Attack on Dewan Manik Chand

The Attack on Dewan Manik Chand was a critical event during the 1782 Muharram Rebellion in Sylhet,

Attack on Dewan Manik Chand
Part of Muharram Rebellion
Date December 1782 Location Sylhet, Bengal (present-day Bangladesh) Result Bengali victory Territorial changes Dewan Manik Chand is killed by Bengali Muslim revolters
Belligerents
British East India Company	Bengali Muslims
Commanders and leaders
Robert Lindsay Dewan Manik Chand †	Pirzada of Sylhet
Strength
Unknown	~300
Casualties and losses
1 Killed Many buildings burned down	Unknown

Present-day Bangladesh, where Bengali Muslims, led by the Pirzada and his brothers Syed Muhammad Hadi and Syed Muhammad Mahdi, rose against the British East India Company. The assassination of Dewan Manik Chand, a prominent figure aligned with the British administration, marked the beginning of open hostilities in this revolt, setting the stage for subsequent confrontations.

Background

The British East India Company’s presence in Sylhet, under the administration of Robert Lindsay, had fostered resentment among the local population. British exploitation of Sylhet’s resources and their failure to support locals during a devastating 1781 flood heightened tensions. Many Sylheti Muslims perceived the British and their allies, including Hindu officials such as Dewan Manik Chand, as complicit in colonial oppression.

The Pirzada and his followers, angered by British dominance and encouraged by anti-colonial sentiments, began organizing resistance during the Islamic month of Muharram, a time of significant religious observance for Muslims. The month provided an opportunity for large gatherings, and it became a period for rallying support against British control.

The attack

On the evening of the planned uprising, the Pirzada led a group of around 300 people. Armed with traditional weapons—swords and knives—the procession moved through Sylhet and ultimately targeted Dewan Manik Chand’s residence. Recognized as a British ally, Manik Chand became a primary target for the rebels, who sought to weaken British influence by eliminating key figures of authority.

Upon reaching Manik Chand’s house, the rebels launched an attack, killing him. His death symbolized a direct challenge to the British, as he was both a respected local official and a symbol of collaboration with the colonial administration. The attack on Manik Chand signified the beginning of the violent phase of the Muharram Rebellion, creating an atmosphere of chaos in Sylhet. In response, the rebels also set parts of the town ablaze, increasing panic and signaling their defiance of British authority.

Aftermath and Significance

The murder of Dewan Manik Chand further polarized Sylhet’s Hindu and Muslim communities, as many Hindus were seen as supportive of the British. This division would shape the rebellion’s progression, influencing later interactions between the British, Hindus, and the rebelling Muslim groups. After the attack, Robert Lindsay mobilized a counterattack with sepoys and ultimately quelled the uprising in a confrontation at the Sylhet Shahi Eidgah.

The attack on Manik Chand is viewed as a pivotal moment in the rebellion, symbolizing Sylheti resistance to colonial rule. It later inspired anti-colonial sentiments throughout the region, contributing to Sylhet’s legacy as a center of resistance.

References

• Lindsay, Robert. Anecdotes of an Indian Life. Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1832.
• Ahmed, Shamsuddin. Resistance Movements in Colonial Bengal (1757-1857). Dhaka: University Press Limited, 2001.
• Islam, Sirajul, et al. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh. Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 2003.
• Eaton, Richard M. The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier, 1204–1760. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1993.
• Chakrabarty, Dipesh. Provincializing Europe: Postcolonial Thought and Historical Difference. Princeton University Press, 2000.