1.1-Mandi Community: Bengal connection that we can’t ignore-“a Series”

Compiled by: Dr Pawan Vaidya; 2025/1

Everyone is perhaps familiar with the Sen rulers of Mandi and their roots to Sena dynasty of ‘Gauda Kingdom’ an ancient region in West Bengal, India. 

Gouda kingdom refers to Lakhnauti (the name Lakhnauti given to Gauda during the Sena dynasty in honour of the Sena ruler Lakhsman Sena), located on India-Bangladesh border. Most of the kingdom was a territory between the river Padma in Bangladesh and Bardhamana region located in present-day Malda district of West Bengal in India, while a smaller part in Chapainawabganj district of Bangladesh.

But what about Mandi community, are we too from Bengal? 

To this question there is no clear answer except a hearsay, “Aase ta Bujurga the era ai Suni ra ('आस्से ता बजुरगा ते एड़ाऐ सुणीरा)” meaning ‘we always heard this from our ancestors’. 

If this is what we have been hearing for centuries there ought to be an iota of truth & a hidden connection. Curiosity to uncover the connection, if any, pushed to know the mindset behind this answer. The claim to community roots (impregnated by Persian & Punjabi culture overtime) from Bengal primarily has its origin by virtue of Sen rulers of Mandi state. 

Other than this there is no direct link to support the claim to Bengal connection. The community of Mandi town ‘known as Nagar’ was a unique group, believed in themselves, preserved their traditions/customs and maintained a very close knit society. Mandi was one of the few hill states unique in its culture, there is no surprise the cultural practices though adapted and evolved with passage of time, have concealed the link to Bengal connection. 

For any community their displacement perils from homeland and it’s cultural values are hard to forget since it provides a sense of comfort and belonging to its roots. We always hear,”Aita Baji nei huna” (‘ऐत्ता बाझी नीं हुणा' ), meaning ‘follow the culture’ that has been passed down from generations in preserving our social identity.

While tried to find roots of Mandi community, only available history was of Mandi Sen rulers and very little about the community per se. Consequently started exploring published history of different dynastic rules of north India, Kashmir, Punjab and Bengal etc and to read between the lines to make some sense in the context of Mandi state/community. 

Reading the ancient history lead to sift the bits and pieces and it was interesting to piece together information that may have forced our ancestors to leave their homeland. 

Based on these facts, weaved the story of our Bengal connection that will be shared in this series. 

To be continued……..