28 Facts About Jogeswar Singha

Jogeswar Singha was installed as the king of Ahom kingdom in 1821 CE, by the Burmese.

Jogeswar Singha was more or less a puppet in the hands of the Burmese, who held the real power of administration.

Jogeswar Singha's reign witnessed Burmese atrocities on the people of Assam and the attempts made by Chandrakanta Singha and Purandar Singha to expel Burmese invaders.

Jogeswar Singha was the eldest son of Baga Konwar, Tipam Raja, who was a descendant of Jambar Gohain, Charing Raja, the younger brother of Swargadeo Gadadhar Singha.

Apart from Jogeswar Singha, Bogakonwar had three daughters, Taravati Aideo, Sarupahi Aideo and Hemo Aideo, and three sons, Mantan Charing Raja, Bihuram alias Biswanath, Tipam Raja and Dhaniram Gohain.

Jogeswar Singha proceeded to Calcutta, and alleging that Purnananda Burhagohain was subverting the Ahom Government and ruining the country, endeavored to persuade the Governor-General Lord Hastings to dispatch an expedition against Purnananda Burhagohain.

Jogeswar Singha repeated his misrepresentations regarding the conduct of Purnananda Burhagohain, alleging that he had usurped the King's authority, and that owing to his misgovernment, the lives of all, both high and low, were in danger.

The Burmese occupied the capital Jorhat and Badan Chandra triumphantly entered the capital, interviewed Chandrakanta Jogeswar Singha and offered to run the affairs of the state as his capacity as Mantri-Phukan or Prime Minister.

Bihuram alias Bishwanath Tipam Raja, one of the brothers of Jogeswar Singha, accompanied his sister to Burma.

Chandrakanta Jogeswar Singha was mutilated on his right ear, in order to make him ineligible for the throne, and was exiled.

Bodawpaya, owing to his marriage to Hemo Aideo, had an alliance with Chandrakanta Jogeswar Singha, immediately dispatched a fresh army of 30,000 men under a general named Alungmingi, known as Kiamingi Borgohain.

Meanwhile, Chandrakanta Jogeswar Singha tried to free himself from Burmese influence, started to strengthen his army and constructed fortifications in Joypur, in order to check further invasions by Burmese in Assam.

The Burmese force approached the borders of Assam in March 1821, but Chandrakanta Jogeswar Singha got scent of the real intentions of the Burmese, and fled to Guwahati.

In retaliation, Chandrakanta Jogeswar Singha took his revenge by punishing the Burmese officers, who were sent to invite him back.

The appointment of Jogeswar Singha was done with double purpose; it would enhance the prestige of the Assamese queen Hemo Aideo or Hemo Mepaya in the court of Burmese monarch, and would placate the Assamese subjects who would naturally appreciate a native ruler being set up in their country.

In reality, Jogeswar Singha had no vestige of any sovereign power and the Burmese general was all in all in Assam.

Chandrakanta Jogeswar Singha, seeing his opportunity, returned to the attack and, after inflicting several defeats on the Burmese, recaptured Guwahati in January 1822 CE.

Undaunted by enemy strength, Chandrakanta Jogeswar Singha marched upwards into Upper Assam with approximately 2000 men consisting of Sikhs and Hindustani mercenaries and some local Assamese people recruited around Guwahati.

On 19 April 1822 AD the 20,000 Burmese led by Mingi Maha Bandula and the 2000 mixed Assamese-Hindustani forces led by Chandrakanta Jogeswar Singha fought the decisive battle of Mahgarh.

Chandrakanta Jogeswar Singha is said to have displayed unusual vigour and courage by himself present in the thick of battle; personally leading his soldiers; and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with enemy soldiers.

Unable to resist the Burmese with his small force, Chandrakanta Jogeswar Singha fall back to Hadirachowki, where he made preparation to resist the Burmese with his mixed levies consisting of Sikh, Hindustanis and Assamese soldiers.

On 21 June 1822, Chandrakanta Jogeswar Singha made his final stand against Mingimaha Tilowa Baju and his Burmese forces in the battle of Hadirachowki.

Jogeswar Singha was taken to Jorhat where he was seized and placed in confinement at Rangpur.

Jogeswar Singha complained Bagyidaw about the atrocities committed by Burmese army under Mingimaha Tilowa Baju, on Assamese people and lack of proper administration there.

Some Historians stated that during this time, the Burmese deposed Jogeswar Singha and kept him in confinement at Jorhat.

Some historians like S L Barua states that the Burmese deposed Jogeswar and declared Mingi Maha Tilowa as the Raja or king of Assam.

At that time Jogeswar Singha was residing in Jorhat, while Chandrakanta Singha was at Rangpur.

Jogeswar Singha left a son named Dambarudhar Singha Juvraj, and a daughter named Padmavati.