| Voice of Munger : Abhay
Kr Akela
Women and child trafficking is the major challenge in the district
which required serious attention from our government officials.
Child labour is also very rampant in the district. Children suffer
from various health problems if they are working in mills or factories.
Labourers, women and children are exploited in the hilly region.
Munger District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 1419.0 Km2
Population in Munger (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 1,359,054
Male : 723,280
Female : 635,774
Under 6 population
Total : 221,026
Male : 114,841
Female : 106,185
Disabled population
Total disabled population : 38252
In seeing : 23582
In speech : 2028
In hearing : 930
In movement : 8900
Mental : 2812
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : 204
Sex Ratio Rank : 89
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 237 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 385 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Water : Occurrence of High Arsenic in Ground Water, Flouride in
Brief About Munger District
Situated in 250-23’ N. and 860-26’ E.
It is the headquarter of MUNGER Commissionary.
The town is practically surrounded by the Ganga
on three sides, viz. south west and north and the Kharagpur hills
forming the eastern border. It is situated in the heart of the district
and its particular location has made portion of the town a beauty
spot. The situation was once considered to be strategic. Munger
has a beautiful townscape. Prior to the CENSUS OF INDIA-
1971, Monghyr was in vogue as its name.
Munger
District is located in the southern part of Bihar
and its headquarter is located on the southern bank of river Ganges.
The district is spread over 1419.7 Sq. km. accounting for 3.3% of
the area of Bihar
. It lies between 240 22 N to 250 30 N latitude
and 8530 E to 870 3 E longitude. From administrative
and development point of view,Munger is divided into three subdivisions
namely Munger,Kharagpur, and Tarapur. There are nine developmental
blocks namely Munger, Bariarpur, Jamalpur, Dharahara, Kharagpur, Tetia
Bambar,Tarapur Asarganj and Sangrampur. There are about 903 villages
in the district. The Munger district on an average is 30 to 65 mtrs
above sea level. The average annual rainfall is 1231 mm.
History
MUNGER – Historical Pointers
The territory included within the district of Munger (famously Monghyr)
formed pent of the Madhya-desa as “Midland” of the first Aryan settlers.
It has been identified with Mod-Giri a place mentioned in the Mahabharata,
which was the capital of a kingdom in Eastern India near Vanga and
Tamralipta. In the Digvijaya Parva of Mahabharata, we find the mention
of Moda-Giri, Which seems similar to Moda-Giri. Digvijaya Parva
suggests that it was a monarchical state during early times. A passage
in the Sabha-Parva describes Bhima’s conquest in Eastern India and
says that after defeating Karna, king of Anga, he fought battle
at Modagiri and killed its chief. It was also known as Maudal after
Maudgalya, a disciple of Buddha, who converted a rich merchant of
this place into Buddhism. Buchanan says that it was the hermitage
of Mudgala Muni and this tradition of Mudgal Risi still persists.
Munger is called “Modagiri” in the Monghyr copperplate of Devapala.
The derivation of the name Munger (Monghyr) has found the subject
of much speculation. Tradition arcribes the foundation of the town
to Chandragupta, after whom it was called Guptagars a name which
has been found inscribed on a rock at Kastaharni Ghat at the north-western
corner of the present fort. It is insisted that Mudgalrisi lived
there. Tradition ascribes the composition of various suktar of the
10th Mavdala of the Rigveda to Rishi Mudgal and his clan. However,
General Cunnigham had strong suspicicion when he connects this original
name with Mons as Mundas, who occupied this part before the advent
of the Aryans. Again Mr. C.E.A. oldham, ICS, a farmer collector
suggests the possibility of Munigiha, ie , the abode of the Muni,
without any specification which later corrupted to Mungir and later
became Munger.
At the dawn of history, the present site of
the town was apparently comprised within the Kingdom of Anga, with
the capital Champa near Bhagalpur. According to Pargiter, Anga comprises
the modern districts of Bhagalpur and Munger commissionary. The
Anga dominion at one time included Magadha and the Shanti-Parva
refers to an Anga king who sacrificed at Mount Vishnupada. In the
epic period Modagiri finds mention as a separate state. The success
of the Anga did not last long and about the middle of the sixth
century B.C. Bimlisara of Magadha is said to have killed Brahmadatta,
the last independent ruler of ancient Anga. Hence the Anga became
an integral part of the growing empire of Magadh. As epigraphic
evidence of the Gupta period suggests that Munger was under the
Guptas. To the reign of Buddhagupta (447-495 A.D) belongs a copper
plate of A.D. 488-9 originally found at Mandapura in the district.
HIUEN TSIANG’S ACCOUNT :
However the first historical account of the district appears in
the Travels of HIUEN TSIANG, who visited this area towards the close
of the first half of the seventh century A.D. Hiuen Tsiang observed
“The country is regularly cultivated and rich in produce flowers
and fruit being abundant, the climate is agreeable and manners of
the people simple and honest. There are 10 Buddhist monartries with
about 4,000 priests and few Brahminical temples occupied by various
sectaries”. The pilgrim’s “I-lan-ha-po-fa-to”country is identified
as this area. He had to pass through thick forest and strange mountains
into the country of Hiranayaparvat. The capital Hiranayaparvat,
lay, on the southern bank of Ganga, and closed to it stood mount
Hiranya, which “belched masses of smoke and vapour that obscured
the light of the sun and the moon”. The position of this hill is
determined from its proximity to the Ganga, to be Munger and though
no smoke now comes from any peak, the numerous hot springs in the
hills point to famous volcanic action. These hot spring are also
mentioned in Hiuen Tsiang’s Account. General Cunningham identified
the hot springs being those of Bhimbandh and its offshoots. Other
authorities refer it as Uren in present Lakhisarai District.
Unfortunately, there is a historical gap of
almost two centuries when we find its fresh mention in the Munger
copper plate of Devapala discovered at Munger about 1780. We learn
from this copper plate about Dharampala (c.770-810) who preceded
far beyond Kanauj in his military campaigns. It refers to a campaign
of Dharampala along the foot of the Himalayas. Tripartite struggle
between the Palas, Rashhtrakutas and Gurjar-Pratihars for subermacy
over Kanauj was a dominant factor in the history of northern India.
We find mention of Pala king Gopal, his son Dharampala & Devapala.
Munger prominence is also corroborated by the Nawlagarth inscriptions
of Begusarai. The Bhagalpur plate of Narayan pala, executed at Munger,
shows their policy of religious tolerance and there patronage to
the worshipers of Shiva & Sakti cults.
Till the advent of the Turkish rule in India.
Munger was under sway of the Karnataka dynasty of Mithila. However
Bakhiyar Khilji took possession of Territory any of Munger in AD1225.
Thus Munger in possession of the Khilji ruler Gyasuddin. After a
tussle and aftermath a peace treaty Munger came under the control
of Sultan of Bengal between 1301-1322, which is corroborated by
the Lakhisarai Inscription. Munger came under the possession of
Muhammad Bin Tugular who annexed Munger to Delhi for some time.
In 1342 the whole of north India witnessed the turmoil and Late
Spasmodic Illyas Shah of Bangal taking advantage of the opportunities
established his sway over Bihar. An interesting description of the
Bengal sultan still exists in Lakhisarai. Inscription bearing a
date corresponding to 1297 which mentions Rakmuddin Kalawao (c1296-1302)
and a Governor round Ferai Hitagim. During thus conflict between
the Tugulaqs of Delhi and Bangal Sultan some portions of then Munger
came under the possession of the Sharqils of Jaunpur.
Some inscriptions found in Munger speaks of
the conflict between the Jampur rules and the Bangal Sultan which
resulted in farmer’s defeat and finally resulted in peace. Here
we came across the name of prince Danyal who held the post of Governor
of Bihar. It was prince Danyal who had repaired the fortification
of Munger and built in 1497 the voult over the shrine of Shah Nafah.
This is also known by the insemination but up by Danyal on the eastern
wall of the Dargah just within the southern gate of the fort.
Nasrat Shah succeeded Hussain Shah in Bengal
in 1590. His brother-in-law Makhdun Alam took possession of Munger
Fort and entrusted its responsibility to one of his general named
Kutub Khan who made Munger the head quarters of Bihar army of the
rulers of Gaur. Bahar in his memoir mention that when he invaded
Bihar, Munger was under the change of a prince. After the Battle
of ghagra, Babar sent envoys to Nusarat Shah later Kutub Khan was
defeated and killed by Shur Shah. In 1534 again a powerful army
in command of Ibrahim Khan moved out to Munger, The battles took
place in the narrow plains of Surajgarha in which Ibrahim Khan was
routed and slain and Sher Shah firmly placed himself to Kingshlip.
