Post Graduate Student, The Department of History, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.
[Article History: Received: 28 Feb 2024. Revised: 05 Mar 2024. Accepted: 18 Mar 2024. Published: 24 Mar 2024]
Abstract
The Kaivartta Rebellion in Pala Bengal was a decisive event that severed the Varendra region from Pala control, which was the janakabhu of the Palas at a time when the Pala Empire was embroiled in succession politics threatened by the fluctuating loyalty of the samanta chiefs. The only mention of Kaivartta Revolt we find is in the Ramacharitam written by Sandhyakaranandin, dedicated to Emperor Ramapala. This paper aims to identify the different quests for identity during the uprising of the Kaivarttas. There are different historiographical interpretations behind the causes of the uprising, but what this paper focuses on is how this revolt facilitates many identity creations. For the Kaivarttas the revolt was to claim an identity for upward social mobility. The same goes for the samantas, whose relationship with the Pala overlords was one of political reciprocity. The samantas were also looking for political independence and were in search of a stronger alliance with the overlords. Apart from the ritual upliftment, the land was itself an important asset and a source of power for upward social mobility which the Kaivarttas did so claiming their identity as farmers from fishermen. For the author himself, the writing of the text itself was a challenge that might enable him to end up at the Pala court where he will be royally patronised. Towards the end, Ramapala’s quest for political legitimation can be understood in the context of this rebellion as artfully justified by the author Sandhyakaranandin.
Keywords: Pala, Charita, Ramacharitam, Kaivartta, Revolt, Samanta