TTAADC is a bridge of Integration

The Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said in public meeting addressed at Chailengta on 13th February 2016 that the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council(TTAADC) is a bridge of integration for the people of all communities and claimed that TTAADC has been their(CPIM) plea for the sons of soil in Tripura. It is right the in TTAADC all communities including the Bengalis reside since its formation. The truth was Communist Party of India(Maxist) was reluctant to be in favour of TTAADC under 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India. The Tripura Upajati Juba Samity began to demand creation of Autonomous District Council(ADC) comprising of Tribal areas under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India by launching severe movements in Tripura since 1967. The GMP which is a tribal based unit organization of the CPI(M) in this State remained silent spectator for 12(twelve) years since 1967 on the issue of ADC. The then Chief Minister realized the relevancy of ADC in 1978. He told Mr. Harinath Debbarma, the then MLA & others that something needed to be done about formation ADC in Tripura. This regional political party  It was Tripura Upajati Juba Samity(TUJS) - a regional political party - a stunt supporters of tribal cause for whom the parliament had to amend (49th Amendment) the Constitution of India in 1984. On the historic day, the Member of Parliament; namely; Ajoy Biswas and Bajuban Reang was absent in the house of the Parliament for its voting and passing; yet Mr. Manik Sarkar is claiming that they were instrumental for the Sixth Schedule. The CPI(M) has been claiming with glory that they were champions in demanding and achieving it. They had hijacked it just by their claims and do not want to share the achievement of it. The fact of the matter was Indian National Congress(INC) could not even have a single MLA in Tripura Legislative Assembly in the General Election to Tripura Legislative Assembly -1977. There was a great setback for the national party. In order to have a footing in the State, Late Indira Gandhi, the the Prime Minister and Congress President assured the TUJS leaders for consideration of implementation of the Sixth Schedule for the tribes in Tripura with a precondition that the TUJS should pre-poll alliance with the Indian National Congress. This was a solid rock on which the provision of Sixth Schedule was implemented in Tripura by 49th  amendment of the Constitution of India in 1984; which came in to effect from 1st April, 1985. 

The Subjects(Tipras & Other Tribes) of Independent Tripura: Once majority & now minority: The Outcome thereof

In the local daily fË¢ah¡c£ Lmj (Pratbadi Kalam) dated 24-07-2015 with the caption "BC¢fHg¢V, j¡Jh¡c£ l¦M­a ­N¡fe °hWL ¢VHpB­ll" (meeting of TSRs  held in camera to counter/halt  IPFT & Maoists). The caption appears to be so simple but implications of the content of the said news have our grave concern. IPFT is a registered regional political party with the Election Commission of India. It carries out peaceful democratic movements through out the State of Tripura since 2009 A.D demanding statehood of TTAADC areas under Article 3 of the Constitution of India. The IPFT has full faith in the Constitution. Today, India is world's biggest democratic country. Tripura State is part of India wherein the present ruling CPIM Government hatched a meticulous plan to eliminate IPFT leaders by using TSR armed forces in an imaginary encounters or fake encounters. No sensible Government can do this. This is a war declared by the State Government against all tribes in the State to make them mute to demand their legitimate constitutional rights. Once upon a time, they were majority in the State. They are minority today for they had demanded rehabilitation of refugees on humanitarian ground who came to Tripura from East Bengal after partition in 1947 and birth of Bangladesh. In short, this was the historic reason as to how the tribes of Tripura were reduced to minority. This historic reason has made us to sacrifice for the refugees of those days curtailing their futures. The humanitarian values of these tribes in Tripura has no value for the people who belong majority today. On the strength of being majority and holding the clutch of all administrative machinery and powers, they have forgotten as to how the people belonging to tribes of Tripura demanded for their shelter in the State. In exchange of their humanity of these tribes, the lives of IPFT leaders are facing the risks of elimination. Before farther analysis of the content of the said news, it is needed to be translated for your kind reference. The copy of the news as a clipping is enclosed herewith for reference. However, the content of the said news caption is reproduced below by translating in to English:-

