History of the town

The history of Raiganj is as old as the age of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The story goes that the Pandavas had taken shelter in some place near Raiganj during their period of exile. Panchbhaya, a small village near Raiganj holds the famous legacy of that era. Karandighi, another town from north dinajpur district bears the name after Karna. Local people still celebrate fair on the 1st day of Bengali New Year to worship Karna. The present existence of Ushaharan hat near Kaliyaganj, Goalpokher etc all are named after mythological story. Various ancient architecture and antiques prove the immense mythological and historic importance Raiganj and its surroundings. Radhikapur, Banshihari all are probably named after characters from Mahabharata. There are numerous antique temples, idols, mosques found are from the time of great Pal and Sen kingdom. District museum at Karnarora displays some of these assets. Places of major historical importance in this district are Amati, Churaman, Marnai, Patiraj, Bhela Gachhi, Bhadrashila, Porsha, Dhulaur, Kukrakunda, Sonapur, Bhupalpur, Hasua, Samadhimath, Tomochhari Math, Famous Masjid near Gudri Bazar, Boira Kali Mandir, Purba-Bhandar, Ratun, Udgram, Sonapur, Kamalabari, Kasba-Mahesh, Bhatura, Baharail, Bamor, Mirual, BandarKali Mandir, Bandar Durga Mandir, Bandar Kumar Brahmacharya Ashram, Bandar Gudri Bazar, Tenohari, Pir majar near Ukilpara, Bhairabi Mandir of Bindol, Kuthi of Burhan Fakir - Balia Dighi and adjacent debris, Tazpur, Chhoto Pandua or Chhoto Parua, Panchbhaya, Khoksa Asthal, Bahin Jamidar Bari, Maharaja Mandir. There had been various direct and indirect episodes including famous Pal and Sen Dynasty, Muslim Reign, Afghan emperor and Mughal emperors linked with this place. According to historian Mughal emperor Akbar divided his whole empire into 15 Suba. Bengal Suba had been divided into 24 Sarkar. Among which Ghoraghat, Panjara, Barbakabad, Banuja, Jannatabad and Tazpur these six Sarkar were included in the Dinajpur district. Raiganj was included in the Tazpur Sarkar. The adjacent vast region near Kulik river was included under Sujanagar Pargana in the Haveli Panjara Suba. Legend is that prior to two decades of Mughal Emperor Akbar, a King named Ganesh had gifted the land of Dinajpur to one of his nearest relative Brahmachari Kashi. It is further said that Brahmachari had donated entire Dinajpur estate to his kayastha disciple Srimanta Dutta Chowdhury. This initiated the kingdom of royal family of Dinajpur. The soil of Raiganj within the jurisdiction of Dinajpur royal estate entered into its golden era (1722-1760) during the reign of Dinajpur Raj Ramnath. Kachari building was constructed to collect revenue. The soil of the district especially the land of Raiganj was made sanctimonious through the rebellion led by Fakir, Sanyasi and Peasants ( 1763-1800). It is said that a Kali temple at Bandar and Pir Mazar at Ukilpara were the two famous ambuscades of fakir, sanyasi and peasants during their war against the cruelty of the then ijaradar, jamindar as well as East India Company.

Land of Raiganj also witnessed the revival of Hinduism. When Sri Chaitanya Deva started the movement to revive Hinduism, he visited a place near Gaur called Ramkeli where Hinduism was rejuvenated. Raiganj got its name in this period. The influence of Vaishnava religion also prevailed in Raiganj. According to some historians, West Dinajpur District was a part of Pundravardhana kingdom also known as Mahasthangarh. Pundranagara was a great Buddhist centre during the Mauryan Period.

This district also has a splendid past during the freedom movement and it gave birth a huge number of freedom fighters. In the year 1935 the father of nation - Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi had stepped in this district during freedom movement. The soil of Raiganj has also a true tragicomedy on 1st observance of the Independence Day: Raiganj was proclaimed as "Notional" as to whether it would be included either partitioned India or Pakistan along with some other places on the very day of 15th August, 1947 as per proclamation of Radcliffe on partition due to which the people of this soil could not observe the Red Letter Day. Later in the night of 17th August, 1947 while the inclusion of Raiganj within the enclosed partitioned India was aired through Radio, celebration of Independence Day, by hoisting National Flag in the Snehalata Park, built on the donation of Maharaja Jagadish Nath (1919-1962) (which was named after the name of the then queen Snehalata) was held in the morning of 18th August, 1947. That very National Flag made of khadi cloth is lying preserved till today in the custody of Guha Vila.