----- HISTORY
OF PANSKURA [WB, INDIA] [PART-1] -----
Rupesh Samantha
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose came to Panskura
in 1938. No, there is nothing to be surprised. He came to Panskura. The holy
land of Panskura is carrying the history of his footprint. I’ll try my best to
find out the various history of the two blocks of Panskura from the past.
----- History of Panskura’s Name
-----
History researchers have different opinions about the name and history of Panskura.
These are very interesting.
1. According to the references,
there was no village named Panskura in the past. Kasijora Pargana was developed
on two banks of the Kansabati River. The Kasijora Pargana is today's Panskura.
This Kasijora name comes from the name of ‘Jora Cossai’. In 18th Century, a
branch of Kansai River flew over the villages of Gar-purosottampur, Pratappur, and
Raghunathbari etc. and submerged in the River Rupnarayan. Still, the location of this river is clearly
understood. The satellite imagery shows its evidence. This area is called the
'Old Bed of Cossai'. This river was known as Kopisha River or Gangura River or
Gouri River or Behulla River. The activity of the river was around 250 years
ago. At present, the location of this river is understood from different
drains. In this region, the wet sand is seen in the upper-lower of sand. This ‘Jora
Cossai’ has been converted into Cossai jurah-Cossijurah-kasijora.
2. The villages of Sundanagar,
Chanchia, Raghunathbari, Atbariya, etc. of present-day Panskura were not
connected to with Kasijora. These regions were associated with Tamralipta at
that time. In the medieval period, the Kassijora dynasty's palace was in Harashankargarh.
Then, in the tax plan of Todormal during the Mughal period Kasijora was under Odisha
government belonged to Jaleswar-Sarkar. During Akbar's reign, the Kasijora
dynasty was founded by Ganganarayan Roy. In 1573, he constructed Garbari at Champadali. On the east side of the Champadali some ruins are
found in the bamboo floor in the Kansai river bank. In the end of the Mughal
period, the rule of undivided Midnapore, in 1760, from the hand of Bengal's
Nawab Mirkasim, was transferred to the East India Company.
3. According to another
references, the name of Panskura came from Pashangara. Because of irrigation in
the past, Lockh-gate or ‘Pashang’ was built in this area of Midnapore Canal.
The place adjacent to the lock-gate was called 'Pashangara'. The name 'Panskura'
came from this ‘Pasangara’.
4. According to another references, the name Panskura
have been originated from the word "Panchkoora". The king of Kasijora
once gave some land to the poet Nityanand Chakrabarty at the time of his
‘Diksha’. His evidence is found in 'Shitala Mangal' - 'Panchakurya jami dilo
karya bramhottar’. The meaning of 'Pancha' is five and 'kurya' means the amount
of land. ‘The name 'Panskura' has come from this ‘panchakurya’ through
evolution.
5. 'East India Irrigation and
Canal Company', in 1852, dug Midnapur Canal for the cultivation, communication
and trade from Uluberia to Mohanpur. According to Regional History researcher
Shyamal Bera, "The steamers transported through the Midnapore canal and
came to Kangsabati (now South Gopalpur Mouza) and used to throw ‘Pans’ [ashes]
and collects ‘Kura’ [fuel]. Since then, the name of the area seems to have been
formed into Panskua [Pans+Kura]."
6. There is a mention of 'Punchcoora
School' in English at Bradley Bart High School's guards’ badge which was
established in 1864 at Sadarghat, Panskura. In addition, during the British
period, the collector Bailey Sahib of Midnapore told about Kansabati coastal
area in his written 'Memoranda of Midnapur' in 1852. This area is referred to
as 'Panchkura Ghat'. Later, the name of the entire Kasijora pargana was changed
to the name of Panskura. Panskura Ghat does not exist anymore. However, the area adjoining lock-gate which was
built 1896 is still known as Sadar Ghat. The present day Old Panskura was
formed adjoining the area of Sadar Ghat.
----- Footprint of Netaji at Panskura -----
According to the references, it
was revealed that Subhash Chandra Basu was forced to make a public meeting on
April 11, 1938 on his way to Tamluk. On that
morning he started his journey from Howrah to a third class compartment of
train along with many Congress workers. Mr. Gobind Bhowmik, a member of one of
the legislative assembly of the district, congratulated Subhash Chandra on
behalf of the inhabitants of the district at Kolaghat railway station. When the
train reached Panshkura station, Mr. Satish Chandra Chakraborty welcomed
Subhash Chandra on behalf of the Tamluk subdivision Congress Committee. Then,
from Panskura, Subhash Chandra went towards Tamluk. Naturally, there were huge
crowds on the both sides of the road. His way was blocked in 'Jorapukur'. He gave a speech to the crowd of people. Then he
went to Tamluk's meeting.
----- Source of Information ------
1. 'Medinikatha' - Arindam
Bhowmik 2. Ananda Mandal & Professor Govinda Prasad Kar in source of Ananda
Bazar Patrika 3. Heritage Documentary: East Medinipur-Sudhangshu Shekhar
Bhattacharya and Shyamal Bara 4. Unique Medinipur- Dr. Pradyoth Kumar Maiti
Copy Rights
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-Rupesh Samantha
/ 22.03.18
