Bharti Chandra an Opportunist and Ambitious Chand King of Champawat Kumaon, Himalayan Indian Middle Age

(History of Kumaon from 1000-1790 AD)

         (History of Chand Dynasty Rule in Kumaon)

History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 159

                                              By: Bhishma Kukreti

 There are two types of rule period of Bharti Chandra. One is when he revolted against his uncle Kali Kalyan Chandra and became ruler of small region and other when he took over rule of Champawat after death of his uncle.  

First period of Bharti Chandra is 1444-1455 and other is 1468-1499.

 Bharti Chandra revolted against his uncle Kali Kalyan Chandra and ruled small territory. Later on Bharti Chandra handed over this territory to his son Ratan Chandra (1445-1468).

        Inscriptions of Bharti Chandra are of -1444, 1445, 1449, 1450, 1451, 1455, 1469, 1475, 1499.

           There are disputes for two copper inscriptions of Bharti Chandra Asargaon of Askholiya Pandit those are of 1382 and 1397. Because it is impossible Bharti Chandra ruled for more than hundred years.

  Pundit Nitya Nand Mishra read Maharaja Bharti Chandra in the inscriptions of years 1455 AD.

                    Anant Dev the court poet of King Baj Bahadur Chandra (Chand King of later era) did not mention about Bharti Chandra as Chand dynasty king.

         In 1944, Bharti Chandra captured Bishung Patti from his uncle.  

             Guerilla Attacks by Bharti Chandra on Seera and Sora region

     The elder brother of Katyuri kingdom king used to rule from Doti and other family members or younger brothers used to rule in Seera and Sora region of Kumaon.

  There were infightings among Katyuri family rulers from 1445-1450. The younger prince Nagmall Katyuri of Seera region captured the Doti Kingdom from his elder brother Arjundev. Definitely, there were rival groups among administrative staff of Katyuri rulers. Arjundev with his family members and supporters ran from Doti to Champawat and took shelters from Champawat King Kali Kalyan Chandra. Kali Kalayn Chandra was already in trouble from his nephew Bharti Chandra.

 Bharti Chandra started guerilla attacks on Sora and Sera regions of Nagmall ruled regions. Dhanyachandra brother of Bharti Chandra, Shaud Karayat and his supporters used to provide support to Bharti Chandra.

                             Attack on Doti by Bharti Chandra

             The subject of Champawat was against kali Kalyan Chandra. Therefore, Bharti Chandra got rebels easily. With Old Chim saun and other rebel force, Bharti Chandra started campaign to attack on Doti. According to Hudkya folklore, Bharti Chandra and his son Ratan Chandra marched from Sui, Gangolighat, and Pithoragarh and reached to Jhulaghat. From Jhulaghat the army of Bharti Chandra crossed Kali Ganga and reached to  Sora.

 According to Atkinson, Bharti Chandra camped at bali Chaukad at the bank of Kali River. From here, Bharti Chandra used to attack through guerilla means on Doti for twelve years.

 In the absence of Bharti Chandra, his son Ratan Chandra ruled on Kali Kumaon. With the help of Paik Maid Son of Sonkot,  ruler of Katehar and his son , Bharti Chandra created huge army and attacked on Nagmall. Nagmall was defeated. From that time, Chandra kingdom got real free rule over Champawat. From that day, Chand kings became Maharaja and Chand kings did not have to pay tribute to Katyuri kings (Doti). Doti was still free.

             In fact, the campaigns of Bhartichandra against Doti were always as guerilla attacks

                 Territories under Bharti Chandra

  The territories of Chand kingdom was increased by Bharti Chandra. Klayn Chandra was also ruler of Kali Kumaon till 1468. Only after death of Kali Kalyan Chandra, Bharti Chandra got rule of complete Kali Kumaon.

 It seems when Kali Kalyan Chandra was alive, Bharti Chandra had Sui-Bishang, Badakot, Danya, Chaukoli, Jageshwar, and origin of Sual River and some eastern part were under him.

## Read about Rule of Ratan Chandra and second Rule by Bharti Chandra in next chapter …

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti -bckukreti@gmail.com 2/10/2013

                                      References

Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag 10, Kumaon ka Itihas 1000-1790

Badri Datt Pande, 1937, Kumaon ka Itihas, Shri Almora Book Depo Almora

Devidas Kaysth, Itihas Kumaon Pradesh

Katyur ka Itihas, Pundit Ram Datt Tiwari

Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore

Atkinson, History of District Gazette

Menhadi Husain, Tuglak Dynasty

Malfujat- E Timuri

Tarikh -e-Mubarakshahi vol 4

Kumar Suresh Singh2005, People of India

Justin Marozzi, 2006, Tamerlane: Sword of Islam

Bakshsingh Nijar, 1968, Punjab under Sultans 1000-1526 

The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 13 page 52 

Bhakt Darshan, Gadhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan

Mahajan V.D.1991, History of Medieval India

Majumdar R.C. (edited) 2006, The Sultanate

Rizvi , Uttar Taimur Kalin Bharat

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

                           

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -160

History of Kumaon (1000-1790) to be continued….

 Middle Himalayan, Indian Medieval Age History of Chand Dynasty rule in Kumaon to be continued…

  (Middle Himalayan, Indian Medieval Age History (740-1790 AD to be continued…)