History of the Bengali People: Ancient Period

653 Pages·1994·135.584 MB·English

by  Niharranjan Ray, John W. Wood

HISTORY
OFTHE
BENGALI PEOPLE
(Ancient Period)
NIHARRANJ~~y
Translated with an Introduction by
JOHN W.HOOD
Orient I. . ongman
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To the memory of my teacher, mentor and long-time friend,
Atindra Mojumder
,
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Textual Note
The original edition of N'lharranjan Ray's &ngBlrl tihlswas pub
lished in 1949. My translation is from the abridgement, published
in 1966, by Jyotsna Sinha Ray. I have, however, made considerable
use of the unabridged version published in 1980 in two volumes by
Pascimvanga Nir~aratl OOrflcar~a Samiti, Calcutta. In the
interests of better reading I have provided in the notes the translite
rated Sanskrit text of quotations and English equivalents of Bengali
terms made throughout the work. The select subject-index for this
edition has been prepared by Abhijit Ghosh of Bangabasi College,
Calcutta.
JohnW.Hood
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Contents
Textual Note •
VI
•
Foreword, by Sir Jadunath Sarkar
IX
Preface to the original edition •
XlV
Preface to the abridged edition •
X1X
Abridger's remarks
XX
Translator's Introd~ction •
XX1
1. The Argument 1
2. The Origins 15
3. Thel.and 50
4. Economic life 99
5. Land Systems 130
6. Caste Patterns 160
7. Oass Patterns 212
8. Villages and Towns 231
9. Administrative Patterns 262
10. The Dynastic Round 292
11. Everyday life 360
12. Religious Thought and Practice 385
13. Language, literature and Learning 465
14. The Fine Arts and Music 521
15. Some Implications 565
Index 591
614
Maps
•
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Foreword
Professor Niharranjan Ray's History of the Bengali People is an
invaluable book. For years to come this authoritative work will be
compelling reading, a beacon for future historians.
With characteristic modesty Niharranjan has written:
I have not unearthed any new inscription or discovered any
new material .... All the facts and sources are generally known
in academic circles, and from them I have selected my content
.... But I have introduced a new concept of cause and effect
in the history of ancient Bengal and its people, and have pre
sented the Bengali reader with a new interpretation .... By
following this approach and interpretation a total perception
of the history of the ancient Bengalis may be gained .... New
sources are often discovered . . . . I have only attempted to
provide a framework to which the future historians of Bengal
will attach substance. That is my hop~ and belief.
Notwithstanding the author's modesty, it is not surprising that such
wealth of intellect should be revealed in this work. Indeed, it can
be said that for as long as no significant new material is discovered
and no new light is shed on the history of the ancient Bengalis as
the result of lengthy research, this work will remain at the forefront,
its reputation unchallenged. To comprehend the broad vision of
such a history and to acquire a thorough knowledge of its period,
one should read Niharranjan's work in detail, appreciating his
profound insight and perceptive commentary on a diverse range
of subjects. In the study of our country's history this book has
opened up new paths and has set new standards. Our knowledge
of history shall grow as long as subsequent historians use this work
as a basis for their research.
History aside, the book is remarkable from a literary and lingual
point of view. No Bengali work has hitherto been written-histori
cal or otherwise - in such a clear, comprehensive, scholarly and
rational way. Niharranjan has shown a marked commitment to the
scientific method; the work is characterized by depth of know
ledge, a vibrancy of style, detailed perception, creative thinking of
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x History oft he Bengali People
a high order and, above all, an objective independence of thought.
The work warrants pride of place in Indian history writing in gene
ral. The author has found it necessary to employ unusual words and
word forms and expressions to articulate abstruse concepts. More
over, such a factual, scholarly work is not easily rendered in Bengali
or any other Indian regional language; thus the work is original,
though difficult. Nevertheless, given the strength and vibrancy of
Niharranjan's language, the work is en:unently readable, though
this would not be possible without such close-knit integrity of
subject matter. Indeed, in some places the language of his descrip
tions and commentary have enhanced the quality of the history. I
know of no one who has made such a significant endeavour in
Indian letters.
There would have been much personal advantage for Nihar
ranjan had he written this work in English; his book would have
had a wide circulation and his fame andr eputation would have been
far-reaching.However,hischoicenottowriteinEnglishisevidence
of his profound reverence and affection for Bengali language and
literature.
The significance of the subject matter is also unprecedented. The
book is not called a history of Bengal, but a history of the Bengali
people. In other words, the aim is not to discuss Bengal's kings and
officials and their wars and battles and the extension of their power,
for such 'superficial' history has been written so much already. This
book is a Bengali people's history which endeavours throughout
to present a thorough account of the broad sweep of life of the
ordinary Bengalis. It can be said, therefore, that the 'heroes' of this
historical epic are not the kings, men of wealth or scholats and
learned men (although Niharranjan has not neglected to write of
