The Sunderban region
was once, even in near past, thought to be of lesser Importance in
archaeological viewpoint. James Ferguson, the eminent geologist in British
India was of opinion that any “swathe of land in between The Ganges, The
Bhagirathi and The Padma was nonexistent in about 5000 years ago.” Kanongopal
Bagchi in pre independence era and Edwin. H. Pascoe in sixties of the last
century also suggested that the lower Gangetic alluvial plain was not at all
inhabitable land back in 3000 years. But the fact is that numerous ancient archaeological remains and artefacts
were unearthed from different parts of the Sunderban area during the last
century. All these perchance discoveries have proved that the Archieaological
conjecture about this delta region are mostly misplaced.
(Sundarban Pratna Sangrahasala, Gobordhanpur)
The early opinions
was challenged for the first time when historian Kalidas Dutta first
established the antiquity of the Sunderban region. His contemporary historian
Satish Chandra Mitra coeval with Dutta, also did research- work on the area
albeit mainly of Eastern Bengal. In later years, Paresh chandra Dasgupta, H. D.
Sankalia viz. were still reluctant to acknowledge that antiquity. But, with the
passage of time, they were rather bound to refresh their earlier views and
admitted the existence of developed urban
infrastruicture in the past much remote than the era as suggested by the
prevailing notion.
(Sundarban Pratna Sangrahasala, Gobordhanpur)
Of course, William
Willcock admitted that, once upon a time, planned dwelling places were in
existence in south 24 Parganas ( Ancient system of irrigation in Bengal ). R.
G. Oldham in his “Treaties of Geology of India
: Stratigraphical and structural
geology “ stated that in his geological survey in this region, he found thick stratum of pebbles and conglomerated sand.
These findings, he indicated, proved
that this land was scarred with
small stone hills in the ancient past which disappeared later due to land subsidence.
(Sundarban Pratna Sangrahasala, Gobordhanpur)
The Sunderban
witnessed so many evolutionary ups and downs owing to natural causes like receding sea water level,
changes of courses of the rivers and huge amount of alluvial deposition during
the past 4000 years.. As a matter of fact, the southern Bengal including the
Sunderban had been affected with so many serious earthquakes of different
scale, land subsidence, tsunamis, furious cyclones and deadly floods from circa
2000 years or more to last 500 years. One may even keep aside ancient past and
wonder at the documentary evidence which shows that the landforms and
environment of the region had undergone see changes in last 500 years :. More
than 65
huge cyclones, 5 very deadly earthquakes and at least 12 heavy floods were recorded in documents( from
1852 AD). Notably, in recent past a furious cyclone reminiscent of a deadly tsunami which swept over this
area way back in 1737 AD had brought disastrous changes in geographical map of
Southern bengal including Kolkata. These types of natural disasters sank the
relics of earlier civilisations more than once under soil. This is the cause
for which we find various ruined ancient structures and relics of pre Mauriyan,
Mauriyan, Shunga, Kushan, Gupta or,Pala-Sena ages in Sunderbans of both the
parts of the divided bengal.
Dhanchi Vanadevi, North Surendranagar, Gobardhanpur
Dhanchi Vanadevi,
North Surendranagar, Gobardhanpur and its surroundings of Pathar pratima Island
house archaeological treasure trove on its shores. Commonfolks of these areas
are dependent mainly on fishing. Two fishermen, the Sahu brothers ( Bishwajit
Sahu and Bimal Sahu ) came across huge artefacts while engaged in their
profession. They were not at all concerned early with archaeological
characteristics of the materials. Yet they somehow at least managed to percept
that, the materials they collected might be very old age and had historical
importance. They collected over 15000 artefacts dated from 3 BC. to 3 AD in their forty years long effort. Their collection
includes large number of animal figures like ram, bull, buffalo, deer, bird,
fossilised bones, stone beads, huge
terracotta pot shards and terracotta
figurine, believed to be that of Mother Goddess.
Dhanchi Vanadevi, North Surendranagar, Gobardhanpur
A terracotta seal,
inscribed with Brahmi scripts of fourth century AD. has been found from this
region. The seal has the word ' Saketnagar ' inscribed on it and it may be the
ancient name of present Dhanchi .
