Madan Rai was the penultimate chief minister of medieval Sylhet's

Gour Kingdom The Kingdom of Gour was one of the greater of the many petty kingdoms of the medieval Sylhet region. According to legend, it was founded by Gurak, off-shooting from Kamarupa's Jaintia Kingdom in 630. Much of its early history is considered leg ...

. He was described to have been very sharp and "shrewd".

Office

Appointed as Chief Minister of Gour, Madan Rai was stationed on a hillock (now known as Mona Rai's Tilla) near the port for ease in tax collection and civil duties. The long-lasted conflict between

and Brahmachal, ruled by Raja Upananda, continued to trouble the land. Govardhan appointed Madan Rai to somehow find a way to lure Upananda's general, Amar Singh, in order to use him in infiltrating Brahmachal. Govardhan and Madan Rai then made an agreement with Govardhan's general Virabhadra to give his daughter, Chandra Kala, in marriage to Singh. Despite protests, the marriage was successful and Singh maintained a good relationship with General Virabhadra. Singh was able to persuade the Kuki Chiefs, the border guards for the

Tripura Kingdom The Twipra Kingdom (Sanskrit: Tripura, Anglicized: Tippera) was one of the largest historical kingdoms of the Tripuri people in Northeast India. Geography The present political areas which were part of the Twipra Kingdom are: * Barak Valley ...

just south of Brahmachal into raiding Raja Upananda's palace in the dead of the night. The plan was successful; the Kukis massacred most of the palace's inmates. A battle emerged leading to the death of Raja Upananda. General Amar Singh took over Brahmachal for a short while before also being killed. Eventually, the Kuki Chiefs managed to annex Brahmachal (centred in modern-day Baramchal in

Kulaura Kulaura ( bn, কুলাউড়া) is the biggest upazila (subdistrict) of the Moulvibazar District in north-eastern Bangladesh. The total area of this upazila is 545 km2. Hakaluki Haor, the largest marsh wetland in Sylhet and one of the ...

) to the King of Tripura and Govardhan sent

Jaidev Rai Jaidev Rai ( bn, জয়দেব রায়, Joydeb Ray) was the Governor of Brahmachal under the Twipra Kingdom. Life Jaidev Rai was a son of the minister of Brahmachal - a kingdom in southern Sylhet ruled by Raja Upananda. The long-lasted ...

, son of Upananda's minister, to be a feudal ruler under the Tripuras. His office ended in 1260 with the death of

Raja Govardhan Gangadhwaj Govardhan was the 20th king of medieval Sylhet region, Sylhet's Gour Kingdom. Reign Govardhan rose to power following the death of his father, Gouradhwaj Bhabananda. During this period, Raja Upananda was the King of Brahmachal (South ...

and ascension of Raja

Gour Govinda Govinda Fenchu ( bn, গোবিন্দ ফেঞ্চু), better known by his regnal title Gour Gobind ( bn, গৌড় গোবিন্দ) and also known by the sobriquet Shomudro Tonoy ( bn, সমুদ্র তনয়), was the ...

to the throne. Govinda appointed

Mona Rai Manoranjan Rai, or more commonly known as Mona Rai was the final chief minister of medieval Sylhet's Gour Kingdom. He is most known for being named after the highest hill in Sylhet city. Office His office began in 1260 with ascension of Raja Gou ...

as his minister, dismissing Madan Rai.

References

Rulers of Sylhet 13th-century Indian people 13th-century rulers in Asia Indian Hindus {{India-bio-stub