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词条 Rarh region
释义

  1. Etymology and names

  2. Geography

      Extent  

  3. History

  4. Historical extent

      Divisions    Uttara Rāḍha    Dakṣina Rāḍha  

  5. Notable people of Rarh

  6. See also

  7. References

      Bibliography  
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}{{Infobox settlement
| name = Rarh
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Geographical region
| image_skyline = {{photomontage|position=center
| photo1a = Village photos (277).jpg
| photo2a = Birbhum Village.jpg
| photo2b = Burdwan Medical College Hospital.jpg
| photo2c = Troika Park.jpg
| photo3a = Curzon Gate.jpg
| photo4a = 108 shiv temple.jpg
| photo4b = Shyam Rai Temple, Bankura.JPG
| size = 250
| spacing = 2
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| border = 0
| foot_montage = From top down, left to right: Rural scenery from Tarapith, Birbhum village, Burdwan Medical College Hospital, Ananda Amusement Park at Durgapur, Curzon Gate, Shiva Temples in Bardhaman, Shyamrai Temple at Bankura
}}
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| nickname =
| image_map = Rarh.jpg
| map_caption = Map showing the area of Rarh
| pushpin_map = India
| pushpin_relief = y
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in India
| coordinates = {{coord|23.25|N|87.07|E|scale:2000000|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flagu|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = Region
| subdivision_name1 = East India
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body = Government of West Bengal, Government of Jharkhand
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
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| area_rank =
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| elevation_m =
| population_total =
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| demographics_type2 = Languages
| demographics2_title1 = Official
| demographics2_info1 = Bengali and Hindi
| demographics2_title2 = Other languages
| demographics2_info2 = Angika, Odia, Ho, Kurukh, Magahi, Marwari, Mundari, Punjabi, Sadri and Santhali
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code =
| registration_plate = WB-11,WB-12,WB-14,WB-15,WB-16,WB-18,WB-29,WB-30,WB-31,WB-32,WB-WB-33,WB-34,WB-36,WB-37,WB-38,WB-39,WB-40,WB-41,WB-42,WB-44,WB-53,WB-54,WB-55,WB-56,WB-57,WB-WB-58,WB-67,WB-68{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}
| blank1_name_sec1 = Major Cities
| blank1_info_sec1 = Asansol, Durgapur, Jamshedpur
| website =
| footnotes =
| blank3_name_sec1 = Civic agency
| blank3_info_sec1 = Government of West Bengal, Government of Jharkhand
}}

Rarh region ({{IPA-bn|raːɽ}}) is a toponym for an area in the Indian subcontinent that lies between the Chota Nagpur Plateau on the West and the Ganges Delta on the East. Although the boundaries of the region have been defined differently according to various sources throughout history, it is mainly coextensive with the state of West Bengal, also comprising parts of the state of Jharkhand in India.

The Rarh region historically has been known by many different names and has hosted numerous settlements throughout history. One theory identifies it with the powerful Gangaridai nation mentioned in the ancient Greco-Roman accounts. An inscription of Vallalasena names it as the ancestral place of the Sena dynasty.

Etymology and names

Rāḍha (Sanskrit) and Lāḍ[h]a (Prakrit) are the ancient names of the Rarh region.{{sfn|Rahul Peter Das|1983|p=664}} Other variations of the name that appear in the ancient Jain literature include Rarha, Lara, and Rara.{{sfn|Rupendra Radha|2012}} The Sri Lankan Buddhist chronicles such as Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa state that the legendary Prince Vijaya came from a region called Lāla, which is identified with Rāḍha by several scholars.{{sfn|Shyuam Chand Mukherji|1966|pp=35-36}}

In a 1972 thesis, the amateur researcher Amalendu Mitra traced the origin of the word Rarh to "lāṛ", the Santali word for snake. This theory was also endorsed by his mentor Panchanan Mandal. However, German Indologist Rahul Peter Das notes that this is highly unlikely: the Santali word "lāṛ" actually means string or fibre, and is sometimes used for "snake" or "twig".{{sfn|Rahul Peter Das|1983|p=669}} Das further points out that the word "lāṛ" may itself be an Indo-Aryan loanword in Santali.{{sfn|Rahul Peter Das|1983|p=669}}

