Dibar Dighi () is a

tank A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engine; ...

Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...

. An octagonal granite pillar, associated with Kaivarta (later identified as

Mahishya Mahishya (IAST: Māhiṣya) is a Bengali Hindu traditionally agrarian caste, and formed the largest caste in undivided Bengal. Mahisyas were, and still are, an extremely diverse caste consisting of all possible classes in terms of material con ...

), chief Dibya, who usurped the Pala throne, stands in the centre of the tank.

Location

The site is located in Dibar village, on the northern side of Nazipur-Sapahar highway in Patnitala Upazila of

Naogaon District Naogaon District () is a district in northern Bangladesh, and part of Rajshahi Division. It is named after its headquarters, the city of Naogaon in Naogaon Sadar Upazila. Demographics According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Naogaon Distri ...

Architecture

Dibar Dighi

Alexander Cunningham Major General Sir Alexander Cunningham (23 January 1814 – 28 November 1893) was a British Army engineer with the Bengal Sappers who later took an interest in the history and archaeology of India. In 1861, he was appointed to the newly crea ...

, whose "servant" visited the site in 1879–80, noted the lake to spread about 1200 square ft. Average depth was about 12 ft. The tank currently occupies about 20 acres of land and sits atop a mound, spread over 100 acres.

Kaivarta Stambha

The tank is primarily famed for housing a semi-submerged granite pillar — locally known as ''Kaivarta Stambha'' — in its center. The apex of the pillar is crown shaped and decorated with three inflated circular rings. The pillar does not have any inscriptions. Francis Buchanon-Hamilton's survey of Bengal (1807–08) measured the net height to be 22.5 cubits (33 ft, 75 in) and the diameter to be 6.5 cubits (9 ft, 9 in). He had deemed it to be octagonal in shape. Cunningham's expedition revised the height to be approximately 30 ft — the visible portion spanned 10 ft, the submerged portion 12 ft, and the rest, underground foundation. From the logged data, he determined the pillar to be nonagonal having side-length of 12 in. each; diameter came out to be 29 in. Cunningham regretted that he did not personally visit the site, noting that such a large single-shaft stone pillar was yet to be recorded in Indian subcontinent, after

Ashoka Ashoka, also known as Asoka or Aśoka ( ; , ; – 232 BCE), and popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was List of Mauryan emperors, Emperor of Magadha from until #Death, his death in 232 BCE, and the third ruler from the Mauryan dynast ...

's reign. A Bangladeshi archaeologist confirmed Cunningham's approximation but changed the distribution; 12 ft was above water level, 8 ft was submerged, and 10 ft was below ground.

History

The site is yet to be accurately dated. The name of the village as 'Dibar' may be derived after the name of king Dibyak or Dibya. Local legends construct a mythological origin, wherein the lake was dug within one night by a ''

jinn Jinn or djinn (), alternatively genies, are supernatural beings in pre-Islamic Arabian religion and Islam. Their existence is generally defined as parallel to humans, as they have free will, are accountable for their deeds, and can be either ...

''. From an etymological perspective and literary history, it is currently argued that the tank and the pillar were commissioned to commemorate the victory of a local Kaivarta (

) vassal, Dibyak (var. Dibya) over his 11th century overlord,

Mahipala II Mahipala II was the successor to the Pala king Vigrahapala III in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent, and thirteenth ruler of the Pala line reigning for six years. He was succeeded by Shurapala II. Mahipala II was locked in a bitter ...

. The cause of the war between Dibyak and Mahipala II can not be ascertained —

R. C. Majumdar Ramesh Chandra Majumdar (known as R. C. Majumdar; 4 December 1888 – 11 February 1980) was an Indian historian and professor known for promoting Hindu nationalist views. He principally studied the history of India. Early life and education ...

interpreted it to be a rebellion by a local

samanta Samanta was a title and position used in the history of the Indian subcontinent between 4th and 12th centuryThe Journal of the Bihar Research Society, Volumes 69–70, p.77 to denote a vassal, feudal lord or tributary chief. The leader of 100 vil ...

, strategically timed to the weakening of Pala authority whilst

Ram Sharan Sharma Ram Sharan Sharma (26 November 1919 – 20 August 2011) was an Indian Marxist historian and Indologist who specialised in the history of Ancient and early Medieval India. He taught at Patna University and Delhi University (1973–85) and was ...

took it to be a peasant rebellion against feudal suppression. The construction might have been executed in the reign of Dibyak himself or his successors — brother Rudak, and nephew Bhim.

Preservation

In 1939, the Central Government declared Dibar Dighi to be a heritage site. Rajshahi Social Forestry Division has created an artificial forest (alongside a mini-zoo) around the tank; boating trips seem to be allowed.

Notes

References

{{reflist Rebellions in India 11th century in India History of Bengal Pala Empire Naogaon District