The Ahir Dynasty of Bihar: The Chanduary Raj and Its Legacy

The Chanduary Raj (1599 AD -1949 AD) was a mediaeval chieftaincy and later a zamindari estate during British Raj in erstwhile Bhagalpur district, now part of Banka district in Bihar, India. It was controlled by the Majhraut clan of Ahirs. 

At the time of the Permanent Settlement in 1793, the boundaries of Chanduary Raj (Jagir) were as follows: East- Chandan River, West- Barna River, North- Kherhi Pargana and Bonma Hill, South- Kojhi and Danresankhware. The centre of the Jagir was the village of Bharko, which was the centre of administrative and military organisation.

Origin:

 According to the tradition of the family, Chaturbhuj, an Ahir, was the founder of the Chaudhary family of Bharko. He belonged to the Samala or Syamala mool (section) of the Majhraut Ahir clan. Historical records and a detailed genealogy suggest that the name Samala mool originates from Maharajadhiraj Samalavarman Deva, a Yadava-Varman king from whom the Choudhary family and others of their mool traces their origin. This Samalavarman is mentioned in the Belava copperplate, which serves as a principal source for reconstructing the history of Varman dynasty. The Belava copperplate provides a coherent account of the Yadava-Varman rulers, beginning with Vajravarman, earliest known member of this family. Following him, Jatavarman, Harivarman, Samalavarman, and Bhojavarman successively ruled for nearly a century.

Historian AK Chaudhary, based on historical accounts, is of the opinion that Chaturbhuj of Bharko belonged to the imperial line of the Varman dynasty. With the decline of the power of the Varmans after Bhojavarman, the ancestors of Chaturbhuj may have lost control over Anga and the members of the Varman line were reduced to status of chiefs and lost their imperial glory. Later, on getting an opportunity, Chaturbhuj acquired some parts of his ancestral territory from one Jujhar Rai.

History:

The family records recount that Chaturbhuj Chaudhary, an esteemed Ahir, established the Chanduary chieftaincy in 1599. These records indicate that the areas known as Tappa Chanduary and Chandeepa were initially settled with Jujhar Rai during the reign of Emperor Akbar. However, Jujhar Rai was imprisoned for his inability to clear land tax arrears in the Banahrah court. Chaturbhuj of Bharko, a wealthy landlord, intervened and paid Jujhar Rai’s outstanding dues and obtained a receipt for the payment. Later, Jujhar Rai failed to repay the said amount of money, which was deposited on his behalf by Chaturbhuj in the imperial treasury. Jujhar, therefore, executed a document to Chaturbhuj in 1599 AD, transferring to the latter both the tappa of Chanduary and Chandeepa. Chaturbhuj got a sanad issued in his favour under the seal of Mughal emperor Akbar to administer the affairs of the territory, granting him the right to use his own seal and signature for governance.

Under Mughals, chieftains of Chanduary Raj held the rights to collect tax and maintain peace and order. They maintained the army of 5000 soldiers, and could muster more than that in need of hours, as some of the members of Chaudhary family were also involved in Ghatwali tenure/jagir for quasi-military services in different parts of Munger Sarkar. These Ghatwals were responsible for maintaining safety, security, and law enforcement in their estate using a force of archers and Berkandazes.

Chaturbhuj, the son of Dhir, was bestowed with the title of Chaudhary, since then his descendants have retained the title. He held the zamindari of Chanduary chieftaincy from 1599 AD to 1611 AD and under his care grew several villages within the radius of fifteen miles, marked by distinctiveness of language and culture of the Yadavs (Ahirs).

Following Chaturbhuj, his son Birsen Chaudhary ascended to power and governed from Bharko during the period from 1612 AD to 1627 AD. Jamuna Chaudhary, the son of Birsen, took on the mantle and governed from 1628 AD to 1639 AD. Helmani Chaudhary, the son of Jamuna, held the charge from 1640 AD to 1656 AD. He had two wives and was blessed with several sons. Khemkaran Choudhary was born to him from the first wife, while the second wife bore three sons: Ranbhim Chaudhary, Raghu Choudhary, and Anup Chaudhary. He divided the zamindari, apportioning shares among his sons. Historical documents illustrate that Ranbhim Chaudhary and his two brothers shifted from Bharko to Gorgawan, situated on the eastern bank of Bilasi, a hilly rivulet. 

