Etymology of Cooch Behar - Historical Evidence

Historical Evidence

In the olden days a greater part of the Kamrup made up the Koch state. The state of Kamrup was made up of four Pithas. Out of that Cooch Behar was a part of Ratna Pitha. In the beginning of the 16th Century, this state emerged as a powerful kingdom. In the beginning this state was known as Pragjyotish, Lohitya, Kamrup, Kamta, etc. In Bhaskar Verma’s Tamralipi we found the name of ‘Kamrup’. In the travel logs of Hiuen Tsang and Harischaritra we also discover the name of Kamrup. In 1586 British businessman Ralph Fich have stated the name ‘Couch’. In Akbarnama we also found the name of ‘Koch’. Stephen Casilla have stated the name ‘Coch’ and the capital as ‘Biar’. In the 17th Century Von Dan Brooke’s map there is a place mentioned as ‘Ragiawerra Cosbhaar’. In one of the description by a Dutch Sailor we found the name ‘Kosbia’.

In the ‘Bishwakosh’ (Bengali for Encyclopedia) written by Nagendra Nath Bose, he stated that in the beginning the state of Cooch Behar was first stated as ‘Bihar’. Later to distinguish between Mughal occupied province of Bihar the name of the state was changed to Koch Bihar, but this theory have some doubts as well. The kings of Koch dynasty such as Biswa Singha, Nara Narayan, Pran Narayan, etc. have their title of ‘Kamteshwar’. The state of Cooch behar have been stated in various book, in different times as ‘Bihar’ or ‘Behar’ or ‘Nijo Behar’. Even in the Cooch Behar Royal Government’s letters, Notices, records, deeds, etc. we can see these names. But there are many theories or stories behind the naming of Cooch Behar.