Thus during the Humayun-Sher Shah conflict Munger pardoner strategic
gamed. During the subsequent war between Sher Shah and Humayun Munger
was the seat of battle between, the Afghan and the Empires in which
Sher Shah captured Dilawar Khan son of Daulat Khan Lodi. Mughal
rule was substituted for Afghan rule. During Akbar’s period when
the great Bengal military revolts started. Munger was for some time
the headquarters of Akbar’s officers in their expeditions against
the rebels. It was in this year that Raja Todarmal took possession
of Munger and tried to deal with three refractory powerful semi-independent
Zamindars of Akbar’s time viz. Raja Gajapati of Hajipur, Raja Puran
Mal of Ghidhaur and Raja Sangram Singh of Kharagpur. The last two
belonged to the district of Munger. Gajapati was totally ruined.
After the final occupation of Bihar, Raja Man Singh was appointed
as the Governor and on the basis of Akbarnama. It can be said that
Raja Man Singh succeeded well in his administration. Kharagpur at
that time was a great principality extending from the south of Munger
to the south of Bhagalpur and Santhal Paragans. Sangram Singh remained
loyal to the Mughal rule till Akbar’s death in 1605. But the accession
of Jahangir and the rebellion of Prince Khusru led him to make a
final attempt to recover his independence. He collected his forces,
which, according to Jhangir’s memoirs, consisted of about four thousand
horses and a large army of foot soldiers.
The Mughal army under Jahangir’s Kuli Khan Lala
Beg, Governor of Bihar, valiantly opposed him and a gun shot in
1606 killed Sangram Singh. Sangram Singh’s son succeeded in gaining
favour of Jahangir but had to wait till 1615 when, on his conversion
to Islam, he was allowed to return to Bihar. He known in history
as Rozafzun (ie. Daily growing in power). He remained faithful to
the Emperor and in 1628 when Jahangir died he was a commander of
1500-foot soldiers and 700 horses. When Shahjahan became the Emperor,
Rozafzun entered into active Mughal services and accompanied Mahabat
Khan in his Kabul expedition. He was a brave soldier and had to
his credit his participation in the Siege of Parendah and was promoted
to the higher ranks and became the commander of 2000-foot soldiers
and 1000 horses.He died in 1635 and was succeeded by his son Raja
Bihruz who was also a great fighter and held the rank of 700-foot
soldier and 700 horses, under Shahjahan. He extended his territory,
got many grants specially the Chakla Midnapur, in which he built
a town and named it Kharagpur. A ruined palace built by him is there;
adjoining it is a three-domed mosque. There is still a marble slab,
which gives the date of building in 1656 A.D. But this brave Kharagpur
ruler died in 1656. During the civil (1657-58) amongst the sons
of Shahjahan, Shah Shuja, the second son of the Emperor was governor
of Bengal. On hearing of the serious illness of his father in 1657
he raised the standard of revolts and claimed the throne. Though
his capital was at Rajmahal, Munger the centre from which he direct
his preparations and here he returned in 1658 after his defeat.
In June 1658, Auranzeb made an attempt to conciliate Shuja by granting
him the province of Bihar in addition to Bengal. Munger came into
great prominence during this period of the civil war. Prof. Quanungo
writes that after the March of Imperial Army Shuja wrote to Dara
asking for the grant of Munger, which formed the part of Dara’s
province of Bihar. Dara was also prepared to give away the Fort
of Munger on the condition that the present fortress was dismantled
and Shuja’s son did not reside there. We also get a reference of
Murad’s letter in which the designs of Dara to deprive Shuja of
Munger has been hinted at. Shuja took shelter at Munger to face
the Imperialists. In course of this conflict Dara was compelled
to send urgent letters to his son to make peace with his uncle.
