ROYAL FAMILY-TREE OF THE "KOCH" KINGS

ROYAL FAMILY-TREE OF THE "KOCH" DYNASTY

Statue of

Maharaja Nripendra Narayan

(in front of District Court,

Sagar Dighi Campus)

H.H Maharaja of Cooch Behar

Cooch Behar Palace

Maharaja Sir Nripendra Narayan

HER HIGHNESS MAHARAJMATA SHRIMATI GAYATRI DEVI - RAJMATA SAHIBA OF JAIPUR RIYASA By Rohit Sonkiya

MK Indrajitendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur.

Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur Maharaja of Cooch-Behar Coronation photo 

Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad, mother of Maharani Indiraraje of Cooch Behar and maternal grandmother of Rajmata Gayatri Devi of Jaipur

Rajmata Gayatri Devi

THE ROYAL SYMBOL

                                                                                                                                                                            

CURRENCY When from use of currency came in vogue in the ancient Pragjyotispur or Kamrup is not exactly known. Emperor Samudragupta, Kings of Hun dynasty, Pal & Sen dynasties ruled over Kamrup over decades. But no currency belonging to their age was discovered in this region. A few coins were discovered in 1863 A.D. near Gosanimari Kasteswari Temple contained within ancient kingdom of Kamtapur. Of them currency belonging to Hosen Shah and Pathan Sultan of Delhi were identified. But no currency of King Nilambar of Kamtapur could be traced. Coins issued by Maharaja Lakshmi Narayan (1587 - 1621 A.D.) have also been discovered. Some of those silver coins are kept at the British Museum, Royal Palace of Cooch Behar, Cooch Behar Treasury, Sahitya Sabha of Cooch Behar, Shilong Cabinet and Bangiya Sahitya Parishad. Maharaja Viswa Singha became the king of Kamtapur after Nilambar. But there is no trace of Maharaja's currency. He was descended by Maharaja Nara Narayan. Few silver coins of his time (1554 - 1587 A.D.) has been discovered. Some of those coins have been kept at the Asiatic Society of Kolkata and some are present at the Royal palace of Cooch Behar. The currency of the Koch Kings were named as "Narayani" after the royal surname "Narayan" of the dynasty. Those currency were in vogue in entire North Bengal including states of Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim and Assam. In 1773 A.D., when princely state of Cooch Behar was transformed into a friendly state of the British, about 40 - 50 thousand Narayani silver coins used to be issued in the village of Takagachh under the "Bhandar Thakur". While entering into agreement with East India Company, Maharaja of Cooch Behar tried to retain the power/authority to issue currency in His name. In 1774 A.D. Governor General and Revenue Council notified ban on acceptance of Narayani currency. At that time in Rangpur region use of Sikka, Narayani, Parsi, Arkot currency were in practice. Finally during the time of minor Maharaja Harendra Narayan British officials totally stopped the use of Narayani currency. After that on 27th December 1845 A.D. Indian Government commanded the British Agent to shut down the mint at Cooch Behar. In 1866 British Government made it mandatory by law to use its own issued currency.
HISTORY WITH ELEPHANTS: