Kalindi

Rani Kalindi (died 1873) was the 46th and last independent ruler of the Chakma Circle. She was only female ruler of the Chakma people.

Early life She was born in the village of Kudukchari near the Rangamati-Khagrachari highway in present-day Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh and was the daughter of a former dewan Gujan Chakma of the Kurakutya Goza. She delivered troops that mutinied while stationed in Chittagong in 1857. Following the annexation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in 1860, Kalindi Rani resisted colonial integration. Captain Thomas Herbert Lewin was assigned to control the hill tracts and bring them into the influence of the British crown. Despite this, Kalindi Rani did not acquiesce to cooperate with Lewin. She consistently attempted to discredit Lewin's career by petitioning his superiors in Calcutta and employing Bengali lawyers and advisors. She strengthened the Durbar of chiefs over the aristocracy (dewans) and created ties with Bengal. Kalindi was also alleged to have attempted an assassination on Lewin. To prevent Kalindi from taking taxes from Chakma subjects under the territory of the Mong Raja, Lewin proposed creating revenue divisions of territories where the chiefs could extract taxation rights.

She supported the British Raj in its war against Lushais people during Lushai Expedition. Lewin requested Kalindi Rani and her grandson aid in the expedition. However the 500 Chakma volunteers withdrew their cooperation. The government appealed to Kalindi Rani despite her feud with Lewin. Her grandson Harish Chandra interceded and persuaded the Chakma volunteers to assist Lewin. Following this Lewin realized Harish Chandra's cooperation and requested him to depose Kalindi Rani but he refused to do so.

To reduce the power and influence of the Kalindi Rani, Lewin created two circles for the Chakma territory: the northern Chakma territory and the Bomang circle of the South. The British justified the policy by arguing that Kalindi Rani lived too far away from her districts for effective control. At the time, the Chakma seat was at Rajnagar in Rangunia and Kalindi rules via her dewans with no issues. The British falsely accused her of ineffective control of the northern territories and bifurcated her kingdom without consultation. The Chakma dewans and petty settlements were handed to Keoja Sein, a subject of Kalindi Rani. Kalinid attempted to challenge the decision to higher authorities but received no aid. This policy weakened Kalindi Rani and distributed significant power to Keoja Sein, whom the British preferred for his assistance in the Raban Expedition against Rothangpuia, which Kalindi did not aid.

Death She died in 1873, leaving her step-grandson Harish Chandra to be the next Chakma Raja in her place.