| Munger Fort | |
|---|---|
| Part ofBihar | |
| Bihar,India | |
   East end view of the Munger Fort | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Fort |
| Controlled by | Government of Bihar |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Location | |
  Munger Fort | |
| Coordinates | 25°22′49″N86°27′57″E / 25.3803°N 86.4658°E /25.3803; 86.4658 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 14th century |
| Built by | Mohhemadan kings of India |
| Materials | GraniteStones and lime mortar |
TheMunger Fort, located atMunger (also spelt as Monghyr during theBritish Raj), in the state ofBihar, India, is built on a rocky hillock on the south bank of theGanges River. Its history is not completely dated but it is believed that it was built during the early rule ofSlave dynasty of India. The Munger town where the fort is situated was under the control ofMuhammad bin Tughluq of Delhi (1325–1351 CE). The fort has two prominent hills called the Karnachaura or Karanchaura, and the other a built up rectangular mound deduced to be the location of a citadel of the fort with historical links.[1] The fort had a succession of Muslim rulers (Khaljis, Tughlaqs, Lodis, Nawabs of Bengal, followed byMughal rulers, till it was finally acceded to theBritish by Mir Quasim (1760–72), after unseating his father-in-law Mīr Jafar on the grounds of old age, for a monetary reward negotiated by Vansittart. This deal involved payment by theEast India Company's merchants of anad valorem duty of 9 percent, against an Indian merchant's duty of 40%. The fort became a place of considerable importance to the British inBengal till 1947 (Indian independence).[2][3][4][5]
The fort houses a number of religious and historic monuments such as the Tomb of Pir Shah Nufa (died 1497), Palace of Shah Suja, Tomb of Mulla Muhammad Said (died 1704 CE), the Kashtaharini Ghat on the Ganges River, Chandisthana (an ancient temple) and an 18th-centuryBritishcemetery. In recent times, a famousSchool of Yoga was established here.[1][5]
The etymology of the word Munger prefixed to the fort and to the town also called by the same name isMudgagiri with links to theMahbharataepic. Acopper plateinscription ofDevapala alludes to Munger. Another version is that the name could have derived from either sage Mudgala orMaudgalyayana, a disciple ofBuddha. A further explanation by General Cunningham is that it could have been named after theMundas, its earliest inhabitants. C.E.A. Oldham gives a version that it was a "Munigriha" (the hermitage of a saintMuni).[6][7] During British rule it was often speltMonghyr orMonghir.[8]
The Fort's history has been traced from 1330 AD onwards, under the rule ofMuhammad bin Tughluq ofDelhi. But its ancient history, as a town, mostly ruled byHindu kings, is initially traced from a stone inscription toChandragupta (4th century CE), (after whom it was initially called Gupta Garhis) and later dated to the kingdom ofAnga, the capital of which was atChampa nearBhagalpur, and thePala kings in the 9th century AD.[5][6]
Munger, which was under the rule of the Karnataka dynasty ofMithila, was taken over byBhaktiyar Khalji in 1225 AD and subsequently under the Khalji ruler,Gyasuddin Khalji.[7]
For a brief period, it came under the control of Sultan of Bengal between 1301 CE and 1322 CE, following a peace treaty with Khaljis. This was followed by annexation of the area toDelhi byMuhammad bin Tughluq, during 1342 CE.[7]
Inscriptions reveal that repairs were carried out to the fort during the reign ofPrince Danyal of Bengal (son of SultanAlauddin Husain Shah) who held the post of Governor of Bihar, after the defeat ofJampur rulers by the Sultan of Bengal. It is also stated that Prince Danyal of Bengal built the shrine ofSufisaint Shah Nafah within the south gate of the fort, in 1497 AD.[7]
In 1534 CE, in a battle which took place in the plains ofSurajgarha, the formidable army ofIbrahim Khan of Munger was defeated and he was killed bySher Shah Suri who established theSuri Empire. Thus, the fort came under Sher Shah Suri's overlordship (1486 – 22 May 1545). In the subsequent war that took place between Sher Shah andHumayun, theMughal Emperor, Munger was the centre of battle between theAfghan and theMughals. Sher Shah won and the Mughal rule was substituted by Afghan rule.[6][7]