As a result of this treaty of 1685 Munger was added to Shuja’s viceroyalty
but he was not allowed to reside there. In 1659 Daud Khan took charge
of the province of Bihar. Mir. Jumla and Prince Muhammad pursued
Shuja up to Munger. Shuja was forced by the treachery of Raja Bihruz
Khan of Kharagpur and Khaza Kamal of Birbhum to abandon Munger in
1659. It was in this connection that Raja Bihruz was made In charge
of the whole area of Munger. We also find a mention of a Aevastative
famine during the reign of the Governor, Ibrahim Khan which continued
from 1670-72. The Dutch traveller, De Graafe, who travelled from
Munger to Patna in November 1670 gives a graphic picture of the
horrible sccnes. Marshall also mentions very interesting details
about Munger. He inspected Shah Suja place built on the west side
of the Fort. He describes it, “as a very large house where the king
(Suja) lived, walled next to the river, for about one and half Kos
with bricks and stones, with a wall fifteen yards high”. He entered
the first gate but was stopped at the other within which he saw
two elephants carved in stone and very large and handsomely”. The
inside palace was so strictly guarded that two Dutch men De Graafe
and Oasterhoff were imprisoned for their antiquarian interest as
they were taken as spies. They were released after seven weeks of
imprisonment in November , 1670 by paying a fine of one thousand
rupees to the Nawab of Patna. Marshall found a great garden and,
at the south end, he saw several thatched and many tombs and mosques.
He further writes “the town stands upon an ascent,
the river bank by it being 8 or 10 yards high, the brick wall by
the river side at the south end of Munger was about 5 yards high
and 20 yards long with a little tower at each end and each wall
is a fortification to place the gun on it. Towards the close of
the 18th Century we find that Munger was merely station of “Power
Magazine” established there….” For most vivid lightning often about
Munger attracted by the iron ore which abounds in the neighboring
hills and if it fell upon the magazine, the while Fort could certainly
be destroyed by the explosion”. We find mention in the travel account
of R.Heber in his book “Narrative of Journey Through the Upper Province
of India (1827)” that Munger was noted for its good climate and
Warren Hastings also speaks of the delightful change of atmosphere
from that of Bengal. Heber further wrote “Munger presents an imposing
appeardance…. The Fort is now dismantled. Its gates, its battlements
etc. are all of Asiatic architecture and very much similar to the
Khitairagorod of Moscow.” Miss Emily Eden was also much struck by
the inland tables and boxes and expressed surprise on such curious
workmanship (Miss Eden-Up the Country quoted in Munger Gazetteer
1960). The remark of Miss Eden is also attested in the writing of
Fanny Parkes who wrote “Among the articles manufactured here the
black vases for flowers turned into while wood and lacquered whilst
in the Lathe with scaling wax are pretty”. Joseph Hooker also speaks
highly of Munger, “By far the prettiest town, Munger was celebrated
for its iton manufacture, especially of muskets, in which respect
it is the Burmingham of Bengal”.
When we come down to the early Mughal period
we get a few references to the district in the famous book “Ain-I-Akbari”
prepared by Abul Fazl. According to it Sarkar Munger consisted of
31 mahals or Parganas, paying a revenue of 10,96,25 981 dams (40
dams equal to One Akbar Shahi rupee). It is also mentioned that
Sarkar Munger furnished 2150 horses and 50,000 foot soldiers. Raja
Man Singh who is said to have reconqucred Bengal and Orissa had
for some time Munger as his residenoc.During the reign of Aurangzed
we find mention of Munger inconnection with the death and burial
at Munger of the poet Mulla Mohammad Saiyed, who wrote under the
nom-de-plume of Ashraf. The poet Ashraf stood in high favour with
prince Azim-Us-Shah, Aurangzeb’s grand son, who happened to be the
Governor of Bihar. The poet Ashraf had also been for a long time
the teacher of Zebunissa Begum, Aurangzeb’s daughter who was herself
a poetcss of rupute. It 1704 while on his way from Bengal to Mecca,
the poet died at Munger where his tomb is still pointed out. Nicholas
Graafe, a Dutch physician who visited in the beginning of the century
was struck with admiration at the sight of its white wall, towers
and minarets. But by 1745 when Mustafa Khan, a rebellious General
of Alivardi Khan advanced against it in his march northwards the
fort was a ruinous fortification which the Governor and his little
garrison tried to put up some Defence but failed miserably.
The besieger got upon the wall and scized the
fort though the leader was killed by a stone that fell upon him.
Mustafa Khan, however, following the custom of those days, had music
played to celebrate his success, he also took some guns and ammunition
from the fort and after a halt for a few days marched off towards
Patna. During the period of the disintegration of Mughal Empire
Munger had to witness new changes. Bihar came to be joined to the
Suba of Bengal, which had practically become independent of Delhi.
