LOCATION OF VANGA AND DEMOGRAPHIC

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

DISTRICT	'Chandal' (semi-Hinduised aboriginal)	Kaibarta (agriculture caste)	Brahmin (superior caste)	Kayastha (intermediate caste)
Moorshedabad	21764	102517	38740	17077
Nuddea	42062	111867	60026	39719
24 Parganas	46056	182180	120102	82803
Jessore	271325	41001	51909	90610
Fureedpore	156223	13619	23294	57026
Backergunge	326775	29341	65261	125164
Total	864205	480525	359332	412399

TABLE  II

The Population of the Central and Eastern Gangetic Delta 

in 1872

DISTRICT	'Chandal' (semi-Hinduised aboriginal)	Kaibarta (agriculture caste)	Brahmin (superior caste)	Kayastha (intermediate caste)
Jessore	271325	41001	51909	90610
Fureedpore	156223	13619	23294	57026
Backergunge	326775	29341	65261	125164
Total	754323	83961	140464	272800

 

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 all we have to give any credence to the Greek and Roman accounts of the mighty Gangarides, to whom should we attribute this tradition?

TABLE III

The Population of

the Centre of the Gangetic Delta 

in 1872

DISTRICT	'Chandal' (semi-Hinduised aboriginal)	Kayastha (intermediate caste)	Brahmin (superior caste)	Kaibarta (agriculture caste)
Jessore	271325	90610	51909	41001
Total	271325	90610	51909	41001
	271325	183520
* Note: Chandals outnumber the combined population of Kaysths, Brahmins and Kaibartas by 87,805. Jessore produced more than 62 two varieties of long stemmed aman rice.

 

 

TABLE IV

The Population of Backergunge 

- The Fen country of the Gangetic Delta

in 1872

DISTRICT	'Chandal' (semi-Hinduised aboriginal)	Kayastha (intermediate caste)	Brahmin (superior caste)	Kaibarta (agriculture caste)
Backergunge	326775	125164	65261	29341
Total	326755	219766

 

 

TABLE  V

The Population of Central and East Bengal

in 1872

DISTRICT	'Chandal' (semi-Hinduised aboriginal)	Kaibarta (agriculture caste)	Brahmin (superior caste)	Kayastha (intermediate caste)
Moorshedabad	21764	102517	38740	17077
Nuddea	42062	111867	60026	39719
24 Parganas	46056	182180	120102	82803
Jessore	271325	41001	51909	90610
Fureedpore	156223	13619	23294	57026
Backergunge	326775	29341	65261	125164
Pabna	50126	19255	20553	35359
Dacca	191162	32317	51632	102084
Mymensing	123262	77798	23414	105537
Sylhet	122457	128523	44244	90205
Cachar	9226	1112	3079	4043
Chittagong	1585	3692	22657	68916
Noakhally	12947	20263	7652	20878
Tipperah	81155	53866	31020	72804
Total	1456125	817351	563583	912225

 

Table-VI

The Population of Central and Extended East Bengal in 1872

DISTRICT	'Chandal' (semi-Hinduised aboriginal)	Kaibarta (agriculture caste)	Brahmin (superior caste)	Kayastha (intermediate caste)
Moorshedabad	21764	102517	38740	17077
Nuddea	42062	111867	60026	39719
24 Parganas	46056	182180	120102	82803
Jessore	271325	41001	51909	90610
Fureedpore	156223	13619	23294	57026
Backergunge	326775	29341	65261	125164
Rajshahye	28762	60440	15660	8727
Rungpore	36148	35396	10623	10387
Bogra	7647	14833	4263	5483
Pabna	50126	19255	20553	35359
Dacca	191162	32317	51632	102084
Mymensing	123262	77798	23414	105537
Sylhet	122457	128523	44244	90205
Cachar	9226	1112	3079	4043
Chittagong	1585	3692	22657	68916
Noakhally	12947	20263	7652	20878
Tipperah	81155	53866	31020	72804
Total	1528682	928020	594129	936822

 

TABLE  VII

The Population of East Bengal in 1872

DISTRICT	'Chandal' (Semi-Hinduised aboriginal)	Kaibarta (Agriculture caste)	Brahmins (Superior caste)	Kayasthas (Intermediate caste)
Sylhet	122457	128523	44244	90205
Mymensing	123262	77798	23414	105537
Dacca	191162	32317	51632	102084
Noakhally	12947	20263	7652	20878
Chittagong	1585	3692	22657	68916
Tipperah	81155	53866	31020	72804
Fureedpore	156223	13619	23294	57026
Jessore	271325	41001	51909	90610
Backergunge	326775	29341	65261	125164
Total	1286891	400420	321083	733224

 

TABLE  VIII

The Population of the Brahmaputra to Bay of Bengal

in 1872

DISTRICT	'Chandal' (semi-Hinduised aboriginal)	Kaibarta (agriculture caste)	Brahmin (superior caste)	Kayastha (intermediate caste)
Cachar	9226	1112	3079	4043
Sylhet	122457	128523	44244	90205
Mymensign	123262	77798	23414	105537
Bogra	7647	14833	4263	5483
Rungpur	36148	35396	10623	10387
Dacca	191162	32317	51632	102084
Pubna	50126	19255	20553	35359
Noakhally	12947	20263	7652	20878
Tipperah	81155	53866	31020	72804
Rajshahye	28762	60440	15660	8727
Fureedpore	156223	13619	23294	57026
Backergunge	326775	29341	65261	125164
Jessore	271325	41001	51909	90610
Total	1417215	527764	352604	728307

 

TABLE  IX

The Population of immediate north of the Ganges-Padma

in 1872

DISTRICT	'Chandal' (semi-Hinduised aboriginal)	Kaibarta (agriculture caste)	Brahmin (superior caste)	Kayastha (intermediate caste)
Rajshahye	28762	60440	15660	8727
Pabna	50126	19255	20553	35359
Dacca	191162	32317	51632	102084
Total	270050	112012	87845	146170

 

TABLE - X

The Population all over Bengal

in 1872

DISTRICT	'Chandal' (semi-Hinduised aboriginal)
Moorshedabad	21764
Nuddea	42062
24 Parganas	46056
Jessore	271325
Fureedpore	156223
Backergunge	326775
Rajshahye	28762
Rungpore	36148
Bogra	7647
Pabna	50126
Dacca	191162
Mymensing	123262
Sylhet	122457
Cachar	9226
Chittagong	1585
Noakhally	12947
Tipperah	81155
Burdwan	33326
Bancoorah	507
Beerbhoom	890
Midnapore	24713
Hooghly with Howrah	21568
Dinagepore	7371
Maldah	1216
Darjeeling	292
Julpaigoree	1980
Total	1620545

 

 

TABLE - XI

North and South of the Ganges

DISTRICT	'Chandal' (semi-Hinduised aboriginal)	Kaibarta (agriculture caste)	Brahmin (superior caste)	Kayastha (intermediate caste)
Rajshahye	28762	60440	15660	8727
Pubna	50126	19255	20553	35359
Dacca	191162	32317	51632	102084
Moorshedabad	21764	102517	38740	17077
Nuddea	42062	111867	60026	39719
Fureedpore	156223	13619	23294	57026
Total	490099	340015	209905	259992