Gopbhum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gopbhum or Gopbhumi[1] is a historical region of West Bengal state in Eastern India. It included the entire area between the Ajay and Damodar rivers, which is present-day Purba Bardhaman and Paschim Bardhaman districts of West Bengal.[2][3] English translation of the word 'Gopbhum' is 'The land of Gopa.

Historical region of East India
Gopbhum
Location West Bengal
Established: Not known
Language Sanskrit, Bengali and Hindi
Dynasties Sadgops
Historical Capitals Dhekur, Amrargar
Separated Area Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman
Five temples out of the ten at Amrargar - a pancha ratna, two sikhar deuls and two atchalas

Almost all the member of Sadgop caste say that their original name was Gop and their home was Gopbhum, the region between Ajay and Damodar river.[4][5]

History[]

According to Binoy Ghosh, Gopbhum had two Sadgop kings – one ruled from Amrargar and other from Dhekur (Trisasthigar) near present-day Gourangapur.[6][7]

Trisasthigarh or Dhekur[]

Dhekur, also known as Trisasthigarh was capital of Gopa King Ichhai Ghosh, He built temple of Goddess Bhavani there.[8] A little prior to 1833, a copper edict issued by King Iswar Ghosh (popular as Ichhai Ghosh) was found at Ramganj in Dinajpur district. As per the copper edict, Iswar Ghosh was son of Dhabal Ghosh, grandson of Bal Ghosh and great grandson of Dhurta Ghosh.[9]

Father of Ichhai Ghosh, Som Ghosh (also known as Dhabal Ghosh) was one of the most powerful ruler of Gopbhum, he invaded Senbhum.[10] Abhiram Sen of Senbhum was defeated and killed in the sudden attack by ruler of Gopbhum.[11]

Lau Sen of Moyna fought with King Ichhai Ghosh of Gopbhum. In this battle Ichhai Ghosh was defeated and part of Gopbhum was captured by Lau Sen.[12]

Amragarh[]

Around the 11th century, King Mahindranath ruled part of Gopbhum from his fort at Amrargar or Amragarh.[13] The early remains of the foundation of the fort can still be seen today.[14]

According to Binoy Ghosh, it is said that a Rishi named Bhallupada established a kingdom at Bhalki (a village also in Ausgram II CD block and near Amrargar) around 10th-11th century. He extended his kingdom over a large area. His son was Gopal and his grandson/great grandson was Mahendranath.

Mahendranath's kingdom is believed to have extended from Katwa to Panchakot, in what is now mostly a part of Purba Bardhaman and Paschim Bardhaman districts. King Mahendranath's fort was named after his queen Amaravati. It is said that the possible defeat of King Ichhai Ghosh, who held sway over large parts of Gopbhum, at the hands of Lau Sen, helped Mahendranath to extend his territories. In the course of time, the Amrargar family branched out to Dignagar, Bhalki and Kanksa.[15] According to the poets of that area in that period, the rulers of Amrargar were great warriors.[16]

Raja of Amrargar held sway till around the 17th century, when they were defeated by the Rajas of Bardhaman.[17]

Culture[]

Ichhai Ghosher Deul at Gourangapur

Ichhai Ghosher Deul is located at Gourangapur. It is one of the few rekh-deuls in Bengal. Scholars date it around 16th-17th century and it was possibly erected by the descendants of Ichhai Ghosh, to perpetuate his memory.[18][16][19][20]

Reference[]

  1. ^ Chakrabarti, Subrata (1990). Adaptation and Other Essays: Proceedings of the Archaeological Conference, 1988. Research Publications, Visva-Bharati.
  2. ^ O'Malley, Lewis Sydney Steward (1996). Birbhum. West Bengal District Gazetteers, Government of West Bengal.
  3. ^ Our Heritage (in Bengali). Sanskrit College, Department of Postgraduate Training and Research. 1987.
  4. ^ O'Malley, Lewis Sydney Steward (1996). Birbhum. West Bengal District Gazetteers, Government of West Bengal.
  5. ^ Ray, Ratnalekha (1979). Change in Bengal Agrarian Society, C1760-1850. Manohar.
  6. ^ Sanyal, Hitesranjan (1981). Social Mobility in Bengal. Papyrus.
  7. ^ Bengal (India), West (1965). West Bengal District Gazetteers: Barddhamān. State editor, West Bengal District Gazetteers.
  8. ^ Our Heritage (in Bengali). Sanskrit College, Department of Postgraduate Training and Research. 1987.
  9. ^ Sur, Atul Krishna; Sur, Atul Kumar (1963). History and Culture of Bengal. Chuckervertti, Chatterjee.
  10. ^ Ghosh, G. K. (2000). Legends of Origin of the Castes and Tribes of Eastern India. Firma KLM. ISBN 978-81-7102-046-1.
  11. ^ Saha, Prabhat Kumar (1995). Some Aspects of Malla Rule in Bishnupur, 1590-1806 A.D. Ratnabali.
  12. ^ Office, West Bengal (India) Census; Mitra, Asok (1952). District Handbooks. S. N. Guha Ray.
  13. ^ "Tourism : Burdwan District". bardhaman.gov.in. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  14. ^ "District Census Handbook, Series 20, Part XIIA" (PDF). Page 126, Places of Historical Importance. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  15. ^ Congress, Indian History (2001). Proceedings. Indian History Congress.
  16. ^ a b Ghosh, Binoy, Paschim Banger Sanskriti, (in Bengali), part I, 1976 edition, pages 111-116, Prakash Bhaban
  17. ^ Ganguly, Indrani (1987). The Social History of a Bengal Town. Himalaya Publishing House.
  18. ^ Experts, Disha (2021-07-01). (Free Sample) Blissful West Bengal General Knowledge for WBPSC, WBSSC & other Competitive Exam. Disha Publications.
  19. ^ "Alphabetical List of Monuments – West Bengal « Archaeological Survey of India". asi.nic.in. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  20. ^ Chakrabarti, Dilip K. (1993). Archaeology of Eastern India, Chhotanagpur Plateau and West Bengal. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. ISBN 978-81-215-0601-4.


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