----- HISTORY OF PANSKURA [WB, INDIA] [PART-1] -----

 ----- 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

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-Rupesh Samantha / 22.03.18