EXPLORING THE LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE OF THE SHERSHABADIA COMMUNITY: A STUDY OF IDENTITY, ORIGINS, AND CULTURAL HERITAGE IN WEST BENGAL, BIHAR, AND JHARKHAND

Abstract: This research aims to examine the language and literature of the Shershabadia people, a socially disadvantaged group living in the neighbouring areas of West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand. Their language is referred to as Shershabadia. This study provides a concise examination of the identity, ancestral homeland, language, and literature of the subject. Key-words: Shershabadia, Language, Literature, Geed or Folksong, Folk drama etc. Introduction:Shershabadia The populations of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Bengal are same. The name of their language is Sharashabadia. The name Shershabadi originates from the indigenous term Shershabad, as documented by G. E. Lambon (1918, p. 24) and M. & Cutter (1938, 45 BC) 2. The term "Shershabad" originated during the British period and has its roots in the Mughal word "Sarsabad" (also spelt as Sarsabd or Sarsabad). Abul Fazl, the chief minister of Samat Akbar, references it in the Aangani Akbari, while Alauddin Ispahani, also known as Mirza Nathan, authored the Pashi Itihas Baharistan-i-Ghaybi under the rule of Samat Jahangir. The term "Sarsabadia" is derived from the placename "Sarsabad" by adding the suffix '-ya'. It is now used as a caste name in the Bhagawangola and Lalgola blocks and Thana parts of Murshidabad. Hence, it is superfluous to state that the first rendition of the name 'Shershabadia' is Sarsabadia. The original homelands of the Shershabadia: Aangani Akbari states that Jannatabad (Lakhnauti) was among the 19 administrative divisions into which Akbar partitioned Bengal.The government was split into six divisions, with the Jawar-e-Sarsabad, or Sarsabad Division, being the biggest. The structure included of 10 subdivisions known as mahalas, each with 11 ° -1 beams. According to Irfan Habib's location analysis, the geographical positioning of the ten mahalas of Jawar-e-Sarsabad was as follows: beams about 113-14, as mentioned on page 43 of Habib's work. [1. and 2.] Manikpur and Hatinda are currently located in the northernmost part of Malda district, specifically in Kambashi Harishchandrapur-I and Chanchal-I blocks. Gaurhanda, originally situated at Chanchal-II or Malatipur Rock in Malda district. Khiarpur or Khidirpur is presently located at Harishchandrapur-II. [5] Akbarpur encompasses parts of Chanchal-II and Ratua-I blocks in the present-day Malda district. It is situated along the banks of the Ganges river, extending westward to the boundary of Prarnia-Sahabganj district in Bihar-Jharkhand. This includes Gati (Garai), which is located south of the Ganges in the present-day Sahabganj district of Jharkhand. Teliagarhi fort stands there and it served as the gateway to Bengal for Bakhtiyar Khalji, Sher Shah, and Mansingh during their conquest of Lakhniti-Gaur-Pandua. [7] Makrain is now mostly located in the Ratua-2 block of Malda district. [8] Kotwali is situated south of Makrain and is currently in the English Bazar block, which is the main city of Malda. The Zamindari .........