লেখকের মুখবন্ধ

In the first edition of this book, the chapter entitled “Different sages, different opinions” set out, from various scriptures, differing views about the origins of communities classified as anuloma and pratiloma, and about the origins of the Vaidya and Kayastha communities. In the present edition those chapters have been omitted. In their place, the history of Rajput rule in Bengal has been discussed through the inscriptions issued by Bengal’s later rulers, the Pala and Sena kings. With bowed head, I offer sincere thanks to the scholars who have laboured to decipher these inscriptions, and to those who, through the Varendra Anusandhan Samiti and the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, have published them and made discussion easier.

It should also be mentioned here that the late Pannalal Singh of Jiaganj–Nehalia, a man of many virtues, placed me under an enduring debt of gratitude by directing me to the books relevant to my subject.

In my long years of work I found a colleague, like a brother, in the esteemed Sri Ashutosh Chowdhury of Bajargram, Burdwan. I regard him as an encouragement sent by God. It was he who first introduced me to our community and, by drawing its sympathy towards me, continued to encourage me. I shall always remember the heartfelt support of Burdwan’s well-known lawyer, the late Nibaran Chandra Hui; the late Haripada Datta of Belgram; and the late Jatabihari Hui of Rampur.

Finally, I gratefully acknowledge that, had my friend Sri Dwijendra Chandra Ray not undertaken the heavy responsibility of publication, it would not have been easy for me to publish this book. My fellow community members and I therefore remain in his lasting debt.

Jiaganj, Murshidabad. Sri Haricharan Bandhu.