Naomi Nitee Sarker

ID:1911171

Describe the ancient cultural landscape in the present administrative units of Bangla with
prominent tangible and intangible cultural heritages and mention its ancient land
formations.

Ans: The great Bengal currently consisting of modern day Bangladesh and West Bengal state of
India is geographically a mostly flat land that sits between the great Himalayas and the Bay of
Bengal. Webbed with numerous rivers this relatively small piece of land mass has been a key
witness to historical and cultural diversity and changes. So if we are to describe the ancient
cultural landscapes of Bangla or Bengal we have to walk back in the history.

So where did it all start? Geographically speaking The river tributaries of current Meghna and
the Jamuna trisected the land mass thus creating three highlands which are known as:

i. The Barind Tract

ii. The Madhupur Tract

iii. The Tippera Surface

These Land masses are defined by the Ganges Tributaries on the West and Buriganga-
Dhaleshweri on the west. The Barind tract is on the northwestern side of Bangladesh consisting
of parts of Naoga, Rajshahi, Bogura, Dinajpur . The Madhupur Tract is located centrally in
Bangladesh. Parts of Mymensingh, Tangail, Dhaka and Jamalpur make up this highland. The
Tippera Surface includes parts of Comilla, Noakhali and Tripura.
However, when we look into the history of people in Bengal the history cannot be exactly
determined and is often convoluted. From ancient scriptures we can get an idea that suggests that
ancient Bengal was divided among various tribes or ethnic groups. These were known as the
Janapadas. Of these ancient Janpadas six are recognized by historians and archeologist alike and
these are known as Vanga, Samatata, Pundra, Harikela, Radha and Gauda . According to
different scriptures and sources it is suggested that these peoples of Janapadas were not Aryans,
rather belonging to separate Ethnic groups bearing the same names.
Vanga Janapada:
The Vanga Janapada often referred as a kingdom in ancient scriptures, was a very prominent
janapada in the history of Bengal. While the exact area of the Janapada is not known it is
estimated that they expanded into an area from center to western edge of Bangladesh including
present day cities such as Dhaka, Khulna, Satkhira, Mymensingh, Jessore, Rajshahi, Natore to
name a few. Kolkata, Murshidabad, Dakshin Chobbish Pargana also came under the region of
Vanga Janapada. We learn the existence of Vanga from Maghadas who mentioned this region in
Aitareya Aranyaka. It has also prominent mentions in Ancient Hindu Scriptures such as Puranas,
Ramayana and Baudhayana Dharmasutra who establish this Janapada to be a significant and
powerful kingdom. There are several Intangible and Tangible Cultural Heritage that are found in
the Area that used to be Vanga Janapada. The Dhakai Jamdani is one such Intangible cultural
heritage that is unique to Dhaka which used to be a part of Vanga Janapada. The Shatgambuj
Mosque and The Lalbagh Kella could be denoted as the Tangible Cultural Heritages of this
region
Pundra Janapada:
The Pundra or Paundra was another Janapada of Ancient Bengal. It consisted the area of present
day Bogra, Rangpur, Rajshahi and Dinajpur districts. The capital was known as ‘Pundranagar’ or
‘Pundra Vardhana’. Inscriptions found on carved stones date establishes this Janapada to exist at
third century BC. However ancient literature works in 7th BC mentions Pundra as a civilization
that exists on the north eastern parts of the subcontinent. Thus making this one of the oldest
ethnic group not only in the history of Bengal but rather the history of the world.
The area which used to belong to the Pundra Janapada is rich in both Tangible and Intangible
cultural heritage. The Mahasthangarh, Sompura Bihara , Kantajew Mandir are some of the
example of tangible cultural heritages whilst Vawaiya Folksong can be a prime example of
Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Gauda Janapada:
Gauda janapada was another ancient Janapada that was situated on the western banks of
Bhagirathi River. It covered an area that consists of present day Murshidabad to the south of
Orissa . Parts of Dinajpur, Rajshahi and Naoga also fell under its Area. The Gauda Janapada
were at its prominence under the rule of Shasanka during the 3rd Century BC. Pala empire also
consisted of almost entirety of the Gauda Janapada. Its capital was known as Gaur
Samatata Janapada:
The Samatata Janapada was formed on the banks of Meghna tributaries of the Comilla-Noakhali
plain and the adjacent parts of Tripura. Its boundaries were well defined by the Haors of present
day Sylthet on the north, the hills of Tripura and Arakan in the east and the Meghna in the west.
It was a well-known and well recognized Janapada since 4th century AD during Samudragupta of
the Gupta Dynasties reign. The Maynamati Bihar in Comilla is a prime Tangible Cultural
Heritage of this region whilst the Vatiali folk song is an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Harikala Janapada:
Harikala is supposedly the most controversial Janapada entity. Whilst ancient scriptures and 7th
century Chinese traveler I’Tsing clearly mention a powerful kingdom name Harikala on Eastern
India, It’s exact borders were never defined. From an inscribed plate found in Chittagong it is
thought to be consisting of the entirety of Chittagong division and parts of Tripura and Sylhet.
The Shrine of Bayezid Bostami could be a prime example of Tangible Cultural Heritage found in
the area which used to be Harikala Janapada.
Radha Janapada:
The Radha is another ancient Janapada Entity. It consisted of the almost entirety of the present
day west Bengal.It has been described in various ancient scriptures that describe the place as to
Radha/ Rarha/ Ladha/ Lara and dates it back to 6th century BC.
GANGARIDAI KINGDOM:
The GANGARIDAI KINGDOM is an ancient lost kingdom of Bengal. The region was known to
the ancient Greeks and Romans. It was bordered by the Ganges and Brahamaputra Rivers.
Ptolemy described the region to be the area in between the two main channels of the Ganges in
present West Bengal of India and Bangladesh