them too) but rather the heroes are the common people, outside
the upper-caste society and PuriJ:uc and S~c Brahm~m, so
ciety's toilers owning little or no land. The predominance of this
lowest, largest social class is the chief characteristic of this work.
This kind of social history can be ranked with the very best of the
work of European and American scholars.
In fact, an earlier intimation of Bengali social and cultural history
emerged from 1he History ofB engal, Vol 1 (in English) published
by the University of Dacca and edited by Rameshchandra Majum
dar, as well as from the very brief Andent Bengal and the Bengalis
by Sukumar Sen. There is no questioning the scholarship of these
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•
Foreword
X1
two works, but they are based on different principles and are com
paratively incomplete.
The subject matter of Professor Ray's vast work is the daily life,
society, culture, economy and the like of the people of Bengal. In
another sense, it is an endeavour to understand the origins of the
modern Bengalis. The origins and the nature of the various peoples
of Bengal in earliest times, the borders oft he land and its waterways,
mountains and forests-and the changes they underwent through
time the geographical influences on the inhabitants of the region
and the work that they did, the extent of miscegenation amongst
the people, their land systems, methods of cultivation, manufac
tures, trade and commerce, food and dress, religion and ritual, arts
and science, language and literature in short, a thorough under
standing of the various aspects of Bengali life over a thousand years,
supported by reason and evidence, is the aim of this book. I have
no doubt thatNiharranjan 's efforts will earn him unqualified praise.
Only those with some experience of historical research can
understand the need in such a difficult work for unlimited patience,
unflagging effort, faith and devotion, along with refined and acute
understanding. It is exceptionally difficult for one man, single
handedly, to write this kind of book, and even more difficult to
be successful.
Nowhere in Niharranjan's vast work is there any blind trust
in the ideas of traditionalist regional histories. I know well a certain
Bengali writer who has written that the Brihmal)S ofV a rendri come
from the Bhaduti clan in the state of 'Bhidlo'- south of the Cambal
.
river-somewhere between Agra and Gwalior and that their
ancestors were vassal rulers there. Had he read the history of the
Delhi emperors, he would readily have learnt that 'Bhldioriyi'
was not a Brihmal) clan but a Rajput ~atriya one, many of whose
members were mansabdars of the emperor. ,
This book bears no sign of such uninformed, injudicious com
ment. Above all, to his credit Niharranjan has nowhere attempted
to push forward his own ideas in cheap scholarly showing off;
throughout, he treats with respect the views of earlier scholars,
offers new arguments, considers all the evidence and then offers
his own conclusion to the reader. By reference to a variety of
sources, he facilitates in the reader an objective and independent
view; indeed the author is very thorough in this regard. At the
end of the introductory chapter he writes:
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xii History of the Bengali People
Nothing I have said is the final word. .. I have simply attempted
to provide a basis, and if this basis in any way helps future
historians to discover the truth, then this history of my country
and my people will have been of value. ...
Professor Ray's aim and approach can be understood from the
table of contents and the opening chapter, so I will not discuss
them here. However, I ought to mention some of the chief
characteristics of the work.
The book offers something original. As a result of the work of
earlier scholars, we have already come to know the political history
of Bengal very well. But with profound insight, Niharranjan has
extensively discussed the causes of the great events, the influences
which lent the social, economic and cultural life of our people to
assume its modern form, and the means and the circumstances in
which those influences operated. In other words, what is described
in English as 'the why and how of a people's evolution' is what the
author has endeavoured to understand and explain. In discussing
politics, daily life, art, literature, learning or religion, his chief aim
is to consider whatever connections there may be with society and
its development in general, and this is one of the most important
features of the book. As a result, a complete, vivid picture of the
e'\Colution of the Bengali people has emerged.
In the final chapter Niharranjan has tried to gather together and
explain the vast flow of the river of our ancient life, 'the basic,
profound nature of Bengali life', rationally and with evidence. No
one else has ever attempted such a great and important task. Such
a sense of historical significance and of social awareness is rare
- if indeed they exist at all - in the practice of history in our
country.
Most notable of all is Niharranjan's profound love for the country
and its people, and one cannot fail to notice it permeating the
informative and scholarly discourse. Indeed, that love is probably
the inspiration of this great work.
In the discussion and explanation of its material, it cannot be
said that this very extensive work is entirely free of errors and
shortcomings: that is a claim that no one, least of all tl,e author,
would make. It is only to be expected that there would be some
faults. But those who read this work with a fault-finding approach
will be disappointed, for they will not appreciate the originality
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