Freedom Movements at Contai
[Continued from page 1]
.
August Movement (1942).
Background.
On 03.09.1939,England declared war on Germany and the Second World War broke out in full swing.Many,including Subhas Chandra Bose,were in favour of taking advatage of the situation and exercising utmost pressure on the British for Freedom.But Gandhiji and Nehru did not share this view.Nehru thought,"Launching a Civil Disobedience Campaign at a time when British is engaged in life and death struggle would be an act,derogatory to India's honour".Gandhiji too was of an identical view.He said,"We do not seek our indepedence out of Britan's ruin."
Individual Disobedience & Kanthi (Contai).
However, Gandhiji prescribed individual civil disobedience and the Working Committee of Congress,at its Wardha sitting,approved of Gandhiji's prescription.According to this plan,Vinoba Bhave inaugurated Individual Satyagraha'on 17.10.'1940.In a meeting of the Kanthi (Contai) Sub-divisional Congress,held at Kanthi (Contai) on 25.10.1940 and presided over by Bhima Charan Patra,Nikunja Bihari Maity proposed appropriate response to Gandhiji's call.Accordingly on 09.12.1940 Nikunja behari maity, people's representative from Kanthi (Contai ) North Assembly seat,himself courted arrest by practicing Individual Satyagraha and an imprisonment for six months,In Bhagwanpur Police Station,three leaders Bhima Charan Patra,Pitabas Das and Mrs.Dhira Das practiced individual Satyagraha.Mr. Patra was arrested and sent to jail for six months,while the other two satyagrahees were not arrested.
Flood and Role of Administration.
The river Kaliaghai,popurlarly known as Keleyghai,that originates from Badinigram in Sankrail Police Station of Jharagram Sub-division and flows down marking the border between Patashpur and Sabang police stations to assume a new name 'Haldi' after being wedded to Kangsabati, would be in spate every year and inundate a large area of Kanthi (Contai ) Sub-division.For two consecutive years,1940 and 1941,Keleyghai in its season overflowed its banks submerging a wide tract of land. Hundred of people lost their hearth and home,crops and livestock and had to live a wretched life.During this crisis,the Government,far from reciprocating the humanitarian gesture of the Congress that had withheld any major offensive,was mostly guided by a vindictive attitude doubling the misery of people.
Rescue work.
The political organizations came to the rescue of the flood-affected people.Relief-Committees were formed and the work of relief and rehabilitation was done.Naturally political activities were kept in abeyance for some time.However,the constructive work, campaigning for the symbolic activities of simple living based on cottage industry,as prescribed by Gandhiji went on.Besides,different days of national importance were observed with appropriate solemnity,creating a mass awareness and a spirit of oneness.
Conditions Leading to 'Quit –India' Movement.
Gradually India was being drawn into the vortex of the World War.Now Gandhiji realized that the immediate end of the British rule was necessary "not only in the interest of India but also for the safety of the world and for the ending of Nazism,Facism,Militarism and other forms of imperialism and the aggression of one country over another".
Cripps's Mission.
At this time,Sir Srrafford Cripps who came to India on 23rd March,1942,with a mission came out with his proposals of a sort of fractured freedom for India,indirectly supporting the demands of Muslim League for Pakistan and giving the sovereign states in India the right to remain separate.Naturally,Congress found little in them for satisfaction.
'Quit India'.
Gandhiji called the offer of Cripps, 'a post- dated cheque on a crashing bank'.On 8th August,1942,in Bombay Conference,Congress passed the 'Quit – India'proposal without any condition or rider.Gandhiji said,'We shall do or die.We shall either free India or die in the attempt".
Medinipur & Kanthi (Contai).
Gandhiji's call made ripples throughout the length and breadth of the country,caused stirs in Medinipur and inspired the people of Kanthi Sub-division to stand up almost to a man swearing to do or die.By observing 'Hartalas',meetings,group-discussions and processions,the leaders ensured mass participation in the ensuing movement.The P.S. Commitees and Branch – Committees were reorganized; eight thousand volunteers were enlisted ; in each of the 83 Unions at least one campaign –camp was set up .Kanthi (Contai ) was prepared to fight an unprecedented fight of non-violence.
People's participation.
In the meetings,processions and camps,people tured out in such a large number that the police rarely dared to make arrest or take steps.Two instances are cited here to give an idea.-
On 14.09.1942. a procession,ten thousand – strong, from six police stations of Kanthi (Contai), entered the town by eight entrance points.The doors and windows of the Govt. offices and courts were closed.The police did not dare to block the way.The authority was scared.
On 20.09.1942, a large police posse led by the Sub-divisional Police Officer and the Magistrate,Samar Sen,themselves raided a Volunteers' camp at Gopinathpur in Bhagwanpur police station.The police arrested forty volunteers,but,as they were being taken to Kanthi (Contai),such a huge crowd encompassed them at Dhantala from all sides that the policemen grew panicky and tried to open a passage by beating people right and left injuring a volunteer from Sathpur village,Byomkesh Kamila,who succumbed to his injury a week after.Unable to shake off the ring of people,though non-violent,the police first set free twenty nine volunteers,and then five more,and managed to make good their way to Kanthi with six captives,though their motor – launch and boat were destroyed by the aggrieved people.The six arrested volunteers who were,by a judgment on 13.11 '42, sent to prison for a term of one year each were –
i) Mrityunjoy Maity (Poet and Litterateur of Kunjapara)
ii) Gopal Chandra Bag (Dhanda)
iii) Surendranath Pradhan (Talda)
iv) Sudhir Chandra Parya (Jaranagar,Khejuri)
Instances of Police Firing.
In addition to innumerable cases of arrest, lathi –charge, ransacking houses in the name of searching etc., a few incidents of opening fire took place making a good number of martyrs. They are recorded here –
Mahishagote (22/09/1942) – On 20/09/1942, a police party from Kanthi arrested some Congress Workers at Pitchhaboni, but, in the teeth of loud protest made by a large number of people, they had to beat retreat releasing the arrested persons. After the police had left, the people, in apprehension of reappearance of the police with a revenge – motive, dug up a deep and wide ditch across Kanthi - Ramnagar – Digha Road at Mahishagote (Sarisaberia) 4 miles south off Kanthi town, in order to prevent the police – vehicle from entering the area. Two days later, on 22nd Sept. 1942, a police force led by the police officer and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate came there and forced the local people to repair the ditch without any payment. As people protested against working gratis, the police offered payment for the job. In the meantime, as a shower caused a break in the job and people retired to a nearby shelter, another posse of armed police from Kanthi arrived .Now, as the Magistrate was talking to the people on resuming the job, a noisy dispute arose. The Magistrate ordered lathi – charge, and when situation worsened, he ordered firing. As a result six persons attained martyrdom – two died on the spot, two on their way to the hospital, one after reaching there and one some days later.
Martyrs
Jaminikanta Kamila (Tajpur, Kanthi)
Sarbeswar Pramanik (Dakshin Sitala, Ramnagar)
Ramaprasad Jana (Ghoul, Ramnagar)
Ananta Kumar Patra ( Patapukhuria, Kanthi)
Ananta Kumar Das( Beltalia, Kanthi)
Kunjabihari Sheet (Adambarh, Kanthi)
Inhuman Treatment of the Police
That the colonial police can hardly afford to have the humanitarian aspect became evident in their treatment with the wounded. In all, twenty four people were wounded in the firing. Three of them had not the power to stand on their legs. The police dragged them over the uneven fields, getting hold of their ankles and got them onto the truck like sacks of potato. When a teenager, struck by a wounded man's cry for water, brought him some water, a policeman jabbed him with his gun. Of the wounded, four were -
i) Sudhakar Panda (Ghoul)
ii) Bankim Chandra Pradhan (Teghori)
iii) Haripada Sasmal (Kalindi)
iv) Basanta Kumar Das (Chandanpur)
Belboni (27/09/1942)
Two of those killed at Mahishagote firing, Sarbeswar Pramanik and Ramaprasad Jana, belonged to Ramnagar Police Station. On 27/09/1942, those two local martyrs were being commemorated before the Belboni Camp under the leadership of Balailal Das Mahapatra, the commander – in –chief of the war council.
While the meeting was continuing,a police party appeared there.With the appearance of the police,the whole atmosphere of the area was charged with tension.Conch – shells were blown from house to house,village to village.People from villages ran pell-mell towards the camp in apprehension of some impending danger.As they closed in,the police too got wary and tried to disperse them by using their staffs.The people,having been harassed and tortured by the police in numerous ways,grew desperate,and braving the staff –rain,started pushing and jostling with the policemen.The police, scared and out of their wits,started firing at random.Ten persons were killed. They were-
i) Bhajahari Rout ( Belboni)
ii) Banshidhar Kar ( Kadua)
iii) Rajanikanta Ghosh (Sonakonia)
iv) Hemanta Kumar Das ( Kadua)
v) Chaitanya Kumar Bera (Madhabpur)
vi) Bhimacharan Dasmahapatra (Lalpur)
vii) Sibaprasad Bhunia ( Kalapunja)
viii) Chandra Mohon (Belboni)
ix) Chandra Mohon Jana (Ghoul)
x) Baishnab Charan Mahapatra (Lalpur)
In addition to these martyrs, some were seriously wounded. They were –
i) Upendranath Giri
ii) Bisnupada Pattanayak
iii) Amarendra Nath Maity
iv) Radhamohon Maity
Above all were from Dandabrlboni.
v) Kshirode Chandra Giri (Sonamuyee)
vi) Jiban Krishna Karan (Kalapunja)
vii) Sarbeswar Jana (Uttar Mukundapur)
Not only that, after the carnage, the police went on a rampage, beating people, at random, setting fire to houses and arresting volunteers of the neighbouring villages.
Alamgiri (13/10/1942):-
Another incident of firing by the police occurred at Alamgiri, a village in Egra Police Station. On 13th October 1942 a police posse was going to Panchrole, but, as the bamboo bridge over a canel, the only entrance to the village, was destroyed, it was returning to the Police Station. On their way back, the policeman entered the Alamgiri village, robbed a few houses setting fire to them after robbing. People of the village, from all corners ran twards the policeman urtering "Bandemataram". The police, while trying to sneak out of the village by a narrow path, faced a few farmers, who, infact, were running away from the field for life. The police fired at them and they died on the spot. They were –
(i)Parasuram Kamila, (ii)Murarimohan Bera, (iii)Bhagiroth Raul.
The Final Stage of 'Quit India' Movement.
Semi –Violent Steps takan.
In spite of all the repressive measures, both constitutional and unconstitutional, adopted by the administrations, the mass – movement in Medinipur advanced steadily and in a disciplined way from one stage to another.So to decide how to give it the final touch and deal the British in the district a mortal blow, the leaders of Medinipur held a secret meeting in the kolkata – house of a distinguished Congress leader of Medinipur, Manmatha Nath Das. The meeting attended by the district leaders like Satish Chandra Samanta, Ajoy Kumar Mukhopadhyay,Biraj Mohon Das, Ram Sundar Singh,Sailaja Sen, Aditya Kumar Bankura,Mahendra Nath Mahato and Bhimacharan Patra fixed upon 29th September, the day to launch a Co-ordinated attack upon the Administrative Centres.
Tamluk and Kanthi (Contai).
Though the plan was taken for the whole district, though attempts were made everwhere in the district to execute it, it was nowhere so successful as in the case of twin sisters, Tamluk and Kanthi. In these two Sub-divisions, the movement was total and historic, and, in spite of being violent in nature to some extent, extracted appreciation from none other than the apostle of non – violence, Gandhi.
Reasons of Success in Kanthi.
While tracing the causes of success of this movement in Kanthi, Samar Sen, the Sub-divisional Magistrate of Kanthi at that time,pointed to the people mostly belonging to a particular caste.But this was an oversimplication of the matter,and the real reasons were either lost sight of or carefully avoided.That the success of successive struggles –from the Malangi Revolt and Salt Law Violation to the No-Tax movement.- set a tradition and laid a sound foundation for a greater mass – movement cannot be denied by any one.The unity of people that made Mr. Sen raise his eyebrows was the result of the spade – work done by the leaders who, in spite of being many, in spite of nourishing private openions, did not fail to work together with a common goal.They knew that unity does not depend so much on caste or religion as on living together, working together and fighting together for a common cause.
Preparations-
Elaborate preparations were taken to put the plan,adopted by the district leaders, into Different Committees at different levels were formed.
The executive committee at the Sub-divisional level was formed in the following way-
President- Nikunjabihari Maity
Vice-President – 1.Bhimacharan Patra.
2.Sashisekhar Mandal
Secretary- Rasbihari Pal
Asst.Secretary- Kangal Chandra Giri
Trasurer- Iswar Chandra Mal
Accountant-Rakhal Chandra Maity
Two or three representatives were deputed to every P.S. Committee.
For Kanthi P.S. Committee
i)Basanta Kumar Das
ii)Niranjan Das
iii)Kangal Chandra Giri.
For Bhagawanpur P.S.Committee.
i)Nikunja Behari Maity
ii)Bhimacharan Patra.
For Khejuri P.S. Committee.
i)Gobina prasad Hait
ii)Digambar Das
For Ramnagar P.S.Committee.
i)Srinath Chandra Maity
ii)Debendranath Panda.
Pataspur P.S.Committee.
i)Ashutosh Roy Chowdhury
War Councils were formed to carry out the final offensive.
For Khejuri P.S.
(a)Commander -in-Chief –Amrita Lal Das
(b)Members:-Pulin Behari Sen,Gobinda Prasad Hait, Radhika Kanta Samanta, Birendra Nath Mal, Upendranath Jana, Koustav Kanti Karan, Yogendranath Ghorai, Santosh Kumar Jana and Gopinath Bera.
Pataspur P.S.
