VANGA

An Indigenous People

METHODOLOGY

    The outer limits of Vanga increased or decreased at different periods of history for various factors, but the Gangetic delta, precisely, the eastern part of the Gangetic delta was the centre of Ancient Vanga country. To trace the descendants of the Vangas of Ancient Vanga, the investigation, therefore tries to identify the autochthons / aboriginals / aborigines / indigenous / original inhabitants of the largest number of the Gangetic delta/eastern part of Gangetic delta, in modern times, who are in brute majority not only in the Gangetic delta/eastern part of the Gangetic delta but over the total population of the entire East Bengal.

SOURCES

    Demographic statistics of the census of the Govt. of India, anthropological data of the Govt. of India, Govt. gazetteers, statistical accounts of the Govt. of India and the accounts of reputed geographers, ethnologists, historians and other sources are relied upon as reliable evidence to form a definite opinion beyond all reasonable doubts.

RACE? THAT MEANS NOTHING

    To investigate the identity of a people in the first decade of 21^st. century, it is absolutely necessary to remind us that race or caste means nothing. We are one- the family of woman and man. Modern researchers of Genome sciences say- “RACE? THAT MEANS NOTHING” and Science is Race, Caste and Colour-blind. Geo-phisiography, not race, caste or colour that makes difference among people. Nature Genetics, reported    in    The Times London, Oct.27, 2004 and V. K., Kashyap et al, Current Science, Vol. 85, No. 4, 25 August 2003. Hobbit of Flores island of Indonesia was small, but smart. He knew teamwork and the use of fire and tools. (Reuters, Washington, Reported in The Times of India, 5-3-2005). He was not originally small, but became small.

A COUNTRY IS KNOWN AFTER ITS PEOPLE

    Leading sources are of the same opinion that a country is styled after the people who live there. Vanga country was named after Vanga people. Bangopasagar, Vangala, Bangalah, Bengalla, Bengalla, Bengala, Bangala, Bangla, Bangali, Bengali, Bengal and Bangladesh can be traced to Vanga. [Sastri, Haraprasad, Address, vi, Sahitya Parisat-Patrika, No.ii, Bangabda,1337, Paschim Banga Rajya Pustak Parsad,1981,pp,465-466; Vange Baudha Dharma, Bengali 1324, ed. Govt. of West Bengal 1984; Bandopadhya, Rakhaldas, Bangalar Itihas ,BS1324; Biswas, Upendra Nath; Bharat Varsha-o-Vrihttar Bharat Varsher Itihas,1950; Ray, Nihar Ranjan Bangalir Itihas,BS ,1356; Mukherjee, B.N, The earliest limits of Vanga in Indian Museum Bulletin,1990; Banglapedia,2004-et al ].

VANGA — ETHNIC ORIGIN

    Vanga as a people can be traced in the Mauryan Brahmi inscription of Mahasthan (400 BC)“The name Vanga indicating a people occurred for the first time in the Aitareya Aranyaka, where they are mentioned along with the Magadhas. In the Baudhayana Dharmasutra the Vangas are mentioned in a list of peoples who lived in regions beyond the zone of Aryan civilization in the neighbourhood of Kalinga. In the Puranas they are mentioned along with other eastern people such as Anga, Magadha, Mudgaraka, Pundra, Videha, Tamralipti and Pragiyotisa.”   “...it is clear that the territorial name of Vanga, as with other such units, had an ethnic origin.” — Banglapedia of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 2003.
    Earliest mention of the word Vanga in Aitareya Aranyaka refers a people. [Ait.2, 1.1]. In Baudhayana Dharmasutra the Vangas, are mentioned with other peoples. [Baud:1,1,2.4]  The Vangas are stated as the inhabitants of Vanga country in Abhidanappadipika. [Abhi: 185,1031]. The Vangas were tribal, indigenous, aboriginal and autochthonous clan of Vanga. The Vangas were outside Aryandom. [Majmudar, R.C et al, An Advanced History of India, 1967; Bhattacharya, Amitabha, Historical Geography of Ancient and Early Mediaeval Bengal, 1977; Natmo, National School Atlas, 1999; Bandopadhya, Rakhaldas, Bangalar Itihas, BS, 1324].

