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#Thread on Maratha ditch.
"When the child fall asleep, silence originate/ the Bargis enter the state."
~ not just a cradle song, but a fragment of our history which dates back to year 1742. 'Mohabat Jang' Alahwardi Khan consecutively defeated Sarfaraz Khan & Rustam Jung. (1)
"When the child fall asleep, silence originate/ the Bargis enter the state."
~ not just a cradle song, but a fragment of our history which dates back to year 1742. 'Mohabat Jang' Alahwardi Khan consecutively defeated Sarfaraz Khan & Rustam Jung. (1)
He took control of the whole of Bengal subah. What affronted Rustam did next was just to bring a calamity by own imprudence. He invited the Maratha prince Raghoji Bhonsle to attack & snatch back the territory. (2)
Marathas started plundering Bihar, Odisha and finally reached Bengal. Their intention was de facto Maratha control over Bengal subah. But they changed the plan encountering Bengal's massive wealth & resources. (3)
They employed hit n run tactics, captured huge wealth & killed close to 400000 Peoples of Bengal. The Marathas were pressing hard. In the wake of 1742, rumour of bargis (Bargir; light cavalry, the bengalis referred them by this name) striking Calcutta circulated. (4)
Calcutta (Kolkata) was the major base of trade & merchants. Bhaskar pandit (General of Raghoji) and his bargis would never miss a chance to loot Calcutta. East India co. got scared & decided to create an obstacle. They planned to dig a deep canal to resist Marathas. (5)
Now the question is, why a moat & not a wall? Calcutta was a low land ('kilkila' in Bengali) hence building a great wall would cost much more than a widespread channel. With permission from the Nawab Alahwardi & donations from the bengali babus, company started the project. (6)
Work of digging an entrenchment in the northern & eastern part of the town was inaugurated. The original plan of the Maratha ditch(archaic:Marhatta ditch) extended for 7 miles. 900 workers were engaged in the excavation. The 'natives' had to pay for the construction work. (7)
All residential areas, official buildings and garden houses of Gobindram mitter & Umichand were included to be protected by the ditch. The plan was to encircle Sutanuti in the north to Govindapur in the south. (8)
However, marathas never approached the city. Within six months, only 3 miles were dug. Later it became useless & remained as a landmark for a long. It was filled up in late 19th to create the circular road. (9)
Actually the ditch, starting from later day upper circular road extended to lower circular road. The ditch today runs from Baghbazar to Entally corner.
The only connection today can be found is 'Maratha ditch lane', a small lane beside baghbazar in North Kolkata. (10)
The only connection today can be found is 'Maratha ditch lane', a small lane beside baghbazar in North Kolkata. (10)