(a)Commander-in-Chief-Kalipada Roy Mahapatra
(b)Members:-Sashisekhar Mandal,Sashibhusan Pal,Sasanka Sekhar Maity,Asutose Roy Chowdhury,Shyamacharan Bera,Prasanna Kumar Tripathi, Nabadwip Chandra Pattanayak,Gobinda Prasad Bag, Bhusan Chandra Sasmal and Radhanath Das Adhikari.
Bhagawanpur P.S.Committee.-
President – Dhirendranath Das
Secretary – Priyanath Panda
Other Members:-Hrisshikesh Gayen,Murarimohon Sasmal, Barendra Kumar
Egra P.S.Committee.
Commander-in-Chief – Basanta Kumar Das
Other Members:- Hemanta Kumar Mahapatra,Amulya Kumar Das,Jiban Krishna Chakrabarty, Nabin Chandra Mahapatra (Birnabin),Girijakanta Mahapatra,Hrishikesh Chakrabarty,Yogendranath Sou, Nagendranath Mondal,Paresh Chandra Das, Mangobinda Mondal, Indubhusan Kungar, Haridas Bhunis,Gobinda Prasad Sou.
People Volunteers and Training.
Meetings, Processions and group – discussions were arranged in good number in all police stations, in order to make people abreast of the situation, to motivate and mobilize them.And people responded positively,turning out in hundreds and thousands.Eight thousand volunteers, who were ready to lay down their their lives for their motherland, were enlisted in the Sub-division. In each of the eighty two Unions of the Sub-division, at least one camp was set for the traning of the volunteers.Police would rarely dare to arrest volunteers or people from the meetings,processions or camp, for it would be impossible to make arrest without firing,without causing grave casualty.
Students.
Participation of students and teachers lent a further grace and added a new dimention to the movement.Even the military personnel taking arrested students from one jail to another would not fail to show respect to them.The students of Kanthi P.K.College (Contai) and different schools of the Sub-division played their part admirably by observing strikes, bringing out processions, picketing, courting arrest and imprisonment. Some of the remarkable names of student –activists are Birendra Nath Maity, Subodh Gopal Guchhayet, Banabehari Pal, Prabir Jana,Mrityunjoy Maity, Sudhir Chandra Parya and Rabindranath Maity. Of the teachers relinquishing job for serving the cause of the motherland, mention should be made of Birendranath Mal, a teacher of Haludbari H.E. School in Khejuri,and Krishna Kumar Chak.
Chowikidars & Daffadar.
Chowkiders and daffadars were the auxiliary police personnel of the two lowermost rungs.As they lived in villages, among the common people, they rendered a very useful service in collecting information, in case of identifying village people.As a vital part of preparation for the final stage of the Quit-India movement, these chowkidars and Daffadars were made inactive, either by persuation or by force.The Personnel who had to be brought round by force were kept under strict vigilance so that they could, in no way, communicate with the higher authority.As a result, the police were,in fact, kept in the dark as to much of the activities in the village, the movement and whereabouts of the of the leaders in the rural areas in the rural areas. So when the 'Non – Violent Soldiers' of the Quit –India movement fell upon the police stations or any other Government office or building like an avalanche, the police in most cases were caught napping.
Khejuri P.S.Falls.
Actions in Khejuri (28th September).
In khejuri Police Station,the Zero-hour was chosen to be the midnight make the way for 29th September.The Police Station and the Khasmahal Office [Land & Land Revenue Office] located at two different ends of the police – station-area –the first at the south end,at Janka, and the second at the west end, at Heria. Pulin Bihari Sen and Upendra Nath Jana were in charge of the whole operation at both ends. Under their supreme command, Bibhuti Bhusan Dinda with his assistants, Umacharan Mondal, Digambar Das and Yogendranath Patra was to taske charge of burning down the Police Station and its adjacent offices, while the charge burning down the Khasmahal Office at Heria was laid on shouldrs of Purnendu Sekhar Bhowmik and his men.
Three to four thousand volunteers from different places with a few tins of kerosene oil and materials to make big torches like bamboo, jute – fibre, rope etc.assembled at Ajanbari market without making a noise or .With First Aid things and some medicine, Dr. Sibapada Banerjee, Dr. Mahendra Nath Ghosh and the Compounder Manindra Nath Jana were ready to attend on persons in case of casualty.As night progressed, more volunteers came and the total rose to six to seven thousand.
A group of experienced and skilled workers was lurking in a house adjacent to the Police Station in order to collect the latest report.In the mean time, Fifty chosen workers advanced strealthely to Jafarchauk and by a narrow lane reached the southern point of the Police Station.Another group led by Saroje Kumar Pike, advancing silently as close to the western plank as possible, was waiting in ambush.Now the count -down began.
The gong went eleven times.The police guard lay down on the bench for a cat-nap.A Constable was reading aloud from the Ramayana.The group under the leadership of Saroje Kumar Pike from western side ran into the Police Station.Two workers,Bholanath Kamila and Rakhal Chandra Bar pounced upon the two constables, overpowered them and snatched their guns. Purnendu Mishra and others waiting at the southern point ran into the compound and made captive of all other police personnel.The O.C. was absent.The second officer, bankimbabu, was made captive quite unawards.The Jamader whose quarter at a little distance tried to run away by jumping into a pond but the watchful volunteers caught him.The operation was completein a matter of minutes, without blood-shed.
Sarojebabu blue his whistle.Immediately a thousand volunteers, waiting at the market under the leadership of Pulin Sen, ran to the Police Station. The captives were huddled together and kept under watch, the arms were collected, piled up and guarded. Now it was the time for a bonfire, kerosene oil was sprinkled all over the houses and they were set on fire.
Sub-Registry Office.
Now attention of the victorious and jubilant people and their leaders turned to Sub-registry office, not far off. The Sub-registrar was captured. The Registry Office was razeld to the ground. The Sub-Postoffices at Janka, Khejuri, haludbari and Kalagetchia, the Sanitary Inspector's office and Govt. Bungalows at Boga, Kamarda and Birbandar shared the same fate.
Henriya (Heria) Khasmal Goes up in Flames.
The man in charge of destroying Henriya Khasmalhal was Purnendu Sekhar Bhowmik and his deputies were Rabinranath Giri,Jiban Krishna Giri, Sachin Samanta, Subhas Chandra Samanta, Rabinra Nath Bera, Narayan Chandra Parya and some others. The charge of snatching the gun from the guard on duty was apportioned to a young volunteer of Begunabari, Jagadish Chandra Parua.
The gero –hour was fixed at 11 p.m., synchronizing with the time of the P.S. attack. But the volunteers, numbering about a thousand and arriving newly in the evening under the leadership of Sridam Samanta and Gnanakanta Bera, were too enthusiastic to bide time, and the scheduled hour had to be refixed at 7 p.m..According to the plan, Jagadish Parua with his bamboo staff sprang upon the armed guard, knocked him to the ground and unarmed him.Other personnel too were captured. The Khasmahal officer, Naziruddin Ahmed was made captive. The brick building was brought down brick by brick with the help of digging tools and axes, and the inflammable articles records, registers or articles of furniture were set on fire. The officials, made captive, were sent to Kanthi, three days after, safe and sound.
Other Acts of Destruction.
Two bridges, one Gorahar and another at Palabonid, were destroyed after Khasmahal destruction. In an attempt to snap off the communication between Khejuri and Kanthi the ferry –boats at Rasulpur and elsewhere were also destroyed. Only the ferry boats at Sarpai and Chingundania were reserved under the care of some watchmen for the sake of their own communication with the Sub-division. The loan office [Wrin –Salishi Board] with all papers and records were completely gutted, and three Union Boards and five Panchayet union offices within Khejuri P.S. went the same way.
Pataspur P.S. Destroyed.
On the night of 29th September, as people around had gone to bed, punctually in accordance with the plan chalked out earlier, four groups of well- trained and well-disciplined armus of volunteers started marching silently towards their target, the Police Station. The leaders of the four groups were as follows:-
Northern Group – Bhadreswar Kar and Sarbeswar Santra
Southern Group – Abanindranath Das Mahapatra
Eastern Group - Bhimacharan Patra
Western Group - Ramanath Jana
As all the four groups drew very close to the target from four different directions, the Commander –in –Chief, Kalipada Roy Mahapatra, gave the green signal and the volunteers fell upon the policemen, who, being caught quite unwares, failed to put up any resistance worth mentioning and surrendered. The officer who escaped that night was captured later, but the four constables at the station were made captives and their rifles were sized. The fire made by volunteers devoured the wooden furniture and records in the P.S..The thatched houses were set on fire and the brick-built ones were reduced to debris.
Destruction of other Offices or Institutions.
Seven post offices, situated at different places in the police station with their postage stamps, postal documents and valuable things were burnt to ashes. The volunteers also destroyed the Sub-Registry Office of Pataspur with all the documents kept there. The same thing happened to the Loan-Board Office, six Union Boards and eight Panchayet Union Offices. The Excise offices at Pataspur and Manglamaro, the Govt. Bungalows at Argoyal, Aamgtchia, Gokulpur and Gopalpur also lost their existence.Thus the volunteers did away with all the offices and institutions in Pataspur Police Station area tht stood and worked for the British Government in India, However, quite unlike the British ways,the volunteers were never unduly cruel to the Govt. personnel.
Bhagawanpur P.S.Soaked in Blood
Plan :
According to the decision of the Bhagawanpur War Council, the P.S. operation was to take place in broad daylight, at 3.30 p.m.. It was decided that four processions starting from four ends of the P.S. area and taking en route all volunteers of the villages through which they would pass were to congregate near the Police Station at 3.30 and then they would attack the P.S. under the leadership of the Commender-in-Chief, Dhirendranath Das.It was also decided that, as police atrocity was quite usual to apprehend, women be strictly forbidden from taking part in the procession. The leaders to lead the four processions were-
i) Nagendranath Bera and Aswini kumar Maity (Northern Procession)
ii) Hrishikesh Gayen and Murari Mohon Sasmal (Southern Procession)
iii) Pitabas Das and Bhupendranath Maity (Eastern Procession)
iv) Priyanath Panda and Barendranath Das (Western Procession)
Starting.
29th September. The much awating day dawns. The processions, according to the schedule, start. The tri-colour national flags held fast in their hands fluttered expectantly. All the way, the volunteers, processionists sang patriotic songs, shouted slogans in the name of their leaders and iterating their resolution. Needless to say, the villagers greeted them warmly everywhere.
Target in Sight.
It was still some time to the Zero hour. The eastern procession was within a hearing distance. Their slogans were being heard. The southern procession was in sight but the northern procession was still out of sight. However the western procession with a part of the main procession from the south was very near to the target. The leaders tried to hold the volunteers back till the arrival of all.But the volunteers were burning with enthusiasm.
Enemy in Position.
On the other hand, as the operation was no secret, the police got ample time to get ready for the encounter. They were intent on keeping the pillar of administration, the P.S., erect. The gate of the P.S., the only entrance to the well-fenced police station, was being kept by policemen taking position and aiming their guns.
The Valley of Death.
So the volunteers from the western and the southern pocession marched into the Valley of Death. The police kept firing. Seven persons died – thirteen instantly and four some time after and more than a hundred were wounded.In the meantime the evening came down and the volunteers were busy taking the wounded to the waiting doctors for treatment and recovering the dead bodies for fitting funeral.
Success or Failure ?
To an ordinary person, the attempt of the volunteers may appear to have ended in smoke, for not a single piece of brick of the P.S. building was displaced. But in truth, the venture was more than what we call a success. Volunteers showed how to beard death in its den. Their instances were enough to shake off all the imaginary shackles of fear in all forms. And when people become free from fear, can Freedom be far behind ?
Martyrs and Could – be Martyrs.
Dead but Alive.
Names of the immortal martyrs.
i)Bhibhuti Bhusan Das – Village –Bartan –son of a Congress worker
ii)Barendranath Das – A student of I.A. class – shot while pouring water into the gapping mouth of a dying volunteer –dying in the P.S. lock-up without any treatment.
iii)Krishnamohon Chakrabarty –village Basudevpur,Police Station –Egra –Education Matric, V.M. Head Pandit of Bhimeswari Junior High School- being shot feel into a pond-breathed his last there.
iv)Srinath Chandra Pradhan –Village –Kulberia –the brother of Kamdeb Pradhan who died in Masuria police firing in 1932-an ordinary villager –pretending no distinction.
v)Shyamacharan Maity-Village –Bahadurpur-Father-Dwarikanath.
vi)Haripada Maity –village-Gurhgram-Father-Iswar Chandra.
vii)Yudhistir Jana – village Simulia – Father – Indranarayan.
viii)Taraknath Jana – village –Bneudia –Father Udaychand.
ix)Gnanada Charan Maity – village –Totanala – Father – Raghunath.
x)Jagannath Patra –village-Nunhasta-Father-Koilas
xi)Rajani Kanta Maity –village Khajurardi – Father –Rampada
xii)Raghunath Mondal –village- Betuliachauk –Father –Janardan
xiii)Paresh Chandra Jana –Village-Garahbard-Father-Shyamacharan
xiv)Dhirendra Nath Dalapali –Village – Kasba –Father-Nilkantha (Died in police lock –up after eighteen days)
xv)Bharat Chandra Singh –village-Nelua Gopalchauk- Father- Madhusudan
xvi)Bhusan Chandra Samanta –village – Benauda – Father-Bhikhan Chandra
xvii)Bhupati Charan Das – village – Shyamsundarpur-P.S.Sabang –Father –Kalachand
xviii)Kedarnath Maity –Bahadurpur-Father-Sitanath-Shot in the day of action and died on 03.04.1943 from the wound.
