page_title: Revolt of Radharam
section_title: Background
hierarchical_section_title: Revolt of Radharam / Background
caption_attribution_description: English: Charles Cornwallis, First Marquis of Cornwallis (1738-1805)
context_page_description: The Revolt of Radharam, also known as the Chargola Uprising of 1786 or the Pratapgarh Rebellion, was an insurrection against the East India Company which took place in 1786. It was perpetrated by Radharam, the Zamindar of Chargola, in what is now the Indian state of Assam. The revolt was one of the earliest struggles against British authority in Northeast India.
context_section_description: The initial factors of the revolt may be traced to the 1760s, when Radharam Datta, who was a Sylheti from the village of Taltala, established himself at an area named Chargola, located at the tri-juncture between Sylhet, Tripura and the Mizo Hills. Chargola fell under the domain of the Zamindar of Pratapgarh, Ghulam Ali Choudhury, a descendant of the regions former rulers. Here, Radharam operated a successful business selling various commodities and provisions. One of his customers was the Zamindar himself, to whom he sold provisions on credit when Choudhury lacked the funds, as well as occasionally loaning money. As collateral against these increasing debts, Choudhury promised Radharam ever greater amounts of land from his estate. By the time Ghulam Ali Choudhury died, Radharam was poised to become his chief beneficiary.
  However, the late Zamindar's son, Ghulam Raja Choudhury, believed that Radharam had cheated his father and went to the British Sadr Nizamat in Calcutta to contest the inheritance. The Courts ruled in favour of Choudhury and split Pratapgarhs lands, awarding a half each to him and Radharam. The latter was angered by the decision and it has been suggested that his enmity with the British began at this point.
  Despite this loss, Radharam's power increased. Among his most important customers were Kuki chieftains, with whom he maintained good relations, as well as giving employment to tribe members. This allowed him to expand his control and influence over the Kuki villages, which he used to raise a personal armed militia commanded by his son, Ranamangal. He also gained influence over the Maharaja of Tripura, Durga Manikya, who granted him the right to govern Chargola as its zamindar. Radharam created his own fort, courts and prison, effectively ruling as an independent chief, with the inhabitants of his lands referring to him as Nawab.
caption: Charles Cornwallis enacted Permanent Settlement, which stirred tensions between local zamindars such as Radharam.
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