The British Policy in Tipperah

The British came in to contact with Tipperah State when the East India Company had started its activities in 1761. The territorial area of Tipperah State stretched from Sundarbans in the West, Burma (presently Myanmar) in the East & South; and in the North was Kamrup (presently in Assam). The land area of Tipperah was distinctively divided in two parts; namely; the hilly land area and the plain land area. The ruler king of Tipperah was independent in hilly area. The plain area was known as Chakla Roshnabad.

There was a quarrel between the then Ruler of Tipperah Raja Krishna Manikya(1760-1783) and Nawab of Bengal over revenue payment on Chakla Roshnabad Estate as Raja was Zamindar of the plain area Chakla Roshnabad. The Nawab of Bengal punished the Raja with the assistance of English by getting instructed to the Governor Vansittert, Verelst, the Chief at Islamabad(Chittagong),  in February, 1761 sent Liutenant Mathews with 200 sepoys and two guns to Tipperah to help the Nawab of Bengal. The actual intent was to extend their territory. However, the Raja of Tipperah did not have sovereignty over Chakla Roshnabad and was zamindar in respect of it for collection of revenue thereof  and deposition of it with the Nawab of Bengal. The British did not take much interest as the Hill Tipperah was covered with dense forest as much revenue would not be accrued. Therefore, Hill Tipperah remained independent and undisturbed from British rulers in India. So it was independent Hill Tipperah with 8000 square miles. Tripura was known as Hill Tipperah till 1866.