A few of those who were wounded on the day and who were very near being martyres were-
Coming out of the Jaws of Death.
i)Manibhusan Pradhan ( Bhupatinagar)
ii)Bankim Chandra Dalui (Manikjorh)
iii)Hardu Charan Majhi ( Dumurdanri)
iv)Barendra Nath Das ( Radhapur)
v)Baneswar Maity ( Baraberia)
vi)Dr. Manmatha Maity ( Abasberia)
vii)Nimai Charan Das ( Abasberia)
viii)Jatindra Nath Das ( bamunia)
ix)Sarbeswar Maity ( Dumurdanri)
x)Jibankrishna Ghorui (Padmatamali)
xi)Bhaskar Chandra Majhi (Bhupatinagar)
xii)Purna Chandra Das ( Janadanri)
xiii)Kshirode Chandra Sahu ( Garhabard)
xiv)Gunadhar Hazra (Kakra)
Some Minior Action of Destruction.
Put the limbs out of Operation.
Funerals and treatment of the wounded took two days.Then the remaining actions in the list of the revolutionaries were taken up for performance. On 1st October, the post offices at Totanala, Bhimeswari, Kajlagarh,Mugberia, Baraberia (All in Bhagwanpur P.S. ) were destroyed. One Telegraph Office, the Circle Officer's Office, Sub-Registry Office and the Jute Office [ All at Kajlagarh ] went the same way. The Govt.Bungalows at Uttarbard, Dalbard, Udbadal and Poushi had to kiss the dust. Sanitary Inspector's Office, Union Board Office and a few ferry boats were also destroyed. Moreover, communication link was cut off by digging ditches at two places on the road of the District Board and by destroying a concrete bridge.
Egra P.S.
Egra High School,a thorn in the flesh.
Like those of other police stations, the leaders of Egra P.S. adopted all the usual preparatory measures, escalating the movement step by step, keeping their eyes on the 29th September. Before that date, one of the remarkable incidents was that of closing Egra high School. With the help of the students and volunteers, the schools at Basudevpur, Balighai, Panchrol and some other schools had already been closed. But although some students of Egra High School like Nirmal Kumar Mahapatra and Jatindranath Jana took active part in the August Movement, no action had been taken to close it as it was very close to the Police Station. But Egra Jhatulal High School, running uninterrupted under the very nose of the leaders, was a thorn in their flesh. They determined to shut it down on 21st September. Volunteers from different Unions assembled on the ground adjacent to the School on 21.09.1942. The leaders like Hemanta Kumar Mahapatra, Nabin Kumar Mahapatra, Bankim Chandra Das, Sailaja Charan Chakrabarty and Basanta Kumar Das spoke to the volunteers and then entering the School en masse got into the Headmaster's room and forced him to put on the Gandhi–Cap. Under duress, the Headmaster came to the meeting place and promised to close the School. Then the leaders ravaged the school, destroying the papers and books.
Police Reaction.
After the incident, the Sub-divisional Magistrate came to the spot, tortured the students and same local Shop-keepers and residents.Among those who had to bear the brunt were Krishna Prasad Maity, Nirmal Mahapatra, the P.S. Congress Secretary Bankim Chandra Das and another leader Sailaja Charan Chakrabarty. Mr. Das and Mr. Chakrabarty had to serve imprisonment for one year each.
28th September.
Communication Cut off.
Egra P.S., being stationed just beside the Kanthi-Belda Road by which military convoyes and administrative authorities used to pass frequently, was a tough target and could not be attacked without incurring heavy casualty. Therefore, the leaders chose other subversive acts to carry out in the first place. In the dead hours of the night of 28th September, the leaders got together with about a thousand of volunteers at Mirjapur, divided themselves into three groups and were out on delinking the communications of Egra with the outside world. One group, led by Basanta Kumar Das and assisted by Hemanta Kumar Patra, Kshitish Chandra Mahapatra, Girija Mahapatra, Bankim Chandra Pradhan, Jiban Krishna Chakrabarty, Radhakanta Maity, Rebati Mohon Das, Radhagobinda Sou, Kandarpa Mishra, Bhupendranath Dey and Narendra Nath Maity, uprooted all the telegraph posts between Egra and Jerhthan bundled up the wire and threw them all into ponds. The jobs of cutting off the telegraph wire between Bhabanichauk and Tajpur, felling big trees beside the road and blocking it with them, digging up ditches on the road from Dobandhi to Mohanpur, destroying the culverts in between the two places and also the bridge near Tajpur were executed by the second group of volunteers led by Bankim Chandra Das and Narendranath Maity with the assistance of Amulya Kumar Das, Sailaje Charan Chakrabarty, Gobinda Prasad Sou, Nalinikanta Rout, Mangobinda Mondal, Gopinath Manna, Indubhusan Kungar, Haridas Bhunia and the volunteers.
Destroy the Limbs of the Government.
Post Office.
The attention of the leaders now turned to all other institutions and properties of the Government. To destroy Egra Post Office, posed the same problem as did the Police Station. So it was left to exist, but some other post offices including the one at Boita in Mohonpur P.S. were reduced to ashes or debris.
The destruction of Balighai Post Office needed careful planning because of its location by the main road. On a market-day, the volunteers appeared in the market-place, as if on marketing, and then, under the leadership of Narendranath Maity, made a short work of burning all the papers and documents to ashes, without burning the house which was a tenanted one and without touching any money or coin because of the high moral of the volunteers.
The Ferry Vessels at Satmile.
Two large vessels were used to ferry passengers and goods across the Orissa Coast Canal on the way from Kanthi to Belda. As it was a vital link between Kanthi and Kharagpur and Medinipur towns, its importance was only too apparent. At the same time, the task of destroying them was somewhat risky because not only the chance-arrieval of a military convoy or a police-patrol car was quite a probability but the boatman on guard in one of the vessels might raise a hue and cry. An army of about five hundred volunteers under the joint –command of Joygobinda Patra and Debendranath Das cut off the ropes tying the vessels to their mooring, rowed them as far as Paltaberiya and destroyed them. The patriotic sentiment ran so strong at the time that the boatman too was deeply influenced and not only remained an idle spectator all through the operation but did not disclose any name in spite of dire threatening.
Other Offices Set on Fire.
The Union board and Loan Settlement Board [ Wrin Salisi Board], the Tole office, Govt. Bungalows, the Excise office and godown with all the papers,records, contents or goods were set on fire.
Ramnagar P.S.
The movement in Ramnagar Police Station went on unflagged, from the Salt-Law-Violation right up to the Quit-India, braving the inhuman torture practiced by the police. Here people's participation was spontaneous and almost total and the leaders and sympathisers were too many to record their names with justice to all. After the incidents of Mahisagote on 22.09.1942 and of Belboni on 27.09.1942, the police unleashed a reign of terror by making indiscriminate arrest,torturing people,robbing the houses and setting them on fire, Consequently, there was no special programme for Ramnagar Police Station on 29th September. However, many volunteers under the leadership of the student –leader Radhagobinda Bisal joined with Egra-revolutionaries to take part in their destructive campaign.
Kanthi P.S.
Kanthi, the administrative centre of the Sub-division and also the centre of the movements, played a big role in guiding the course of the movements, setting examples and acting as a source of inspiration. But as most of the leaders had been behind the bars and as the possibility of a gigantic loss of life made any destructive campaign appear untenable, 29th September at Kanthi passed uneventful, though the police-torture upon Kanthi-people was by no means less severe.
The Report of Mr. Sen.
The Effect of the Campaign.
The report given by the contemporary Sub-divisional Magistrate of Kanthi, Mr.Samar Sen, to the Government, as quoted by Mr.Prasanta Pramanik in his book of reminiscence 'Romonthan', corroborates the accounts given earlier, if they need corroboration of the government. "By the end of September (1942) climex had been reached. Roads were being repeatedly cut, telegraph communication completely shattered and ferry boats, Dak bungalows, dispensaries, kerosene boats, two Police Stations and many other Government and semi – public institutions had been burnt. Police parties and Government Officers had been kidnapped and administration had practically broken down except in the Police Station Headquarters of Contai, Egra and Ramnagar. At Bhagawanpur, they were just able to hold the thana against repeated attack by the mob killing about 30 persons. This was the situation we faced on the 29th September.
The report betrays the hopeless, near collapsing condition of the administration in Kanthi Sub-division giving full credit to the leaders of the movement and the people in general.
Govt. Measures to Curb Movement.
Para-military Rule.
The Government took sternest measures to put a curb on the movement. After the destructive campaign of 29th September, Kanthi Sub-division was virtually brought under military rule. The 36 mile long Kanthi-Belda Road which was the only way of connection between Kanthi and Medinipur town was brought under military control. The army patrolled the road day and night. In conformity to the Defence of India Act xxxv, the Sub-divisional Magistrate ordered that no one expect M.B.doctors keep out of doors from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., that more than four persons be not allowed to get together, that conch-shells be not blown except on religious occasions.
Denial Police.
A Denial Policy was put to effect. According to that policy, boats were seized or destroyed, bicycles too were seized and dumped in the Police Station, from 30th September all the buses of Kanthi bus Syndicate and Kalinagar and Ramnagar bus Associations were withdrawn, the mail-bus plying between Kanthi and belda was not allowed to take ordinary passengers, and strict sensorship was enforced on all letters in the post offices that were still in operation.
Military Camps & Exercises.
From 1st October, twelve military camps were set in different places of the sub-division. There were twelve hundred soldiers at first, but later their number increased. There actions, gesture and behaviour, which were barbaric, were clearly meant to create panic in people. Aeroplanes flying over the area everyday to keep watch also meant to serve the same purpose.
Magistrate's Admission.
The Kanthi Sub-divisional Magistrate, Mr. Samar Sen, in his report to the government, refers to steps taken by the administration in order to crush the movement. Without mincing matters, he admits that while some of these measures were constitutional some were unconstitutional. Leagal measures included –
i) Clamping 144 Cr. P.C.
ii) Imposing mass fines
iii) Conducting night –raids
iv) Maintaining patrolling by the police and the military
v) Imposing Curfew on the movement of people. and so on
The unconstitutional measures included –
i) Burning down the houses of those who harboured the revolutionaries
ii) Beating up the supporters of them
iii) Detaining the supporters for close interrogation
iv) Robbing houses in some cases
v) Beating up innocent people and detaining them to collect information.
Effect.
However, no repressive measures can produce a lasting effect. The tighter become the ties, the stronger becomes the resolution to untie them. The subsequent incidents confirm the truth of these sayings.
Cyclone of 16th October, 1942.
Annual Scourge.
In the meantime the almost annual scourge of Kanthi burst forth in all its fury, bringing forth, on one hand, the best in some men, on the other, the worst in some, and causing a temporary suspension of the movement.
Cyclone & its tou.
16th October, 1942. It was the 2nd day of the four –day Durgapuja Festivel. The sky, overcast with black clouds from the morning, looked ominous. As the day advanced, the rain become torrential and the wind assumed the form of Cyclone. By the noon, storm and downpour started playing havoc. The sea-dyke broke and 20 feet high waves invaded the inland. Next morning, it was water, water every where. The cyclone hit the whole district of Medinipur, but Kanthi, because of its location,was the wrost sufferer. According to the statement given by the Revenue Minister, Pramathanath Banerjee, in answer to a question raised Sibnath Banerjee (M.L.C.), out of 14,443 people killed in the whole district, Kanthi alone suffered the loss of 10,942 people. However, the local administration reported of a much higher casualty. According to this report, thirteen Thousand people were drowned, three-fourths of the livestock perished and one lakh houses were destroyed.
The Salt of the Earth.
Trailakyanath Pradhan of Ramanagar, who lost twenty seven members of his family including his only son in the flood, unburdened himself of the thought of personal loss in no time and was after doing whatever he could for the suffering people. With great hardship walking a long way and wading, he through water managed to go to Kolkata, contacted Shyamaprasad Mukherjee (Minister of Bengal), Pramathanath Banerjee (Revenue Minister) and Habibullah (The Nawab of Dacca), apprised them to the pathetic condition in Kanthi and appealed for relief. Kangal Chandra Giri and Narendranath Maity had to go to Kolkata via Baleswar, in absence of any road or boat, contacted Ananda Prasad Chowdhry of Kumilla, 'Abhoy Ashram', who then came to Kanthi, collected information and made it public in Kolkata. As a result of their effort, many non-government organizations like Hindu Mahasabha, Marwarri Relief Society, Bengal Relief Committee, Nababidhan Relief Committee, Punjab Relief Committee, Ramkrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha came to the area and carried on the relief work.
Govt. Apathy, Antipathy or Administrative Failure ?
The Minister Shyamaprasad Mukherjee and some historians leveled some serious charges against the administration. They were that in spite of receiving the weather report in advance from Kolkata the local administration gave no warning to people, that curfew was not relaxed even at the fateful night of 16th –17th September, that a few boats being used by people in rescue-service were confiscated, that the District Magistrate expressed unwillingness to carry on relief – work as a punitive measure for the hostility of people to the government, that a ban was imposed on newspapers regarding the publication of people's misery, that even when relief-work started, nocturnals raids following it raised grave allegation etc.
In an attempt to refute the charges, the authority pointed to the critical political situation of the time and, along with some other things, tried to put the blame on the local people whatever might be the substance of their argument, ir cannot be denied that the local authority was more concerned about restoring the political situation in favour of the British Government taking full advantage of the hopeless and helpless condition of people than coming forward to the rescue and relief of people regardless of their identities. Servants, overjealous to gratify the cause of their masters, often do things that put their masters to shame.
Unabated Police Atrocity.
In order to give an idea of the atrocity practiced by the police, some statistics in respect of police – action in Kanthi Sub-division during the period from August to December [1942], offered in 'Swadhinata Sangramei Medinipur' by Dr. Rasbihari Pal & Prof. Haripada Maity, are given here –
1. Killed (a) In Police Firing –41
(b) Succumbing to torture –9
2. Wounded in firing –175
3. Rape or rape attempt –228
4. Setting fire to houses –965
5. Amount of loss caused by burning houses –Rs. 5,41,434.00
6. Arrest – 12641 Persons
7. Convicted –672 Persons
8. (a) House – robbery – 2,059 houses
(b) Amount robbed – Rs. 3,55,246.00
9. Injured by staff – blow – 6,685 Persons
10. Mass – fine extracted – Rs. 30,000.00
11. Persons forced to do the duty of Special Constables – 434
12. Hindu women kidnapped – 10
Instance Showing Callousness of Authority and Unfazed Sprit of People.
The incident took place at Marisda. A ditch had been dug on Kanthi – Kalinagar Road at Marisda. On 30th September, both the D.M. and the S.D>O. came there and forced the local people and students to repair the road. While the repairing – job was going on, the evening set in, and the police set the near –by Primary –School on fire for lighting the place. A school-houses was torched to make light ! However, no sooner did the policemen leave the place, the ditch was reopened.
Next day the police came again, set fire to twenty five houses, beat up some men including an old man named Brajamohon Manna and made route-march up to Bhaintgarh where in order to disperse the encircling people opened fire killing two persons on the spot. On their way back to Kanthi, the police arrested fifteen persons including some businessmen of nachinda. Undaunted, the people burnt down the post-office at nachinda and another in the neighbouring area.
The process went on. The police and military caused sufferings and loss to people in different ways in their effort to bring people down to their knees, while the people endured their loss and suffering valiantly and carried on operations to make the government immobile and inoperative. That people were the virtual winners was confirmed by a letter of A.K.Fajlul Haque (Prime Minister), Government of Bengal. In his letter, Mr. Haque reffered to the movement, particularly in Tamluk and Kanthi- " ---- but there is no denying the fact that their object was to paralyse the civil administration and they succeeded in doing so at least in some areas".
Kanthi, Hallowed by the Sacred Visits of Great men.
From time to time men of stature and distinction have set their foot in different parts of the Sub-division making the area hallowed and blessed with the sacred touch of their feet. Some of such visits an information of which could be traced are referred to here.
Guru Nanak :
It was around the beginning of the sixteenth century, Guru nanak, who in his early life worked as a store-keeper, left the job, left his family and went on traveling for twelve years after having a spritual experience. During this phase of life, Nanak came to Ganga-Sagar, a place of pilgrimage where the devoted hindus think it holy to take a dip on the last day of the month of Pous of the Bengali calender. Kanthi lay on the way to Ganga-Sagar, and pilgrims often took the Rasulpur-river-route, and crossing a part of the sea by boat would get to their goal. This is the way that Navakumar and his companions in the novel of Bankim Chandra, Kapal-kundala, went to Gangasagar from Medinipur.
Nanak at Baro-bazar.
In those days hijli was a sea-port and in its hinterland Kanthi or Kendua was an ancillary trade-centre which would supply much of the exporting goods like rice, sugar, pepper-corn, cloth made of a mixture of fine jute fibre and silk, butter etc.However the present Kanthi town was then almost uninhabited and the trade-centre, with all its usual features including temporary lodging for foreign merchants and sailors, wine shops etc., was located in Kumarpur Mouza, not far off from the Sub-divisional Hospital of today, and was called Baro-bazar. Here the Sikh prophet took shelter. At the time here there was a mud-built shed for saying prayer and later a Guru-dwara was built.
Sri. Chaitanya :
It was 16th century, to be exact,1539. Sri-Chaitanya left for Puri. Near Hajipur, now called Diamond Harbour, he crossed the hoogly river and landed at Kunkrahati. From there, through Tamluk, he came to the Keleyghai valley, on his way to Narayangarh and ultimately, through Gopiballavpur, to Puri. A large section of the class-ridden bigot society in a wide area through which Sri-Chaitanya passed was deeply influenced by the simple Love-cult of the great man and was converted to Baisnabism. It is said that in a place called Patharghata, in Patashpur P.S., on the bank of the Keleyghai, Sri-Chaitanya took some rest in the shade of a Nim tree. Many place-names and the popularity of Baisnab culture still bear witness to the incident.
Maharaj Nanadakumar :
Maharaj Nandakumar [ Nandakumar Roy], born in the first decade of 18th century at Bhadra-pur of Birbhum district, served in different exalted position under the Nawabs of Bengal and the English and, falling victim to a political conspiracy, was sentenced to death by hanging on 16th June, 1775. During the reign of Alibardy, he was appointed the Surveyor and collector of land-revenue of Hijli and Mahisadal Parganas and later became the Dewan of the Fouzdar of hoogly. The semi-town, Nandakumar, at the bifurcation of the road from Kolkata – one going to Haldia and another coming to Digha through Kanthi, still bears evidence of his good service to the queen of Tamluk. In Kanthi too, in order to solve the drinking-water problem of the local people, he got a tank dug up at Baro-bazar. The tank called Nandakumar-tank still exists.
Raja Rammohan Roy.
In those days, big ships could not enter the Hoogly river owing to the lack of navigability at the mouth. Voyagers used to come to Khejuri by boat or sloop and from here they would embark for any foreign port. Therefore, Raja Rammohan Roy, the precursor of modern Bengal, while going to England in 1831 as an ambassador of the Emperor of Delhi, had to set foot at Khejuri. This starting of Rammohan's voyage from Khejuri appears to be significant when one remembers that from here he bade good bye to Bengal and India for once and all, for, after performing his mission successfully, he died at Bristal in England on 27th September, 1833. Thus Khejuri, a notable place in Kanthi Sub-division, is fortunate enough to be a witness of the last journey of the great man.
Jadav Chandra Chattopadhyay.
From 1838 to 1849, Jadav Chandra Chattopadhyay, father of bankim Chandra, occupied the position of the Deputy Collector of Medinipur. For the purpose of surveying land, determining and collecting land-revenue, he had to visit kanthi and hijli many a time. He rendered good service to many people of Majnamutha, Naruamutha and Seepur Parganas of the area in settling the ownership of their land. On his request, the Dewan of the Nimak-mahal, Krishnakanta, got a tank dug up at Kanthi. The tank, called by local people 'Krisnakanter Pukur', meant to solve the problem of the scarcity of drinking water in the area of salty water. In comparison with the fabulously generous landlord of Majnamutha, Jadvram, jadav Chandra was fondly called by people 'Jadavram Deputy'.
Bankim Chandra Chattapadhyay.
Bankim Chandra Chattapadhyay, the harbinger of Bengali novel, stayed at or around Kanthi for less than a year, from 9th February of 1860 to 7th November of the same year, but left an indelible stamp on the memory of Kanthi people. Having been transferred from jessore, at the age of only 22, he came to negua, till then the headquarters of Kanthi Sub-division, as the Sub-divisional Magistrate. As he describes in his second novel, Kapal-kundala, Doulatpur and Dariapur were then two small villages, about five or six miles to the east of Kanthi, in the midst of woodland, near the estuary of the Rasulpur river. In this Doulatpur village, there was a Govt. bungalow, where he spent nights on a few occasions and where he met with a Kapalik, a worshipper of the goddess Kali. Evidently the young novelist was deeply impressed by the fascinating view of the green woodland extended to the horizon and the unclad sprawling sand-dunes, glistening in the sun, along the margin of the sea. The beautiful land and and the sea-scape and the Kapalik provided him with the raw materials and plot for his novel Kapal-kundala which on being brought out captured the mind of Bengali readers instantly. Thus in his novel he preserves a word-picture of the area that has undergone a sea-change in meantime.
Gift to Kanthi high School.
To tell of another contribution of Bankim Chandra to the cause of Kanthi, it was through his benevolent gesture that a plot of vested land, now measuring 3.80 acres was gifted to Kanthi High School, established in 1857, ranking first in the town and third in the district according to seniority.
Bankim's memory preserved.
Kanthi people cherish Bankim's memory with respect. In the Bengali year 1326, the local people led by Bishnupada Chattapadhyay, the Secretary of the Saraswat Sammilani at the time, set up a movement of Bankim Chandra at Dariapur, the site that fired the creative imagination of the novelist. The centenary year of the author was observed through a week-long Bankim-Fair at Kanthi. The street running from School Bazar to the Junput Road by 'Krisnakanter Pukur' is named 'Bankim Sarani' in respectful memory of Bankim Chandra. A park called 'Bandematram Park' is made on 1.30 acres of land donated by Dr. Parimal Kumar Roy and his brothers, beside 'Bankim Sarani' near 'Krishnakanter Pukur'.
Dwijendralal Roy :
Dwijendralal Roy, the poet and the playwright, of patriotic plays like 'Chandragupta', Sah-Jahan', 'Mewar-patan'and 'Pratap-singha', spent three years of his life, from 1890 to 1893, along with his wife, at Kajlagarh in Bhagwanpur Police Station. He was the Settlement Officer of Sujamutha Pargana. But being a man of indipendent sprit and keen conscience, he could not toe the line of his predecessors who had enhanced revenue without proper survey of the land, and thereby incurred displeasure of the authority. In consequence, the yearly increment of his salary was stopped, but he was satisfied that he could lodge a protest against a chronic injustice being done to 'ryots' and the protest stood them in good stead.
The beautiful garden of bakul trees, on the bank of the big tank called 'Kajal-dighi', its waves dancing sprightfully in the breeze, the quiet beauty of nature all around the place where he stayed cast a charm on the poet. Sitting in this solitude he wrote many poems some which found place in school text books or in his dramas. In 1935, a temple-shaped monument was built on the northern bank of 'Kajal-dighi' with a few lines of his own composition engraved on its wall as the epitaph.
Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy :
Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy, who had the study and culture of chemistry for a wife, his students for children and friends, and the distressed people for family-mambers, twice came to Kanthi Sub-division. During floods, the misfortune that often befell Medinipur and Kanthi, Prafulla Chandra, with his frail physique, could not come to stand by the affected people, but his mind would hover over the area, he would send teams of workers to carry on relief-work, money collected from different sources and from his own pocket, and inspiring letters to the workers. In 1925, on 5th January, the Acharya visited the Kalagetchia National School in Khejuri Police Station. During his visit, he pointedout three salient features of the students of the National School- that they serve men as gods. Lastly he came to kanthi in 1940-41, when he was about 80 years old, only three or four years before his death. It was the occasion of expansion of the salt factory of Bengal Salt Company at Dadanpatrabard on the coast in Kanthi P.S.. On the part of Kanthi people, Pramathanath Bandapadhyay, Nepal Chandra Roy ( Principal of Contai P.K.College) and Nirmal Chandra Sengupta ( A Journalist) were there to receive him. And as the atmosphere seemed to be congenial, the Acharya stayed at Kanthi for a week.
Dr. Prafulla Chandra Ghosh :
( 24.12.1891 – 18.12.1983)
In order to participate in 'Salt Satyagraha' and 'Civil Disobedience' movements many men of dedication, merit and sprit came to Kanthi adding to the glory of the small town and Sub-division. Dr. Prafulla Chandra Ghosh was one of them. To take a glimpse at his achievements, he stood first class first in M.Sc. Examination of Calcutta University, got doctorate in science in 1920, built the 'Abhoy Ashram' for the propagation of Gandhiji's ideals, became the first Chief Minister of West Bengal after Independence. In spite of the question mark, put by some, against his political wisdom, there is no question about his devotion to the cause of the country and the nobility of his soul. To take part in the Salt Law Violation movement, he came to Kanthi in 1930. He was nominated Treasurer to the Civil Disobedience Committee of Kanthi. He presided over the meeting of the workers held the campus of the national School at Kanthi.
Dr. Suresh Chandra bandopadhyay :
( 19.11.1887 –12.10.1961)
During the 1st World War, he joined the army as a doctor but gave up his job in response to Gandhiji's call and devoted himself to social movement. He took part in "Satyagraha' movement in different districts and naturally courted arrest many times. He held the portfolio of Labour Minister of the first Ministry of West Bengal after indepedence, was elected to the Assembly in 1957, and died in harness in 1961. In 1930, as a 'Salt Satyagrahi', he led a group of volunteers at Pitchhaboni near Kanthi.
Subhas Chandra Bose :
(Netaji)
Adding a feather to Kanthi's cap of glory, Subhas Chandra, the "Netaji' of India, came to Kanthi on 12th April, 1938, and spent a Whole day here. At Haripura Congress in 1938, Subhas was unanimously selected President, and then on a visit he came to Medinipur. On his way to Kanthi, he attended meetings, first at Tamluk, and then at Bhupatinagar in Bhagwanpur police station and Jararnagar in Khejuri P.S. Whereever he went, he was given a red-carpet welcome. It was people, people all the way with flowers and garlands, blowing conch-shells and shouting slogans in his name.
Subhas Chandra visited the Mugberia Gangadharpur High School, met the relatives of those who had been killed in police-firing at Masuria in 1932. From there he went to Khejuri.
Jarar-nagar
It was a red –letter day in the calender of Jararnagar, in the whole Sub-division. The National Award-winner teacher Iswar Chandra Pramanik kept a detailed record of the momentous hour when Netaji visited Jararnagar in Khejuri P.S. According to this record, it was 12th April, 1938 ( 29th Chaitra, 1344), Tuesday, the 13th day of the bright moon. The day was sunny and hot. At 10 a.m., the President's car with the tri-colour national flag fluttering on the bonnet, entered the gate constructed for his reception. In the meeting attended by about seven thousand people, Subhas Chandra hoisted the flag and this flag blessed with his sacred touch has been preserved by Subhas-Memory Preservation Committee. Significantly, Jararnagar is no more, in its place Subhas-Pally is standing bearing the name of the great leader.
Kanthi & Egra.
