History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c41.s2.1

v3.c41.s2.1

At the end of the 15th century the flourishing kingdom of Kamata, which stretched from the Karatoya river to the Bar Nadi and included the modern districts of Rangpur, Kuch Bihar, Goalpara and Kamrup, was overthrown by the Muslims. A few years of anarchy followed. Then Vishwa Sinha, the son of a Koch mother by a Mech father, founded a dynasty which still rules over KUCH BIHAR. A valiant fighter and born leader of men, he soon gained possession of the entire territory of the old Kamata kings. The successful soldier of fortune (reigned 1515-1540) adopted the Hindu religion and Hindu culture and ably organized his administration and army. His eldest son Nara Narayan (r. 1540-1584) wore the crown for 44 years, but led the life of a saintly recluse. The real power of the State was wielded by the king's younger brother, the Commander-in-Chief Shukladhwaj, surnamed the Kite Prince (Chila Rai), who led the Koch armies almost to the farthest eastern limit of Assam and achieved a series of brilliant but shortlived victories, extorting from the Assam king an admission of Koch suzerainty. His death (c. 1576) was followed by the loss of the recent gains. A domestic quarrel led to still further dismemberment of the kingdom: Raghudev, the son of Chila Rai, claimed a share in the State, and was installed by his meek uncle as king over Kamrup, or the land east of the Sankosh, which the Muslim historians call KOCH HAJO. Raghudev’s son Parikshit attacked Lakshmi Narayan, the son and successor of Nara Narayan on the throne of Kuch Bihar, who sought the aid of the Mughal governor of Dacca. The Muslim army, guided by its Koch auxiliaries, conquered and annexed Parikshit’s kingdom (1612) and held it in force. Thus the Mughal frontier was carried up to the Bar Nadi river, and the Mughal Government came into contact with the Ahom kings who ruled over Eastern Assam, across that stream.*