Where there is virtue, there is victory). Lambrequins: Purpure and or.

STYLES & TITLES:

The ruling prince: Maharaja Shri (personal name) Narayan Bhup Bahadur, Maharaja of Cooch-Behar, with the style of His Highness.

The consort of the ruling prince: Maharani (personal name) Devi Sahiba, with the style of Her Highness.

The sons of the ruling prince: Sri Sri Maharajkumar (personal name) Narayan.

The daughters of the ruling prince: Sri Sri Maharajkumari (personal name) Devi.

The grandsons of the ruling prince, in the male line: Sri Sri Rajkumar (personal name) Narayan.

The grand-daughters of the ruling prince, in the male line: Sri Sri Rajkumari (personal name) Devi.

ORDERS & DECORATIONS:

Durbar Medal: instituted by Maharaja Rajendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur to commemorate his installation durbar on 8^th November 1911.

Accession Medal 1913 in silver - obverse (L) and reverse (R).

Accession Medal: instituted by Maharaja Sir Jitendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur to commemorate his installation on the 17^th November 1913, but subsequently retained and conferred as a general decoration for meritorious services throughout his reign. Awarded in two classes (gold and silver).

Installation Medal 1936 - obverse (L) and reverse (R).

Installation Medal: instituted by Maharaja Sir Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur to commemorate the termination of the regency and his assumption of full ruling powers on 6^th April 1936. Awarded in a single class, a circuler silver medal.

Silver Jubilee Medal 1947 - obverse (L) and reverse (R).

Silver Jubilee Medal: instituted by Maharaja Sir Jagatdipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur to commemorate the silver jubilee of his accession to the throne on 20^th December 1947. Awarded in a single class, a circuler silver medal.

RULES OF SUCCESSION:

Male primogniture.

SELECT GLOSSARY:

Bhup: sovereign, ruler.

Diwan Deo: hereditary title borne by the Chief Minister, held by a junior branch of the ruling family.

Nazir Deo: Lord Guardian, hereditary title borne by the commander-in-chief of the Army, held by a junior branch of the ruling family.

SOURCES:

Hemanta Kumar Rai Barma. Kochbiharer Itihas. Second editon, 1988.
Burke's Landed Gentry, Burke's Peerage Ltd. In conjunction with Shaw Publishing Co. Ltd., London.
Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage. Burke's Peerage Limited, London, 1900-1959.
Nicholas Mander. Varnished Leaves: a biography of the Mander family of Wolverhampton, 1742-1998. http://www.owlpen.com
Harendra Narayan Chauduri (comp.). The Cooch Behar State and its Land Revenue Settlements. Cooch Behar State Press, 1903.
Russell Harris (comp.). The Lafayette Photographic Collection at the V&A Image Library, Kensington, London, 2000.
Gayatri Devi and Santha Rama Rau. A Princess Remembers, The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur. J.P. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, 1976.

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Dr. Morris Bierbrier, FSA.
Marcus Mander.
Father Lawrence Ober, SJ.

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I would be grateful to hear from anyone who may have changes, corrections or additions to contribute. If you do, please be kind enough to send me an e-mail using the contact details at: Copyright© Christopher Buyers

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