The President's car reached Kanthi at noon. At the northern gate of the town which was named Sasmal gate, Subhas Chandra was greeted with twelve firing sound. He had lunch in the house of Biswambhar Dinda, the founder of Kanthi P.K.College, and in the afternoon addressed a meeting in Kanthi National School premises. In the evening, Netaji attended a meeting at Balighai in Egra P.S. There Subhas Chandra analysed the significance of the international political situation, stressed the necessity of building up strong mass-struggle, spoke of the importance of involving people of all classes, and appealed to the youth to take the van-guard role in the movement. After the meeting, Subhas Chandra left for Kolkata.
Cyclones and Floods at Contai
[Continued from page 3]
Cyclone and Kanthi.
From the very emergence of Kanthi in the third or fourth century of the Christian era, cyclones have played a big role in shaping the destiny of Kanthi - people, occasionally positively, indirectly adding to their safety and prosperity, but, more often than not, destructively,robbing people of their hearth and home, kith and kin, near and dear ones. It is supposed that Kanthi with its two long sand - ridges, running almost parallel to each other and standing guard against sea - invasion, was the result of joint action of a gigantic cyclone and inundation. Moreover, Kanthi came to the lime-light only when the glory of Hijli and Khejuri was washed away by cyclonic inundation. But the Sea-monster frequently raided the population, as if to extort toll, causing misery that beggars description.
Yearly phenomenon.
Being situated at the north -west angle of the Bay of Bengal, the whole district of Medinipur is liable to cyclonic stroms, whereas Kanthi, because of its coastal position, often happened to have been in the eye of the strom and had to bear the brunt of the marine invasion. According to O' Malley, while cyclones from the Bay of Bengal are a usual feature of the whole period during which the South-west monsoon - current prevails, the most destructive ones appear as prologues or epilogues to this monsoon session, i.e.,in April- May or October – November.
More destructive storms.
The stroms, almost a yearly phenomenon, generally accompanied by heavy rainfall and marked by whirling motion, cause more or less damages to life and property. But the cyclones of 1864, 1867, 1874, 1925 and 1942 were all the more destructive. In Bengal District Gazetteers (Midnapore), O'Malley gives accounts of the destruction caused by all of them but the last two. Following him, an idea is given here.
1864 - Cyclone.
Mournful Epilogue.
It was 5th October. The cyclone originated somewhere near the Andamans, advanced north - westward and struck the coastal areas of Balasore and Medinipur. Of Medinipur, Tamluk had to endure the climatic impact of the cyclone, but the experience of people in south - eastern part of Kanthi Sub-division was no less bitter.
Bahirimutha.
The villages centering round Bahiri, to the east of Kanthi town, covering about fifty six square miles, were completely devastated. Being numerous and thickly populated, the villages suffered the loss of a staggering number of life. The exact number of death could never ascertained for there were villages where nobody was left alive to report. After the flood, dead bodies and carcasses lying about rotting in the sun, the air thick with putrid smell, consumption of bad food and impure water caused diseases like cholera, dysentery and small pox to bresk out and take away as much toll of life as exacted immediately by the cyclonic flood.
Khejuri.
For about one and a half centuries, Khejuri served the foreign merhants, the Portuguese, the Dutch, the English and the French, as an important import – export centre, but then its decline set in. Cyclones invaded Khejuri again and again, in 1780, in 1823, in 1831 and in 1833. Particularly the 1833 – cyclonic flood reduced the population to about one –forth and the livestock to almost nil. In spite of that, Khejuri, though it lost much of its glamour, was in existence. In 1844, as found in settlement records, there were nineteen tea-stalls, eight boatswains, a police statin, a church, an Excise office, coffee-shops, hotels, gardens, a signal- mast, twenty six brothels, a dancing – theatre, bungalows of Europeans, and, of course, the Telegraph office, the first of its kind in India.
Death – Knell.
However, the 1864 cyclone tolled the death knell of Khejuri – port. The sea – wave that flowed much higher than the sea – dyke submerged the whole area. One instance will suffice to suggest the extent of destruction. Of the thirty two witnesses on their way to the court to give evidence in a robbery cases, only two survived and thirty got watery burial. A tragic tale of Mr. J.Bottellho, the Postmaster of Khejuri and the Honorary Magistrate, losing all is difficult to forget. The son of Mr. Bottellho Eugene, could not be traced. Mr. Bottellho and his wife riding a chest were out in search of their son, and none of them returned.
Kaukhali.
At Kaukhali, a village about five miles south of khejuri, a Light house was built in 1810. A stone – plaque, at the foot of the Light House, put up at a height of thirteen feet from the ground, informs us that the sea – water in 1864 – cyclonic – flood rose up to that height.
The account of the Superintendent of Kaukhali Light House.
In his memoir – book, Romanthan, Mr. Prasanta Pramanik, an illustrious denizen of Kanthi, refers to "Bengal Administration Report of 1864 – 65" writeen by the then Superintendent of Kaukhali Light house. A part of the report quoted in the book gives a picture of the fateful day of 5th October. It may be recounted here for the viewers' sake. At 3 a.m. of 5th October, the wind suddenly stopped blowing and the lull lasted about an hour. Then it began to blow in gusts, occasionally with torrents of rain. After ten, there was another recess of half an hour. At about 10.30, the cyclone started blowing with all its wantonness. Hithertobefore, the wind had been blowing from the north –east, now it slightly veering direction began to blow from the east. Gradually it became so strong as to sweep away everything that fell its way. The gale continued up to 3 p.m. and then again veerld its way. The destructive strom blew from the south-west for the next one hour, bringing in sea – swelling that carried away men and cattle. At 5 p.m., the strom slackened a little and the sky became clear. By the time, there was waist – deep water outside the Light House.
"Who is to eat it ?"
1864 – cyclone or flood did not cause much damage to the crops. But though the harvesting season passed, the crops in fields stood or lay unreaped. When the Superintendent of the Light house asked a farmer about it, the farmer said, "who is to eat it ?". The frozen grief caused by the heavy loss of relations sucked up the vitality of people, made them prostrate.
Cyclone of 1867.
Two years passed 15th October was almost passing out peacefully. Suddenly a strom came from the sea. It came ashore near Kanthi. As it is recorded in "Bengal District Gazetteers (Midnapore)", "the storm traveled with the usual rotatory motion from south-west to north –east across the district" (Medinipur). The cyclone was 20 miles in diameter and the area over which it blew was completely wrecked. It played havoc in Medinipur town. In the whole district, 3,049 people were killed.
Cyclone of 1874.
After 1867, the respite was a little longer. Six years passed without any major incident. In the meantime the dyke along the margin of the sea had been complete. All the small streams leading to the sea through the dyke was sluiced to prevent the cyclone-driven sea-water from flowing upstream. However, the Pitchhaboni sluice was under repairing and, therefore, a side channel was left open with embankments of old low level. But this time, the violence of the wind surpassed that of 1864, and a storm – wave, higher than that of 1864, burst upon the centre of the sea-dyke with full force. The storm – driven sea-wave traveled up the openining of the Pitchhaboni stream, both breached and overtopped the lower section of the embankments, and inundated a large area. The wind was to strong that the two storeyed house at Kanthi was wrecked.
Flood.
Fate of Sub-division people.
Most of the area being low-lying, the Rasulpur and Keleyghai rivers with numerous small streams having flown through the region and the drainage system not being adequate, it has been the fate of the subdivision to be often subeject to flood and water-logging in the rainy season. To name the wrost ones, the floods of 1913, 1920, 1923, 1926,1940 and 1942 were the nightmares. Short accounts of the last three are given here.
1923 – Flood.
Heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of Keleyghai and Kangsabati in August made the rivers in spate and the flood – water causing breaches in the embankments entered villages and cornfields. Dubda basin of Egra P.S., Barchowka basin of Pataspur with Kanthi and Owain basins turned to enormous pools of water and remained so for more than a month. The paddy crop of the season was totally washed away.
1926 – Flood.
The recurrent curse befell Kanthi again in 1926. hundreds of villages were marooned, acres of cornfield went under water, domestic animals lost life in hundreds, mud – built houses collapsed – people's misery knew no bounds.
Congress workers – Birendranath Sasmal, Kisoripati Roy, Mahendranath Maity, Pramathanath Bandopadhyay, Mohinimohon Das, Jyotish Chandra Ghosh and others –with all the school, college, library and youth organizations carried on the work of relieving people of their distress.
'Medinipur Flood Relief Committee' was formed with the noble – hearted Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy as its President and Birendranath Sasmal is its Secretary help in cash and kind came pouring in from different parts of India and ruin from abroad in response to their appeal, and the volunteers under their guidance worked day and night to lessen the agony of people.
1940 – Flood.
Flood occurred again in 1933 and 1938, but in 1939, owing to scarcity of rain, drought condition prevailed. Multiplying the misery of people, next year,i.e., in 1940 rains, the wild and uncontrollable Keleyghai broke the embakment chain again and went on the rampage. To give a translated verson of the report, published in a local news-paper 'Nihar' of 03.09.'40, "As our staff reporter, Mr. Sachidananda Pathak, writes from his first – hand experience from Bhimeswari of Bhagawanpur, owing to incessant rain from 6th Bhadra ( of Bengali calender ) to 13th Bhadra, all the roads and fields of the area have gone under water. To make matter worse, since the Thursday night of 13th Badhra, the flood water of Keleyghai, after breaking the embankment, has been flowing violently over the region. Houses have collapsed, people are bewailing, communication has become impossible".
The Flood Relief Committee of Kanthi, the President and the Secretary of which were Natendranath Das and Nikunjabehari Maity respectively, opened eleven centres in Bhagwanpur, Pataspur and Egra police stations from where they distributed relief materials including 3,000 maund ( about ) rice among 6,227 distressed people.
The Relief Committees of Bhagawanpur, Ramnagar and Pataspur P.S.'s also did their best to alleviate the suffering of people. The representatives of Medinipur Flood Relief Committee also distributed relief materials from Tajpur, Kalapunja and Kunjapara and Kanthi centres. Help was provided, from Tajpur centre, to one hundred families of six villages of No. 4 unionin Egra P.S., from Kunjapara centre to 1077 people of 282 families living in four Unions of bhagwanpur and Pataspur P.S.'s. 318 people of 78 distressed families received help from Kalapunja centre and 599 persons of 125 families in 18 villages of Kanthi P.S. got food, clothes or money from the Kanthi centre.
Cyclone and Flood of 1942. (Bangla 49 er banya)
Cyclone and flood are two usual features in the southern part of Medinipur – Kanthi and Tamluk. But in regard to the velocity of the storm, the height reached by the sea – waves striking the land, the colossal loss of life and property they caused, people had never seen a parallel of the cyclonic flood of 1942. The storm blew at a speed of 180 to 200 miles per hour, the invading sea – waves were twenty feet high and there was no warning, no precaution taken as the men at the helm of the administration were worse than idle spectators.
It was Friday, 16th October, 29 the Aswin of the Bengali year 1349. The preliminary ceremonials to the Durga Puja Festival had been performed the previous day. It was the day of Maha – Saptami, the seventh day of the fornight of the Goddess. Since the day before, the sky had been overcast with cloud. Now let us listen to the Sub-divisional magistrate of kanthi Mr. Samar Sen, who saw the storm from the safest building in the area and whose report has, of Mr. Prasanta pramanik.
"It had been raining in the morning with strong wind… At 11 A.M. I found it difficult to keep the doors and windows of the office downstairs in position. Some of them had already been blown away. Then the cyclone came with unprecedented fury. Within two hours, doors and windows had been blown in ; papers and furniture were floating about and the masonary walls collapsed. The rain was split into fine mist and visibility was 5 yds. It continued with unabated fury till 3 P.M. The wind, having, in the mean while, veered from East to South at about 2 P.M. The surrounding areas were covered with water but we did not know then that it was sea-water and at any rate one could not see much. At 3.15 P.M. it started again with increasing fury and at 9 P.M. showed signs of exhaustion. By 13 midnight the atmosphere was normal. We could only gather that many trees had been uprooted and many houses had been collapsed."
Here it may be remembered that the office that Mr. Sen describes in his report was housed in a three-storeyed building, once called "Nimak Kuthi or Nim Kuthi", and that the second floor of the building was destroyed in this very cyclone of 1942.
Mr. Sen's report, as quoted by Mr. Pramanik in his memoir 'Romanthan' continues to narrate what he saw the next day-"In the morning 17.10.42 it was a most unusual site (sight). Not a hut was standing within the miles of Contai. Fields were completely under water and the dead bodies were completely under water and dead bodies were floating on the fringe of the town and many had perished under collapsing huts. Roads were under water, fallen trees and roof-tops [ thatched or corrugated]. Tanks had been filled up with water,huts, trees, animals and men (some floating and some pressed under trees and huts). Death –toll had apparently been heavy but nothing could be seen on the country side which had gone completely under water. Bridges had collapsed or had been washed away, boats had sunk and we were completely cut off. The population had become demoralized and dreaded. The havoc and loss were great enough to leave them completely numbed. Crops, so beautiful and good only 24-hours ago, had completely vanished and it was obvious much food grains had been washed away".
The extent of loss, according to the Govt. report referred to by Mr. Pramanik in his book are as follows:
i) Thirteen thousand people were killed and many were injured many of whom died in few days on account of inadequacy of medical attendance.
ii) Seventy five percent of the cattle died and no milk for babies,or for women, having just become mothers or going to be so, was available for a good many days.
iii) About a lakh houses were destroyed in addition to innumerable houses which were more or less damaged.
iv) Most of the people had no clothes or warm clothes to put on or bedding to slip on.
v) 60% and 70% crops in Pataspur and Egra police stations was lost respectively, while in other police stations it was lost totally.
vi) No trees stood erect and the loss on this accout was unaccountable.
vii) The communication of all sorts was lost and remained so for a good many days.
viii) Salt –water entered every pond and the problem of the unavailability of drinking water continued remaining unsolved for many days.
ix) The dykes built by Irrigation Department to keep out the sea-water lost its existence in many places, letting in the tidal waves that now regularly entered the paddy-fields and made them unyielding for the next year.
x) Three-fourths of the food-stock was washed away and it was one of the main reasons that caused famine next year.
xi) Land – labourers, fishermen, weavers, carpenters and small shop-keepers become ployless in large number and for many days to come.
xii) Many school – houses kissed the ground.
xiii) Cholera and other epidemics broke out.
xiv) Many children as a result of their parents having been killed in the cyclonem become orphans.
xv) The cattle surviving the cyclonic flood died later without any grazing ground and without any fooer to feed on.
