Entry of the British in Jharkhand

Refuge of Rebels: Singhbhum, Tamar, Patkum, and Barabhum

• When the British entered the region, areas like East Singhbhum, Chotanagpur proper, Tamar, Patkum, and Barabhum had turned into refuges for rebels and troublemakers.
• The Kol warriors of Kolhan used to launch attacks into Chotanagpur proper, Gangpur, Bonai, Keonjhar, and Bamanghati.
• Tired of these repeated attacks, the king of Porahat sought protection under the British.

Fragmented Rule in Hazaribagh Region

• In medieval times, the Hazaribagh region included several small principalities such as:
  • Ramgarh
  • Kunda
  • Kendi
  • Chhai
  • Kharkadiha
• During the reign of Aurangzeb and after (1677–1724), Dalel Singh ruled Ramgarh.
• Dalel Singh defeated Magar Khan, the king of Chhai, and killed him in 1718.
• He then seized:
  • Chhai’s capital Bigha
  • Jagodih pargana
  • Eight other taluqs
• From 1717 to 1724, Chhai remained under Dalel Singh’s control.
• In 1719, Dalel Singh helped the Nagvanshi king capture the Tori pargana from Chero king Ranjit Singh of Palamu.
• However, Dalel Singh was later defeated, and Magar Khan’s son Ranmast Khan regained the lost territories.
• The same year, Dalel Singh died, and was succeeded by Vishnu Singh.

Vishnu Singh’s Conspiracies and Defiance

• Vishnu Singh reclaimed Chhai by deceit.
• To free themselves, Mahipat Khan sought help from:
  • Shatrudhan Singh, King of Itkhori
  • Sundar Singh, King of Tekari
• With their help, Vishnu Singh was captured.
• However, he bribed the Tekari king with ₹10,000 and was released.
• During this period, the Tekari king seized the Bigha fort and eight taluqs from Mahipat Khan and held them for around five years.
• Vishnu Singh’s early victories made him arrogant.
• He began ignoring the Nawab of Bengal and stopped paying annual tribute.

Bengal’s Reaction: Hidayat Ali Khan’s Campaign

• In 1740, the Nawab of Bengal Alivardi Khan sent Hidayat Ali Khan against Vishnu Singh.
• Vishnu Singh was defeated and had to pay:
  • ₹80,000 in dues
  • Part of it in cash
  • The rest in land
• Ramgarh’s annual tribute was fixed at ₹12,000, which remained until British arrival.

The Struggle for Chhai: Return of Mahipat Khan’s Line

• Till 1747, Vishnu Singh retained control over Chhai.
• Mahipat Khan died, and his successor was Lal Khan.
• Lal Khan and Ratan Singh, zamindar of Rampur pargana in Chhai, approached Kamgar Khan, zamindar of Narhat-Samaya, for help.
• Kamgar Khan attacked Ramgarh and defeated Vishnu Singh.
• Ratan Singh and Lal Khan regained their lost lands.
• Kamgar Khan launched another assault and destroyed Ramgarh.

Peace Treaty and Division of Territories

• A compromise was reached afterward:
  • Rampur and Jagodih were returned to their rightful rulers.
• Kamgar Khan gained control over all land north of the Barakar River.
• Vishnu Singh retained control over the southern territories of the river.

Final Uprising and British Response

• Vishnu Singh did not stay quiet.
• He conspired with enemies of the Bengal Nawab.
• In 1763, Nawab Mir Qasim sent a military expedition led by Markat Khan and others.
• They defeated Vishnu Singh.
• All local kings and zamindars had their lands restored.
• Markat Khan kept the northern part of Chhai pargana (north of Barakar River) for the Nawab.

Mukund Singh’s Opportunism and Defeat

• After Vishnu Singh’s death, his elder brother Mukund Singh became ruler of Ramgarh.
• An opportunist, he forcefully took over Bigha and Itkhori forts.
• He also acquired artillery and weapons in the process.
• In 1766, a military unit under Waris Khan defeated Mukund Singh.
• Mukund agreed to:
  • Pay ₹27,000 as three years’ overdue tribute
  • In exchange for control of Chhai

Final Settlement and Administrative Division

• This arrangement did not last long.
• A year later, Mukund Singh reunited Chhai with Ramgarh.
• At this point, Chhai pargana was divided into five regions:
  1. Rampur
  2. Jagodih
  3. Parwariya
  4. Itkhori
  5. Piti

A Prelude to Colonial Conquest

This period (1707–1765) in Jharkhand saw a patchwork of princely states, mutual betrayals, and military skirmishes that destabilized the region. The weakening of Mughal influence gave rise to local warlords, who were eventually subdued either by Marathas or Bengal’s Nawabs. The British, waiting at the periphery, slowly crept into power—a move welcomed by some and resisted by others.

The fragmented landscape of Singhbhum, Chotanagpur, Palamu, and Ramgarh became fertile ground for colonial domination, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new, foreign rule.