To cripple IPFT completely, the State Government (i.e; Tripura Government) is contemplating/planning/intending to engage TSR forces for action. An emergent meeting was taken by Shri T.B Roy, IGP(TSR) with 13 Commandants(TSR) at Headquarter of 2nd TSR  Battalion on 23-07-2015(Thursday). The discussion in the meeting held from 04:30 P.M & lasted till 08:30 P.M. A news has been received, the high leaderships of ruling party and its  ministers perceived that the rapid gaining ground of Maoists organization in the State and IPFT's gradual impact in the State could be put to a halt through and only through the use of barrels of guns. TSR personnel are preparing to eliminate active IPFT leader(s) by practically resorting to in the name of the word "encounter" as and when it would be necessary. A news has been received, the environment of extremism in the State has to be brought back to an extent shortly. Thereafter, the IPFT and Maoist leaders could be contented through suppression and oppression; to the extent of eliminating them (as and when thought to be required) by misuse of TSR forces in the name of containing extremist problems. This is why, today's emergent meeting is held. The ruling party(i.e CPIM) was dependent on hill people and hill tribes since its inception. The leader  Kankdwip movement in West Bengal, late Nripen Chakraborty was exiled in Tripura who realized Marxism could be seeded(inculcated) as just like jhum cultivation ideally amongst the hill people/tribes. Gradually, the red soil of the hill areas turned to be red flagged foundation of the Marxism. For which CPIM party of this State has been having a good result for a long time. Now, IPFT is gaining ground rapidly, their leaders are having a good relationship with Delhi; this has put the CPIM in a fix. In the mean time, IPFT has declared that they are gathering 1(one) lakh supporters in the capital as a showcase. Having heard it, a numbness feeling of the Melar math (CPIM's headquarter) has begun mounting and it will not demount. They(CPIM) have set aside the matter of countering IPFT through their organizational forces. Because, they are immersed in to unfathomable corrupt practices. So their organization is eroding in different areas. There is a lone reason, people have become fearful of the leaderships or the lower strata leaders of CPIM are not agreeing to be committed in their activities. Therefore, the ruling party in Tripura wants to resort anxiously to the use of administrative machinery to destroy/eliminate IPFT. It is said that for this reason, an emergent meeting with TSR Commandants was convened. Persons with accusations, who could not be arrested in connection with old cases to be unearthed or against whom such cases are pending shall be arrested with a view to harass  or suppress/oppress them or even a new concocted cases to be instituted - has been decided/resolved in the meeting. In spite of these steps, those(IPFT leaders) who will remain non-subdued  or will not succumb to these pressure, they will be put behind the bars by branding them as extremists or TSR will eliminate them under the cover of the word "encounter". Encounter, the term is not a new issue in the State. In Tripura, to counter increasing extremists menace in the last decade, the police and TSR personnel resorted to such numerous encounters. It did fetch a good result. One such exemplary area was Takarjala ( under Jampuijala Sub-Division, Sipahijala District). Like Tamil extremist LTTE carried out parallel administration in Jaffna of Srilanka, likewise NLFT extremists' organization had their influence  at Takarjala area was part of the then West Tripura District. Police personnel conducted a numerous encounters to free Takarjala. Some police officers had to become martyr. Recently, Maoist organization's activities has increased. The Mao leaderships of Jharkhand have started their activities in Sadar North tea garden areas. One of the senior columnists in the State is one amongst top leaders. They narrate the plight of tea garden workers as to how they are oppressed and deprived of rights; with this form of persuasion arms have been handed over to the unemployed youth like Bhagirath and Ananta. On 05-07-2015, Pratibadi Kalam(fË¢ah¡c£ Lmj) informed in its published news that as to how two Bolero Vehicle loaded arms has arrived here at Krishnapur Tea Garden area. The news so published that Maoist Organization may kidnap an MLA or a minister. The group was planning for Kidnap of Pranab Debbarma, MLA. The State Government has made Shri T.B Roy, IGP(TSR),in-Charge for countering Maoist activities, the sources said. In summary, ruling party has expressed their confidence in the power of arms to eliminate the top political leaders of IPFT and Maoists.

In the local daily fË¢ah¡c£ Lmj (Pratbadi Kalam) dated 24-07-2015 with the caption "BC¢fHg¢V, j¡Jh¡c£ l¦M­a ­N¡fe °hWL ¢VHpB­ll" and translation thereof, it is obvious that the CPIM of Tripura being in the ruling party in State Administration does not believe in democratic peaceful movements as enshrined and guaranteed in the Constitution of India. As a result, they want to crush the peaceful movements of moments of IPFT by eliminating its leaders committing a fake encounters and bringing back extremists problem like situation to an extent in Tripura for the fault(!!!) of their just demand for elevation of  TTAADC in to “Tipraland” as homeland under the Article 3 of the Constitution of India. The key players for the purpose will be TSR Commandants of all 13 Battalions under the leadership of Shri T.B Roy, IPS, IGP(TSR). This shall be State sponsored heinous crime being meticulously planned to be committed upon all the rank and file of IPFT leaders. A war has been declared by the Home Minister; and in other words the Chief Minister, Tripura. It implies that the whole administrative machinery in the State  shall wedged against them. This is unfortunate that the attitude of the Government reflects towards the weaker section of State who had given all what they had for their(refugees) rehabilitation. Today, they are pushed to the edge of bank for their existence.

 Secondly, the State Government has the duty and responsibility to protect the lives of all citizens and their properties. IPFT is demanding TTAADC to be a homeland in the shape of Tipraland under Article 3 of the Constitution of India through and only thorough peaceful democratic movements. This demand is not illegal and unconstitutional. Yet they are termed as “Separatist” and “Communalist”. Above all, GMP of CPIM is spreading in the air that demanding TTAADC in to a separate state will invoke communal disharmony and even lead to communal riots. “Separatists” means who all intend to cessation from India. IPFT’s Demand for Tipraland is not a demand for cessation and it is very much within the framework of the Constitution of India. Tripura is in India. The present and the past rulers in State ( after 15^th October, 1949 ) has/had been ruling on behalf of India and can not rise above the provisions of the Constitution of India.

There is no question for eruption of communal disharmony. The tribes of Tripura has set an glaring example of harmony in the country when refugees from East Bengal after partition and after Bangladesh War. Our people have given up all these things as a mark of humanity and on compassionate ground. The Jyrwa of Andaman is extinct by now. No political parties raise their voices for their cause. The last speaker of their language died in 2012. With this Jyarwa community’s journey came to an end. We stand up for our cause; raise our issues and we are are as communal. By branding us as communal, the ruling CPIM party is committed to suppressed our rights as guaranteed in the Constitution of India itself.  We are not communal for this is our cause of 19 tribes(84%) interest and 16%  non-tribes of total population live in TTAADC areas. The terms, “communal riots” is often pronounced by the GMP, TYF & TSU of CPIM in the State. They are willfully spreading it. The CPIM is spreading it; although they are supposed to be responsible ruling party in the State. We have not heard any other political parties to have propagated on communal riots for pricking the sentiments of non-tribes. This is CPIM’s own creation in the State.

Thirdly; the most noteworthy is that the Government of Tripura is allotting khas land in TTAADC areas and 35000 non-tribes have been illegally permitted to occupy forest land stating that they will not be evicted. The main objective of the ruling CPIM in power is to reduce the tribes in ADC areas in to minority aiming at dissolution of TTAADC in near future. Rather, as earliest as possible, they intend to achieve it. Once this is achieved, the tribes shall wanderers in their own land and find one day in the situation of Andamanease like extinction. 

Fourthly; Tripura is the part of the land in India. Any Government which is unable to run in conformity with the provision of the Constitution; is treated to be break down of the Constitutional machinery and the law of the land should take its own course. The Government of Tripura in which CPIM is ruling; does not have faith in the Constitution of India wherein guarantee of the rights on peaceful democratic movements for their betterments is assured. But the ruling CPIM and Government of Tripura are hatching a war against all rank and file of IPFT leaderships for their elimination by engaging TSR in the name of encounters.

Fifthly; the demand for Tipraland is not the demand that we are asking from the Government of Tripura and it do not have competency to grant it. This is the matter to be considered by the two houses of the Parliament in the country.

                                     

Ancient tribe becomes extinct

Ancient tribe becomes extinct

The members of 19 tribes till date are unable to believe that they might extinct like many other communities or tribes in world today. They were reduced to 23%(actual) in 1991 and the over reporting was 28%. They were 80% in Tripura State before it merged with India on 15th October, 1949. If the tribe(s) of Andaman who inhabited there for 65,000 years could extinct by 2010, it would not be impossible that the 19 tribes in Tripura will face the same. The day is imminent. These 19 tribes are reduced to microscopic minority by getting outnumbered due to the result of the partition of India as the refugees of East Pakistan ( erstwhile East Bengal ) who were sheltered in the State of Tripura by the Government of India from 1947 to till the birth of Bangladesh in 1971. The independence of Bangladesh could not stop illegal uninterrupted influx even after 1971 and till date. The Bo in Andaman who inhabited 65,000 years but are extinct today! Can Government or is there any instrument legally or otherwise prevent such extinction? Does the so called civilized people in the world today have any plan to make them survived? Let us read the report of  Harmeet Shah Singh, CNN, February 5, 2010 -- Updated 1514 GMT (2314 HKT) which is reproduced below:-

