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The Manikya dynasty, one of the longest-ruling royal dynasties of India, ruled over the princely state of:
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Answer: Option D — Tripura
Detailed Solution
The Manikya dynasty ruled over the kingdom (later princely state) of Tripura, in north-east India, for several centuries, until the state joined India in 1949.
About the Manikya dynasty:
- According to the "Rajmala", the royal chronicle of Tripura written in Bengali, the dynasty traces its origin to ancient times.
- Historically, the title "Manikya" was first adopted by Ratna Manikya (Ratna Fa) in the 15th century, after he received it from the Sultan of Bengal, according to tradition.
- Dhanya Manikya (late 15th-early 16th century) was a powerful ruler who expanded the kingdom.
- The dynasty ruled for about 500 years under the Manikya title.
Later history:
- In the 18th century, Tripura came under Mughal influence; later, its plains area (Chakla Roshnabad) came under the British.
- The hill kingdom of Tripura remained a princely state under British protection.
- Maharaja Bir Chandra Manikya (19th century) was a patron of art and literature, and a friend of Rabindranath Tagore.
- Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya built the Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala (1901).
- Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya was a modernising ruler who founded the Agartala airport and promoted education.
- After his death in 1947, his widow, Maharani Kanchan Prabha Devi, as regent, signed the merger agreement with India.
- Tripura merged with India in October 1949, became a Union Territory in 1956, and a full state in 1972.
Tagore and Tripura:
Rabindranath Tagore visited Tripura several times and had close relations with the royal family; his play "Visarjan" and novel "Rajarshi" are based on stories of the Tripura kings.
About the Ujjayanta Palace:
It is in Agartala, and now houses the Tripura State Museum.
About Tripura:
- It is a state in north-east India, bordered by Bangladesh on three sides.
- Its capital is Agartala.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Manipur was ruled by the Ningthouja dynasty.
- ✗Cooch Behar was ruled by the Koch dynasty.
- ✗Sikkim was ruled by the Namgyal (Chogyal) dynasty.
Quick tip
Remember: Manikya dynasty = Tripura (Rajmala chronicle; Ujjayanta Palace, Agartala, 1901; merged with India in 1949); Sikkim = Namgyal; Cooch Behar = Koch.
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Indian States & Union Territories — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Indian States & Union Territories, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers state-wise GK for India: capitals, formation dates, high courts, state animals, birds and flowers, famous places, and the culture, dances and festivals that identify each state and union territory. Questions commonly ask about the newest state or union territory, the state formed on a particular date, the capitals of states, and which high court serves more than one state. Keep a single table per state with its capital, formation year and key facts. Reorganisations such as that of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 change the answers, so make sure your notes are up to date. Practise the Indian states and union territories questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.