Ramnagar, being nearest to the sea, was the worst – affected P.S. area. The enormity of the casualty here can be easily understood from the single instance of Troilakyanath Pradhan, who alone of a family of twenty seven members survived. The whole P.S. area was a large sprawling necropolis, so to say. In Egra few houses were left standing. Potaspur was under water. Khejuri seemed to be an extended part of the sea. The life of those who did not die immediately was precarious. Bhagawanpur was no exception.
People's power of endurance was tested to the limit and they passed it with distinction. Their love for freedom was also tested. And in this case too they did not yield.
Rise and fall of some places in Kanthi (Contai) Sub-division.
[Continued from page 4]
Hijli –From the Sea to the Sea.
Stability in the past and at present.
Changes,rise and fall, are but natural. In the past, whether to speak of historical facts or geographical, stability was at a premium. Constancy was never a usual feature of a territory,a kingdom or a state, especially if its land was fertile, it had a strategic position from the military point of view or it had commeraial prospects. Land –surface or contours too often changed, especially if it was the coastal area. But now stability is fairly usual. Political change, brought about more by peaceful means than by violence, is regular. Similarly, the coastal area also has become stabler. The sea-level that rose ten mili-meters every year in the past is now rising only 0.20 to 0.30 mm yearly.The land–formation process in the coastal area has become almost complete. Though the land-surface is sinking one to four milimetres every year as a result of consolidation of the underground slit-layer, it is almost neutralized by the new silt-deposit of the rivers.
Problem to trace the history of Hijli.
While the whole Kanthi-Hijli region underwent remarkable vicissitudes, the changes that Hijli and Kheju—went through were almost kaleidoscopic. The historical and geographical accounts of Hijli are as much interesting as they are confusing and controversial. Much of this controversy and confusion owes to the frequent changes of the shape,boundary and character of the terrain and the same name being applied to the village, Pargana and the kingdom. Without going into controversies, efforts are taken to trace the broad points of historical and geographical facts about the rise and fall of Hijli.
Hijlikhanda or Hijli kingdom in the early period.
In the earliest period of its history, up to 1568, Hijli, included in Maljhita-mahal, to the boundary of Kanthi P.S. and covering about 1,098 square miles, was an appendage to Orissa. Nominally tributary to Orissa, the semi-independent kings of the Das dynasty ruled over the Hijli khanda from Bahiri, a busy business centre at the time near the sea,for the place where the village hijli is now located was not yet fit for habitation of decent people. After 1568 when Orissa yielded of Afgan invasion, the political dominance over Hijli-Khanda was bound to change hands. During this period, a pathan Youth, with the help of the local people trained by him, established a state with hijli as its capital. The Pathan youth gradually gathered strength, assumed the name 'Ikhtiar Khan' and, with the help of a neighbouring landlord, conquered the whole of the old Hijlikhand.
Map of Hijli and Battle Field
Pathan rule.
This Pathan dynasty, through very short-lived surviving only about three decades, produced a king, Taj Khan, Masnad-I-Ala, who gave a longer lease of life to the dynasty in people's memory than a hundred kings. Taj Khan, a man of ascetic nature, reigned only for two years, from 1649 to 1651, and then, handing over the rein of the kingdom to his son Bahadur khan, lived the life of austerity as a saint. Taj khan, while he ruled, made no distinction between the Hindus and the Muslims and by his behaviour inspired reverence in all.
A King hold in high esteem.
Taj's brother, Sikander Khan Pahalwan, was no less remarkable, though in another way. He possessed a fabulous strength and remained a bachelor all through his life. People still tell different tales of his Herculean strength and the tell-tale stick he used, too heavy for a man to lift above ground, is enough evidence of his extraordinary physical power. People, believing that the stick must have some divine power in it, are eager to touch it.
Maugs & Portuguese.
The Mughal rule, to which the Pathans were subordinate, lasted from the 16th to the first half of the 18th century. Theadministration was naturally weakest in this remote area and depended entirely on the ability of the local rular or administrator. Taking advantage of this situation, the Portuguese and the Maugs, in order to gratify their gold-lust, carried on the heinous activities like robberies, piracy and slave-trading in this area. Here they were objects of terror as much as the 'Burgees' were in the upper region. Bengali coined a phrase 'Mauger Muluk' meaning 'a place of no-law' and the Kaukhali river was called the Rogues' river.
Appearance of the English.
The Portuguese had an agency at the Hijli island from where they were ousted by the Mughals in 1636. About the same time, the Dutch began their trade here, and the English appeared as rivals in the latter half of the century. The appearance of the English was dramatic. Job Charnock sent a fleet that conquered the island easily. The Mughal contingent in charge of protecting the island fled at the sight of the enemy leaving the fort and batteries. Charnock himself arrived on 27th February,1687. Then, after taking up the king-maker's role, the East India Company got the authority over Medinipur by a treaty signed by Meer Kashim on 27th September,1760. The English territory was divided into three divisions one of which,the Fouzdary of hoogly at first comprised the whole of Maljhita Sarkar including Hijli.
Emergence of Hijli Island.
Regarding the island of Hijli, sometime in the 16th century it raised its head from the depth of the sea, near Rasulpur and Bhagirathi or Hoogly estuaries, nourished by the silt brought down by the rivers. Another island, Khejuri, that made its appearance to the north-east about the same time, was separated from it by the Kaukhali river. The two islands remained separate till towards the close of the century when the bay filled up and they joined the mainland. The narrow stream, Kunjapur Khal, running between Hijli and Khejuri still bears the faint memory of the once navigable'Rogue river'.
Hijli Harbour.
By 1587, Hijli had become a trade centre. From the account of Ralph Fitch we come to know that then Hijli was a great haven where every year many ships from Negapattam, Sumatra and Malacca loaded rice, cotton-cloth, wool, sugar, pepper-corn and other victuals. The position of the island and the rich hinterland helped the trade to flourish fast and by the end of the century it had become a great emporium. The English entering the scene late, their larger vessels began to load and unload cargoes at this harbour in the second half of the 17th century.
Glory gone.
Then the days of glory gradually come to an end. Cyclones lashed the island every few years, if not every year. The dykes and embankments often broke letting in flood and sea-water. The vitiate vapour rising from the salt-producing fields made the atmosphere unhealthy. The business was being shifted to safer places. The principal part of the capital lying south to the present Kasba Hijli was swallowed up by the sea. Hijli is no longer a kingdom, not a haven, nor even a town ; it is a village Kasba hijli, a big village at most.
Hijli Mosque & Hijli Fair.
But all is not lost. The mosque built by the Afgan rular in 1661 is still there. It is fifty feet long and twenty five feet wide and capped by three round –shaped towers. Taj Khan, with his brother, wife and sons are lying buried in the vicinity.The east-facing mosque with three front doors, that can be seen from the deck of a ship sailing to or from Kolkata crossing the Bay of Bengal and that has stood the wear and tear, particularly in a salty weather, for about three centuries and a half, is a fine specimen of architectural skill of the old age and excites a sense of veneration in man. Every year, during the Uras festival of the Muhammedans, people in thousands, both Muslim and Hindus, come from distant places to the Hijli fair that takes place on this occasion, usually in spring time. An aura of holiness seems to be lingering around the mosque and the tombs and the stick.
Controversy about an Encounter between Pratapaditya of Jessore and Isa Khan of Hijli.
Kingdoms of Jessore & Hijli :
Pratapaditya of Jessore is a famous historical figure. He was one of the most outstanding Barobhuians' (twelve landlords) of Bengal who off and on tried to break away from the shackles of Mughal-subordination. Pratapaditya and one Isa khan Matchlandi of hijli, as the story goes, were neighbours, whose kingdoms were separated by the flow of the Hoogly or bhagirathi. Both of them were called the landlords of 'Bhati' because a large part of their kingdoms raised its head above water only in time of ' Bhata ' or bhati' (ebb-tide) .
Pratapaditya commits a massacre :
Pratapaditya's father who later assumed the name, Bikramaditya, and his uncle, Basanta Roy, jointly established their kingdom in 1576. before death, Bikramaditya divided the kingdom between his son and his brother. However, on becoming king, Pratapaditya somehow became suspicious of his uncle's supposed conspiracy and killed him with all his sons but one. Raghab Roy, the only surviving cousin of Pratapaditya, was said to have escaped Pratap's wrath by hiding himself in the clumps of 'Katchu' ( a small shrub-like plant the root of which is edible), thereby earning a nick-name Katchu Roy. Later he was arrested and confined. Rupram Basu, a relative of the Roy family, secretly sent a massage to Isa khan with an appeal to rescue Raghab.
'Pagri-badal' friends :
Isa khan and Pratapaditya who swore friendship by exchanging their 'Pagris' or head-gears and were, therefore, called 'Pagri-badal' ( 'badal' means exchange) friends. After receiving the message, Isa khan held a conference with his ministers and military officers. A plan was taken to rescue the confined prince without going into a direct confrontation between the two kingdoms. A person named Balabanta Singha or, according to some, Balabanta Khoja was entrusted with the charge of the operation. Pratapaditya was known to be a man of his word. Once he made a promise, he kept it at all costs. The plan was to exploit this distinguishing quality of Pratap. Bhimsen Mahapatra, a minister of king, had an important role in the matter.
The execution of the plan :
According to the plan, with a few men Balabanta went to Jessore, where he was welcomed, as usual. Balabanta asked for a private appointment with Pratapaditya to deliver a secret message and there was no reason to deny it. When they were alone in a room, Balabanta suddenly sprang upon the Jessore King with a knife, overpowered him and told him that he would kill him unless he promised to release Raghab. Being entrapped, Pratapaditya made the promise. So Raghab was freed and Balabanta brought him to Hijli where he was given asylum.
Pratap's revenge :
Pratap felt insulted and resolved to take revenge upon Isa Khan. With a large fleet, he attacked Hijli and had a fierce battle with the Hijli force for eighteen days at Darua. Eventually, Isa Khan was killed and Bhimsen Mahapatra, who lived at bahari, a few miles from the battlefield, threw himself with his family into bhimsagar, a big tank dug by him, in apprehension of ignominious treatment at the hand of vindictive Pratap.
The background of the story :
This is the story. The story seems to be very plausible. Hijli and Jessore were close neighbours. It seems natural for them to have a friendly or hostile or even an ambivalent relation between them. To get involved in the family fend of a neighbour and consequently run into a conflict appear nothing unnatural. The story is mentioned by many writers like yogesh Chandra Basu, Anandamoy Roy, Nikhilnath Roy and others.
Loopholes of the story :
However, some discrepancies of accounts and some historical facts not going with the story everywhere make one skeptical about it. The anomalies are listed below :
i) Hijli Island came up from the depth of the sea in the 16th century and until the next century it was not fit for habitation of decent people. During the reign of Pratapaditya, the island was almost a no-man's land. [ 'Hijlir Masanad-i-Ala by Mahendra Nath Karan]
ii) According to the historical records, so far known, there was only one king of Hijli, holding the honourable title 'Masnad-i-Ala', his name was Taj khan, not Isa Khan, and he became king only in 1628, seventeen years after Pratap's death.
iii) As it is referred to in Crommelin's letter, Bhimsen Mahapatra, who was said to have commotted suicide by throwing himself into water, in fact, died of typhoid fever at an advanced age.
Loopholes not decisive :
The points of disagreement, stated above, however, cannot tell the last word. When they are considered minutely, it may be found that they do not nullify the episode altogether.
i) Long before the emergence of the Hijli island, the Hijli kingdom had been in existence. In fact, when the island came up it was called hijli island because it belonged to the Hijli kingdom.
ii) The title Masnad-i-Ala [ some say Masnad-i-Ali and people pronounce it Matchhandali] suggests a person taking a lofty seat. It was a title of honour. Many rulers are found to have used the title and and it is difficult to ascertain whether they all were conferred by the genuine authorityor some of them were just peacock's feathers. Whatever it may be, the title is not a strong evidence to go by.
iii) The Bhimsen episode too is not any strong evidence. To escape retribution, he might have fled with his family leaving some faithful persons to spread the rumour that he had committed suicide. It might be a case as happened to Netaji. Bhimsen might have returned after the death of Pratapaditya and died later of typhoid.
Conclusion :
After the fall of the Orissa kingdom in 1568, the fate of its tributary kings was precarious. They switched over their allegiance to the Mughals or to the Afgans according to the demand of the situation and kingdoms too often changed hands.
People forget deates and years, confuse names, but events are hardly forgotten. Sometimes stories are cooked up to serve some purpose. But in this case, the story adds a new feather to nobody's cap-neither to Isa khan's, nor to bhim Sen's, nor even to Pratapaditya's, therefore, serves no special purpose. It needs more research work before giving a final verdict on the matter.
Khejuri.
Where the Ganga ends up her more than a 2,500 km long journey, embraces Sagar Dwip with two outspread arms and then plungs into the sea, Khejuri stands on the western bank of the western arm of Ganga, alias Bhagirathi, alies Hoogly. In fact, the twin sisters, Khejuri and Hijli, were born of Bhagirathi-silt and suffered or enjoyed the same kind of fate or fortune.
From the beginning of the 16th century,a sandy tract of land started raising its flat surface above the sea level,by the middle of the 17th century it had assumed the form of an island, and towards the end of the century, there were two islands, Khejuri and Hijli. The name Khejuri, perhaps, owes its origin to the date palm trees growing abundantly at the time because in the Port Trust Survey Report the place was referred to as 'a date – palm place'.
