(IV) History of Sundarbans
Since creation of Sundarban and its forests, so famous as ‘sundarban mangrove forests’ and largest in the world, these island-forests were under the rulers of both foreign and local origin. The prominent and major rulers amongst them were as follows:
{a} Kushan dynasty: Kujula Kadphises (c.a 30 - c.a 230)
{b} Pala dynasty: The Kamboja-Pala dynasty ruled parts of Bengal in the 10th to 11th centuries CE.
{b} Pala dynasty: The Kamboja-Pala dynasty ruled parts of Bengal in the 10th to 11th centuries CE.
{c} Sen dynasty : Bijoy Sen (1096 AD 1159AD), Ballal Sen
(1156-1179AD),Viswarup Sen (1206-1225 AD), Keshab Sen(1225-1230AD);
{d} Pathan (1204-1339 AD) and Mughal (1526-1857 AD) : 1st is Babur (1526-1530), last is Bahadur Shah II (1837-1857); during Mughol reign emperor Akbar appointed Todor Mall in 1582 as Diwan-I Asraf (Revenue Officer or Minister of Revenue) for the area; Prince Suja, the son of emperor Shahjahan divided the sundarbans region into several Revenue Divisions or Parganas by conducting survey and named as Nimakmahal, Junglemahal, Paihati Madanamalla, Sagar, etc.
{e} Baro Bhuinya : Bikramaditya (in Jessor) and his son Pratapaditya were the rulers of Sundarban during 15th century. Afterwards, the Arakans, Mug and Portuguese pirates made havoc destruction to Sundarbans which was stopped with the advent British rules. (d) Portuguese dynasty (1505-1961 AD):
{f} The British (1612-1947 AD): East India Company rule in Sundarbans (1757-1858): the British acquired Sundarban in the year 1828. In 1829, they conducted survey of Sundarbans for the first time in British period by Lt. Hodges and the entire Sundarbans were divided into smaller parts called ‘Lots’ and leased out ( which completed in 1868) to the local ‘Jamindars’, for reclamation, deforestation and cultivation. In 1878, the entire forests Sundarbans were declared as Reserve Forest and the management of the Sundarban Forests was given to forest department in the year 1879. Mr. M.U. Green was appointed the first forest officer of Sundaraban Forests.
(1156-1179AD),Viswarup Sen (1206-1225 AD), Keshab Sen(1225-1230AD);
{d} Pathan (1204-1339 AD) and Mughal (1526-1857 AD) : 1st is Babur (1526-1530), last is Bahadur Shah II (1837-1857); during Mughol reign emperor Akbar appointed Todor Mall in 1582 as Diwan-I Asraf (Revenue Officer or Minister of Revenue) for the area; Prince Suja, the son of emperor Shahjahan divided the sundarbans region into several Revenue Divisions or Parganas by conducting survey and named as Nimakmahal, Junglemahal, Paihati Madanamalla, Sagar, etc.
{e} Baro Bhuinya : Bikramaditya (in Jessor) and his son Pratapaditya were the rulers of Sundarban during 15th century. Afterwards, the Arakans, Mug and Portuguese pirates made havoc destruction to Sundarbans which was stopped with the advent British rules. (d) Portuguese dynasty (1505-1961 AD):
{f} The British (1612-1947 AD): East India Company rule in Sundarbans (1757-1858): the British acquired Sundarban in the year 1828. In 1829, they conducted survey of Sundarbans for the first time in British period by Lt. Hodges and the entire Sundarbans were divided into smaller parts called ‘Lots’ and leased out ( which completed in 1868) to the local ‘Jamindars’, for reclamation, deforestation and cultivation. In 1878, the entire forests Sundarbans were declared as Reserve Forest and the management of the Sundarban Forests was given to forest department in the year 1879. Mr. M.U. Green was appointed the first forest officer of Sundaraban Forests.
Thanks for sharing history of Sundarban Forest of West Bengal. I did not know it earlier. You are doing a good work in promoting tourism in the region and helping to save tigers.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Avishake Gazmer