History & Archaeology

I. MAHASTHAN GARH
The Ancient City of Bangladesh

Mahasthan, the present name of the ancient city known as "Pundurunagar (Pundranagar)",
is situated in Shibganj, Bogra. About four thousand years ago Pundurunagar was an affluent and strong settlement.



The mighty Maurya, Gupta and other rulers had their provincial capital there. Even the initial capital of the Pal dynasty was Pundurunagar.
The ruins of this great ancient city is situated on the western bank of river Korotoa, which is indeed a past glory not only of Bogra but
also of whole Bangladesh.

In the year 1808 CE (Common Era as against AD), Buchanon Hamilton, for the first time disclosed the details of the ruins of Pundurunagar.
Later, scholars like Donnell, Cunningham, Beveridge threw more lights on this ancient city. Sir Cunningham is credited with identifying
Mahastahan, the great Muslim city during the glorious Muslim rule of Bangladesh including about two hundred years of unbroken and completely
independent Bangladesh, with the ancient city of Pundurunagar.

A sense of the glory of the ancient independent Muslim sultanate of Bangladesh can be found in the words of Ira M. Lapidus in his book:
A History of Islamic Societies, Cambridge, where he cited the fact that independent Muslim kingdom existed in Bengal between 1346 CE and
1576 CE and mentioned that "Muslim scholars, scribes, Sufis, poets and intellectuals flocked to India (from other parts of the world).
He wrote further: "In Bengal, Sufi writers and Muslim rulers adopted the local languages. The Hindu classic, Mahabharata, and Arabic and
Persian classics, including stories from the Arabian Nights, were translated into Bengali at the order of Muslim rulers. Muslim poets also
wrote in Bengali about Hindu deities and myths, using Arabic and Persian loan words. This synthesis of languages and literature was the
basis for the emergence of a new literary Bengali language."

Several ancient inscriptions belonging to the Maurya, Gupta, Pal and Sen dynasties reveal the existence of the Pundurus in the Pundurunagar.
Unfortunately nothing much is known about them these days. Before the arrival of the Aryans, the Pundurus were the natives of this area.
The Barendra region of North Bengal (Bogra, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Rajshahi and Maldah) was the original home of the Pundurus.

Inscriptions discovered in 1931 in Mahasthan reveal that there was a massive famine in Pundurunagar, when the government gave a decree
ordering food stuff to be distributed amongst the affected subjects which was to be returned during good times indicating that Pundurunagar
was an affluent and humanitarian society. After the Gupta dynasty, king Shashanka formed the powerful Gaur kingdom. After the death of Shashanka,
the famous Chinese traveler Wan Chuang came to Pundurunagar in the year 639 CE, when besides seeing different Buddhist institutions,
he saw a huge Bihar or Shangharam Bhashu Bihar and a memorial built by Asoka over the body of Buddha. According to him Pundurunagar
was an affluent city and its perimeter was six miles. The civilization of Pundurunagar ranks side by side with those of Athens, Babylon, Egypt and that of the Assyrians.

Pundurunagar became Mahasthan during the glorious days of the Muslim Sultanate of Bangladesh. A special attraction of Mahasthan is the
Mazhar on top of the Garh. Everyday thousands of men and women come from distant places to visit the Mazhar. Many people do “manat” which is going
on for ages, there seems to be no exception and no stop. It appears to be like a place of major pilgrimage for both Muslims and Hindus.

Some historians and the local people are of the opinion that this Mazhar is the Mazhar of Shah Balkhi Mahisawar. Apparently,
there are two Mazhars related to Balkhi Mahisawar, one being in Mahasthan and the other being in Sultanganj of Godagari Thana.

In the year 1680 CE, emperor Aurangazeb appointed Zamindars of Bihar named Syed Reza, Syed Tahir and Syed Abdur Rahman (three brothers)
as care takers of the Mazhars and Mausoleums of Mahasthan Garh and awarded some lands for that purpose. This award letter,
written in Persian and inscribed on Bronze is still available with Shibganj resident Mashqurul Alam Chowdhury. In this "Farman" or "
Sanad" emperor Aurangazeb referred to this place as "Astana" of Sultan Mahmud Mahisawar and not as a Mazhar. This makes some historians
believe that this is not his mazhar but was his astana.

On the Southern gate entrance wall to the so called Mazhar is engraved in Bangla: "Narshingh Roy Dashoshho" meaning "Subject".
Now the question is who is this "Narshingh" and who is he subject of? Half mile North West of the Garh lies the houses,
locally known as the palace of Porshuram...

