RE-EXPLORING DEVKOT : THE FIRST MUSLIM CAPITAL OF BENGAL

HISTORY

Devkot, the first capital of Muslims in Bengal, was a very ancient city and has been known by several names like Devikot, Diwkot, Ushavana, Kotivarsha, Sonitapura, and Bangarh throughout history. The city held greater prominence and played a more significant role than Lakhnauti during the reign of Bakhtiyar Khilji and his successors. Situated on the eastern bank of Punarbhabaand spread over a vast area, the site of Bangarh, as the ruins are known today, has emerged as a significant archaeological site in northern Bengal. Initial excavations by Kunja Gobinda Goswami of Calcutta University in 1938 CE, followed by subsequent efforts by the Archaeological Survey of India in 2007 and 2009 CE, have unveiled a treasure trove of artifacts spanning over 2,500 years. The findings from Bangarh offer insights into eight distinct periods of Indian history, ranging from 500 BC up to the time of Muslim rule in Bengal. These periods include the pre-Mauryan, Mauryan, Shunga, Kushana, Gupta, post-Gupta, and Pala periods.This paper delves into the historical significance, geographical analysis, and archaeological exploration of Devkot. Furthermore, the paper advocates for the preservation of the architectural heritage of Devkot and contributes new knowledge, interpretations, and methodologies to the academic discourse on Bengal and the Indian subcontinent.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.