Raja Sitaram Ray () (1658–1714) was an autonomous king, a vassal to the Mughal Empire, who revolted against the empire and established a short-lived sovereign Hindu dominion in Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent.
Early life
Childhood
Sitaram was born in Rarh Bengal in the family of Uttar Rarhiya Das Kayastha, who originally came from Gaud Banga (later known as Murshidabad). His father was Udaynarayan, a landlord and Tehsildar under the Faujdar of Bhusna and mother, Dayamayi. When Mir Jumla transferred the capital back to Dhaka in 1660, Udaynarayan also moved to Dhaka. At that time, he did not bring his family with him. It is said that when Udaynarayan was away a pathan dacoit had attacked his house. Dayamayi fought with the pathan with her sword, killing him and her extreme dexterity with the sword won the admiration of all. Shaista Khan became the governor of Bengal in 1664. At that time, Udaynarayan rose to the post of tehsildar and shifted to Bhusna. After a few years, he built a residence at Hariharanagar near the banks of Madhumati and brought his family there.
Sitaram spent his childhood at his maternal uncle's home at Katwa. At school, he learned Sanskrit and, though Bengali was not taught at the chatuspathis, he studied it at home. He could recite Chandidas and Jaydev, and had very good handwriting. As he began to grow up, he had to learn Persian, the official language of the Mughal Empire. Later, when he arrived at Bhusna, he picked up Urdu, during interactions with the Muslims. In his childhood, he also learned how to wield a lathi, and learned horse riding and fencing after arriving at Hariharanagar.
Early adulthood
While he was growing up, Sitaram used to frequent Dhaka, the provincial capital of Bengal. Shaista Khan was very impressed with his courage and work. At that time, a Pathan rebel named Karim Khan was wreaking havoc in the pargana of Satair. The Mughal faujdar had failed to suppress him and Shaista Khan wondered how to crush the rebellion. When Sitaram came forward to subdue the rebel, the governor sent him on the mission with a few thousand infantry and cavalry. Sitaram fought valiantly and Karim Khan was killed. Shaista Khan, very impressed with the success, rewarded Sitaram with the jagir of Naldi pargana.
Career
Reign as jagirdar
After obtaining the jagir, Sitaram concentrated on building an army. At Dhaka, he became acquainted with a soldier of fortune named Ramrup Ghosh, who accompanied him on the mission against Karim Khan. Ramrup was not only a great soldier, but also an accomplished strongman, well versed in wrestling. He was popularly known as Mena Hati, for he had killed a small elephant with his bare hands. Ramrup became the chief of Sitaram's army. Two other generals were Rupchand Dhali and Fakira Machhkata. Bakhtar Khan, a Pathan dacoit, and Amal Baig, a Mughal soldier, also joined his ranks.
After the death of Shah Jahan, the Mughal battle for succession left the province in turmoil. Lawlessness was rampant. Naldi was infested with dacoits and Sitaram had overcome them in order to restore order to the troubled pargana. Soon, the dacoity was suppressed and Sitaram became the saviour of the masses, after which he began to be compared to the village deity Nishanath.
Sitaram built his residence in the village of Suryakunda, where the erstwhile revenue office was also located. Garrisons were set up both at Suryakunda and Hariharanagar. His father was still stationed at Bhusna and he visited him regularly. At this time, he added some talukas of Satair to his jagir.
Around 1684, Sitaram's parents died in quick succession. After the sraddha, he went on a pilgrimage to Gaya. His secretary, Muniram Ray, and principal aide, Ramrup Ghosh, accompanied him. The affairs of the jagir were entrusted to his younger brother Lakshmi Narayan. After completing the ceremonial rites at Gaya, he travelled to the Mughal court at Delhi and made a plea for vassal rule under the empire. In 1688, he was granted the title of Raja and additionally granted the right of Southern Bengal extending into the Sunderbans.
Reign as monarch
In the same year, Sitaram was ceremonially sworn in as the king of Naldi, Satair and the Bhati region of lower Bengal. Although he had become a king, he had no capital. Therefore, he constructed a fortified capital at Mohammadpur, near Suryakunda.