Muhammad Talha Amin Baruah

The Invasion of Ferutopi, which is also known by other names such as ‘the Sylhet uprising’ or ‘disputes in Cachar frontier’ was a shiite based uprising in the modern day Cachar region of Assam. This popular insurgency movement was led by Agha Muhammad Reza, the self proclaimed Imam Mahdi (the 12th imam according to Shiite literature). The event is one of the most popular events in the history of Central Assam division and Sylhet division of Assam that started to take place formally from 1793 and ended in 1801.

Agha Muhammad Reza was an Iranian adventurer of Mughal origins. He was an adherent of Shia Sufism and had settled in the Sylhet region of Assam during the 18th century (possibly it happened right after the battle of Plassey took place). He was popularly known as ‘Pir Ferutopi’ and was apparently loved by both Muslims and Non Muslims. He had converted many people to Shia Islam and had growing influence in the region. This is the reason why he already had influence over the local people of Sylhet (mostly the Shias).

Beginning his uprising in 1793 with the support of local fakirs against the British East India Company and promoting anti British sentiments among the people of Sylhet. In the same year, the Kachari king i.e Raja Krishna Chandra had sent an embassy to Henry Lodge, requesting peace for Sylhet. This embassy might have been sent because Krishna thought Reza would attack his kingdom. Krishna’s fear became true in 1799 when Reza along with his army of 5000 soldiers entered Cachar from Sylhet and swiftly overthrew Krishna Chandra. As Krishna was a very weak ruler, he couldn’t resist Reza’s expeditions and had to flee to North Cachar.

One of the important factors of Agha Muhammad Reza’s victory over the Kachari king was because of the immense support he received from the Naga Kukis because they were the ones who had helped Reza to overpower the Kachari king. The second important factor was the weakness of the Kacharis. The Kachari Raja was incapable of defending himself let alone his kingdom. The resources of the country were also very poor, starting from the King to the lowest rank peasants lived in small huts. furthermore, the Naga Kukis had given allegiance to Reza and became loyal to him. It is said that the Naga Kukis were part of the army of Reza who had repulsed all the attacks that were attempted by Krishna Chandra to take his Kingdom back from the clutches of Agha Muhammad Reza. After his major victories, he declared himself as a Prophet and had adopted the name ‘Immaum Mehadri’.

In a general sense, he was styling himself to be the promised 12th Imam of the Shiites who is known as ‘Imam Al Mahdi’. He showed characteristics and attributes of a prophet by saying that he was of a disposed nobility and poor peasantry that was victimized by the revenue system of the British East India Company. He promised that he was the person that was sent by God to free India from the English. His influence grew so strong that many hindus in the eastern portion of Sylhet accepted the new faith brought up by Agha. Reportedly Agha’s newly formed regime was ruled from somewhere in Hailakandi.

To further consolidate and expand his power, he sent a battalion consisting of 1200 of his followers to capture the Thana of the British East India Company at Bondassye. Since this post was garrisoned by one havildar and eight sepoys, possibly this is why Agha’s Kachari army was sure to triumph over them. Bondassye was attacked by 300 Kacharis along with 2-3 pounder guns (a type of Cannon). Surprisingly this army of 300 Kacharis was defeated by the 9 soldiers of the English after a small confrontation. Agha took offence of this humiliating defeat and decided that he himself would capture the Bondassye Thana. He arrived with his army and personally directed the attacks over the Englishmen. But the Britishers were already prepared for a second attempt and had already deployed 70 sepoys at this post. These sepoys emerged victorious and drove Agha’s forces back by inflicting a loss of 90 Kachari soldiers.

Agha had escaped this repulse attack, but something more was awaiting him. The Kachari king – Raja Krishna chandra had sent an appeal for help to the British authorities at fort William. Because both parties shared the same enemy, the Britishers sent a contingent under the command of Kalyan Singh to defeat Agha Muhammad Reza. By then, Agha’s forces were already suppressed by the sepoys sent by the Magistrate of Sylhet. In 1801, Kalyan Singh arrived and in a short period of time defeated Reza. Reza was arrested and handed over to the British authorities. After his trial, he was put in prison at Calcutta where he lived the rest of his life.

In modern times, Agha is counted as one of the dajjals (deceiver) by the muslims because it was prophesied by Prophet Muhammad [PBUH] that is noted in Jame-at-Tirmizi hadith number 2218 that there will be thirty deceivers, each of them claiming prophethood. Agha’s description also matches with this narration and hence he is said to be a Dajjal that rose to power in Cachar.

References:
1. Assam District Gazetteers (sylhet), by B.C Allen, Volume 2 page 37-38.
2. Hill politics in North-east India, by Shibani Kinkar Chaube, page 40.
3. The Sepoy mutiny and the revolt of 1857, by R.C Majumdar, page 38.
4. The Eastern Frontier Of British India 1784-1826, by Anil Chandra Banerjee, page 23-24.
5. Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib, by Nitish K. Sengupta, page 225-226.
6. The Comprehensive History of Assam: From the Pre-historic Times to the twelfth Century A.D, by H.K Barpujari, page 376-377.
7. Indigenous People of Barak Valley, by Atiqur Rahman Barbhuiya.

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