Silli

Origins and Establishment

The history of the Silli Zamindari is intricately connected with the eastward migration of the Ujjainia Parmar Rajputs following the decline of the Paramara authority in Malwa during the late medieval period. Moving towards eastern India, groups of Parmar warriors found patronage under the Nagvanshi dynasty, the paramount rulers of Chota Nagpur headquartered historically at centers such as Khukhragarh and later Ratu.

According to regional historical traditions, the tract of Silli was originally held by a local chief named Chatur Sai. Owing to disputes and disaffection caused by his oppressive rule, the Nagvanshi ruler dispatched an armed contingent led by the Ujjainia Parmar chiefs to restore order. Chatur Sai was defeated and killed in the ensuing conflict, after which the Nagvanshi Maharaja granted the estate (zamindari) of Silli to the victorious Parmar leaders as a hereditary fief, integrating it into the administrative fold of the Panch Pargana region of Chota Nagpur.

The Legend of the Atharah Kunwar and Aasman Singh

During the 15^th century, Silli witnessed a significant internal succession crisis. The then Zamindar had eighteen sons, collectively remembered in local folklore as the Atharah Kunwar (Eighteen Princes). Following the ruler's death, his eldest son by his senior queen, Gopal Singh, succeeded to the gaddi. This arrangement provoked strong discontent from Bholanath Singh, the eldest son from the second queen.

Driven by ambition, Bholanath Singh initiated a violent coup, assassinating Gopal Singh along with several brothers to usurp power over the estate. The youngest among the eighteen princes, Kunwar Binand Singh—who went on to achieve renowned fame as a regional poet—managed to intervene and escort Gopal Singh's pregnant wife to safety in the nearby tribal enclave of Chatambari. Shielded and sheltered by indigenous tribal leaders, she gave birth to a son named Aasman Singh.

Young Aasman Singh was trained in martial arts and warfare by his mother and the allied tribal elders. Upon learning of his royal lineage and the fate of his father, Aasman Singh organized a counter-offensive with the military backing of the local tribal population. He defeated Bholanath Singh, reclaimed the estate, and was duly recognized as the rightful Zamindar of Silli.

Literary and Cultural Contributions

Beyond regional politics, the Silli ruling family is celebrated for its deep cultural patronage. Kunwar Binand Singh stands as one of the pioneering figures of early Panchpargania and Nagpuri devotional literature. His Vaishnavite poetry and folk compositions, venerating Radha and Krishna, became foundational to the folk performing arts and musical heritage of the Subarnarekha valley.

Colonial Era and Agrarian Upheavals

With the grant of the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the British East India Company in 1765, the Panch Parganas—comprising Silli, Tamar, Bundu, Baranda, and Rahe—came under increasing colonial oversight. The British categorized the Zamindar of Silli as a subordinate proprietor under the Maharaja of Chota Nagpur.

The imposition of new revenue demands, external moneylending networks, and changes in tenure rights frequently brought the region into instability. Like its neighboring estates in modern Ranchi district, Silli was affected by periodic agrarian unrest and the broader tribal uprisings that occurred across Chota Nagpur in the 19^th century, culminating in legal reforms such as the Chota Nagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act of 1908 to safeguard tribal land rights.

Post-Independence and Modern Status

Following India's independence, the proprietary rights of the Silli Zamindari were formally abolished under the Bihar Land Reforms Act of 1950. The estate's lands were transferred into the state revenue system, bringing an end to feudal administration.

Today, Silli forms an important administrative block and assembly constituency within the Ranchi district of Jharkhand, where the legacy of its Parmar rulers and the literary works of poet-prince Binand Singh continue to be commemorated in local folklore and cultural festivals.