Hijli Kingdom
Encyclopedia
The Hijli Kingdom existed between 1687 and 1886 in the eastern part of India
. Initially Hijli was a small island village on the banks of the Rasulpur River
as it flows to the Bay of Bengal
. It developed into a port town in 1687. Slowly, it converted into a province or kingdom covering parts of Bengal
and Orissa
. The Contai
basin also belonged to this kingdom. Mansingh is believed to be the founder King of Hijli. It had important towns like Tamluk
or Tamralipta
, Panskura
, along with Keleghai and Haldi rivers on the north, the south and east sides bounded by the Bay of Bengal
and Kharagpur
, Keshiary, Dantan
and Jaleswar
on the west. The capital of Hijli was in Bahiri
up to 1628 and afterwards it was shifted to Hijli. This kingdom was ruled for some years by Taj Khan, a disciple of Guru Peer Mackdram Sha Chisti. It was also ruled sequentially by Kushan, Gupta and Pal dynasties and also by Mughals
. It is known that Hijli had excellent business and trade centers during the reign of Hindu Kings and continued during the Mughal dynasty.
Captain Nicolson was the first British colonialist to invade Hijli and captured the port only. Afterwards, in 1687, Job Charnock
, with 400 soldiers, captured Hijli, defeating Hindu
and Mughal
Emperors. A war broke out with the Mughal Empire, and a treaty was signed between Job Charnock and the Mughul Emperor. The loss suffered by Job Charnock, forced him to leave Hijli and proceed towards Uluberia
while the Mughal Emperor continuted to rule the kingdom. From there they finally settled at Sutanuti, and slowly established Calcutta (which is currently known as Kolkata
) for their business in eastern India
. This was the start of East India Company
in India. It was at its peak in 1754 and the prosperity of Hijli Province during this period was beyond description.
Towards the second half of the 18th century, another Port town Khejuri came into existence, primarily set up by the British for carrying out trade with European countries. Khejuri was also an island set up on the banks of River Koukhali. Development of this region because of Khejuri and Hijli Port can be gauged by the fact that the first Indian Telegraph Office was established in 1852, connecting Khejuri with Kolkata
(Calcutta). In the devastating cyclone
of 1864, both the ports got destroyed. The islands have since got merged with the main land. Hijli as we know it today, in Kharagpur
, is only a very small part of erstwhile Hijli Province and was created for establishing administrative offices and a jail known as Hijli Detention Camp
by the British
in 19th century. It is curious that almost the entire Kharagpur
subdivision of today has boundaries identical to the Hijli Province. In May 1950, the first Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Kharagpur was established surrounding the area of Hijli Detention Camp
.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Initially Hijli was a small island village on the banks of the Rasulpur River
Rasulpur River
The Rasulpur River is a tributary of the Hooghly River. The Rasulpur flows through Paschim Medinipur and Purba Medinipur districts. It flows as Bagda River until Kalinagar and then flows as Rasulpur River. Its tributaries are Itaberia Khal and Mugberia Khal. It joins the Hooghly shortly after...
as it flows to the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
. It developed into a port town in 1687. Slowly, it converted into a province or kingdom covering parts of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
and Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. The Contai
Contai
Contai is head quarters of Contai subdivision in Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal, India. There are three community development blocks in Contai.- History :...
basin also belonged to this kingdom. Mansingh is believed to be the founder King of Hijli. It had important towns like Tamluk
Tamluk
Tamluk is the district headquarters of Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. Though there is some controversy, scholars have generally agreed that present day Tamluk is the site of the ancient city variously known as Tamralipta or Tamralipti...
or Tamralipta
Tamralipta
Tamralipta or Tamralipti was the name of an ancient city on the Bay of Bengal believed by scholars to be on the site of Tamluk in modern-day India.-References:...
, Panskura
Panskura
Panskura is a town, municipality and a Police station in Purba Medinipur in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Geography:Panskura is located at . It has an average elevation of 7 metres . Its a situated on the NH6 on the way from Kolkata to Kharagpur.-Economy:The livelihood of the common people...