In 1656-57, Helmani Chaudhary revolted against the Mughal during the war of succession among Shah Jahan’s sons. Prince Shah Shuja, governor of Bihar, appointed Raja Behroz Singh of Kharagpur to suppress the rebellion, the Raja had limited success but managed to destroy the original sanad (dated fasli 1008) of Chanduary Raj. However, Raja Behroz was forced to retreat to Kharagpur after Aurangzeb’s army, led by Mir Jumla, defeated Prince Shah Shuja. Following this, a new sanad was issued to Helmani’s son, Khemkaran Chaudhary after a proper enquiry from qanungos by Syed Ajmeri. Khemkaran Chaudhary, the son of Helmani, ascended as the chieftain of Chanduary, ruling from 1657 AD to 1689 AD. Jai Narayan Chaudhary, Khemkaran’s son, succeeded him and held the charge from 1690 AD to 1740 AD. Following Jai Narayan, his son Hemnarayan Chaudhary assumed leadership.

Hemnarayan Chaudhary, distinguished for his religious devotion, held sway from 1741 AD to 1775 AD. In 1760 AD, Hemnarayan and Dhanaram Chaudhary granted 1233 bighas and 5 katthas in the village of Mainma, tappa Chandeepa, Sarkar Munger for the worship of Vishnu. As per the religious publication Bhramarseela Mandaleshwar, the Chowkimandir at Champanagar in Bhagalpur was established by Swami Gopalram in 1757, with land allocated by Bhakta Hemnarayan Chaudhary to Swamiji. Hemnarayana was honoured with the title of Gopavanshabhushan, which literally translates to ornament of the Gopa (a synonym of Ahir) race.

During Hemnarayan’s reign, there were family quarrels between 1748 to 76 and Dhanaram, a co-sharer, dominated the scene. Dhanaram Chaudhary was son of Sobharam Chaudhary and grandson of Harnarayan Chaudhary. He served as the military commander under Chieftain Jainarayan Chaudhary and subsequently under his son, Hemnarayan Choudhary. He had gone to the Deccan with an army of 3000 to the aid of Marathas during their war with Aurangzeb. Upon Dhanaram Choudhary’s return from the Deccan to Bharko, he granted 2,200 bighas of land in mauza Sonpai and Rutpai, near Sambhoganj and Mirzapur in A. D. 1705 for the maintenance to the descendants of his followers who had perished in the war with Aurangzeb in the south.

After the British East India Company was granted the right to collect taxes in Bihar following the Battle of Buxar (1764), Chanduary Raj came under company rule. The zamindars of Chanduary Raj retained their Jagir (estate) under the Permanent Settlement Act of 1793, by which they remained as hereditary landlords with fixed revenue obligations and they were left independent in the internal affairs of their respective zamindari estate. During the British period the influence of the landlords of Chanduari remained strong, the family enjoyed judicial and administrative privileges. The records of Bhagalpur Collectorate show that the Chaudharys of Bharko held an influential position in the region.

Tarachand Chaudhary, son of Hemnarayan, held sway over territory for about four years from 1776 AD to 1780 AD. He was followed by his son, Deepachand (1780-1820), a very prominent man, who figures in the contemporary records. It was in his days that the zamindari lands were thrice settled (for five years, ten years and then the Permanent Settlement). The Chaudharies were in possession of all original papers at the time of the Permanent Settlement.

Deepchand was succeeded by Horil Chaudhary who died issueless and then began the line of Jainarayana’s younger brother Harnarayan Chaudhary. On court’s order, the zamindari estate was, therefore, handed over to Babu Fatahchand Chaudhary. His descendants, Babu Tulsiram, Babu Gopimohan and Babu Raghunandan Chaudhary held charge till the Independence of India in 1947. 

Babu Raghunandan Chaudhary, born into the lineage of Chaturbhuj, was the last zamindar of Chanduary Raj. He played an active role in various events of the Yadava Mahasabha, collaborating with Ahir-Mandal zamindars of Madhepura. Following independence in 1947, the Bihar Abolition of Zamindaris Act was enacted in 1949. Despite the abolition of zamindari, the Chaudharies, being substantial landowners, continue to hold a prominent position in the daily affairs of Bharko and its neighbouring villages.

Zamindari Abolition:

In 1949, after Indian independence, Chanduary Raj was formally dissolved along with other zamindari estates under the zamindari abolition laws. Other land reform acts passed in Bihar include the Bihar Agricultural Lands (Ceiling and Management) Bill, 1955, the Bihar Bhoodan Yagna Act, 1954, and the Bihar Consolidation of Holdings and Prevention of Fragmentation Act, 1956.  Despite the abolition of zamindari, the Chaudharies, being substantial landowners, continue to hold a prominent position in the daily affairs of Bharko and its neighbouring villages.