"Gangaridai", the name of an ancient Indian people in Greek literature, is sometimes believed to be a Greek corruption of "Ganga-Rāḍha". However, according to D. C. Sircar, the word is simply the plural form of "Gangarid" (which is derived from the base "Ganga"), and means "Ganga (Ganges) people".{{sfn|Dineschandra Sircar|1971|p=171, 215}}

Geography

The Rarh region lies between the Chota Nagpur Plateau on the west[1] and the chief flow of the Ganges River (which has been continuously changing) in the east.{{sfn|Rahul Peter Das|1983|p=664}} The Rarh plains comprise the lower Gangetic plains to the south of the Ganges river, and to the west of its Bhagirathi-Hooghly distributary.{{sfn|Students Britannica|2000|p=239}} These plains are formed of old alluvial deposits. The elevation ranges between 75 and 150 m.{{sfn|Anita Roy Mukherjee|1995|p=22}}

Low-level Pleistocene-era Lateritic badlands (locally called khoai) are common in the region.{{sfn|Balai Chandra Das|2016|p=20}} Several of these small hillocks were formed as a result of subaerial erosions and other tectonic movements. The highest of these are Biharinath (440 m) and Susunia (440 m). Biharinath contains sedimentary rocks of Gondwana system. Susunia contains gneissic and schistose rocks of Archean age, and also felspathic quartzite at its top.{{sfn|Anita Roy Mukherjee|1995|p=22}}

The major rivers in the region include Damodar, Ajay, Mayurakshi, Dwarakeswar, Shilabati (Shilai), and Kangsabati River (Kasai).{{sfn|Students Britannica|2000|p=240}}{{sfn|Praṇaba Chattopadhyaya|2004|p=16}} All these rivers originate from Chota Nagpur Plateau and flows towards east or south-east finally to meet the River Hooghly. The river Subarnarekha flows through some parts of the region in the Midnapur district.{{sfn|Anita Roy Mukherjee|1995|pp=22-23}} In the past, the floods of Damodar, called the "Sorrow of Bengal", often resulted in heavy losses to life and property. After the formation of the Damodar Valley Corporation in 1948, the flood hazard in the Rarh plain has been reduced through the construction of heavy embankments and other sophisticated engineering structures.[2]

West Rarh's Bagri river is a fertile, low-lying alluvial tract. Rice, jute, legumes, oilseeds, wheat, barley, and mangoes are the chief crops in the east; extensive mulberry cultivation is carried out in the west.[1]

Rarh has several moist deciduous forests of Shorea robusta (sal), Magnolia champaca (champak) and Acacia.{{sfn|Students Britannica|2000|p=240}}

Extent

According to Britannica, the Rahr plains cover parts of the following districts, divided into northern and southern Rarh by the Damodar river:{{sfn|Students Britannica|2000|p=240}}

  • Northern Rarh: Murshidabad, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, and Birbhum
  • Southern Rarh: Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, and Bankura

P. R. Sarkar defines the Rarh region as follows:[3]{{unreliable source?|reason=See the discussion on RSN|date=August 2017}}

  • East Rarh consists of roughly of the following districts:
  • # Western Murshidabad
  • # Northern Birbhum
  • # Eastern Burdwan (Bardhaman)
  • # Hooghly
  • # Howrah
  • # East Midnapore (Medinipur)
  • # Indas of Bankura district
  • West Rarh consists of the following districts:
  • # Old Santhal Pargana district (today 6 districts: Godda, Deoghar, Dumka, Jamtara, Sahibganj and Pakur)
  • # Most parts of Birbhum
  • # Western Burdwan
  • # Bankura district except for Indas
  • # Purulia
  • # Dhanbad
  • # Most parts of Giridih
  • # Four block of Ranchi, namely Silli, Sonahatu, Bundu and Tamar
  • # Singhbhum
  • # Jhargram subdivision of West Midnapore

