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The Chakma tribe of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in the 18th Century

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

A. M. Serajuddin
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Extract

There has been much debate about the origin of the Chakma tribe of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the Muslim names of the Chakma chiefs of the 18th century have added to it. According to the Chakmas their ancestors were kshatriyas of north Indian origin, who invaded Arakan towards the end of the 14th century, settled there and intermarried with the local people. But there is no credible evidence to corroborate this story and all the modern writers on the subject consider it to be a myth. Hutchinson points out that the Indian kshatriya link was forged during Kalindi Rani's time in the 19th century when Hindu influence was at its highest in her court and the worship of Śiva and Kali crept into their ritual. The Chakmas are not the only Arakanese tribe to claim descent from the ancient warrior class of north India. The accepted idea amongst the Maghs is that their ancestors were kshatriya princes of Magadha. The Burmese are undoubtedly a Mongolian race; yet their traditions hark back to India and not to China. “Their chronicles read as if they were descended from Buddha's clansmen and lived in Upper India”.

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Articles
Information
Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society , Volume 116 , Issue 1 , January 1984 , pp. 90 - 98
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 1984

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References

1 Roy, Bhuban Mohan, “History of the Chakma Raj Family”, in Bessaignet, P., Tribesmen of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Dacca, 1958, 88–90;Google ScholarLewin, T. H., The hill tracts of Chittagong and the dwellers therein, Calcutta, 1869, 62–63;Google ScholarHutchinson, R. H. S., An Account of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Calcutta, 1906, 89–90.Google Scholar For a resumé of the theories on the origin of the Chakmas see Löffler, L. G., “Chakma und Sak”, Internationales Archiv für Ethnographic, L, 1, 1964, 72–6.Google Scholar

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38 ibid.

39 Proceedings of the Committee of Revenue,6 May 1784.Google Scholar

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41 Proceedings of the Committee of Revenue,6 May 1784.Google Scholar

42 ibid.

43 ibid., 14 July 1783 and 6 May 1784.

44 ibid., 6 May 1784 and 14 June 1785.

45 Roy, Bhuban Mohan (n. 1 above), 93.Google Scholar

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50 This is the English translation of the original Persian document. It was forwarded by James Irwin, Collector of Chittagong, to the Committee of Revenue at Calcutta on 29 March 1784 and included in the Proceedings of the Committee of Revenue,6 May 1784.Google Scholar