During the Pathan regime of Hijli,some sort of civilized people lived at Khejuri. When around 1687 Job Charnock, driven by Sayesta Khan from Hoogly, came to Hijli for shelter and was encountered by the imperial force, hemarked Khejuri as a full-fledged island. Broken images of gods unearthed in Khejuri also lend credence to the assumption.
But after the fall of the Taj Khan –dynasty, the weakness of the Mughal rule at the border areas came to the fore, and the Maugs and the Portuguese went on plundering, pillaging and, above all, trafficking in human beings. People in large number deserted the place, and Khejuri became mostly a habitat of wild animals. In his account of the East Indies, Alexander Hamilton wrote in 1723 that in Khejuri island lived the fishermen and the hogs were so cheap there that he bought twenty one hogs, each weighing 50 to 80 pounds, only for seventeen rupees.
In 1765, Khejuri came under the administration of the East India Company which naturally took measures to make the island fit for the habitation of man. Another change of situation added to the prosperity of Khejuri. The Kaukhali river separating Khejuri from Hijli was found deep enough for ships to cast anchor. Towards the end of the 18th century Khejuri began to serve as an Anchorage. In Rennel's map, drawn in 1780, a naval path passing by the Khejuri island is shown. As it was neither easy nor safe for big cargo or passenger ships to sail to Kolkata, they would lie at anchor at Khejuri, and the cargoes and passengers were taken to Kolkata in small ships called sloops. At the mouth of the Bhagirathi, the guard-boat system was introduced to maintain safety of the voyage.
The business of the East India Company flourished and with it the importance of Khejuri increased. Quarters for agents,Port office, waiting rooms for passengers – a lot of construction work was done, there was enough job opportunity. Khejuri developed rapidly.
At first Kolkata newspapers would send speed-boats to collect fresh information from the eropean ships just sailing in and riding at anchor at Khejuri. In 1851, Dr. W.B.O' Shaughnessy, the Professor of Chemistry of Kolkata Medical College (Calcutta Medical College), got contract of Laying telegraph line for the 82 mile-long (about 132 km) distance from Kolkata to Khejuri, via Diamond Harbour, Bishnupur, Mayapur and Kunkrahati. Thus Khejuri got a position in the map of India by virtue of having the first Telegraph office installed here. A highly paid English Officer was in charge of the Post Office.At his disposal, there were two post-boats to ply between Khejuri and Kolkata carrying letters and parcels.
But Khejuri's eminence did not last long. Cyclones in company with flood struck the land repeatedely. The cyclones of 1807,1823,1831 and 1844 were remarkable. The Kaukhali river was losing depth. Khejuri ceased to be a safe haven. By 1822, the plying of the post-ships between Khejuri and Kolkata had become dangerous. A New Anchorage near Sagar Dwip was to be set up. The Europeans started leaving the island. The 1864 storm and flood drove the last nail on the coffin of Khejuri's prosperity. Khejuri port was abandoned.
The Post Office building is still standing but it no longer functions, the office has been shifted elsewhere. The signs of ruins lie scattered here and there. In front of the P.O. building, there are a cannon and a cnnon-carrier. Khejuri market, which must have been the hub of the town, is now wrapped in silence. Sahebnagar, where the Europeans had their Quarters, is now cornfield. The Kaukhali (Cowcolly) Light house built in 1820 to show guiding light to the ships in the sea now stand wrapped in darkness. From 1925 January, the Light House has stopped showing light. Some of the naval or civil officers and workers who came here from the other end of the world, braving the storm-ruffled sea lie buried here. The sight of their graves may remind one of the warning given by Thomas Gray :
"The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,Awaits alike the inevitable hour. The paths of glory lead but to the grave".
But there is no such thing as complete end. A so called end only suggests the beginning of a new phase. Like the mythical bird phoenix, Khejuri has risen again from the debris of the old. In the freedom movement the people of Khejuri played a glorious part. It has been the abode of highly educated persons, great teachers, eminent lawyers, authors of distinction and men and women showing brilliance in different direction. It can take pride in its educational institutions, libraries, literacy and theatrical organizations, presses and many more things.
Bahiri.
Bahiri wrapped in mystery :
A cluster of villages, 'Bahiri' by name, comprising three smaller villages – Paikbarh, Deulbarh and Dihi bahiri- stands about eight kilo meters north of the Kanthi town. That it is not one of the thousands of Bengal's villages surrounded by cornfields to sustain them, that it saw better days in some remote past, that it has many untold stories to tell is writ large everywhere about the cluster. The mysteries lying hidden in the gaping low-land, in the wilderness lying scattered here and there, under the big mounds raising their heads incongruously, under the water of the big tanks are still awaiting curious archaeologists or research-scholars to unveil them.
Relics found :
Relics discovered so far are less than the tip of an ice-berg. While digging ponds, remnants of wells, the rims of which were paved with brick measuring 13" x 7" x 2 " and semi-circular in shape, have been found at the depth of 7 to 8 feet. Very old blocks of brick, the kind of which is no longer in use, are often found under the earth or on the ground stone images, through mutilated, one of which is supposed to be of lord Buddha in meditation, have been found by men engaged in some digging-work.
Bahiri Jagannath Temple 
Tanks & a tree :
Three big tanks Bhimsagar, Lohit-sagar and Hem-sagar are sure to make a visitor wonder which king or landlord got them dug up in order to solve the drinking – water – problem of people. A very old tamarind tree, standing at the edge of a high ground and bearing the tell-tale marks of chain or rope around its bulky trunk, might make one see with one's mind's eye the days when Bahiri was said to be an important river-port load or unload their cargoes.
Big mounds:
Four big mounds – Pal-tikri, Salt-tikri, Dhan-tikri and Godhan-tikri, as they are called –of which two are now left, might have been, some say, Buddhist Stupas or topes round which monks used to walk offering their worship toLord Buddha. They might also have been, some others contend, the ruins of old palaces or some sort of constructions.Local people try to trace their history to the epic age of the Mahabharata. Nothing so far has been established, however.
Temple:
At Deulbarh (significantly, 'Deul' means temple and 'Barh' means circle or area), There is a temple of Lord Jagannatha, which commands admiration of the viewers. The temple is of two parts – Sikhar Deul (main temple) and the Jagmohon ( the frontal part) –both of which face the east. Above the entrance to the Jagmohon, there are a few sculptured lotuses and an inscription in Oriya. The inscription tells us that the temple was built in 1506 Sakabda, i.e.,1584 of the Christian era, on a Wednesday, the 17th day of the Bengali month of Baisakha. According to inscription, the temple was entrusted for its maintenance to the preceptor Gadadhar and the village Deulbarh was given to him to meet the expenses. Another stone-script between Jagmohon and the main temple informs that Bibhisan Das, son of Padmanabha Das, who were descendants of Kashi Das, built the temple and installed the images of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra in it, though at present no idol is found there. The main temple is 40 ft. high, while the Jagmohon is 35 ft. high.
An Outline of its history :
Although Bahiri is yet to find a chronicler to write its history, the indirect references made about it in Madlapanji (Script on palm leaves preserved in the Jagannath temple of Orissa), baisnav verses on Sri Chaitanya and elsewhere are gleaned by local scholars like Mahendranath Karan, Premananda Pradhan and Prasanta Pramanik and the historian Jogesh Chandra basu in order to construct an outline of its history. Much before Hijli harbour came into existence, in about the 8th or the 9th century Bahiri had risen from the sea in form of an island near the estuary of the Rasulpur River. By riverways and the sea-route, it was connected with Tikasi, Birbandar, Patna (in Medinipur), Kamarda, Baharganja, Serkhanchauk, Chunpara, and, of course, Tamralipta, and also the outer world. Numerous place-names ending with '-dah' or '-daha' [ meaning Lagoons,whirlpools or deep water] like Laudah, Kumirdah, Jhapardah, Amardah or Marisdah give ample evidence of the place once having many big or small lagoon-like water-bodies created by the affluents flowing through the area. This advantageous position made Bahiri the administrative centre of the Maljhita-mahal, the feudal estate of Sujamutha, hijli-khanda ar Hijlimandal in different periods of history.
Two royal dynasties :
In 'Chaitanya Charitamrita' it is mentioned that Gopinath who got the title 'Pattanayak' from the Orissa-king was the tributary rular of the Maljhita Dfandapat under the Orissa-king, Pratap Rudradev, who reigned from 1497 to 1540. It is presumed that Gopinath Pattanayak rulled over his kingdom that included Hijlikhanda from Bahiri. From the references in 'Aryaprabha', 'Mahiswa-tattwa-baridhi', and 'Gouder Itihas, by Rajanikanta Chakrabarty, it may be inferred that before the Pattanayak dynasty there had been another Hindu dynasty, founded by some Mukunda Das, tributary to Orissa, for about three centuries, having bahiri or Bahirimutha as its administrative centre. Haricharan Das, the 21st king of the dynasty, is referred to by Ralph Fitch as the king of Hijlikhanda and as 'a good friend to strangers'.
A capital reduced to a humble cluster of villages :
As in course of time the sea withdrew itself south-ward, the rivers changed courses or dried up and, above all, Hijli island came up as a flourishing sea-port, Bahiri or Bahirimutha gradually faded into the background. Lastly the cyclone and flood of 1864 dealt a mortal blow to the place. To quote O'Malley, "In Bahirimutha, terrible destruction spread over an area of 56 Square miles, the destruction being greater here than elsewhere, as the villages were larger, more numerous, and more thickly populated". To fill up the cup of misery, famine and pestilence raided the area at the heels of the cyclonic flood. Thus the place was reduced to its present state.
Nomenclature :
As to the name of the cluster of villages Bahirimutha or in short bahiri, there is a lot of controversy. Villages or towns are christened in two ways. Men of knowledge and culture give names to their lodgings and habitations in keeping with their ideals or in commemoration of their favourite leaders or idols. Some place-names come up through the efforts of common people while trying to locate them by using some identifications marks. The name given in this way is often changed and hewed to make it sound more homely, more handy, more accustomed to the local tongue. This often accounts for the difficulty faced while trying to trace it to the root.
'Bihar' to 'Bahiri'!
Apparently, the name Bahiri has been evolved through the utterance of common people. The place, being out of Dandabhukti (an adjacent kingdom), being the gateway to the outerworld, seruing as an outlet of the rain-water by the numerous streams passing through, might have been called Bahiri for the Bengali word may be, in some way semantically related to 'outside'. However, a more logical conclusion would be to think that the presence of the 'Bihars' or Buddhist monasteries caused the name of evolve out of them. After the annexation of Kalinga to Asoke's empire and after his conversion to Buddhism, the whole Orissa came under the influence of the religion. While visiting Taralipta in the 7th century, Hiuen Tsian noticed ten Bihars there where, as he says, more than a thousand monks lived Bahiri, being so near to Tamralipta, being so well-connected with it by waterways, must have been influenced by Buddhism, and the mounds-Pal-tikri, Dhan-tikri, Godhan-tikri – were Buddhist Bihars, as they are thought to be. Aand the name 'Bahiri' may have been derived from them.
Jalamutha Estate [ Basudebpur Zeminderi].
Foundation of the estate.
With the fall of the Masnad-I-Ala dynasty, the Hijli kingdom was divided mainly into two large estates – Majnamutha and Jalamutha – and they were placed under the charge of two erstwhile officials of Bahadur Khan, the last king of the Pathan dynasty, namely Dwarakanath Chowdhury and Dibakar Chowdhury who were said to have been the respective founders of these two estates.
In fact, the history of the Jalamutha Estate traces to an earlier time. For, Mr. Bayley in his Report on the Jalamutha Estate says, "The property in the parganah appears from genealogical table in the collectorate to have descended from Kishen (Krishna) Panda to Beru (Biru) Chowdhuree, then to Gopal Chowdhuree, than to Dibakar Chowdhuree" and so on. From the private records kept in Basudebpur palace, it is learnt that Krishna Panda had been in charge of the estate from 1584 to 1608, and after his death his eldest son, Harinarayan Chowdhury (whose pet name was, perhaps, Beru or Biru) was in power from 1608 to 1645, and thereafter Krishna's youngest son, Gopal Narayan had a tenure from 1645 to 1685. After the death of Gopal Narayan, Harinarayan's eldest son, Dibakar Chowdhury became the landlord of the estate. It may be that Krishna Panda was merely an official, under the Hijli king, in charge of collecting revenue and therefore the customary title of a landlord, 'Chowdhury', was not appended to his name, and after his death his two sons, Harinarayan and Gopal Narayan successively stepped into his shoes.
Dibakar Chowdhury.
Whatever may be, Dibakar Chowdhury was the first full-fledged landlord enjoying the power and liberty of a tributary king. His estate, with an area of 168 miles, comprised Parganas- jalamutha, bahirimutha, Paharpur,Gaonmesh, Nayachauk (Bayenda Bazar) Bhaintgarh, Kalindi, Balisai, Birkul, Agrachour, Mirgoda and Bhograi.
Dibakar's successors & Maratha invasion.
Dibakar Chowdhury had two sons Ramchandra and Bikramkisore. After his father's death, Ramchandra, by virtue of being the elder of the two brothers, became the lord and therefore assumed the title 'Chowdhury', while his younger brother, Bikramkishore retained the title 'Roy' the symbol of an elite-class. Ramchandra was in power from 1694 to 1734. At his death, as he had no son, his nephew (Brother's son), Lakshmi Narayan became the lord. But during his reign, the infamous Maratha invasion began and he was dispossessed of his kingdom.
Restoration of the Estate.