According to the eminent epigraphist and ancient numismatist Suresh
chandra Bhattacharya, Saket was a man of moneyed class or might be a reputed
merchant. The seal, it has been inferred, was made in between third century CE
to early fourth century CE.
Dhanchi Vanadevi, North Surendranagar, Gobardhanpur
This area of South
twenty four parganas with close proximity of the Bay of Bengal, had once been a
rich habitat from third century BC. Recent archaeological findings from the
area indicate that, there existed regular civilised society even a thousand
years ago. Amal Ray Pradhan, the Joint Director of the State Archeology
Department stated that the relics of continuous occupational habitats from
third century BC. to the Pala age are found in that area. Ancient trade
emporium might possibly be situated here. Archaeologists are of the openion
that this habitat had overseas commercial connection with the trade centres of
Arakan , South East Asia and Eastern Indian coast. North - Central Indian towns
were its hinterlands through river navigation.
Rupendra Kumar
Chattapadhayay , the professor of Archaeology of the Kolkata University
surveyed earlier in this area. He stated, this area, beyond question, was very
rich habitat in early and medieval age. There might be a port town also. There
is hardly any doubt of prevailing prolonged direct connection among this area, the outer world and inland
trade system from circa third century
BC. to tenth century AD. The port Tamralipta was also linked certainly to this
coastal trade centre.
Archaeologists
hypothises on the historical link for some coins found from this area. A coin having inscription of a standing king,
bow and arrow in hand, has been found with the letter “S” ( ' স ') is inscribed beside and one female deity is on the reverse
side. Susmita Basu Mazumder, the professor of the department of Ancient India
History and Culture of the Kolkata University
thinks, that the coin belonged to Samatata. One side of the coin is
adhering to the Gupta tradition and
other is in conformity with the Kushan tradition. The coin proves direct
linkage between present South East Bangladesh and this area of the Sunderban.
She informs that, the ox mounted ( Vrishavahana ) on coin is contemporary to
Sasanka.The basalt stone used to make
(Now broken) image of Vishnu, once found from here was believed to be brought
from Rajmahal via river route. Domestic utensils were also unearthed from here.
Ancient ruins of
religious shrines at Mandirtala, extinct shrines at Banashysmmnagar,ruins of
twin shrines at Deulbari in Kulti, extinct Buddhist vihars of
Haroa, Harinarayanpur, Nalgora, Kankanadighi, Jain traditional relics etc, are
indications of rich trade and traders community and there rich composite
religious cultures in this region. Various remnants of religious sites still to
be noticed here bear testimony of the impetus offered through financial
enterprises and other endeavors of the merchant communities. So many relics,
images, coins, architectural remains found near Jater Deul and its vicinity
corroborates the fact. Tamralipta and Chandraketugarh as chief commercial nerve
centers and ports might be then considered the steering forces of economy of
Bengal.
Research: Santanu Roy
and Mr.Kalyan Chakraborty.
Photography: Santanu
Roy.
Sources :
1. "Ancient system of irrigation in Bengal"- William Wilcock.
2. "Geology of India: Stratigraphical and structural geology" -R.G.Oldham.
3.https://frontline.thehindu.com/arts-and-culture/heritage/settlement-of- history/article5486821.ece
4.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/civilisation-in-sunderbans-traced-to-mauryan-era/articleshow/53483794.cms
5. https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/meet-biswajit-sahu-a-fisherman-at-day-and-an-archaeologist-by-night-118120701156_1.ht
6.https://eisamay.com/west-bengal-news/civilisation-in-sunderbans-traced-to-mauryan-era/articleshow/53486187.cms
7. “Archaeology of South Twenty Four Parganas” : -Kallol
Das Gupta.
8. “Archaeological Discovery in Bengal”- Paresh Chandra
Dasgupta.
9. “West Bengal District Gazetters 24 Parganas.” - Barun
De.
10. “Varendra Research Society’s Monographs (No.4 &
5)"–Kalidas Dutta.Varendra Research Society (Rajsahi-1930)
11. “ The Ganges Delta” – KanangopalBagchi.
12. lastly, we are very much grateful to Mr. Amitava Gupta, Mr. Debi Sankar Mirdha, and Mr. Suvendu Bhattacharjee, without their cordial help and co-operation we could not proceed to develop this article.