Alivardi, who was the Fauzdar of Rajmahal had now become the District
Governor of Munger. Munger was politically and strategically so
important that it did not escape even the Maratha expendition. The
second Maratha invasion under Raghujee Bhonsla occurred in 1743.
Balaji Maratha entered into Bihar and advancing
through Tekari, Gaya, Manpur, Bihar and Munger. It is also mentioned
that during the 4th Maratha invasion in 1744 Raghuji passed through
the hills of Kharagpur. When British force was pursuing Jean Law,
the French adventurer and partisan of siraj-ud-duala, who was flying
northwards after the Battle of Plassey, Major Coote reached Munger
late at night on 20th July, 1757 and requisitioned a number of boats
which the Governor of Munger supplied. But Munger Fort was in such
a good condition that he was not allowed to enter the Fort and when
he approached the walls he found that garrison was ready to fire.
Coote wisely resumed his march without any attempt to enter the
Fort. Nearly three years after in the spring of 1760 the army of
Emperor Shah Alam marched out of the District when he was being
pursued by Major Caillaud and miran. The Emperor had been defeated
by Caillaud and Miran at sirpur on the 22nd February, 1760. This
time Johan Stables, who had succeeded Caillaud was given charge
of Munger. It was he who directed to attack the Kharagpur Raja who
had openly defied the authority of the new Nawab, Kasim Ali Khan.
The modern history of Munger came again into
Prominence in 1762 when Kasim Ali Khan made it his capital instead
of Murshidbad in Bengal. The new Nawab removed his treasure, his
elephants and horses and even the gold and silver decorations of
the Imam Bara from his old capital. He favored General Gurghin (Gregory)
Khan, an Armenian of Ispahan, re-organized the army and had it drilled
and equipped after English model. He also established and arsenal
for the manufacture of fire-arms and it is from this time that Munger
can trace back its importance for the manufacture of guns. Even
today that glorious tradition is being carried on by hundreds of
families who specialize in the manufacture of guns. Two days a week
he sat in a public hall of audience and personally dispensed justice.
He listened Patiently to the complaints and grievances of everyone
and gave his impartial order. The Nawab, indeed, was a terror both
to his enemies and to wring doors. He also honored learning and
the learned and welcomed scholars and savants to his court and he
surely earned the respect and admiration of both friends and foes
alike. Unfortunately, however, destiny did not help him and Mir
Kasim Ali soon came into confrontation with the English.
MIR KASIM AND HIS CONFICT WITH THE ENGLISH:
The first quarrel appears to have been caused by the tactless conduct
of Mr. Ellis, who was in incharge of an English factory at patna.
Mr. Ellis had received a vague report that two English deserters
were concealed at Munger. A long dispute followed and it was finally
compromised by Mr. Ironsides, the Town Major of Calcutta , who conducted
the search of the Fort with the due permission of the Nawab. No
deserters were found inside the Fort, the only European in the place
being an old French invalid. In April, 1762 Warren Hastings was
sent from Calcutta to arrange the terms between the Nawab and Mr.Ellis.
The Nawab received him well but Ellis refused to meet Warren Hastings
and stayed in his house at Singhia, 15 miles away from Munger. Beside
this personal rancor, serious trade disputes arose between the Nawab
and East India Company. The East India Company had been enjoying
exemption frm heavy duty transit levied on inland trade. After the
battle of Blassey the European servants of the Company began to
trade extensivdy on their own account and to claim a similar exemption
for all goods passing under company’s flag and covered by Dastak
or certificate signed by the Governor or any agent of the factory.
Great abuses followed when the English in some cases lent their
names to Indians for a consideration and the latter used the same
Dastak over and over again or even began forging them.