In 1590, the importance of the fort was enhanced by making it the headquarters of Bihar army of the rulers ofGaur under their general named Kutub Khan. Nasrat Shah had succeeded Hussain Shah in Bengal and his brother-in-law, Makhdun Alam, was given control of the Munger fort, which he, in turn, passed on to his general Kutub Khan.[6][7]
From the time of the reign ofAkbar in the late 16th century, Monghyr was controlled by theMughal Emperors.Raja Todar Mal, Minister in theMughal empire had camped at this fort when he was deputed to put down the rebel forces of Bengal. He substantially refurbished the fortifications of the fort. After a series of intriguing changes in the governorship of MungerShah Shuja, the second son ofShah Jahan, theMughal Emperor andAurangzeb's brother, had fled to this place to escape persecution, during his fight with his brothers for power. He was made governor of the region after protracted negotiations with his brothersDara Shikoh,Murad and Aurangzeb, and under the treaty of 1658 Munger was added to Shuja's reign. Shuja built a palace on the west side of the fort, which has been described as " very large house where the king (Suja) lived, walled next to the river, for about one and halfKos with bricks and stones, with a wall fifteen yards high".[1][7]
However, in 1745, Mustafa Khan, a rebel leader under General Alivardi Khan took control of the fort when its defences had weakened. After a few days of stay in the fort, he continued his campaign towardsPatna with lots of guns and ammunition taken from the fort.[7]
In the 4thMaratha war of 1744, the Maratha army had raided through Bihar and Munger.Jean Law, theFrench adventurer and partisan ofSiraj ud-Daulah (1733 – 2 July 1757), the last independent Nawab of Bengal, Bihar andOrissa was running away after theBattle of Plassey. In July 1757, the British attempted an attack on the fort. Eyre Coote, the British officer (heading the British force) reached Munger in pursuit of Jean Low. But he could not enter the well-fortified fort. He did not dare to attack the fort because the fort garrison had lined up "the ramparts with their matches held near the cannons." But the Governor of the fort provided him boats.[5][7]
In February 1760, Major Caillaud of the Nawab of Bengal and his supporters defeated the Mughal EmperorShah Alam II (1728–1806). The Emperor and his army moved out not only from the fort but also from the district.[7] With this victory, the rule ofMir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal began with Johan Stables, in charge of Munger fort, launching a successful attack on the Raja of Kharagpur who had opposed the Nawab of Bengal.[7]
Monghyr was thus occupied byMir Qasim Ali, theNawab of Bengal (from 1760 to 1764). In 1763, Quasim shifted his capital fromMurshidabad toMunger. His new appointee General Gurgin Khan fromIsfahan patterned theBengal Army on the lines of theBritish forces. At this fort, a factory for arsenal, for manufacturing of fire-arms was established. This tradition has continued to this day; several hundred families who have specialised in the manufacture of guns are continuing with this old tradition. He further added to the fortifications and also built palaces in the fort. Mir Quasim came to be known as a just ruler (he tried to eliminate corruption and injustice) but was also feared by his opponents as a fierce and ruthless warrior. He was also known for encouraging culture and had many scholars in his court. But all this ended soon as he had serious differences on trade and other administrative practices with the British. Mir Qasim later had to use the fort as a base for waging war against the British. But he was defeated in 1764. Later, he turned out to be a poor looser as he disgraced himself by committing serious atrocities on his own people in Munger fort and also in Patna, and also on the English army and other personnel who were captured in Patna. His criminal atrocities in Patna are known in the historical annals as the ‘Massacre of Patna’. Subsequently, the fort lost its glory.Lord Cornwallis, theGovernor General, inBritish India, had built a country house here.[1][3][6][7][9][10]
History also recordsa "White Mutiny" by disgruntled officers of theEast India Company (who controlled the fort) in the precincts of the Munger Fort, which was put down in 1766 byLord Clive. The mutiny broke out over the reduction of an extra monthly payment calledbhatta to soldiers on active duty. After the suppression of the mutiny, a smallgarrison was thereafter stationed at the fort. Over the years, the maintenance of the fort was neglected.[1][5][7]
