Tripura was one of the princely states under British India. After the death of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya on 17 May 1947, his minor son Kirit Bikram became the Maharaja of Tripura council of Regency was formed under the presidentship of Maharani Kanchanprabha Devi (widow of Bir Bikram Manikya) to run the administration of the state also Three non-official ministers were selected who were to be associated with the chief minister and his official colleagues.
Inspite of promises for a better constitutional reforms and almost equal position given to the non-official ministers, the council under regency of the Maharani could not satisfy her people, who were demanding a fully responsible government
Within few months of Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya’s death, a conspiracy
was plotted for annexing Tripura with Pakistan. It is believed that the plan of
annexation was known to the Bengal Boundary Commission. The conspiracy was
plotted specially after Chittagong hill tract, Chaklaroshnabad, Sylhet district had
gone to Pakistan leaving Tripura isolated and cut off from the mainland
Besides of all that reports from East Pakistan(Bangladesh) began to come in that Ansar Bahini was getting ready to attack Tripura. In view of considerable reduction in the palace guards, the threat
was one to be reckoned with. Also, there was no force of the India Government present in the state at that time.
Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya dies a sudden death. It was at that time that Durjay Kishore formed an organization, Bir Bikram Tripura Sangha. Though its objectives were related to social reform and service, it nursed an anti-Bengalee feeling at heart. The Sangha had its militant wing styled in local dialect as ‘Seng-Krak’ (at that time translated as beheading at one blow). It was Seng- Krak through which the cult first appeared in Tripura. It was the symbol of that cult which always tried to encourage violent clashes between the tribals and the Bengalis in Tripura. The Seng-Krak began to incite the tribal people through the propaganda that the Bengali refugees had grabbed Tripura State.The Muslims and the Tribals in Tripura had no means to survive other than supporting the move for merger of Tripura with Pakistan.Big rallies of the Muslim National Guards or Ansar Bahini began to take place at various places in East Pakistan bordering Tripura. A big Muslim rally was
also organized at the very heart of Agartala. The prevailing situation was very alarming
for the Indian Government
A detailed report on the situation of Tripura was communicated to the then
Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Umeshlal Singha, Secretary, Tripura State
Congress Committee rushed to S.M. Ghosh, President of the Bengal Provincial
Congress Committee, for advice. S.M. Ghosh sent Umeshlal Singha and two other
Congress workers of Tripura to Vallabhbhai Patel on 29 October 1947 where in a
letter he explained the situation of Tripura. In the reply to the letter of S.M. Ghosh,
Sardar Patel assured him that all possible action would be taken.
As a result of the resistance movement and some actions being taken by the
Government of India, the Anjuman Islamia and other pro-Pakistani elements sensing
danger, ultimately retreated. Thus, a chapter of conspiracy for annexing Tripura to
Pakistan came to an end.From the official correspondence between Sardar Patel and Nehru mentioned earlier in this discussion it is clear that the government of India responded immediately by sending men and material to put end to the inimical external inroads and influences.Now the council of Regency was dissolved according to the advice of the India Government and Maharani Kanchanprava Devi became sole Regent on 12th January.The Government of India decided to remove S.V. Mukherjee from his office and accordingly he was asked to resign. His resignation was accepted on 27 November 1947.
During her regency, the Maharani made a proclamation on November 11,
1947, reiterating the decision of the Late Maharaja by saying that Tripura State had
joined the Indian Union before 15 August, 1947.thus, Tripura became one of the 657 princely states of India when Maharani Kanchan Prabha Devi signed the Instrument of Accession on 13 August, 1947 on behalf of her minor son Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya. Princely Tripura was integrated with the union on 15 October, 1949 and a Chief Commissioner took over from the
Regent Maharani and in 1950 Tripura was given the status of a part C state.
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