Char Burha was medieval Chand state administrative post. The views of scholars in this (Burha) regard are as follows-
1- According to Edwin Thomas Atkinson, the author of ‘Himalayan Gazetteer’- “There were four Burhas in Kali Kumaon who were from Tadagi, Khadku, and Chaudhary castes.”
2- According to Dr. Ramsingh- “The four Burha ones-” Karki, Bora, Tadagi and Chaudhary.”
3- According to Badridutt Pandey- “The four Burha – Karki, Bora, Tadagi and Chaudhary.”
Chand State-
Champawat was the initial power center of Chand state in Kumaon. Rajbunga, Champawat Nagar was the initial capital of the Chand kingdom. Who were the Chand? According to one opinion of historians, Somchand came to Champawat from Kannauj state in the beginning of the eighth century and according to another opinion, Thoharchand came to Champawat in the thirteenth century. On the basis of these two different opinions, Somchand’s dynasty can be called the predecessor and Thoharchand’s dynasty can be called the latter Chand.
Rise Of Chands-
The rulers of the earlier Chand dynasty were subordinate to the Katyuris, whose reign is valid from the eighth to the thirteenth century. The Katyuri dynasty was at its peak during this period. While the reign of the later Chand dynasty lasted from the fourteenth to the last decade of the eighteenth century. It is clear from the copper plate of Garud Gyanchand, a descendant of the later Chand Thohar Chand, that he was an independent ruler. Garud Gyanchand assumed the title of ‘Maharajadhiraj’ as an independent ruler, which is confirmed by the copper plate issued by him.
The territory of this king was extended from Champawat to Sor state (Pithoragarh). It is clear from the copper plate that the Bam ruler of Sor had accepted the subordination of Garuda Gyanchand. Based on the published Chand copper plates, the reign of Garud Gyanchand must have been from 1389 to 1422 AD.
Early Administrative System of Chands-
The predecessor of Garuda Gyanchand was Abhaychand, whose copper plate Shake 1296 (1374) has been published. Information regarding the administrative posts of Chand state is not available from this copper plate. But in the Kharak Karki (Champawat) copper plate of Shaka 1296 (AD 1384) of this king, “Paula Pandra Visi of Baisai Sahas” is engraved, which is related to the state posts of the early administrative system of Chands. In relation to fifteen Visi, the historian of Uttarakhand, Dr. Shivprasad Dabral writes – “Pauri fifteen Vishwa (Pound, Padar, Bairu, Vishu) – Harijan.” Tried to associate with them the craftsman society.
Information regarding the administrative system of the Chand state is also obtained from the published copper plates of Abhaychand’s successor Garud Gyanchand of Shake 1311, 1340 and 1342. This king issued the Madali (Champawat) copper plate in the first year of his rule or in 1389 AD, in which the phrase “Charai Than Pandhrai Vis” related to the state administrative system is engraved. While ‘Bais Sahas’ and ‘Pandrah Visi’ were important in the administrative system of King Abhaychand in the fourteenth century.
Char Than And Pandrah Visi-
‘Char Than’ and ‘Pandrah Visi’ were important in the administrative system of his successor Garud Gyanchand. Historians associate Char Than with Char-Chauthani. “Char-Chauthani- Brahmins who tell their ancestors as external – Devaliya, Simaltia Pandey, Tiwari of Vinda, Visht of Dadya.” In the context of Visht or Bisht caste, Edwin Thomas Atkinson writes- “The name has been corrupted from specific (Vishisht) and is more of a designation than a caste, although the word is now used as a caste. The Bisht people have played an important role in the history of Kumaon. He was Somchand’s civil officer in Champawat and then held these positions during Rudrachand’s time as well.”