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF VANGA

    The Gangetic delta,(Bagchi, Kanan Gopal,1944,1972; Bhattacharya, Kapil,1959 et al) to be more accurate, the eastern part of the Gangetic delta was the core Vanga. [Majumdar, R.C.1971; Banglapedia of Bangladesh, 2004 et al]. Earliest historical evidence of Vanga as a country is in Kautilyas’ Arthasastra. (400 BC). “it is difficult to ascertain its exact location in different periods of history, but broadly it may be said it have denoted areas in the south and southeastern part of present Bangladesh. It may have extended to areas in southern West Bengal in the earlier period, but the area within the two main streams of the Ganges (from the Bhagirathi to the Padma-Meghna) formed the core of this territorial unit. It was this area which saw the rise of the independent kingdom of Vanga.”
      “In the early part of Muslim rule in Bengal this unit came to be mentioned as ‘Bang’ and it continued to be so known till the name ‘Vangalah’ got currency in the mid 14^th century to denote the whole region of Bengal (present Bangladesh and the Indian province of West Bengal)” - Banglapedia of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.

THE GANGETIC DELTA

Considering all aspects and opinions of various specialists, we can agree with Mr. Kanan Gopal Bagchi (1944) to fix the geographical boundary of the Delta:
1.             Murshidabad (only the portion east of the Bhagirathi)
2.             Nadia;
3.             Jessore;
4.             Faridpur;
5.             24 Parganas;
6.             Khulna;
7.             Bakarganj;
                8. Noakhali (islands only);

Dr. N. K. Bose (1970-1972,p.xii) is emphatic about the identity of the Delta. “The delta between the two arms Bhagirathi-Hooghly and Padma-Meghna is well known as the delta of the Ganga from very early days.” [Bagchi, K. ,The Ganges Delta,1944, p.37].

DIVISION OF PEOPLE OF BENGAL IN 1872 CENSUS

Following table shows  the division of people in 1872 Census and. strength of Aboriginal people:
“I.   Non-Asiatics ;
                II.   Mixed Races;
                III.   Asiatics:
    A.  Other than Native of India and British Burmah;
    B.  Native of India and British Burmah:
        1.     Aboriginal Tribes;
        2.     Semi-Hinduised Aboriginals;
        3.     Hindus;
        4.     Persons of Hindu origin not recognizing Castes
        5.     Muhammadans;
        6.     Burmese”
Aboriginal Tribes: 3,87,157 [Largest: Santhals: 1,39,751]
Semi-Hindusied-Aboriginals:51,10,989[ Largest: ‘Chandals’:16,20,515]

1.ABORIGINAL TRIBES
    Bumij, Chakma, Dhomal, Garo, Hajong, Kharria, Kharwar, Khasiya, Kol, Kuki and Lushai, Lepcha, Mech, Murmi, Nat, Santhal, Tipperah or Mroong, Uraon and Dhangar and Others.

2.SEMI-HINDUISDED ABORIGINALS
    Bagdi, Bahelia, Bauri, Bediya, Bhuiya, Bind, Buna, Chain, Chamar or Muchi- [a] Kural or Kuril, ‘Chandal’-[a] Abashan, Dom,-[a]Turi, Doshad, Hadi Hatri, Hari, Kaora, Karanga, Khaira, Khyen, Koch- [a] Pali or Paliya, [b] Rajbansi, Kodmal, Mahili, Mal, Malo, Mandai, Mihtar- [a] Bhumiali, Pan, Pasi, Shikari and others. (Census 1872, Govt. of India, Bengal, General Statement V. B. Statement of Nationalities, Races, Tribes and Castes, pp.C XIV-CXVII).