, along with Keleghai and Haldi rivers on the north, the south and east sides bounded by the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
and Kharagpur
Kharagpur
Kharagpur is an industrial city in India. It is located in the Midnapore West district of the state of West Bengal.Kharagpur was chosen as the location of the first campus of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology . The IITs are the premier technical education institutes in India and...
, Keshiary, Dantan
Dantan
Dantan I is an administrative division in the Kharagpur subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Dantan police station serves this block...
and Jaleswar
Jaleswar
Jaleswar is a small town that falls under the state of Orissa. It belongs to Balasore district of state Orissa and is adjacent to border of West Bengal. 'Jaleswar' town is a notified area committee...
on the west. The capital of Hijli was in Bahiri
Bahiri
Bahiri is a census town in Tamluk subdivision of Purba Medinipur district in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Demographics: India census, Bahirgram had a population of 8288. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Bahirgram has an average literacy rate of 63%, higher than the...
up to 1628 and afterwards it was shifted to Hijli. This kingdom was ruled for some years by Taj Khan, a disciple of Guru Peer Mackdram Sha Chisti. It was also ruled sequentially by Kushan, Gupta and Pal dynasties and also by Mughals
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
. It is known that Hijli had excellent business and trade centers during the reign of Hindu Kings and continued during the Mughal dynasty.
Captain Nicolson was the first British colonialist to invade Hijli and captured the port only. Afterwards, in 1687, Job Charnock
Job Charnock
Job Charnock was a servant and administrator of the English East India Company, traditionally regarded as the founder of the city of Calcutta.-Early life and career:...
, with 400 soldiers, captured Hijli, defeating Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
and Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Emperors. A war broke out with the Mughal Empire, and a treaty was signed between Job Charnock and the Mughul Emperor. The loss suffered by Job Charnock, forced him to leave Hijli and proceed towards Uluberia
Uluberia
Uluberia is a city and a municipality in Howrah district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority.-Geography:...
while the Mughal Emperor continuted to rule the kingdom. From there they finally settled at Sutanuti, and slowly established Calcutta (which is currently known as Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
) for their business in eastern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. This was the start of East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
in India. It was at its peak in 1754 and the prosperity of Hijli Province during this period was beyond description.
Towards the second half of the 18th century, another Port town Khejuri came into existence, primarily set up by the British for carrying out trade with European countries. Khejuri was also an island set up on the banks of River Koukhali. Development of this region because of Khejuri and Hijli Port can be gauged by the fact that the first Indian Telegraph Office was established in 1852, connecting Khejuri with Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
(Calcutta). In the devastating cyclone
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...
of 1864, both the ports got destroyed. The islands have since got merged with the main land. Hijli as we know it today, in Kharagpur
Kharagpur
Kharagpur is an industrial city in India. It is located in the Midnapore West district of the state of West Bengal.Kharagpur was chosen as the location of the first campus of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology . The IITs are the premier technical education institutes in India and...
, is only a very small part of erstwhile Hijli Province and was created for establishing administrative offices and a jail known as Hijli Detention Camp
Hijli Detention Camp
Hijli Detention Camp, located in Hijli, beside Kharagpur, , in the district of Midnapore West, West Bengal, India, was significant in the struggle against the British Raj in the early 20th century....
by the British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
in 19th century. It is curious that almost the entire Kharagpur
Kharagpur
Kharagpur is an industrial city in India. It is located in the Midnapore West district of the state of West Bengal.Kharagpur was chosen as the location of the first campus of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology . The IITs are the premier technical education institutes in India and...
subdivision of today has boundaries identical to the Hijli Province. In May 1950, the first Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Kharagpur was established surrounding the area of Hijli Detention Camp
Hijli Detention Camp
Hijli Detention Camp, located in Hijli, beside Kharagpur, , in the district of Midnapore West, West Bengal, India, was significant in the struggle against the British Raj in the early 20th century....
.