History

The earliest reference to Rāḍha janapada (as "Ladha") is found in the Jain text Acharangasutra. The text states that the 6th century BCE spiritual leader Mahavira traveled in Vajjabhumi and Subbhabhumi, which were located in the Ladha country. It mentions that the region was "pathless and lawless" during this time, and the local people treated Mahavira harshly.{{sfn|Rupendra Radha|2012}}

One theory identifies Rarh with the powerful Gangaridai people described in the ancient Greek literature.{{sfn|Nitish K. Sengupta|2011|p=28}} The Greek writer Diodorus Siculus mentions that the Ganges river formed the eastern boundary of the Gangaridai. Based on his statement and the identification of Ganges with Bhāgirathi-Hooghly (a western distributary of Ganges), Gangaridai can be identified with the Rarh region. However, other writers such as Plutarch, Curtius and Solinus, suggest that Gangaridai was located on the eastern banks of the Gangaridai river.{{sfn|Nitish K. Sengupta|2011|p=28}} Moreover, Pliny states that the Gangaridai occupied the entire region about the mouths of the Ganges.{{sfn|Dineschandra Sircar|1971|p=172}} This suggests that the Gangaridai territory included the larger coastal region of present-day West Bangal and Bangladesh, from the Bhāgirathi-Hooghly River in the west to the Padma River in the east.{{sfn|Ranabir Chakravarti|2001|p=212}}{{sfn|Dineschandra Sircar|1971|p=172}}

The legendary Sri Lankan chronicles Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa mention that Prince Vijaya, the founder of their nation, came from Simhapura city in the "Lala" country. This Lala is identified with Rāḍha.{{sfn|Rupendra Radha|2012}}

The earliest epigraphic evidence to Rāḍha probably appears in an inscription from Mathura. This inscription states that a Jain monk from the "Rara" country erected a Jain image. A Khajuraho inscription mentions that the Chandela ruler imprisoned the wives of the rulers of various kingdoms, which included Rāḍha.{{sfn|Rupendra Radha|2012}}

The 12th century Naihati copper-plate inscription of the Sena ruler Vallalasena mentions Rāḍha as the ancestral place of his dynasty.{{sfn|Rupendra Radha|2012}}

Historical extent

Various ancient and medieval region offer cludes about the location and historical extent of the Rarh region. The Bhuvaneshvara inscription of Bhatta Bhavadeva, a 12th-century minister, describes Rāḍha as "a waterless, dry and woody region". This descrpition suits the western part of Bengal. The 16th century Digvijayaprakasha suggests that Rāḍha was located to the north of the Damodar River, and to the south of the Gauda region.{{sfn|Rupendra Radha|2012}} The 13th century chronicle Tabaqat-i Nasiri by Minhaj-i-Siraj defines Rāḍh (Rāḍha) as the section lying to the west of the Hoogly-Bhagirathi River.{{sfn|Mohammad Yusuf Siddiq|2015|p=27}}

According to Rupendra K Chattopadhyaya of Banglapedia, Rāḍha "probably included a large part of the modern Indian state of West Bengal".{{sfn|Rupendra Radha|2012}} According to historian André Wink, the Rāḍha division of the Pala-Sena era corresponds roughly to the modern Bardhaman district.{{sfn|André Wink|2002|p=257}}

Divisions

The 9th-10th century literature and inscriptions and literature mention two divisions of Rāḍha: northern (Uttara) and southern (Dakṣiṇa). Rupendra K Chattopadhyaya (in Banglapedia) believes that these roughly correspond to the Subbhabhumi and Vajjabhumi mentioned in the ancient Jain literature.{{sfn|Rupendra Radha|2012}} The 17th century scholar Nilakanatha mentions Suhma as a synonym of Rāḍha. However, as Subbhabhumi is a corruption of Suhma, it appears that Suhma referred to only a part of the ancient Rāḍha region.{{sfn|Rupendra Suhma|2012}}