The Santhals were the most numerous among the aboriginal tribes and the ‘Chandals’ were not only the most numerous among the ‘Semi-Hinduised Aboriginals’, they were largest among the two aboriginal groups. In 1872 census more than 28 peoples were enumerated under ‘Semi-Hinduisded Aboriginal’ category. There should be no iota of doubt that the Govt. of India in 1872 did not consider the ‘Chandals’ as Hindus. They, like 27 other peoples, were enumerated as ‘Semi-Hinduised Aboriginal’. Till 1872, their Hinduisation process was not complete.  History of the process of Hinduisation has not been objectively investigated by historians and sociologists. There is no scope here to elaborate this point, but few statements of facts are necessary. Immigrants from ‘Aryandom’ started settling from 5th Century A.D. The Palas [8-12 century A.D.] were Buddhists and so were the peoples with an insignificant non-Buddhist population. True to the tenets of Buddhism, the Palas were tolerant to all faiths.

      Few Senas came from Karnataka, worked here in Buddhist Vanga and, it is history that they overthrew the Palas and introduced the caste system of ‘Aryandom’. The Vangas were despised by the Aryans and anybody visiting the countries of the Vangas, Kalingas and Paundras was liable to pay penance. [Baudhayana Dharmasastra, 1, 1, 2.14]

      The Hinduisation process, however took time. Meanwhile the Muslims invaded and defeated the Senas. Most of the Semi-Hinduised Aboriginal ‘Chandals’ embraced Islam. The enumerated number of the ‘Chandals’ in the census of 1872 was a fraction of their earlier population. This is only the tip of the iceberg. The depleted population of this people remained at the fringe of Hindu caste system. They were neither here nor there. There are accounts of eminent and reliable-both Govt. and academic sources who discover hidden Buddhist practices prevalent among the indigenous peoples of Vanga [J.A.S.B.,187,part-1,p.240].

     So it should be absolutely clear that Buddhism was the original and organized religion in Vanga and Hinduisation process of the fraction of former population of the ‘Chandals’ was not yet complete. In 1872 census they were not accepted as Hindus.

      Secondly, like the tribes, they were aboriginals- the original inhabitants of Bengal. ‘Hindus’ were returned under 15 castes. Division 4 deals ‘Persons of Hindu origin not recognizing Castes’. In this division the most numerous were ‘Baisnabs’. It is amazing that 411,768 people of Bengal admitted their Hindu origin, but did not recognize caste. This is a silent revolution. This is how they defied caste. The ‘majority’ of the ‘Chandals’ professed ‘the tenets of Visnava sect’, yet they did not join the ‘Baisnabs’ to be included in the category which did not recognize caste. Be that as it may, they   were ‘Aboriginals’ and therefore recognition or non-recognition of caste did not matter to the demographers. These people struggled hard to throw away the slang ‘Chandal’ of Aryandom: 1872: ‘Chandal’, 1881: ‘Chandal’, 1891: Namasudra or ‘Chandal’, 1901:Namasudra [‘Chandal’], 1911: Namasudra, yet ironically they preferred a name which had strong association with the caste system of Aryandom. They were taken hostage and the hostages perhaps had no other alternative but to create something within the system of the hostage takers.

      Many are misconceived that the name Namasudra was introduced in 1911. The Namasudras made two prayers to the Govt. of India in 1911. “Not only did they represent that the suffix Chandal should be dropped- a prayer that was granted- but also that they should be enumerated as Namasudra Brahmans” [1911 Census, Chapter, Caste Claims, p.445] The prayer to substitute the word ‘Chandal’ by Brahman was turned down. Those who want to know more about this, may please refer the chapter ‘Caste Claims’ in 1911 census. Appendix I of this paper has scanned the relevant paragraphs. Asok Mitra in 1951 census has left some valuable observations on caste claims. “The fanciful origins of the these castes will be found in the appendix. It will be seen that the writers do not follow any immutable tradition but record stories based purely on the imagination. The two Puranas do not agree with each other or with other Puranas. They do not agree in some cases with Manu and other Smrti texts and Dharma Sutras. The Dharma Sutras and Smrtis also do not agree with each other. The texts do not agree on the status of even the more well known mixed castes. In these circumstances, it will be obvious to any one that caste claims based on the Sastras are based on foundations so weak that these can only be dismissed as mere pretensions.” [The Tribes and Caste West Bengal, Census 1951, Calcutta,1953, p.29].

