The historic duel between Isa Khan and Raja Man Singh

In 1596, the duel between Raja Man Singh, commander-in-chief of the Mughal, and Isa Khan, chieftain of the Baro Bhuiyans (Twelve landlords), took place. This war happened at the confluence of the Brahmaputra River and Shitalakshya River, at the present-day Tangar village located at the southernmost edge of the Gafargaon Upazila in Mymensingh district. At that time, Raja Man Singh’s capital, Tok Nogori, was on the East side of the Shitalakshya River. It is located in the north-east of Kapasia Upazila in Gazipur district. In 1595, Raja Man Singh moved his capital from Rajasthan to Tok Nogori. Tangabo village and Tok Nogori were on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River, at the confluence of the Brahmaputra and Shitalakshya rivers. On the other side of the Brahmaputra River was Isa Khan’s famous Egarosindur fort.

Image Source

According to history, Raja Man Singh attacked the Egarosindur fort in the absence of Isa Khan. On receiving the news, Isa Khan rushed to the fort to save it. But Raja Man Singh’s soldiers were so tired that they expressed their unwillingness to get into the war. As a result, Isa Khan invited Raja Man Singh in a duel. Raja Man Singh agreed to the proposal. It was decided that whoever would win the duel would take the possession of the kingdom. Man Singh at first deceived in the duel. He first sent his son-in-law, who is stronger than him, in the battle-field. Mistaking him as Man Singh, Isa Khan got engaged with him in a duel. For that reason, Man Singh’s son-in-law died at the hands of Isa Khan. Then Man Singh, revealing his own identity, invited Isa Khan in the duel again. This time Man Singh himself was also defeated.

At one stage of the fight, Man Singh’s sword was broken. If Isa Khan was coward, he could have killed Man Singh then. But instead he gave his own sword to Man Singh without causing any harm to him. But Man Singh did not accept the sword. Then Isa Khan, descending from his horse, and being unarmed, proposed Man Singh to wrestle with him. But Man Singh did not accept it and embraced him. Being impressed by Isa Khan’s courage and greatness, he made friendship with him. When Man Singh took Isa Khan to the court of Emperor Akbar, he appointed Isa Khan as the ruler of 22 parganas and he was sent back to his homeland upon being conferred the title “Masnad-E-Ala”.

Isa Khan’s father was a Hindu. His name was Kalidas. During the reign of Husain Shah, Kalidas converted his religion to Islam. Thus Isa Khan was a Muslim. Whether he was a Hindu or Muslim, his heroism will always be considered as the bravery of a Bengali landlord. The Mughal rulers could not occupy the Bengal territory as long as Isa Khan was alive. However, after the death of this great ruler, Bengal also lost its glory as an independent nation as they came under the rule of the Mughal Empire.