Koch Coinage: a Study in Historical Perspective
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KOCH COINAGE: A STUDY IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH BENGAL FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN HISTORY BY DEBAJIT DUTTA GUIDE DR. BIJOY KUMAR SARKAR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH BENGAL DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH BENGAL 2015, May ii Abstract Ancient coins are living testimonials to the past and an important source of information about a region‟s political development, monetization, trading patterns, external contacts, religious beliefs, cultural diversity and so on. From very ancient times likewise the other sovereign principalities of the world, the South Asian kingdoms had a unique tradition of issuing coins to proclaim their independent character. The various phases of Indian History have witnessed the rise of numerous political identities and these princely identities had their own series of glorious coinage. This is not only an inimitable tradition in South Asian context but also a revolutionary event in global politico- economic perspective. In late-medieval period Koch kingdom a small princely state situated in the northern part of sub-Himalayan Bengal, was a prolific coin issuing kingdom. The coins issued by the Koch rulers, were the proof of the majestic mark of the Koch kingdom‟s politico-economic and cultural achievements. These coins are among the earliest historical documents that survive from the region. The long practice of issuing coins was initiated by Nara Narayan, the second historical sovereign of the kingdom in mid-sixteenth century and the practice maintained by the successive rulers until 1773 un-interruptedly. In the said year due to some politico-administrative crisis Koch kingdom compelled to surrender its sovereignty to the English East India Company and by virtue of Anglo- Koch (1773) treaty they lost the authority of minting coins. But the successive rulers until the merger of the kingdom with Union of India were permitted to mint some commemorative issues to retain the four century long tradition. Koch Kings struck coins mainly on gold, silver and brass metal. The gold and brass coin is very rare, silver being the main metal of coining money. Keeping in mind the above background of Koch currency the present study has explored the age-long Koch currency popularly known as Narayanai Mudra in different frontiers, like political, economic and socio-cultural perspectives and thus trying to establish a co-relation between the Koch coinage and coinage tradition of India. Not only that the present study has explored British economic imperialism by analyzing the currencies‟ gradual de-monetization in the late-eighteenth century and thoroughly presented an analytical explanation of the politico-economic impact of the i Koch coinage over the economy and politics of North East India and adjoining areas. The scheme of chapters adopted for the present research work is detailed below: The main theme of the first chapter is the origin and development of the Koch dynasty. In this Chapter the political history of the Koch kingdom is discussed. Careful examinations are made hare about the ups and downs of Koch Empire. Economic perspective of the Koch Kingdom is the basic theme of the second chapter. This chapter includes the economic viability of the Koch kingdom. To ventilate the core issues of the Koch economics, careful study is made hare about the kingdom‟s geographical settings, administrative machinery, production system, land revenue settlement and collection, trade and market networks and so on. The use of currency in trade and transaction in Koch Kingdom and also in several parts of North East India are also discussed here to understand the role of currency in day do day transactions. The beginning of the Koch coinage is the main theme of the third chapter. Here the economic condition and the mode of transaction before the establishment of the Koch kingdom are discussed. The economic condition of the kingdom during the reign of Nara Narayan and the main causes which compelled him to establish a regularized currency system is the main emphasis of the chapter. Koch coinage from its inception up to the Anglo-Koch treaty (1773) is discussed here. The forth chapter thoroughly deals with the Koch coinage from Anglo-Koch treaty to Jagaddipendra Narayan. Careful re-examination has been made hare about the ups and downs of Koch currency due to the British monopolistic attitude towards the Koch kingdom. The colonial masters always intended to carve the power and position of the Koch kingdom. So how the British policy towards the Koch currency hampered the circulation of this currency and ultimately paved the way of its debasement have been analyzed in this chapter. Art and iconographic designs on the Koch coins are the primary subject matters of fifth chapter. This chapter highlights different symbols, various designs, engraved words on the Koch coins and their practical and spiritual causes. In chapter six, the coinage of various other North Eastern kingdoms have been discussed to gather a comprehensive idea about the transaction system in North East India and to establish the co-relation of these coinages with the coinage of Koch kingdom. Lastly there is an observation of the overall in the form of conclusion derived from the discussion of the above mentioned chapters. ii Preface Ancient coins surviving into the present age are living commentaries on the dead past. So coins of a given period and area constitute an important source of information about its history and culture. In the field of antiquarian studies in particular, where the quantity of sources is very restricted, coins constitute a major body of historical, economic and artistic material and evidence. The importance of coins as a source of history can hardly be undermined in a country like India where genuine historical chronicles comparable to those of the west is not only rare but almost unavailable. In this backdrop coins, a very important component of archeological object can help us to reconstruct the past based on the true parameters set by both western and Indian scholars. It is common to belief that coins don‟t adequately compete with literary sources in revealing the complexities of past and merely confirm history but seldom to modifies or amplifies it. However they can shed ample light upon political, economic, social, religious, administrative and also on the historical geography of a certain region. From a close study of the symbolic significance of the varied emblems found on coins, we can know about various important events of royal history, as well as history of the general people and thus can draw a general picture of the contemporary life. In late-medieval period, the Koch kingdom an important politico-cultural identity of sub- Himalayan northern Bengal had its own glorious series of coinage. As a royal issue, the coins of the Koch kingdom were the emblems of royalty and symbolic majesty of the Koch kings. The metals, the motifs, the legends as well as other accompanying details on the coins depict the details of faiths and customs adopted by the Koch kingdom. As the coinage can shed light on many aspects of the history and culture of a region, in this respect Koch kingdom is no exception, particularly as coins are the earliest historical documents that survive from the region. The dates on them give a firm chronological framework for the early kings, the extent of the coinage at different periods demonstrate the changing economic wealth of the country and trace the trading links with the neighboring areas. These coins mark the beginning of a new stage of economic development not only for the Koch kingdom but also for the entire North East India as prior to the Koch coinage money in its organized form was almost non-existent in North East India. The currency is not only important on the above mentioned grounds but also it had the capacity to tell the British imperial intentions and their gradual penetration in the economy and politics of Koch kingdom in particular, as due do their politico-economic interest the Koch currency gradually de-monetized in the latter half of the eighteenth century. Although in recent years few papers have been published about particular aspects of the coins of the Koch kingdom, but no comprehensive survey of current knowledge on the subject has been written. The writers of the history of this region have not shown their interests in using the numismatic data, through which a better perspective into Koch history can be gained. Keeping in mind of the above background of research on Koch coinage the present study have presented a thorough study of Koch coinage by exploring the different frontiers of numismatic elements like political, economic and cultural perspectives and thus tried to establish a correlation between the Koch coinage and coinage tradition of India. The present research also presented an analytical explanation of the impact of the Koch coinage over the economy and politics of North East India and adjoining areas. iv Acknowledgement I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all who helped me during the course of my research. First of all I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to my research supervisor Dr. Bijoy Kumar Sarkar, Associate Professor, Department of History, University of North Bengal for his inspiration, guidance, constant encouragement, solicitation and extremely constructive and thought provoking observations. He spent immense time not only over the dissertation but also a detailed review of the critical areas of my thesis. In fact this might never have been written and submitted without his love and constant support. I am earnestly grateful to Prof. Pranabanada Jash, Retd. Professor, Visva Bharati, Santiniketan, who have masterminded the entire research.