The history of Chanduary Raj, a medieval chieftaincy exemplifies the valor and resilience of its Hindu Ahir chieftains. Founded in 1599 AD by Chaturbhuj, an Ahir of the Majhraut clan, the Jagir was situated in present-day Banka district of Bihar. At a time when regional rulers often capitulated to Mughal authority, the Ahir chieftains of Chanduary demonstrated exceptional courage by directly challenging Mughal authority on two significant occasions.
The First Rebellion: Helmani Chaudhary’s Revolt (1656-57 AD)
Helmani Chaudhary, the great-grandson of Chaturbhuj, served as the chieftain of Chanduary from 1640 to 1656. He was a prominent Hindu Jagirdar under the Mughal administration of Munger Sarkar in Bihar Subah during Shah Jahan’s reign. In 1656, during a period of political uncertainty when Shah Jahan’s illness led to a struggle for the Mughal throne among his sons and the associated anarchy in Bihar, Helmani Chaudhary rose in revolt against the Mughals. Helmani seized the opportunity to weaken Mughal authority in Bihar, particularly targeting the territories under Mughal Prince Shah Shuja, the then governor of Bihar.
Helmani assembled a formidable army of 5,000 soldiers, comprising primarily Ahirs and Rajputs. His forces disrupted Mughal administrative centers in Bhagalpur region. His ultimate goal was to besiege the Munger fort, the stronghold of Shah Shuja in Bihar. To bolster his army, Helmani sought the support of local ghatwals, who were responsible for maintaining safety, security, and law enforcement in their Jagir using a force of archers and Berkandazes. However, his efforts were met with resistance when Raja Bihroz of Kharagpur, a loyal of Mughal, was tasked with suppressing the rebellion.
The Clashes of Ahirs
During clashes with Raja Bihroz, Bharko, the centre of Chanduary Raj, suffered a significant attack. The sanad granted by Akbar to Chaturbhuj was destroyed in the assault. Helmani temporarily relocated the administrative headquarters to Gorgawan, where he continued to resist Bihroz and other Mughal forces.
The rebellion ultimately subsided when Aurangzeb’s general, Mir Jumla, defeated Shah Shuja, establishing the dominance of the Aurangzeb-led Mughal faction in Bihar. As the original sanad granted by Emperor Akbar to Chaturbhuj was destroyed during the revolt, a new sanad was issued under the seal of Saiyid Ajmeri, a Mughal official, formally recognizing Khemkaran Chaudhary, son of Helmani, as the rightful chieftain of Chanduary. However, territories that Helmani had captured from other petty chiefs during the revolt were taken back by agreement, restoring them to original chiefs outside the control of Chanduary Raj.
The Second Rebellion: Supporting the Marathas (Late 17th Century)
The second challenge to Mughal authority by the Ahir Jagirdar of Chanduary Raj occurred indirectly when its leaders supported the Marathas in their fight against Aurangzeb. This episode underscores the chieftains’ commitment to the cause of Hindu Swaraj and their strategic alignment with anti-Mughal forces. Historian B.P Ambastha in his learned document observed that Dhanaram Chaudhary, the military commander of Chanduary Raj, played a pivotal role during this period. Under the directive of Jainarayan Chaudhary, the Jagirdar of Chanduary, Dhanaram led an army of 3,000 soldiers to the Deccan to support the Maratha struggle.
Dhanaram spent an extended period in the Deccan, fighting against the Mughal forces under Maratha leadership. Upon his return to Bihar in 1705, he granted 2,200 bighas of land in Mauza Sonpai and Rutpai of Chanduary Raj to the descendants of his followers who had perished during these campaigns. The khatian (land record) of A.D. 1840 testifies to this grant by Babu Dhanaram Chaudhary.Â
The Ahir chieftains of Chanduary Raj demonstrated remarkable bravery and defiance in their two challenges to Mughal authority. Their first rebellion, led by Helmani Chaudhary, disrupted Mughal control in Munger Sarkar during a period of imperial crisis, while their support for the Marathas highlighted their commitment to resisting Mughal dominance.
These acts of defiance, though costly, underscored the Ahir chieftains’ resolve to protect their autonomy and assert their influence. The history of Ahir chieftains of Chanduary Raj stands as a testament to their courage and determination in the face of the most powerful empire of the time in India.