Cachar district

Cachar (Pron: kəˈʧɑ: or kæˈʧɑ:) (Bengali: কাছাড় জেলা) is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India.

Etymology

The name "Cachar" has derived from the Dimasa word kachari. The district headquarters are located at Silchar. The name Cachar traces its origin to the Kachari kingdom (called Dimasa Kingdom in medieval times). There are 3 towns in Cachar district namely : Silchar, Lakhipur and Sonai.

History

Pre-independence period

Cachar was a part of the greater Dimasa Kachari Kingdom which also included the adjoining Hailakandi and Karimganj districts.The Last King of Cachar was Raja Govindrachandradwajanarayana Hasnu. During his period Khaspur was the Capital of Cachar(Kachar). Cachar was another native kingdom that fell victim to the imperialist design of the British. The Kingdom of Cachar was being ruled two rulers having clearly defined areas of control. In the plains (southern portion of Cachar)Govindrachandradwajanarayana Hasnu was the ruling prince. Immediately after his assassination by Gambhir Singh the British annexed it to their dominion in India (1832). Tularam was the ruling chief of the hilly tract (northern portion of Cachar or Dima Hasao). His territories were annexed after he died in 1854. Thus entire Cachar came under the British occupation.While south Cachar was annexed under Robertson,the hilly tract of Cachar came under British occupation when Jenkins was the Commissioner of Assam.