"This was so far from records and off the records.  of The last member of an ancient tribe that has inhabited an Indian island chain for around 65,000 years has died, a group that campaigns for the protection of indigenous peoples has said.

Boa Sr, who was around 85 years of age, died last week in the Andaman islands, about 750 miles off India's eastern coast, Survival International said in a statement.

The London-based group, which works to protect indigenous peoples, said she was the last member of one of ten distinct Great Andamanese tribes, the Bo. "The Bo are thought to have lived in the Andaman islands for as long as 65,000 years, making them the descendants of one of the oldest human cultures on earth," it noted. With her passing at a hospital, India also lost one of its most endangered languages, also called Bo, linguists say. "She was the last speaker of (the) Bo language. It pains to see how one by one we are losing speakers of Great Andamanese and (their) language is getting extinct. (It is) A very fast erosion of (the) indigenous knowledge base, that we all are helplessly witnessing," read an obituary in Boa Sr's honor posted on the Web site of the Vanishing Voices of the Great Andamanese (VOGA) project.

"Boa Sr was the only speaker of Bo and had no one to converse with in that language.

Project Anvita Abbi, a professor at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, met with Boa as recently as last year. "She was the only member who remembered the old songs," Abbi recounted in her obituary.

"Boa Sr was the only speaker of Bo and had no one to converse with in that language," Abbi told CNN. Her husband and children had already died, the linguist said. Other than Bo, she also knew local Andaman languages, which she would use to converse, according to Abbi.

Boa Sr was believed to be the oldest of the Great Andamanese, members of ten distinct tribes. Survival International estimates there are now just 52 Great Andamanese left. There were believed to be 5,000 of them when the British colonized the archipelago in 1858. Most of those tribal communities were subsequently killed or died of diseases, says Survival International. The British also held the indigenous tribes people captive in what was called but none of the 150 children born there survived beyond two years of age, an Andaman Home, according to the group. Boa Sr also survived the killer Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.

She recorded in Bo what she saw when the giant waves arrived. "While we were all asleep, the water rose and filled all around. We did not get up before the water rose. Water filled where we were and as the morning broke the water started to recede," reads a translation of her tsunami narrative posted on the VOGA Web site.

Activists are expressing alarm over her death. "Boa's loss is a bleak reminder that we must not allow this to happen to the other tribes of the Andaman islands," Survival director Stephen Corry said in the statement. Andaman and Nicobar Islands authorities put at least five tribes in their list of vulnerable indigenous communities.

According to Corry's group, the surviving Great Andamanese depend largely on the Indian government for food and shelter and abuse of alcohol is rife. Among the tribes are the Sentinelese, who inhabit a 60-square-kilometer island. Officials believe the group is probably the world's only surviving Paleolithic people without contact with any other community. They said the Sentinelese are very hostile and never leave their Island. Very little is known about them".

Tiprasa's history( in Part)

Tiprasa's history( in Part)

Do we have had our history? Many tribes might not be having history. In order to own a history, a race must have its territory. Without territory, a race can not establish identity. Without territory – a race is no race. It is not a matter of meanness. A race may be small with its small territory. This was done with a purpose-to demolish or erase Tipperah history in totality. But ask the any member of Tipprasa, the extent of their knowledge on. Almost everyone would be blinking their eyes.

Why is the study of history important for us? The reasons for study of history is important for us because:

(a)   it helps us to understand the past;

(b)   it helps us to understand the present in relation to the past;

(c)    it gives identity and helps us to understand culture, society etc.; and

(d)   it helps us to be responsible citizen and improve our present.

With the explanation of the above importance on study of history, the Maharaja Bir Bikram Welfare Society was established in 2010 AD to uncover and unearth Tipperah history and sensitize on the issues. Tippras have history like any other races in the world. They had territory in the past and they do have a territory of their own. Races without territory is wandering race without a boundary of areas to live in. A country less race is a race without right of self rule. A self rule does not necessarily mean cessation from the country in which they live in. A self rule also means that rule themselves within the framework of the constitution of the country in which they do live as a ordinary citizens therein.