Uttara Rāḍha

A 6th century CE inscription of the Chola king Devendravarman is the earliest inscription to mention Uttara Rāḍha. The 12th century Belava copper inscription of Bhojavarman states that Bhatta Bhavadeva was born in the Siddhala village (modern Siddhalagram) of Uttara Rāḍha. The 12th century Naihati inscription of Vallalasena also mentions a village named Vallahittaha in the Uttara-Rāḍha mandala (administrative unit). It suggests that Uttara Rāḍha was a part of the Vardhaman bhukti (province). However, the inscription of Vallalasena's successor Lakshmanasena states that this region was a part of the Kankagram bhukti.{{sfn|Rupendra Radha|2012}}

Based on these records, Rupendra K Chattopadhyaya believes that the Uttara Rāḍha included the western parts of the modern Murshidabad district, the entire Birbhum district, some parts of the Santal Parganas district, and the northern part of the Katwa subdivision of the Bardhaman district.{{sfn|Rupendra Radha|2012}}

The archaeological sites located in the historical Uttara Rāḍha region include Rajbadidanga, Gitagram, Paikor, Batikar, Bahiri, Kagas, Kotasur, and Vallala-rajar-dhibi (Ballal Dhipi).{{sfn|Rupendra Radha|2012}}

Dakṣina Rāḍha

Dakṣina Rāḍha appears as a distinct unit in several inscriptions, including the 10th century Gaonri inscription of Vakpati Munja, the 10th century Nyayakandali of Sridhara-acharya, the 11th century Prabodha-Chandrodaya by Krishna Mishra, the 13th century Amareshvara temple inscription of Mandhata, and the 16th century Chandimangal by Mukundarama. The 11th century CE Tirumalai inscription of Rajendra Chola I also mentions "Ladam" (Uttara Rāḍha) and "Takkana-Ladam" (Dakṣina Rāḍha) as two distinct units.{{sfn|Rupendra Radha|2012}}

Rupendra K Chattopadhyaya theorizes that the Dakṣiṇa Rāḍha covered a large of part of West Bengal lying between the Ajay and Damodar rivers. This includes large parts of the later Bardhaman, Howrah, and Hughli, and Burdwan districts. The southern boundary of Dakṣiṇa Rāḍha may have extended to the Rupnarayan River, and its western boundary extended beyond the Damodar river into the present-day Arambag subdivision.{{sfn|Rupendra Radha|2012}}

The archaeological sites that formed part of Dakṣina Rāḍha include: Mahanad, Betur, Saptagram, Garh Mandaran, Bharatpur, Mangalkot, and possibly Dihar and Puskarana.{{sfn|Rupendra Radha|2012}}

Notable people of Rarh

{{unreferenced section|date=May 2016}}

Rarh presented human society the first philosopher Maharishi Kapil who was born near Jahlda. Maharishi Patanjali who systematised yoga was born in Patun village in Burdwan. Kashiram Das from Siddhi village in Burdwan made the Mahabharata in lucid language accessible to the people and Krittivas Ojha did the same with the Ramayana. Others were born in Rarh or were by lineage from Rarh such as: Lochandas Thakur, Vrindavandas Thakur, Govindadas Thakur, Dvaja Chandidas, Dina Chandidas, Boru Chandidas, Ghanaram Chakravorty, Kavikankan Mukundaram Chakravorty, Bharatchandra Ray, Premendra Mitra, Sharatchandra, Tarashankar Bandopadhyay, the poet Jaydev, Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Anil Kumar Gain, Michael Madhusudan Dutta, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Satyen Dutta, Rajshekhar Basu (Parashuram), Shubhankar Das, Kashana, Jayanta Panigrahi, Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, Satyendranath Bose, Rashbehari Bose, Prafulla Chandra Roy, Subhas Chandra Bose, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Shri Aurobindo, Raja Rammohan Roy, Kaliprasanna Singha, Ramprasad Sen, Keshab Chandra Sen, Akshay Kumar Datta, Devendranath Tagore, Dwarakanath Tagore, Thakur Shri Nityananda, Abanindranath Tagore, Gaganendranath Tagore, Thakur Krshnadas Kaviraj, Yamini Ray, Kaberi Gain, Ramkinkar Baij, Kalidasa and others.[3]

