ALIPURDUAR, BENGAL

After the Anglo-Bhutan War (1864–1865), the British annexed the region known as the Western Dooars. Following the war with Bhutan, the British formalized their control over these "Duars."


The first part of the name, "Ali," refers to Colonel Hedayat Ali, who served as the first Extra Assistant Commissioner of the district during the British administration. Colonel Ali was a key figure in establishing the administrative headquarters in the area. The settlement that grew around his camp was named "Alipur" in his honor.

The suffix "Duar" (meaning "door" or "gateway" in Bengali, Assamese, and Hindi) refers to the region's geographical position.

The area consists of several "duars"(Dooars) or mountain passes that serve as the entrance from the plains of India into the foothills of the Himalayas and the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Historically, there were 18 such gateways (11 on the Bengal side and 7 on the Assam side). Alipurduar specifically sits at the entrance to some of the most critical passes for trade and military movement.

Colonel Hedayat Ali was a significant, though often overlooked, military and administrative figure in 19th-century British India. His career is a rare example of an Indian officer rising to high prominence within the British military hierarchy during the colonial era.

In recognition of his service and tactical skill, he was promoted through the ranks, eventually achieving the rank of Colonel (a rare feat for an Indian at the time) and was awarded the Khan Bahadur title.

Colonel Hedayat Ali was born in the Dinapore (Danapur) region near Patna, in present-day Bihar. Ali was primarily associated with the 45th Rattray's Sikhs (originally known as the Bengal Military Police Battalion) of the Bengal Presidency Army.

Lieutenant Colonel Khan Bahadur Sheikh Hedayat Ali, Sirdar Bahadur, CIE, OBI, IOM. He was the first Indian career army officer who reached the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel in the British Indian army.

45th Rattray's Sikhs was originally raised in 1856 and today is the 3rd Battalion, The Sikh Regiment (Rattray’s) (3 Sikh) of Indian Army.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE POLITICS OVER BORDER FENCING

  When Modi sarkar came into office in 2014, 1. Roughly 1,520 km of the total 2,216.7 km border was already fenced in West Bengal. All of it by UPA-I and UPA-II under Dr Manmohan Singh. 2. By August 2025, Modi sarkar managed to fence only 127km in 12 years. 3. Pending (Feasible): 456.2 km 4. Non-Feasible/Unfenceable: 112.8 km (Rivers/Swamps/Sundarbans mangroves etc) For 12 years Modi and Shah have been screaming Ghuspethiya because they failed to fence a mere 456 kms while past govts, UPA-I and UPA-II under Dr Manmohan Singh, since the year 2000 managed to complete 1,520 km of the total 2,216.7 km border in Bengal and also the rest of the Indo-Bangla border stretching across 4,096.7 km Nobody asked when over 3,232 km is already fenced and sealed, what prevented BSF from sealing a mere 456.2 km by physical control and patrolling? Border sealing in any case is the primary responsibility of the BSF. Suvendu Adhikar says that BSF will be provided land within 45 days for border fencing ...
Read more
Image
  CROSSING "THE THIN RED LINE" The "Thin Red Line" often means the final boundary or division between order and chaos, or between good and evil. It is also used to denote a limit beyond which someone must not go without facing severe consequences. It suggests the idea of a physical boundary marking the limits between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. The expression is part of the English language vocabulary. However, there is a military origin to this phrase which goes back to the British Crimean War, particularly the Balaklava Campaign. Though the Balaklava Campaign became infamous for one of the most infamous blunders in military history, the Charge of the Light Brigade, made immortal by Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell. They that had fought so well Came through the jaws of Death, Back from the mouth of h...
Read more
Image
  ঢেমনা, ঢ্যামনা(ḍhēmanā, ḍhyāmanā) In Bengali this word commonly is used as a slang to denote an idiot, Someone is very bad and ugly, lewd or illegitimate. Oft used when there is a verbal fight and one is trying to insult the other person In reality, ঢেমনা, ঢ্যামনা is the non poisonous Oriental rat snake মাকাল(Makal) Common Bengali slang used as an insult to denote a person completely bereft of any good qualities, useless fellow etc In reality Makal is a type of fruit, specifically the bitter snake gourd (Trichosanthes bracteata). Bitter Snake Gourd is valued for its ornamental flowers and unique fruit used in traditional medicine and as a vegetable in some cultures, although the fruit is very bitter. The fruit of bitter snake gourd, is considered poisonous. It contains toxic compounds like cucurbitacins, which can cause gastrointestinal issues if ingested. While the plant is used in traditional medicine, caution is advised due to its toxicity. বুড়ো ভাম বুড়ো ভাম(Buro Bham) in Be...
Read more