Warren Hastings in 1762 says that every boat
he met on the river bore the company’s flag and became aware of
the oppression of the people by the Gumashtas and the Company’s
servant. Mir Kasim bitterly complained that his source of revenue
had been taken away from him and that his authority was completely
disregarded. Eventually in Octuber, 1762, Mr. Vansittart, the Governor
left Calcutta in order to try and conclude a settlement between
the two parties. He found the Nawab of Munger smarting under the
injuries and insults he had received. But at length it was agreed
that servants of the company should be allowed to carry on the inland
private trade, on payment of a fixed duty of 9% on all goods- a
rate much below that paid by the other merchants. The dastak also
remained with a new provision that it should also be countersigned
by the nawab’s collector. Mir Kasim agreed to these terms but, of
course, very unwillingly. Sair-ul-Mutakharin gives a detailed account
of the visit of Vansittart. The Nawab advanced six miles to meet
vansittart and arrange for his residence in the house which Gurghin
Khan had crected on hill of Sitakund (Pir Pahar).
Vansittart returned to Calcutta in January 1763
after a week long stay at Munger but he was sorry to find that the
agreement concluded with the Nawab has been repudiated. The Nawab,
however, had honestly sent the copies of the Governor’s agreement
to all of his officrs for its immediate implementation. The result
was that English goods then in transit, were stopped and duty caimed
upon them. The English council reacted sharply and wanted that the
English dastak should pass free of duty. The Nawab on the other
hand protested at this breach of faith and passed orders abolishing
all transit duty and thereby, throwing open the whole inland trade
free from any custom duty. The English regarded this as an act of
hostility and preparations for war began but English decided first
to send a deputation headed by Messrs. Amyatt and Hay to arrange
fresh tersm with the Nawab.Mr. Ellis was also informed of this development
and was warned not to commit any act lof aggression even if the
mission failed and Amyatt and Hay were well out of the Nawab’s power.
The members of the mission reached Munger on
the 14th may, 1763 and opened up negotiations, but it was soon found
that they were undocked. The Nawab who was offended at the rough
and over bearing manner in which he was addressed by the English
linguist and refused to speak to him. At subsequent interviews also
the Nawab tried to avenge the English insult and refused to come
to any terms. The Envoys were kept under strict supervision and
when some of the party wished to ride out from Munger they found
their way barred by the Nawab’s soldiers with lighted matches ready
to fire. Just at this tenses moment English cargo boats for Calcutta
were detained at Munger and 500 Muskets intended for the factory
at Patna were found out hidden under the cargo. The Nawab, naturally,
became suspicious of the English move which might have been to seize
the fort and the city at Patna. He wanted , therefore, a thorough
check-up by his own troops otherwise he would declare war. In the
mean time he permitted Mr. Amyatt and others of the party to leave
for Calcutta, but detained Mr. Hay and Mr. Gulson as hostages for
the safety lof his officers who had been arrested by the English.
As regardes the final rupture between the English
and Bengal Nawab it was precipitated by the action of Mr. Ellis
who believed that war was in any case inevitable, and seized the
city of Patna on hearing the news that the detachment was advancing
from Munger to reinforce the Nawab’s garrison. The Nawab also retaliated
promptly, reinforcements were hurried up and the Fort quickly recaptured.
This news of the success gave Kasim Ali the keenest delight. Even
though it was mid-night, he immediately ordered music to strike
and awakened the whole town of Munger. At day-break the doors of
the public halls were thrown open and every one hastened to offer
him congratulations. He , now, proclaimed the outbreak of war and
directed his officers to put the English to sword wherever they
were found. In pursuance lof this general order Mr. Amayat was killed
at Murshidabad and the factory at Cossim (Kasim) Bazar was stormed.
The survivorsw surrendered and were sent to Munger to join their
unfortunate companions from patna.
The British force under Major Adams quickly
advanced against the nawab and defeated his troops at Suti. On Hearing
of his defeat, he sent his Begums and children to the fort at Rohtas
and set out himself accompanied by Gurgin khan to join his army
that was now concentrated on the banks of the Udhua Nullah near
Rajmahal. Before leaving Munger, however, he pur to death a number
of his prisoners including Raja Ram Narayan, till lately Deputy
Governor of Bihar, who was thrown down into the river below the
fort with a pitcher filled with sand bound to his neck. Gurgin Khan
not satisfied with this butchery also urged the Nawab to kill his
English prisoners but this the Nawab refused to do. Jagat set Mahtab
Rai and Sarup Chand, two rich bankers of Murshidabad who had been
brought from that place by Mir Kasim Ali as they were believed to
favour the British cause also appears to have escaped. Though as
the tradition says they were also drowned at the same time. This
story is, however, contradicted by the author of Sair-UI-Mutakharin
who says that they were hacked to pieces at Barth. The exact location
of the tower of castle of Munger from where Jagat Seth and others
were thrown down has not yet been located.