Aatu Vis Ka Burha-
15th century two copper plates of Garud Gyanchand have been published in 1418 and 1420. Among these, the copper plate of 1418 was also issued from Madli (Champawat). From this copper plate, the administrative posts ‘Char Than’ and ‘Pandrah Visi’ are mentioned. While in the copper plate issued in 1420, which was received from Kharkot (Pithoragarh), a new administrative post ‘Aatu Vis Ka Burha’ has been mentioned. Burha was an important post in the chand administrative system. Instead of eight Burha, scholars associate Chand administrative system with ‘Char Burha’ on the basis of numbers.
‘Four Burha’ & Chand King Vikram Chand Dev –
After the death of Chand king Garud Gyanchand, Udyanchand, Harishchand and Vikramchand sat on Chand throne respectively. Vikram Chand used ‘Ganeshaya: Namah’ in place of the initial word ‘Om Swasti’ in a chand copper plate with the title ‘Dev’ of Katyuris. The rule of this king also extended from Champawat to Sor. This king ruled for a total of fourteen years from 1423 to 1437 AD. From the copper plate Shake 1356 (1434) issued by this king, the mention of the administrative posts of Chand state is found in “Char Than Char Burha Bais Saas”.
The administrative rank of ‘eight Burha’ during the reign of Gyanchand or Garuda Gyanchand decreased to ‘four Burha’ at the time of Vikram Chand Dev, which scholars associated with the four Kshatriya castes of the Champawat region. In this way, four Thans were marked as Brahmins, four Burhas as Kshatriyas and twenty-two Saas as Vaishya and Shudra characters. The credit goes to King Vikram Chand Dev (1423-1437) for the restoration of the Baleshwar temple of Champawat, Katyuri’s ‘Dev’ title, ‘Shri Ganeshaya Namah’ in copper plate writing, the state administrative post ‘Char Burha’.
‘Four Burha’ & Chand King Bharti Chand –
In the family power struggle, his (Vikram Chand) nephew Bharti Chand, grandson of Harishchand, defeated Vikram Chand with the help of local Kshatraps (Satraps). After Vikram Chand, Chand state rose under the leadership of Bharti Chand. During his reign, this dynasty had established its prestige from Kumaon to Nepal. It is clear from the published copper plates of Bharti Chand that this king gave place to the local satraps in his court and got their names engraved in the copper plate witnesses.
In Bharti Chand’s Marh, Gumdesh (Champawat) copper plate (Shake 1366 or 1444) mention of state administrative posts named ‘Char Than’ and ‘Pandrah Visi’ is also found. But in other copper plates issued by this king Shake 1367, 1371, 1373, 1374, the names of individual witnesses are obtained instead of state posts. Bharti Chand did not give importance to specific state posts in the copper plates issued after 1444 AD.
Chand king Vikram Chand Dev established the specific state post ‘Aath Burha’ as ‘Char Burha’ and with the end of his rule, the specific state post ‘Char Burha’ also became extinct from Chand copper plates. From the ‘Chhana’ Pithoragarh copper plate (Shake 1380) of Sor (Pithoragarh) king Pratapchand Verma, a contemporary of Bharti Chand, the mention of specific state posts ‘Char Than’ and ‘Pandrah Shay’ is obtained. But the mention of ‘four Burha’ is not found in this copper plate also. After Shake 1366/1444 AD, Bharti Chand gave importance to individual witnesses instead of specific state positions in copper plates. This arrangement continued till the reign of King Kalyanchand.
‘Four Burha’ After Chand King Bharti Chand –
After Bharti Chand, Dhyan Chand and Kirti Chand became kings respectively. The Dholpur copper plate Shake 1427 (year 1505) issued by Kirti Chand also does not mention the state post. The Pithoragarh copper plate, issued in Shaka 1467 (AD 1545), the powerful Chand king Kalyanchand of the sixteenth century, does not find any mention of state posts. But from this Chand king’s ‘Gaunch’, Pithoragarh copper plate Shake 1478 (year 1556 AD) mention of state posts like four Burha and six Gaurya is received.
