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 (4th - 5th 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 (1st Century ); Mahaniddesha (2nd Century AD) and Milinda Panha (1st or 2nd Century AD); Dasa Kumar Carita of Dandin; Wei-lueh (3rd Century A.D.); Periplous tes Erythras Thalasses of 1st 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 21o64' and 23o52' north latitude and 88o64' and 90o42' 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 |
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Moorshedabad | 21764 | 102517 | 38740 | 17077 |
Nuddea | 42062 | 111867 | 60026 | 39719 |
Fureedpore | 156223 | 13619 | 23294 | 57026 |
Total | 490099 | 340015 | 209905 | 259992 |
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