Before the Nawab could join his army at Udhua
Nullah he heard of a second decisive defeat that he had sustained
and thereafter returned to Munger. He stayed there only for two
or three days and marched to Patna with his prisoners like Mr. Hay,
Mr. Ellis and some others. On the way Mr. Kasim halted on the bank
of Rahua Nullah, a small stream near Lakhisarai. It was here that
Gurgin Khan met his death and was cut down by some of his own troopers
who were demanding arrears of their pay. A scene of wild confusion
followed. Makar, another Armenian General, fired off some guns,
the thought that the English were upon them and fled in terror,
Mir Kasim himself flying on an elephant. There was great confusion
in the army because of this false alarm but Mir Kasim marched on
the next day to Patna.
In the meantime the British army moved on rapidly
towards Munger and at this time Munger was placed under the command
of Arab Ali Khan, who was a creature of Gurgin Khan. On the first
of October 1763 the main body of the army arrived on batteries that
had been thrown up and were immediately opened. For two days heavy
fire was maintained but in the evening the Governor capitulated
and surrendered himself and his garrison. The English at once set
to work to repair the breaches and improve the defences.
The Fort was left under the command of Captain
John White who was further directed to raise locally another battalion
of sepoys. This news of the capture of Munger infuriated the Nawab
who as soon as he heard of it gave order that his English prisoners
at Patna should be put to death. This order was carried out by the
infamous Samru and is known in history, as the ‘Massacre of Patna’.
There years later in 1766 there was a mutiny
of the European officers of Bengal army because of the reduction
of “bhatta” which was an extra monthly sum to cover the increased
expenses when the soldiers were on active military duty. After the
battle of Plassey Mir Jafar Khan had granted an extra-allowance,
called “double bhatta” which had continued during the role of Mir
Kasim also. But the Directors of the companies now passed order
that this allowance should be abolished except for the grant of
half-bhatta to the troops stationed at Patna and Munger. This curtailment
was bitterly resented by the army officers and on the first of May,
1766 a memorandum to this effect was signed by officers of the first
brigade stationed at Munger under Sir Robert Fletcher who transmitted
it to Lord Clive at Murshidabad.
Clive lost no time and proceeded to Munger in
person by forced marches and in the mean time sent forward some
officers to deal with the situation as well as they could. When
arrived at Munger late at night on the 12th May, the army heard
too much of drums beating and going further to Robert Fletcher’s
quarter they found the European regiment drinking, singing and beating
drums. Next morning two of them went to Kharagpur and returned with
two battalions to Munger. But we learn that on 14th the European
battalion broke out in open mutiny and Captain Smith seized the
saluting batteries which were situated upon hillock. The hillock
was known as Karn Choura hill. Captain Smith gained possession of
the hill and was successful in suppressing the rebellion. In short,
Munger was recaptured by the prompt and brave action of Caption
Smith and sir Robert Fletcher.
Clive hadd already reached Munger and he held
a parade of troops. He explained the circumstances under which the
“bhatta” had been withdrawn and he further applauded the loyal conduct
of the sepoys and condemned the conspiracy of some officers. They
were further threatened that the ring leaders would get the severest
penalties under Martial Law. After his address, the brigade gave
their hearty cheers and marched off quietly to the barracks and
the lines. Thus, the rebellion of the British officers at Munger
was successfully suppressed. For some time John Maccabe was a Deputy
Commissioner, Government of Munger before 1789.
The subsequent history of the district is uneventful
with the extension of the British dominions, the town of Munger
ceased to be an important frontier post. There was no arsenal, no
regular garrison was kept up and no attempt was made to bring the
fortification up-to-date. Munger, however, was still important for
its fine situation and salubrious air and was used as a sanatorium
for the British troops. So great a resort that it was the journey
up the Ganga followed by a stay was regarded of as healthy as a
sea voyage. We find that a trip to Munger was prescribed for the
wife of Warren Hastings when she was in ill health and in 1781 when
Warren Hastings was on his way to meet Chait Singh at Banaras he
left his wife here for the benefit of her health. But during the
early part of the 19th century Munger was degraded to a lunatic
asylum for sepoys where there was also a depot for army clothing
and it became an invalid station for British soldiers.
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