‘Four Burha’ & Chand King Kalyanchand –
After Vikram Chand Dev, Kalyanchand Dev gave place to the special state post ‘Char Burha’ in his copper plate. After 122 years from 1434 AD, Kalyanchand again gave importance to ‘Char Burha’ (state post) in Chand state system. Along with ‘Char Burha’, a new specific state post ‘Chhai Gaurya’ has been mentioned for the first time from this copper plate. One can see a striking similarity between the 15th century Chand king Vikram Chand Dev and the 16th century Chand king Kalyanchand Dev – both the kings adopted the specific state title ‘Char Burha’ system with the title Katyuri ‘Dev’.
With the expansion of the kingdom of King Kalyanchand Dev, the specific state posts increased. For example, a phrase from Kalyanchanddev’s published Jakhpant, Pithoragarh copper plate (Shake 1482/1560 AD) – “Charai burha chhai gaurya gangalo visunga saktu kuran nida” confirms this fact. State posts named ‘Gangalo’, ‘Visunga’ along with ‘Char Burha’ and ‘Six Gaurya’ were created by King Kalyanchand Dev at the time of state expansion (up to Almora).
In the context of Gangalo and Visunga, historian Dr. Ramsingh writes – “Gangalo- Probably the ‘Mauni’ Kshatriya of Gangol Patti.” Bisunga – Chief of the five major castes of the Bisun; Mara, Fartyal, Dhek, Karayat, Dev.” ‘Gangalo’ can be related to both Gangol Patti or Gangoli. It was King Kalyanchand Dev who defeated Mankoti ruler Narayanchand and included Gangoli state in Chand state. Probably the official appointed in Gangoli was called Gangalo. Presently ‘Gangola’ is also a caste.
‘Four Burha’ & Chand King Rudra Chand –
King Kalyanchand Dev shifted the state capital from Champawat to Almora in 1563 AD. The kingdom of this king extended from Kali to Almora. But it could not conquer fort Sirakot (Didihat). After Kalyanchand Dev, his son Rudra Chand sat on the Chand throne in 1568 AD. As soon as he ascended the throne, this king issued a copper plate to the Burha Kedar temple in Pali (Chaukhutia region, which is associated with the ancient ‘Brahmapur’ state.). From this copper plate, the mention of the state post ‘Char Burha’, ‘Twelve Adhikari’ and ‘Gangola’ is found. The mention of twelve official (Adhikari) state posts came for the first time in Chand Tamrapatra.
After Rudra Chand, till the fall of Chand state (1790 AD), hundreds of copper plates were issued by Chand kings. But from all these published copper plates, there is no mention of the term ‘Char Burha’. Thus, it can be said that the ‘Char Burha’ state post of Champawat was abolished after a few years of shifting the capital of Chand state to Almora.
‘Four Burha’ After The King Rudra Chand –
After the death of King Rudra Chand, his junior son Lakshman Chand Dev ascended the throne. An undated copper plate of this king has been received from Badalu, Pithoragarh. In this published copper plate, in place of the specific state post, new state officer-employee posts have been mentioned, such as Negi, Sau or Sahu, Ratgali and Sikdar. That is, new medieval state posts were established in place of ancient specific state posts in the Kumaon state.
Chand Raja Rudra Chand Dev went to Lahore to meet Mughal Emperor Akbar. ”””’ Abdulkadir Badauni writes in his Tawarikh – In 1588, the king of Kumaon came to Lahore via Shivalik mountain.“ Probably King Rudra Chand returned to Almora influenced by the Mughal revenue system and from 1590 AD, land measurement was started in Chand state. This is the reason why the Mughal influence is visible on the change in the land revenue system of Kumaon. Shiqdar or Sikdar was the title of a medieval officer. When did the word ‘Shikdar’ come into vogue in the governance system in the medieval period? In this regard, historian Harishchandra Verma writes- “It is known that at the time of Balvan, Shikdar was appointed to take care of the Khalsa land.”