In 1770, the English, who in the meantime had become the proprietor of Midnapur along with Burdwan and Chitagong, restored most of the Maratha-occupied regions of Bengal including Jalamutha estate and installed Lakshmi-Narayan's son, Bir-narayan, in his father's position. The king Bir-narayan died in 1787 (according to O' Malley and Mr. Bayley the year was 1781) and then his son, Nara-narayan Chowdhury, become king and remained in power till his death in 1839 (according to the records kept in the custody of Basudevpur palace) or 1833 (according to the records in Medinipur Collectorate). After his death there was a dispute among the sons of Nara-narayan over the right to throne, and it was decided by the Company authority in favour of Rudra-narayan, the eldest son of Nara-narayan's first wife.
Rudranarayan & his mystery death :
However, Rudra-narayan's tenure lasted for only eight months and nine days, for then he died. His death is shrouded in mystery. It was alleged that his step-mother, having failed to enthrone her own son by fair means, poisoned him to death. However, the joint Magistrate of Medinipur, after investigation,declared the charge of murder insubstantial. What happened thereafter or was said to have happened was a parallel to the widely publicized Vowal-prince case that happened in the early part of the 20th century ( the story has been dramatized in Bengali cinema starred by Uttam Kumar). The Basudebpur case also made a lot of sensation at the time. The historian, Yogesh Chandra Basu, quotes some news –paper reports in his book, 'Medinipurer Itihas'.
Fact or story ?
According to those reports, as the men of funeral party brought the dead body of Rudra-narayan to a riverside for cremation, they were caught in a violent storm and they fled for shelter leaving the dead-body. Two monks, passing by that way, spotted the dead-body, marked signs of life in it, brought it to their make-shift cottage,and with the help of herbal medicine brought him back to life. Regaining consciousness, Rudra-narayan declined to go back to the palace and followed the monks to different places. Two years later, he felt the urge to visit his native place and came back to Medinipur where many people identified him.With the help of the then Jessore-king Baradakanta, he appealed to the sadar-Amin-Ala for redress, but ultimately his case was dismissed and he went away never to return.
Division of the Estate:
The estate was divided between the two half-brothers of Rudra-narayan – Krishnendra and Kumarendra, but until they came to age their mother, Krisnapriya, managed the affairs for them. When Krishnendra died, his son, Gajendra Narayan was a minor, so a Court of Wards was appointed to look after both the boy and his property. The boy grew up, had formal education but got no character. He led a luxurious and lascivious life and ran into debt. In 1876, he died leaving his immature adopted son, Bhupendra Narayan, his widow, Anandamoyee Devi and a lot of debt. Having been brought up by a Court of Wards that repaid the debt incurred by his deceased father, Bhupendra –narayan received the charge of estate in 1897, but, treading the path trodden by his adopting father, he was soon head over heels in debt. His estate was brought by Haripriya Devi, the widow of Kumarendra Narayan who had died in 1871. Kumarendra Narayan also had no son, so he had adopted yogesh Narayan as his son. After the death of haripriya Devi, Yogesh Narayan became the lord and started living at Kanthi. The 'Yogesh Nibas' near the outdoor section of Kanthi Hospital was the palace where he lived.
End of Zemindari :
In 1880, during the resettlement of land and estates, Jalamutha estate declined to bid for an extension of its rule. Consequently, the estate was brought under the direct management of the East India Company and the proprietors were allowed a 'Malikana, which was as good as a stipend or pension to be enjoyed successively by the descendants.
Relics :
The capital of the Jalamutha estate, Garh basudebpur, where the landlords lived is now in Egra Sub-division and P.S. Basudebpur. Haripriya H.S. School, established in 1885, along with a good many temples and tanks within the territory bear witness to the days of affluence, glory and charity of the estate. Of them the Nabaratna Temple of Jukhia village (now in Bhagawanpur P.S.), the temple of Krishnanagar and the tank of Irdinchi village are worth-mentioning. Regarding Krishnanagar, which is now in Khejuri P.S., it is said that the founder of the Jalamutha dynasty, Krishna Panda, set up his administration centre here and named the place after his own. Later the centre was shifted to Basudebpur.
Sujamutha Estate.
Sujamutha :
Besides the two major estates, Majnamutha and Jalamutha, there were a few smaller estates in the old Maljhita region extending from the Haldi river in the north to the Subarnarekha in the south-west. Of these one of the most remarkable was the Sujamutha estate, probably named after Shah Suja, the second son of Saha Jahan, who during his subahship reorganized the political divisions in the area. With an area of forty five square miles, the estate consisted of the Parganas- Sujamutha, Mahammadpur, Amarshi and Bhuniyamutha.
Foundation of Ranajhump Dynasty :
The predecessors of the dynasty came to Bengal from the hill-areas of Mayurbhanja. They belonged to a hunting race and were good archers. Coming to Bengal, they made their habitation near Kajlagarh which was then an uninhabited woodland. Under the leadership of one Gobardhan, these people constituted a formidable force and rendered a good service to the Hijli kings, earning the title 'Ranajhump' for their characteristic style of attacking the enemy. They plunged into the thick of a battle like a Suicide Squad [ 'Rana' means war and 'Jhump' means to plunge.] . After the fall of the Masnad-i-Ala dynasty of Hijli, the Ranajhump kingdom was founded around Kajlagarh with the sanction of the Mughals.
The Descendents :
The line of descent of the royal dynasty went as follows : Gobardhan → Madhab Chandra → Sridharnarayan → opalnarayan→ Gorachand→Narendranarayan→ Rajendra → Gajendra → Mahendra → Debendra → Gopalendra → olokendra ( all Narayanas). As it was the custom, after becoming kings, all of them assumed the title 'Chowdhury'. The sixth king, Narendra Narayan, had three sons – Rajendra, Raghabendra and Upendra – all of whom were minors at the time of their father's death. So their mother had to look after the kingly affairs until the eldest, Rajendra, came of age and relieved her.
Sources of income :
The kingdom might not be very large but the yearly turn over was by no means small. In those days one of the main sources of income of the landlords in the coastal salt-producing areas of Medinipur was the agency of salt, and the kings of Sujamutha were no exception.
A king to remember :
The tenth king, Debendra Narayan, accepted the ten-year settlement, offered by the East India Company, in 1793. This Debendra Narayan was a man of charity and a patron of culture. From time to time he arranged for seminars on Sanskrit Scriptures and invited scholars of repute to participate in them. He also invited men of endowments and gave them revenue-free land to settle on. From Bhatpara, a seat of learning in those days, in response to his invitation, came Ramkanai bachaspati, grandfather of Panchanan Tarkaratna [ on whom the Government conferred the title 'Mahamahopadhyay' and who repudiated it in protest against 'Sarda' law] and received land-gift from Debendra Narayan.
Another king of his father's mould :
Gopalendra, son of Debendra Narayan, ascended the throne in 1807. To his credit, the famous Kajlagarh Dighi ( tank), the water-area of which was four acres and the banks of which covered no less than three acres of land, on the bank of which the distinguished dramatist and poet Dwijendralal Roy spent three years as a settlement officer and still stands the Bijoychand Memorial H.S. School, was dug up during his tenure.
A black sheep :
As Goplendra had no son, his wife, the queen Sulochana adopted Golokendra, the son of her brother-in-law. So long as Golokendra remained a minor, a court of Wards conducted the kingly business. It also made proper arrangements for the education and training of the king designate. But Golokendra was given to luxury and indolence, became a libertine and Prodigal. Coming of age, he became the owner of the estate, got married as usual, but his vices possessed him more and more firmly. He was addicted to wine, spent money on women. It is said that that he smoked by burning notes, flew kites with ropes made of twisted notes, showered charity over worthless flatterers. Quite naturally he went to the dogs.
Fate overtakes :
.Golekendra fell defaulter in paying the revenue to the British authority and forfeited the estate which was then bought by the king of Burdwan, Mahatab Chand, in the name of the queen, Narayankumari Debi, for only 5.25 lakh rupees in 1867. The kind queen granted the ex-king and queen a stipend to live on. However, the degenerated king made an attempt to break into the royal treasure with the help of some men. He was caught and sent to prison. By the time the prison-term ended, his wife had died. Coming out of jail, the ex-king married again and tried to live in peace. But the debased and reckless life he had led started having its effect. He suffered from diseases difficult to cure and ultimately died in 1881, at the age of only forty five.
The Epitaph :
In splendour and glamour, the Sujamutha kingdom did not fall much behind others. The palace and the temple surrounded by a moat covered ten acres of land. It had all the usual features like the guest-house, the horse-stable, the elephant-shed, the soldiers barrack, the armoury with different kinds of weapon – muskets, shields, swords etc. Many festivals were observed with pomp and splendour ; gods and goddesses like Durga, Basanti and Gopal Jiew were worshipped ; musical and jatra performances were held ; big barges used to sail over the smooth surface of the big tank. Now everything belongs to the dusty past.
Panchet / Panchakote:
Rajgarh-its foundation :
By the Bajkul Road if one advances five miles from Egra, one will come to a crossing called Panchet Crossing. And from there if one takes the road running northward and walks about a mile and a half, one will get to Rajgarh, the capital of the old Panchet or Panchakote kingdom. Some say that the name Panchet is a combination of two words – 'Pancha' meaning five and 'int' that means a block of brick. On the other hand, some others say that 'Panchet' is a derivation of 'Panchakote' which means a place comprising five parts or words. At the same time, another significance of the name cannot escape attention. It is said that the founder of the estate, Murari Mohon Dasmahapatra, who had come from Rathipur in the Puri district of Orissa, discovered a temple of Lord Shiva in the forest and founded his capital there. And, Lord Shiva is also called 'Panchanan',one having five faces.
Panchet kings :
None of the first four kings of the dynasty- Murari Mohon, Sridhar Charan, Kesabram and Mangaraj –used the kingly title 'Chowdhury' and bore the title 'Mahapatra' instead, strongly indicating that they were government officials under the Oriya kings, for 'Mahapatra' was a title usual with a Government executive of a chief minister's rank. The fact also suggests that the Pathan or the Mughal rule had not yet extended to Orissa or Pataspur.However, the fifth king, Nityananda, used the title' Chowdhury', the title of a tributary king or landlord under the Mughals, implying that in the meantime the area had come under the Mughal rule. As nityananda had no son, after his death his cousin Jugalkisore, the son of Mangaraj's another son, Udayram, ascended the throne and at his death his son Brajakishore succeeded to the estate.
Maratha horror :
However, by the time the dark days of Maratha vandalism had set in. After the death of Mursid Kuli Khan, till Alibardy consolited his position, the political situation in Bengal was unstable. Taking advantage of this precarious position,the Maratha 'Bargees' led by Bhaskar Pandit invaded Bengal time and again.Making Pataspur their headquarters, they pillaged and plundered the whole Medinipur district and unleashed a reign of terror in the south-western part of Bengal. In 1751, Alibardy made a treaty with the Marathas by granting them Pataspur, pargana as security for 'Choutha' ( one fourth of the production). Even in the early part of the Company –rule, the Marathas often made forays into the English territory, particularly in Medinipur and Burdwan. At last in 1803, when a treaty between the Marathas and the English was signed, the 62 year long Maratha occupation of Pataspur came to an end.
Company period :
By the time Brajakisore having been dead and his wife, Renuka Debi Chowdhurani, being the sole heir to estate, the English handed over the reign of Pataspur to her. The Queen had no son, so she adopted Gopendra-nandan as her son. Under the care of a court of wards, Gopendra-nandan had higher education in Sanskrit, Bengali and English. Gopendra –nandan Chowdhury had seven sons of whom Jadabendra Narayan passed the B.A. examination with distinction and also acquired excellence in music. His fame as a musician spread far and wide.
The Palace :
The palace of Panchet kings, built during the Mughal period, still exists. It consisted of seven 'Mahals' or parts and more than a hundred rooms. The palace with spacious roofs, secret chambers and large, heavy, iron studded gate inspires awe and admiration in viewers. The one mile long and thirty feet wide moot which surrounds the palace and has now been reduced to a shallow ditch of fifty water is said to have been the practice-ground of boat-rowing one day.
Fair and Festival :
As the names of the kings may suggests, they came under the influence of Sri Chaitanya. They introduced the Dole festivel. Formerly it was observed within the boundary of the palace among the members of the royal family, but now it is observed outside the moat by all the people. On this occasion, a fair, attended by a large number of people coming from far and near, takes place and runs for seven days.From the Bengali year 1362, that is, 1955 of the Christian era, the fair began to have its location outside the moat and it is organized and conducted by the people of the five yards of of the Panchet village.
Glorious past :
Under the Panchet kings the area had an all-round development. Cottage vandalism, but almost died out in the British period. Education was not ignored either. From the account of the state of education in Medinipur given by O'Malley in the Gazette it is learnt that in 1909, when in the whole district there were only 119 secondary schools, Panchetgarh had one unaided high School, though the number of students was not more than forty one. Quite remarkably, in that year there was Madrasha at Pataspur with 65 pupils. The favourite poet of the Panchet kings, Ramchandra, wrote a book in Sanskrit on Geography entitled Pandav Digbijoy.
A brief note on Maratha invasion in Bengal :
For more than sixty years in the 18th century, the marauding cavalry soldiers from Maratha called 'Bargees', invaded Bengal again and again and carried on mayhem all through the Bengal territory on the western bank of the Bhagirathi, particularly in the districts bordering on Orissa. They robbed people, raped women, set fire to houses, cut off the limbs of people, sparing not even children and elderly people. Thus they created a panic and initiated a reign of terror in the name of collecting taxes-'Sardeshmukhi' (one tenth of production) and 'Choutha' (one fourth of the production). In 1720, by a treaty with the Delhi emperor, Muhammad Shah, the the Peswa Balaji Biswanath ( the Maratha Prime Minister) managed to have the permission to exact those taxes from the Deccan provinces. But Orissa and Bengali did not fall by the bizarre. Maratha standard of those days, this butchering, pillaging and plundering is something difficult to justify and has left a slur on the reputation of the Marathas.
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