Historic Site of Mohasthan
Shibganj sub-division (Upazila)

Mahasthan Garh, a place of great tourist attraction is located in the Shibganj Upazila of Bogra. Besides Mazhars and mosques, there are several places of interest with historic importance in Mahasthan from the days of the Hindu,Buddhist and Muslim rule. Some of these are listed below with brief description. 1. Bhashubihar and Noropoti Dhap are situated three miles north west of Mahasthan Garh. Chinese traveler Wan Chuang called this two places Po-Shi-Po, which is the name of a Bihar or Moth. Bhashubihar takes its name from Po-Shi-Po Bihar. The history of this place can be traced back to Gautama Buddha. Archeologists have discovered statues and articles of daily use to make that connection. A little west of Bhashubihar lies the elevated place or Dhap or Garh, known as Noropoti Dhap. Noropoti is the title of the army chiefs during the rule of the Guptas. King Shushungo Roy built a fort there, he also built a tank for the benfit of the subjects, called “Shushungar Dighi”, which eventually became “Shangshar Dighi”. 2. Kalidoho Shagar is situated two miles west of the Garh. It is a Dhap surrounded by Khals (canals). This “Khal” is called “Kalidoho Sagar” and the high Dhipi is called Mansha Debi or Padma Debir Bari (House of Mansha or Padma Debi). Kalidoho is a renowned sea, being widely mentioned in the “Mahabharata”. Mansha/Padma Debi is not a historic figure but is taken from “Snake” (Mansha) and “Lotus” (Padma) associated with the sea. People were scared of snakes and would worship “Mansha” or snake to be safe from them which filled this “Sagar” or sea. This was not really a sea but called such because of its depth and size. 3. Gokul Mer is situated one and half miles south west of Mahasthan. This place lies 45 feet above the flat land. There are over one hundred triangular rooms. The local people call it the “Bahular Bashor Ghor” (The Bridal Room of Bahula). In reality this is not a “Bashor Ghor” (Bridal Room) but a Buddhist “Bihar” or “Moth”. Mer is from the word “Medth” which means knowledge, rituals and meditation. In these rooms, the Buddhist scholars and sages used to practice meditation and rituals and impart knowledge to the young ones. The construction of this grand site was started by Dhormo Pal in the eighth century and was completed by his son Deb Pal in and around 810-850 AD. The Aryans started coming to Bangladesh during the rule of the Guptas. Due to the tremendous persecution by the Guptas, Buddhism was eliminated from Bangladesh which received some revival during the Pal dynasty. 4. Champa Nagar is situated one and half miles west of Gokul Mer. The modern name is “Chan Muha” which is from “Chad Muha”. The ruins of the palace of “Chad Saudagar” is situated in an island on the Shongrar Bil” (Bil is huge water reservoir). 5. Shongrar Bil, is situated on the west of Champa Nagar. In the olden times this Bil was very deep and huge, where the princes used to go in leisure/pleasure rides in boats with dancers. The local word for dancers is “Shongra”, thus the name. 6. Ojha Dhonontory is named after a snake venom expert from the court of Gupta emperor Vikramaditta. 7. Ujaninagar is situated in the village of Arulia which lies three miles south of Gokul Mer. There is an ancient Khal (huge water reservoir) there. 8. Netai Dhopanir Ghat is a historic site of Pundurunagar, situated close to Gokul Mer to its north east. The ruins of the palace, the residents of which used to wash clothes, existed up till recently. 9. Ziotkundu, is an ancient well near Mahasthan. According to ancient mythology, the water of this well could heal wounded people or even resurrected dead soldiers. It is commonly believed that a piece of cow meat from Balkhi, carried by an eagle fell on the well, consequently losing its power to heal (or resurrect) the wounded soldiers. In the olden times people thought that the dead soldiers are getting new lives. Actually this water was simply used to nurse, refresh and clean up the wounded soldiers. 10. Khodar Pathor Vita is a huge rock near the Mazhar with some design inscribed on the stone. Khodar come from the word “Khodai” meaning inscription in Bangla. This rock is part of a wall of an ancient temple. Several rocks were discovered in the year 1907 AD, one such rock had the picture of Buddha which makes the archeologists believe that this was a Buddhist temple in the past. 11. Gobindo Vita can be found on the north of the Garh on the western bank of the river Korotoa which is the remnant of a huge temple. 12. Kichok is an ancient palace situated in the southern side of Mokamtola-Joypurhat highway which is three miles from the Shibganj Upazila headquarter. Kichok is part of the “Mahabharata” mythology. 13. Bihar boasts of a century old mosque built by the Nawabs of Bogra. 14. Anantabala is a village on the eastern bank of river Korotoa. According to folktales, when Porshuram and Balkhi were engaged in battle, Porshuram’s sister Sheela devi threw her bangles (Bala) towards Balkhi, the place where the Bala landed has been named Ananta Bala. 15. Sheeladebir Ghat is the location where she jumped into the river. This place has become an annual pilgrimage for the Hindus. Other places of historic importance around Mahasthan are Koiborto Bijoy Stambha, Dhibor Dighi, Bil Hamla and Gomora.

