#Biography_of_Pratapaditya

Pratapaditya Ray (Bengali: মহারাজা প্রতাপাদিত্য রায়) (1561–1611 CE) also referred to as Rajachakravarty Pratapaditya Maharaj (Bengali: রাজচক্রবর্ত্তী প্রতাপাদিত্য মহারাজ) was the Maharaja of Jessore Empire and among the most prominent of the Baro-Bhuyan on the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent,[1] who fought against the Mughal Empire. He is notable for his military resistance against the expansionism of the Mughal Empire and was known for his participation in the Battle of Hijli, Patna, Rajmahal, Kalindri, Salka and Kagarghat. He ruled over a vast area in Southern Bengal, Eastern Bihar and Northern Orissa which, at its zenith encompassed the districts of Nodia, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hoogly, Bardhaman in West Bengal, Patna, Rajmahal in eastern Bihar, Baleshwar in northern Orissa, Kushtia, Khulna, Barisal in east and parts of Sundarbans.

Pratapaditya was born to a Kashyap gotriya Bangaj Kulin Kayastha family in the Goharay dynasty of Bengal. His father Shrihari (or Shridhara), was an influential officer in the service of Daud Khan Karrani.[2] Shrihari Guha killed Daud Khan Karrani's trusted wazir, Ludi Khan to acclaim that position.[3] Daud Khan Karrani bestowed upon Shrihari the title of "Vikramaditya" ('sun of valour', probably in reference to the legendary emperor) and the zamindari of one Chand Khan, (referred to as Chandecan by the Portuguese) who had deceased without leaving any heir.[4] On the fall of Daud Khan at the hand of the Mughals, Shrihari Guha misappropriated all the treasure of the sultan in his custody and absconded.[2] Shrihari Guha fled to the marshy lands of the Khulna District, declared himself independent and assumed the title of "Maharaja Vikramaditya"[3] Pratapaditya was born to Srihari in 1561 and assumed power in 1584.[2] and divided his kingdom – 5/8th to Pratapaditya and 3/8th to his brother Basanta Ray.

Basanta Ray was his uncle and he affectionately brought up both Pratapaditya and Lakshmikanta (Later to be known as Lakshmikanta Roy Choudhury), son of Jiya Gangopadhyay of the Sabarna Roy Choudhury clan.[5] During this period he also taught them the lessons of zamindari as well as administrative inputs. Meanwhile, Lokkhikanto grew up and joined the administration at Jessore and proved a powerful and able administrator. It is generally agreed that Pratapaditya murdered his uncle near Budge Budge to claim himself independent.[6][7] Disheartened and aggrieved, Lakshmikanta resigned from the royal service and returned to Kalighat, his birthplace.[5][6]

Alliance and campaigns against Mughals Edit
Among the Bengal zamindars, Pratapaditya was the first to send his envoy to the Mughal subahdar Islam Khan to win the favour of the Mughals. He sent his envoy Shaykh Badi and his youngest son Sangramaditya with a large gift to the Subahdar in 1608. The prince was left behind as a hostage on the agreement that Pratapaditya would personally attend on the subahdar at Alaipur. Accordingly, Pratapaditya met the Subahdar in 1609 on the bank of the Atrai and tendered personal submission.[2]

Pratapaditya agreed that immediately after his return to his kingdom, he should send 400 war-boats with his youngest son Sangramaditya to join the imperial fleet under Ihtimam Khan, and that he himself should proceed along the river Arial Khan with 20,000 paiks, 1000 cavalry, and 100 war-boats, to attack Musa Khan's possessions in Sripur[9] and Vikramapura, a pledge that he did not keep. To punish Pratapaditya for his disloyalty as a vassal and to subjugate his territory Islam Khan made preparation for an expedition. Having realized an impending attack Pratapaditya hastened to make amends for his folly and sent his son Sangramaditya with 80 war-boats to Islam Khan. But Islam Khan took up a stern attitude and decided to punish him by conquering his kingdom. He ordered the war-boats sent by the Raja to be destroyed.

Contemporary sources like the Baharistan-i-Ghaibi, travelogues of Abdul Latif and other Europeans testify to the personal ability of Pratapaditya, his political pre-eminence, material resources and martial strength. When Mughal emperor Jahangir, learned that Pratapaditya murdered his uncle Basanta Ray and declared himself as an independent ruler of Bengal, he sent Raja Man Singh with an army to keep Bengal under control.[7] Descendants of Lakshmikanta claim that Raja Man Singh revered Basanta Ray greatly and after defeating Pratapaditya, he met his guru's son, Lakshmikanta.[8]