Though the famous treatise of Abul Fazal has no mention of Moynagarh, among its list of inaccessible forest-forts there is reference to Balisitagarh. Kalindiram, the feudal lord of Jalauti Dandpat used to rule from Balisitagarh. He was one of the generals of kapilendradeb, the king of Orissa. It was the first half of the 15th Century, 1434 - 35 AD, to be precise. Whether he got his fiefdom by virtue of his being the general or the post of general by virtue of his fiefdom is very difficult to ascertain today. These aristocrats used to be called `Khandaits'. They were neither Brahmins nor Kshatriyas, but of a separate social rank, the warrior class. May be, they attempted to cling on to some sort of peerage by considering themselves as a separate class. Bishnupada Das has discussed this topic in reasonable details referring to some facts mentioned by Abul fazal. We need not to go into the details.

Crossing the inner Moat - Moyna Garh, East Medinipur. Photo: Arindam Bhowmik

There were 31 total `dandapats' within the Hindu Kingdom of Orissa. Though `Jalauti' was one of them, there is no clear mention of its boundaries. Possibly it consisted of two `parganas' - Sabang and Moynachoura. And that Moynachoura of the yesteryears comprises today's Moyna, Pingla, sabang and some regions of Tamluk is evident from the records of the District Collectorate. After a century and quarter of it, about 130 years, the `patharghata' riverside seat of government, Balisitagarh was abandoned.

Beautiful evening at Moyna Garh, East Medinipur. Photo: Arindam Bhowmik

The descendants of Kalindiram Samanta shifted their centre of administration to Moynagarh and settled there permanently. It promised better safety and security. In 1561—62 AD, on the auspicious full-moon in the month of `pous' the `Investiture ceremony' was performed amidst the chanting vedic slokas by the pundits of varanasi. This marks the beginning of the middle ages of Moynagarh.

evident from `Akbarnama', `Tarikh-i-Ferista' and `Madlapanji'. There is no doubt that the oldest name of the legendary place is Moynagarh. `Garh' means a moat-surrounding castle. all the documents governmental or unofficial from the beginning of the C17th to the end of the C 19th refers to this as Killa Moynachoura". The word `Killa' originated from the Arabic Kalah and has become a Bengali word. But the word "choura" is from Orissa which means a sort of island. English cartographers while mapping Moyna have changed the name by their mispronouncing it. they have often referred to it as `chora', `chor' or `char'. It is they who have made the mistake. Till late they spelt `Moyna' differently at different times, It may be said that from the famous report of Mr. J.D. Beglar the name `Moynagarh' was finally established in modern times. Henceforth it was never called `Moynachoura'.

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The influence of Orissa in language, pronunciation, rites, customs and culture need no further discussion. I will here submit two proofs of Arabic and Marathi influences. The present Moynagarh may probably have been called GarhMoyna in the past. Later, a definitive eastern part of it was newly named `GarhSafat'. The original Arabic word `safa' or `Safat' meant `nearby' or `rebuilding'. The descendants of Kalindiram, while settling down permanently at Moynagarh, presumably rebuilt the place. The village is close to the killa and also, another meaning of `Safat' is `situated on the river bank'. A little diversion here would not seen improper. In Marathi, the personal security forces of a king were called "Khaskeil". The castle of Moyna had some of these security forces, Marathi soldiers were in charge of pataspur till 1803. Even after two centuries, one can find families in the villages near Garhmoyna with the surname `khaskeil'. Besides this, the words `Kajir mahalla', `Pathan para' `Sabarpota' still linger in the native tongue.

Moyna Garh, East Medinipur. Photo: Arindam Bhowmik

Moyna Garh, East Medinipur. Photo: Arindam Bhowmik

But, should we consider the romantic Capital of Lausen, the brave hero of Dharmamangal, the national epic of Rarh Bengal, as totally imaginary. can we not extract a grain of fact from the colourful and imaginary pageant of history? Is the ancestry of a thousand years totally baseless? Is there no pearl in an oyster? it is difficult to come to any definitive conclusion. May be there is some truth in the faith of thousands of people built bit by bit through the ages. when Buddhism was being mingled with local rites via `Vajrajan' and the all -consuming Hindutva rites were lurking close by, it was a shady time in history which is very difficult to illuminate. It remains a mystery. Recently, Dr. Sukumar Maity in his research - treatise has painstakingly chalked a path in a map of Lausen's travel from gourh to Moynagarh. He has stressed the word `sagar samip' (near the sea) of the poem. His work is no doubt innovative and brilliant. But instead of indulging in such schisms, we can accept the words of Rabindranath as the final word : poet, your mind is the birthplace of Ram and is truer than Ayodhya.

Moyna Garh, East Medinipur. Photo: Arindam Bhowmik

The tune that was first heard in the Dharmamagal had never faded into the clouds of oblivion. from time to time it had exhibited itself like the sparks of lightning. often it resounded, not like mellow notes on a tanpura or violin, but like bold strokes on a great drum manifesting its might into battle notes. The ruler of jalauti was imprisoned but was freed. The fierce Maratha raiders on horsebacks stormed in like locusts. The castle of Moyna repulsed them with efficiency and ease. the imperialist British govt. had sent forces to quell a rebellion. The ruler lost his domain but did not stoop. I will come to the struggle of the modern days which is of a different type. Before that i will speak a few more words about the pride and prestige of moynagarh.