See also

  • Gangaridai
  • Khoai
  • West Bengal

References

1. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/491604/Rarh |title=Rarh |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |accessdate=26 August 2012 }}
2. ^{{cite journal |author=Sumantra Sarathi Biswas |title=A Study of DVC Projects of the Damodar River of West Bengal, India |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272785534_Multipurpose_Projects_Serve_as_a_Flood_Controller-Is_this_the_Reality_A_Study_of_DVC_Projects_of_the_Damodar_River_of_West_Bengal_India |journal=Journal of Environment and Earth Science |issn=2224-3216 |volume=5 |issue=1 |year=2015 |page=78 }}
3. ^{{cite book|last=Sarkar|first=Shrii Prabhat Ranjan| authorlink=Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar|title=Ráŕh – The Cradle of Civilization|publisher=Ananda Marga Publications|year=2004|oclc=277280070}}

Bibliography

{{ref begin}}
  • {{cite book |author=André Wink |title=Al-Hind, the Making of the Indo-Islamic World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g2m7_R5P2oAC&pg=PA257 |year=2002 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=0-391-04173-8 |ref=harv }}
  • {{cite book |author=Anita Roy Mukherjee |title=Forest Resources Conservation and Regeneration: A Study of West Bengal Plateau |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uwm-Jl2fKF8C&pg=PA22 |year=1995 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-7022-562-1 |ref=harv }}
  • {{cite book |author1=Balai Chandra Das |author2=Sandipan Ghosh |author3=Aznarul Islam |author4=MD. Ismail |title=Neo-Thinking on Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin Geomorphology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LxpaCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA20 |year=2016 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-319-26443-1 |ref={{harvid|Balai Chandra Das|2016}} }}
  • {{cite book |author=Dineschandra Sircar |author-link=Dineschandra Sircar |title=Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AqKw1Mn8WcwC&pg=PA217 |year=1971 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0690-0 |ref=harv }}
  • {{cite book |author=Gouripada Chatterjee |title=History of Bagree-Rajya (Garhbeta) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=23aE18nmt-0C&pg=PR7 |year=1987 |publisher=Mittal |isbn=978-81-7099-014-7 |pages=7 }}
  • {{cite book |author=Mohammad Yusuf Siddiq |title=Epigraphy and Islamic Culture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nAUBCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA27 |year=2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-58746-0 |ref=harv }}
  • {{cite book |author=Nitish K. Sengupta |title=Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kVSh_TyJ0YoC&pg=PA28 |year=2011 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-14-341678-4 |ref=harv }}
  • {{cite book |author1=Praṇaba Chattopadhyaya |title=Archaeometallurgy in India: Studies on technoculture in early copper and iron ages in Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IzSBAAAAMAAJ |year=2004 |publisher=Kashi Prasad Jayaswal Research Institute |ref=harv }}
  • {{cite web |author=Rupendra K Chattopadhyaya |title=Banglapedia: Radha |edition=Second |editor1=Sirajul Islam |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2=Ahmed A. Jamal |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Radha2 |year=2012 |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh |isbn=978-984-32-0584-1 |ref={{harvid|Rupendra Radha|2012}} }}
  • {{cite web |author=Rupendra K Chattopadhyaya |title=Banglapedia: Suhma |edition=Second |editor1=Sirajul Islam |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2=Ahmed A. Jamal |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Suhma |year=2012 |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh |isbn=978-984-32-0584-1 |ref={{harvid|Rupendra Suhma|2012}} }}
  • {{cite journal |author=Rahul Peter Das |author-link=Rahul Peter Das |title=Some Remarks on the Bengali Deity Dharma: Its Cult and Study |journal=Anthropos |volume=78 |issue=5/ |jstor=40460739 |year=1983 |publisher=Anthropos Institut |pages=661–700 |ref=harv }}
  • {{cite book |title=Students' Britannica India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISFBJarYX7YC&pg=PA240 |year=2000 |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica / Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-0-85229-760-5 |ref={{harvid|Students Britannica|2017}} }}
{{ref end}}{{Santhal Pargana Division topics |state=autocollapse}}

5 : Historical Indian regions|Geography of West Bengal|Ancient divisions in Bengal|History of Bengal|History of Jharkhand

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