Under the Mughal rule, the fort was substantially expanded as a strong military fortification. The fort was an impressive structure with massive gates, one of which had been a strong fortification with square towers, with a deep moat. The moat was 175 feet (53 m) in width, surrounding the land side of the fort, thus making it strategically formidable. It opens to the Ganges river (which is 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide here, but crossed only by boats) at either end thus enhancing the fort's security.[1][11][12]
The fort is spread over an area of 222 acres (90 ha) over rocky hills with a peripheral length of2.5 miles (4.0 km). The fort has 4 feet (1.2 m) thick inner walls while the outer walls are 12 feet (3.7 m) thick forming the fortification, which is 30 feet (9.1 m) thick. The intervening space of 14 feet (4.3 m) between the inner and outer walls is filled with earth. The Ganges river hugs the fort walls on the west and partly in the north. On the landward side, there is a 175 feet (53 m) wide moat, which acts as a defence to the fortifications. There are four entry gates, within the octagonal fortress, with ramparts. The main gateway, called the Lal Darwaza, is still in good shape, even though the rest of the fort is mostly in ruins. This gate has a carved stone, which is said to belong to aHindu or aBuddhist structure.[1][5]
The famous monuments located within the fort are:
Pir Shah Nufa, originally of Persin origin, was aSufi saint who was sent to Munger by his guruKhwajaMoinuddin Chishti ofAjmer. His tomb dating his death to A.H. 596 (1177 AD) is located near a rampart in the fort close to the southern gate. It was built over an area of 100 feet (30 m) square with retaining walls supporting all round, on a 25 feet (7.6 m) high heap of earth . The carved stones of these ancient ruins were pitted by holes and depressions, with the belief that such disfiguring would cure certain diseases of children. The domed tomb chamber, 16 feet (4.9 m) square with circular turrets, also encloses a prayer room and a restroom.[1]
Though locally known as the 'Palace of Shuja', theMughal Prince, it is inferred to have been built earlier byNawabMir Qasim Ali, who also ruled from Munger. The palace is bounded by high rise walls on three sides and the Ganges river on the west side. As in any palace of the Mughals, it consisted of a Khas Mahal or 'Zanana Palace', the 'Diwane-I-Am' or Public Audience Hall and the Tope-Khana orArmoury (made of 10–15 feet (3.0–4.6 m) thick walls) (now a dormitory). There was also amosque on the west side of the palace, now in ruins, but used as storehouse. There was aTurkish bath (hammam) and a dressing room to the west of the present day jailer's office. An interesting feature noted below the floor of the mosque is a dry well or pit of 10–12 feet (3.0–3.7 m) depth, which leads to several tunnels running in different directions. The well was, in earlier times, connected to the river through an opening, which has since been shored up. The Khas Mahal of the palace and the Public Audience Hall inside the fort, which are now seen mostly in ruins, are used as a jail and a school for the convicts.[1][13]
Tomb ofMullahMohammed Said was situated on the bastion at the south-west of the fort, but has since been removed. Mulla Mohammed Said hailing fromMazandran near theCaspian Sea, was aPersian poet (under the nom-de-plume of Ashraf). He was employed by Emperor Aurangzeb to tutor his daughterZebunnisa Begum. He was also under the employment of Azim Shah, grandson of Aurangzeb, and who was the viceroy of Bihar. The Mullah, while on his way from Bengal toMecca, died at Munger fort in 1704 and his tomb existed inside the fort.[1][5][7]
The Ganges river that flows in front of Munger fort takes a turn in its flow direction towards the north ('Uttara vahini' inSanskrit means: "north flowing"). At this location, aghat (stepped approach to the river edge from the high bank built in stones) was constructed, which has a legend linked to it. An inscription atKannauj records that Govind Chandra ofKannauj, aGahadvala King, granted land on the bank of the river to build a ghat, after bathing in the Ganges river at Mudgagiri (Munger) on the occasion of the Hindu festival known asAkshaya Tritiya. There are several antiquities that have been unearthed at this ghat such as: an inscription of about the 10th century AD on the wall of the gateway that refers to kingBhagiratha and the construction of aShiva temple; discovery of carvings and sculptures by archaeologist Bloch in 1903; an inscribed image ofDhyaniBuddha (Buddha in meditation pose) describing theBuddhistdoctrine; preserved now in theIndianMuseum atKolkata). Hence, this location is venerated by the Hindus.[1][5]