Tipperah Kings was one of the oldest sovereign State in Indian sub-continent. Tripura constituted with hilly and plain land area and was ruled by 184 kings. The historian assessed that she had her existence since 3000 B.C having boundary: Burma ( presently Mynmar ) in the East, Sundeban in the West, Kamrup in the North and Bay of Bengal in the South. The hilly part was known as Hill Tipperah or Tripura. The plain land was Chakla Roshnabad. The term “Tipperah” had  more affinity with Kokborok pronunciation than “Tripura”. The plain area of Tipperah was fertile and was source of income out of agriculture produce.

The Mughal invaded Tipperah and made plain Tipperah (Chakla Roshnabad) part of the Mughal empire in 1628 A.D. The fundamental cause was it was fertile land. Henry Vansittart(1760-1764) was Governor of Bengal when Siraj Uddulla took over Chakla Roshnabad, the plain portion of Tipperah other than Hill Tipperah.

The British rule came through the East India Company and engulfed all princely States in India. As a result, Plain Tipperah (Chakla Roshnabad) was captured by the British rulers in 1765 A.D.  The period of rule by the foreign rulers (other than Tiprasa Kings) ruled over Chakla Roshnabad  in both the first and subsequent occupation was 320 years.

When India’s freedom movement was at highest momentum Maharaj Bir Bikram had foreseen the future of his five communities called “Pancha Tripuries” namely; Tripura, Jamatia, Reang, Noatia and Halam. The resultant was reservation of land for them in to two spells in 1931 and 1943. The total land so reserved was 2060 square miles.

The cut off date in this regard being 15th August, 1947. But the base year should be till 15th October, 1949, the date on which Tripura merged with India. Therefore, Chakla Roshnabad was in all respect beyond the administrative orbit of Tipperah Royal Administration for 322 years. The Ministry of Home, Government of India issued Tripura Administration Order dated 15th October, 1949 which stated that all royal laws which was in force prior to the merger with Indian Union shall continue to be in force till replaced by new laws. This was particularly applicable to the matter of land reservation made by Maharaja Bir Bikram for Pancha Tripuries. The TLR & LR Act, 1960 was enacted by the Parliament in 1960 with giving effect from 21st September, 1960. The royal laws especially “Reservation of land for Pancha Tripuries.

The Tipperah Kings were made Zamindar in respect of Chakla Roshnabad. As the term suggests, the Zamindar was not more than a tax payer by whom he was conferred zamindary. The Tipperah kings enjoyed sovereignty with respect to Hill Tipperah and was mere zamindar for Chakla Roshnabad. Hence, the kings were also subject Zamindar of the actual ruler. The subjects of the Chakla Roshnabad were subjects of Mughal in first instance and of the British rulers till 1947. They ceased to be subjects of Hill Tipperah for 322 years till 1949. The Chakla Roshnabad was no longer part of Tipperah or Tripura. Besides, it was not re-incorporated or re-embodied with Tipperah or Tripura at the time of the Redcliff Commission was making demarcation with the principle of Muslim and Hindu majority would be with Pakistan and India. One could arrive at, was that Chakla Roshnabad had in totality become a part of Bengal in British ruled India. It would be natural that they preferred to be with either of Bengals in India or in Pakistan.

 Bir Bikram Manikya was born on 19th August, 1907. His coronation to the throne was in 1923. He visited foreign land including European  countries. This had led him to have sketched of planned Agartala City. Perhaps, it is still available in government archive. He established a host of educational institutions in Sub-Divisions including Maharani Tulsibati Girls’ School, Umakanta Academy and Maharaja Bir Bikram College with earmarking of a land area for educational purpose in and around MBB College as Vidyapattan. But people had already encroached the land reducing it smaller and smaller frustrating its purpose. Had not the people been encroached the land, the present Tripura (a central) University could have been established there.