Maksudal Haque (Babloo)

Maksudul Haque: was born to Mir Azizul Haque, a government officer, and Syeda Hamida Khatun at Sultanganjpara, Bogra in 1945. Studied at Rajshahi and Dhaka University, M.A. in History. Joined the then Pakistan Army in 1965, just three days before commissioned as officer in Kakul, he resigned army, because of suppression and disparity to Bengali officers in army. Joined Police service in 1967 as Sub-Inspector of Police in Rajshahi, regined after one year. Joined as Professor of History at Chandanbaisha Degree College, Bogra in 1970. On 26th March 1971 when the Pakistan army started to kill people he was in Dhaka and took contact with Bengali army officer (some of his ex colleagues). He organised a group of Journalist to collect information of massacar to prepare a war documentation. He visited on 27 and 28 March places like Dhaka University which has been massively attacked by Pakistan army, took photography of genocide and collected information. On the third day, that is on 29th March he did not came back. Some of his colleagues reported that he has been killed by Pakistan army. This is the short biography of a freedom fighter Maksudul Haque who has committed sacrifice like three millions other Martyrs who fought for independent of Bangladesh. We did not forget you Maksud, we did not forget the martyrs and the war of liberation !

M.R. Akhtar Mukul
Inspirational orator of "Charompotro" -Harun ur Rashid (The Daily Star)

Eminent intellectual, writer, journalist-columnist, and the inspirational orator Charompotro-famed cultural personality MR Akhtar Mukul breathed his last on June 26, 2004 after a long struggle against intestinal cancer. With his demise, the nation lost one of its bravest sons who contributed immensely to the historic Liberation War in 1971. Born on August 9, 1929 in West Bengal of the undivided India, Mukul migrated with his family to Bangladesh and settled at Mahasthan in Bogra. Later he engaged himself in all the major movements of the country, from the Language Movement of 1952 to the Liberation War of 1971. Having been a journalist for more than two decades, Mukul worked for the Dainik Azad, the Dainik Ittefaq and Purbadesh. He was the Dhaka Bureau Chief of UPI, the news agency. He served as the Press Minister of Bangladesh in London immediately after the Liberation. Mukul authored about 36 books, a number of which will always be treated as authentic sources of the history of Bangladesh. Among his books are Ami Bijoy Dekhechhi, Bahannor Bhasha Andolon, Bijoy Ekattor, Nokshalder Shesh Shurjo, Ami-i Khaled Mosharraf, London-e Chhokku Mia, Mujiber Rakto Laal and others. He was the convenor of the second phase of the editing of Bangladesher Shadhinota Juddher Dolil. However, Mukul's fame is mostly based on his inspirational oration of Charompotro (the ultimatum) which he himself would compose after observing the warfields. His timeless character of Chhokku Mia, actually his own mouthpiece, used to describe the freedom fighters with all embellishments of intelligence and bravery. And this would provide an immense source of inspiration to the freedom fighters who sacrificed their personal interest and lives to free the country from the oppressive grip of the then West Pakistani rulers. Chhokku Mia would also describe the top brass of the Pakistani regime, such as General Tikka Khan, General Ayub Khan and General Niazi, in such derogatory terms which almost verged on the line of lampoon besides its usual tones of mockery. This would also imbue the fighters with courage and spirit on the warfronts. The Culture Desk of The Daily Star salutes MR Akhtar Mukul for his invaluable contribution to the shaping of the nation. We express our heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family members of the deceased.

Anjuman Ara

From the desk of Editor: It is with the great sorrow that we learn the death of Anjuman Ara, a singer with fame personality. We extend our condolence to her family. May her soul rest in eternal peace and may Almighty give all of her family the strength to bear this irreplaceable los. Amen! Bogra, May 29, 2004