Socio-religious Reforms of Maharaja Bir Chandra Manikya: An Overview

Abstract

This paper attempts to make an overall assessment about socio-religious reforms of Bir Chandra Manikya

& its impact on indigenous folk culture in Colonial Tripura. The later part of 19th century saw political

stability and consolidation of the administration within Tripura under four Manikya kings distinguished

by their political liberalism, magnanimity towards all sections of the people and patronage of art and

culture. Needless to say, Birchandra Manikya was the pioneer in ushering princely Tripura in the modern

age.

As a matter of fact, Bir Chandra Manikya is regarded as the ‘Architect of Modern Tripura’. This paper

justifies the socio-religious reforms of Bir Chandra Manikya by which the worst social evils like Sati

System & Slavery were abolished from Tripura. It was due to the ardent desire of Bir Chandra Manikya

that the Pahari Adalat was also abolished for bringing about unification within the judicial system.

The life-style of the people of Tripura was upgraded by the process of socio-religious reforms of Bir

Chandra Manikya. The impact of his reforms can be witnessed on the life-style, food habits, marriage,

religious belief, language, education, dress, song, music, dance, art & architecture and above-all on the

administrative system of Colonial Tripura.

This paper examines the factors that have made the reforms of Bir Chandra Manikya possible in Tripura

by which Sati System was declared illegal and punishable under an Act of 1888. Slavery system was also

banned in 1877 A.D. Truly, Birchandra Manikya is known as Raja Rammohan Roy of Tripura, who

brought the message of ‘Renaissance’ in Tripura..

Keywords: socio-religious, Pahari Adalat, political liberalism, Slavery