When was the political agent appointed in Tripura? Who was the first political agent in Tripura?

Give a brief account about the appointment of political agent in Tripura.

On 3 July 1871, he was appointed Political Agent in Tripura State.

 The first political agent of Tripura was A. W. B. Power (A.W.B.POWER).

 The intentions of the sovereign British Government were usually communicated to the native royal class in the name of good governance, through the Political Agent in the form of 'Advice'. In fact, the Political Agent kept a watchful eye on various aspects of British imperial interests in certain native states. Political Agent's Responsibilities and Duties :- During the British period in India, it was considered the responsibility and duty of the British Resident or Political Agent appointed in that state to keep the central British authorities informed about the flow of events in the native state. And it was considered the responsibility of the Political Agent to implement the intended reforms and other functions of the British Government in the native states.

Reasons for the appointment of political agents

Reasons for Appointment of Political Agent Even after the British rule in India was well established, there was no British Political Agent posted in Tripura for a long time. In the 1860s, Chittagong Divisional Commissioner C. T. Buckland, in view of the outbreak of the Lusai Kukis on the border and in the interest of border security, proposed to revoke Tripura's independence or to appoint a Political Agent. On the other hand the kings of Tripura were sometimes in conflict with the Lusai Kukis. As a result, the Kukis took revenge by killing, looting and indiscriminately burning the British frontier. But the British government had no agency to know the detailed details of these conflicts. It is therefore absolutely necessary to appoint a British military officer as Political Agent at Agartala.

Opposition to the kings of Tripura

 The opposition of the kings of Tripura in 1870, the Secretary of the then Government of Bengal C. Eden made demands to the Government of India emphasizing the appointment of Political Agents along with proposals to limit the powers of the Tripura state. The Raja appealed to the Government of India against the proposal to appoint a Political Agent at Agartala, saying it was against the sovereignty of the State of Tripura. But on the King's request to the Government of India, the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal said that the reason for not appointing a political agent in Tripura was - "The insignificance of Raja's territory and the obscurity of his position". There is no desire to diminish the power or interests of the kingdom but to increase the power and authority of the king.

Appointment of Political Agent

Appointment of Political Agent Eventually the British Government decided to appoint a Political Agent in Tripura to keep abreast of the internal situation in the state of Tripura and to suppress the Lusai Kuki infestation on the eastern border of the state. In October 1870 AD, the Government of India approved the proposal to appoint a Political Agent in the State of Tripura. 1871 AD: 3rd July by the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal. W. B Power (A.W.B.POWER) was appointed as the first Political Agent of Tripura State. He assumed charge at Agartala in August 1871 AD.

Instructions to the Political Agent

 Instructions to the Political Agent The Political Agent was given certain instructions from the Government of India. (1) To be properly informed about the relations of the Kukis and other tribes living on the border with the Raja of Tripura.

 (2) To restrain the King from taking any punitive action against the Kukis without sufficient cause.

 (3) To stop with special vigilance the smuggling of illegal arms through the State of Tripura.

 (4) To determine precisely the eastern boundary of the State of Tripura.

 (5) To provide for proper training of the King's Guard.

Abolition of the post of Political Agent After the satisfactory resolution of the above matter, the need to keep the Political Agent as a separate post in the capital Agartala loses importance. Therefore, in 1877 AD, the Divisional Commissioner of Chittagong proposed the abolition of the post of Political Agent in Agartala. Finally in 1878 AD the Government of India removed the Political Agent of Agartala to a separate post and appointed the District Magistrate of neighboring British Tripura as 'ex-officio' Political Agent and Umakant Das was appointed Deputy Political Agent under him. But in 1890 he left this post and joined the King's ministry. As a result, this gradually lost its importance in Agartala.

 Reappointment and Renaming 1910 AD Overriding the objection of the Raja, in the name of amicable relations, a Resident Political Agent was again appointed at Agartala and this arrangement remained in force till 1922 AD. From 15th November 1922 AD, the state of Tripura got the right to establish direct political relations with the Government of India. This system was effective till 1 December 1936 AD. At the end of 1944 AD, the Political Agency was renamed as 'Residency'.