Some Aspects of Socio-Economic Changes in South Western Frontier Bengal Since Introduction of Neo-Vaisnavism (An Old and Rare Book)

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The study of some aspects of socio-economic changes of a relatively less known region - the South Western Frontier Bengal, situated in the confluence of cultural cross-currents of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa has been prompted by three main reasons: (1) my interest in reconstructing the social history of the region with which I have close association since my boyhood; (ii) access to hitherto unpublished records, viz. farmans (imperial/provincial), pattas, demi-official letters of the local zamindar families, particularly the Syamanandi Mahanta Gosvamin family of Gopiballavpur relating to their preaching and church organisation of neo-Vaisnavism and (iii) my familiarity with heterogeneous caste composition, social customs, religious rituals and distinctive economic organizations prevailing in the region since medieval period. In the 'Introduction', I have explained why I have chosen the starting point of my study of the forces of social change from the period of introduction of neo-Vaisnavism in the post- Caitanya age by local proselytes - Syamananda and Rasikananda and the consolidation of the sect under the guidance of the Mahanta Gosvamins of Gopiballavpur and the sub- sequent crystallization of the sect of the Jat-Vaisnavas as a separate intermediary caste with a view to illustrating the theory of religious heterodoxy in the Hindu tradition. The history of the role of the Mahanta Gosvamin family in forming the pattern of social changes of the region is mainly based on primary source materials.

With regard to fixing the terminating point of my study I have said that since the forces of social change are continuous through the ages, it is hazardous to abruptly put an end to our investigations.

The present study is an attempt at reconstructing the social history of the region of the South-Western Frontier Bengal comprising the Western Jungles of Midnapur and the fringe areas of Singhbhum, Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts of the neighbouring provinces of Bihar and Orissa. Our emphasis is on the interaction of the cultures of diverse social groups of the region.

The region was not a well defined political and administrative division; its boundary was never demarcated as a distinct and compact territorial unit. For our present study the region is taken more as a cultural unit. Here certain cultural ties bound the petty semi-independent, semi-feudal principalities which were ruled by local chiefs belonging to the domiciled caste-Hindus from Orissa and of the aboriginal communities of the Santals, Bhumij, Lodhas, Savaras and Bagdis. Situated on strategic borders the region was a confluence of varied cultural and ethnic groups such as the Oriyas, Bengalees, Biharis and the aboriginal tribes of the non-Aryan stocks, some of them belonging to the 'Chhotonagpurias.' The unity amidst diversity of various cultures and races resulted from certain fundamental forces at work. The aim of the study is to analyse those forces and trace the growth and development of the cultural assimilation of the heterogeneous groups of the region.