Chandisthana (meaning: place of goddess Chandi) is the location of a shrine, which is a village deity ofgoddessChandi (Chandi or Caṇḍīika is the name by which the Supreme Goddess is referred to inDevi Mahatmya). It is considered[by whom?] as one of the 64shakti peethas (atantric cultural centre) in India. It is depicted in the form of a hole in a rock dated to the rule of king Karna Vikrama. The conjecture that it could be part of an ancient temple that existed here is yet to be established by archaeologists by exploration of the area.[1][5]
A natural rocky hillock dated to the ancient RajaKarna is named after him as the 'Karnachaura' or 'Karanchaura' or 'Karan Chabutara' (meaning: slab of Raja Karan). It is the highest point in the fort. Since the location commands a fine view of the surroundings,Raja Karan (he was a contemporary ofVikramaditya, the famous king of India) had built a house on the hill, which was later converted by the British to a saluting battery. In 1766, this base on the hill was crucial in subduing rebellion by someEuropean officers of the garrison. Further refurbishing of the fort occurred duringGeneralGoddard's time when it was converted as the large residence (as it exists now) of the Commanding Officer of the British garrison. This building was later under the ownership ofMaharaja of Vizianagram and then by theRaja ofMurshidabad. Since 1978, it is under the ownership of theBihar School of Yoga.Swami Satyananda Saraswati founder of the Yoga School has renamed it as 'Ganga Darshan'. The Yoga School is now renowned as a world centre for modern yogic/tantric renaissance. An old platform near the hill, in front of the bungalow, is also linked to the period of King Karna and his wife.[1][5]
The second famous rock hillock (no specific name is given to this) within the fort is, in fact, an artificial rectangular raised platform where a citadel of the fort probably existed in the past. An old building called as 'Damdama Kothi' ('kothi' means "house"), conjectured to have been built byMuslim rulers or even earlierHindu kings that existed here, was destroyed by the British to build the 'Collector's Bangalow'. When this strong Kothi (a masonry structure) was demolished by blasting, underground rooms were found. In addition, in a well in the compound of the bungalow, two arched passages were found; one lead to the house and the other in an opposite direction to the Shuja palace (now a prison). Stone carvings and sculptures were seen in exposed masonry of the Kothi, during Buchanan's archaeological explorations.[1][5]
TheBihar School of Yoga founded bySwami Satyananda Saraswati in 1964 to impart traditionalyoga teachings to the world is headquartered inside the Munger fort. Apart from providing spiritual instruction to candidates, the school undertakes yoga projects and medical research in association with other agencies. It is the World's first Yoga University and a deemed university. It attracts students from all over the world. Around 400Australians,Americans and others register for the yoga course every year, with this figure rising continuously.[14][15]
Munger fort and the Munger town are well connected by road, rail and air communications through Patna, the capital city of Bihar. Patna is connected by air to all major cities in India. It has a very good network of rail and road links with all major cities in the country. The road distance from Patna to Munger is 173 kilometres (107 mi).[14]
The Ganges river, which has been declared as theNational Waterway 1 flows to the south bank of the Munger town. It extends fromVaranasi inUttar Pradesh toKolkata inWest Bengal. En route, the towns covered areBhagalpur,Munger,Patna andBuxar. A tourist cruise service authorised under aMemorandum of understanding withInland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has been launched recently to cover this navigational route to visit several tourist destinations, including Munger fort.[16]
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