On the south bank of Sugandha river was Ponnabalia and on the north bank was Uzirpur Shikarpur. The vast area in between was the river. When the local people came into conflict with the fishermen of Mehdipur, they cut down the Katabakhari forests on both banks of the Basanda and Dhanhata canals and settled them. Formerly most of the citizens of Jhalkathy port were Kaivardas or fishermen. On the west bank of the present day Jhalkathi, the fishermen used to clear the forest and build their dwellings: Jhalkathi is named after the corruption of fisherman + stick = net + stick. Similarly, Chadkathi, Krinchakathi, Charkathi, Vinayakathi etc. which extends to swarupakathi. A copperplate inscription of Vishwarup Sen mentions Jhalkathi and Naikathi. Till 1845 they were named by indigo makers. All those indigo growers started indigo cultivation in Barisal and Jhalkathi with the permission of the Governor General. They attacked and beheaded one Nilkar Saheb against the Bhoomi Das system of indigo cultivators here. The tomb of the deceased can still be seen near the government school in Jhalakathi city. After 1757, Mr. Wood and Uatt, a Portuguese citizen, were agents of a Lavan state. In 1205, Srinath Ray, the son of Madanmohan, the founder of the Rayerkathir dynasty, received a charter from the emperor. Madanmohan established the head office of the Zamindari at Nathullabad village under Nalchiti police station, now Jhalkathi police station. Madanamohan Roy's grandson King Rudranarayan was a powerful king. He got the ten-armed stone idol of Jagadambara in the forest on the eastern bank of Baleshwar river in Sapnayoga and installed it in Rayerkathi village and established his capital at Rayerkathi. During the time of Jayanarayan, the great-grandson of Rudra Narayan, a Pathan youth named Agabaker Kha forcibly occupied half of his zamindari, and a fierce battle ensued between the two at Sutalari, east of Jhalkathi, and Baraikaran, south-east. Historical information is available that Baker Kha escaped by dropping 22 cannons in the battle. Ghoshal Maharaj owns half of the zamindari in Rayerkathi. They established their Kachari in Jhalkathi. Ghoshal Bahadur received the title of Raja Bahadur from the government. His subjects addressed him as Maharaj. The name of the area adjacent to Kacharibari is Maharajganj from this Maharaj address. Former name of Jhalkathi is Maharajganj. That is, the second son, Raja Satyasaran Ghoshal Bahadur, established and improved the commercial port of Jhalkathi. With his efforts and care, palace-like buildings, spacious palaces and numerous water bodies were built. At that time, Jhalkathi Port was developed as one of the best and developed commercial ports of Bengal. Jhalakathi has long been known as a port. Even today, people call it the second Calcutta. Before the partition of India, this port was second only to Calcutta in importance. However, Jhalakathi has a glorious past. In the past, the economy of South Bengal was controlled from here. The report submitted by Mr. Massey to the Government of East India on 6th December 1797 gives full information about Jhalakathi. In 1797 this region was transferred to Bakharganj district. In 1982, Jhalkathi was declared as a district. And on February 1, 1984, Jhalkathi got the status of Purnang district. |