The Bengali beneficiaries of Bengal during the rule of Maharajas in Tipperah:-

1. Maharaja Bir Chandra Manikya conferred an honour “Bharat Bhaskar” upon  the Poet Rabindranath Tagore.
2. Maharaja Bir Chandra Manikya sanctioned 50,000 silver coins in favour of Pandit Ramnarayan Bidyaratna for subsequent edition of Srimatbhagabhat Granth.
3. In 1299 Bangabda, “Bhanga Bhasha O Sahitya” was printed by Dr. Dinesh Chandra Sen with the financial assistance sanctioned by Maharaja Bir Chandra Manikya.
4. Dr. Dinesh Chandra Sen was sanctioned as grants by Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya after death of his father Late Bir Chandra Manikya. The last granth “Brihat Babga” of Dr. Dinesh Chandra Sen was printed with the financial grants sanctioned by the last Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya. Dr. Dinesh Chandra Sen wrote ‘Tripurar Raja O Rajatvakaler Barnana’.
5. Poet Hem Chandra Bandyopadhyaya attained blindness at the fag end of his life and had suffered from gigantic financial problem. On the request of Rabindranath Tagore, Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya sanctioned him (Poet Hem Chandra Bandyopadhyaya) till his death.
6. Jyotirindranath Tagore (brother of Rabindranath Tagore) published news paper called ‘Sangeet Prabeshika’ @ Rs.50/- ( Rupees fifty ) was sanctioned as grants for 10(ten) years in favour of Jyotirindranath Tagore for publication of the said news paper.
7. Scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose was sanctioned grants for his scientific researches. Besides, wathui wah with proper preservation was sent to him for his research works.
8. Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya bought oil paints of renowned artist Shashi Kumar Hess at Rs.3000/-(Rupees three thousand) only

There was a big zamindary of Maharajas of Tipperah since 1761 A.D. It included greater Comilla, Noakhali, Sylhet and Chittagong. This was a fertile land with fetching high  revenues from yields. This areas was invaded by Mughals and subsequently, the British rulers had taken over from Mughal rulers. Since the Maharajas of Tipperah were made Zaminders in respect of Comilla, Noakhali, Sylhet and Chittagong; the Maharajas had ceased to enjoy sovereignty over it. The Maharajas had become subject of British rulers. The subjects of zaminder in respect of Comilla, Noakhali, Sylhet and Chittagong was also subject of British rulers. Therefore, Comilla, Noakhali, Sylhet and Chittagong was under the British rulers. The people of Comilla, Noakhali, Sylhet and Chittagong were subjects of the British rulers in India. As a result, the people of Comilla, Noakhali, Sylhet and Chittagong could not claim to be the subjects of Tipperah Maharajas at no point of time in the past; the present and the future.

We have to learn from history-What was our history? What are we now? What is our learning from our history? Did we not inherit anything from our history? What is or should be our next course of action for our people at present and next generation to come?

Tripura was a Hindu Kingdom consisting of a strip of the fertile plains east of Bengal, and a large tract of the territory beyond, which had a reputation for providing wild elephants. At times when Bengal was weak, Tripura rose to prominence, and extended its rule into the plains, but when Bengal was strong the kingdom consisted purely of the hill area, which was virtually impreg­nable and not of enough economic worth to encourage the Muslims to conquer it. In this way Tripura was able to maintain its full indepen­dence until the 19th century. The origins of the kingdom are veiled in legend, but the first coins were struck during the reign of Ratna Manikya (1464-1489) and copied the weight and fabric of the contemporary issues of the Sultans of Bengal. He also copied the lion design that had appeared on certain  rare tangkas of Nasir-ud-din Mahmud Shah I dated AH 849 (1445 AD). In other respects the designs were purely Hindu, and the lion was retai­ned on most of the later issues as a national emblem. Tripura rose to a political zenith during the 16th century, while Muslim rule in Bengal was weak, and several coins were struck to commemorate succesful military campaigns from Chittagong in the south to Sylhet in the north. These conquests were not sustained and in the early 17th century the Mughal army was able to inflict severe defeats on Tripura which was forced to pay tribute. In about 1733 AD all the territory in the plains was annexed by the Mughals, and the Raja merely managed his estate there as a zamin­dar, although he still retained control as independent King of his hill territory. The situation remained unchanged when the British took over the administration of Bengal in 1765, and it was only in 1871 that the British appointed an agent in the hills, and began to assist the Maharaja in the administration of his hill territory, which became known as the State of Hill Tipperah.   In 1920 Hill Tipperah received back its ancient name Tripura. In 1947 it became a territory of the Republic of India and in 1969 a state.