      There is another surmise not corroborated by any scientific or historical evidence that originally the Namashudras were Gonds. We can not over-amplify one sentence observation of Satish Mitra in “Jasor Khulnar Itihas” that the ‘Chandals’ were ‘Chandol’ people and identify ‘Chandals’ with the Chandelas.  The third conjecture is that they are the descendants of the ‘Gangarides’.  This too has no scientific or historical foundation. There is another prevalent myth that Namasudra is mentioned in Shaktisangamtantra. All the volumes of Shaktisangamtantra have been examined in detail and it can be conclusively stated that Shaktisangamtantra does not mention ‘Namasudra’.

LOCATION OF VANGA AND DEMOGRAPHIC

STATISTICS OF 1872 CENSUS

      The investigation intends to examine the demographic statistics of 1872 to identify the descendants of the Vangas- the original inhabitants of Deltaic Bengal.

      Although Eastern part of the Gangetic delta is considered as the core Vanga, [Kalidasa, Raghuvansa, IV.36; O’Malley, District Gazetteers, Faridpur, 1925, p.16; Majumdar, R.C. The Ancient History of Bengal, 1971; Banglapedia, 2004.– et al] the limits of Vanga have been stated by various sources. Based on their accounts, the demographic statistics of the census of 1872 have been presented to identify the descendants of the Vangas of Ancient Vanga. [(Aitareya Aranyaka (II,1.1); Baudhayana Dharmasastra (1.1,25-31) Arthasastra of Kautilya, 321 BC; Ramayana (11,10,36-37); Mahabharata; Raghuvansa (4^th - 5^th Century AD); L. S. S. O’Malley Bengal District Gazetteers, 24 Parganas, 1814, p.32; L.S.S. O’ Malley (Fureedpur, 1925,p.16; (Bareh, Encyclopedia of India, vol-25, West Bengal, 1994, p.1) ; Jainaupanga (1^st Century ); Mahaniddesha (2^nd Century AD) and Milinda Panha (1^st or 2^nd Century AD); Dasa Kumar Carita of Dandin; Wei-lueh (3^rd Century A.D.); Periplous tes Erythras Thalasses of 1^st Century A.D.; Hem Chandara ; I, - Tising; Sakti Sangam Tantra; Brhatsamhita; Madan Pada Grant of Visvarpasena and Idilpur - Plate of Kesava Sena; Kamauli Copper Plate of Vaidadeva; Sahitya Parishad Copper Plate of Visvarupasen; Rampal Copper Plate Inscription; Gupta Age; Palas (8 to 12 Century); Name Vangala (Vanga +ala), Vangalah, Bengala, ; Bengal; Abulfazl : Ain-I-Akbari; Bangladesh in Maps, University of Dacca, 1981, p.8; R. C. Majumdar, et al, 1978, p.53; R. C. Majumdar, et al, 1971, p.361; National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation, Govt. of India, 1999,p.11; Ray, Chaudhuri, Hemchandra : Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta University, 1972, p.275; 1979, Firma KLM Pvt.. Ltd. ‘Pauranika’, Vol -2, p.3; Banglapedia of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh,; Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, Bharat Kosh, Vol – III, p. 97; Banglapedia of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh].

TABLE  I

The Population of the Gangetic Delta

in 1872

TABLE  II

The Population of the Central and Eastern Gangetic Delta 

in 1872

It is situated between 21^o64' and 23^o52' north latitude and 88^o64' and 90^o42' East longitude and had an area 9232.91 Sq. miles with 10108 villages. Gastrell has left a fantastic account of the rivers, canals and swamps of this land. When we go through his account, we realise why Vanga was called a land of rivers. This was the centre of Vanga and where they outnumbered every other people. Their strength was 7,54,323. They were once the masters of this land of the gangetic delta. If at al