During the British period, the area where one Mr. Forbes’s Bunglow was located was called “Residential Area”, which people called as R. Area. Over a period of time, R. Area acquired the pronunciation Arariya.
Forbesganj is a sub-division of Araria district(before 1990 under Purnea district). City owned a name from person Mr. James Forbes who was officer of British India Raj. Pt. Ramdeni “Dwijdeni” is associated to Forbesgaj, he was a great freedom fighter, a leader who sacrificed till his last breath.
(More about Pandit Ramdeni Tiwari Dwijdeni see below)
James Forbes was born in London and went to Bombay in 1765 as a writer for the East India Company. He remained there until 1784. A good draughtsman and a keen observer, he filled 52,000 manuscript pages with notes on the natural history, archaeology, and religious and social life of India; these were later digested into his Oriental Memoirs, published between 1813 and 1815. (sorce:http://www.archives.mcgill.ca/resources/guide/vol2_3/gen13.htm#FORBES,%20JAMES)
Few historical portrays made by James Forbes.
Calicut coast by James forbes 1766
wedded banyan tree by James forbes 1774
The closing years of Warren Hasting’s Indian career saw the real birth of English literature and literary studies in India. Hicky’s Bengal Gazette, the first newspaper of modern India, was founded at Calcutta by James Augustus Hicky in 1780. It was a scurrilous production, but a sign of life. James Forbes left India in 1784, carrying with him the collected materials which he afterwards published as his Oriental Memoirs. The book remains a universally valued document of the culture, flora and fauna of India at the time. Forbes also published a work in 1810 which advocated the conversion of Hindus to Christianity. (source: http://www.bartleby.com/224/1001.html)
Araria’s contribution to the freedom struggle
The history of freedom struggle in the district of Araria is golden. From first war of independence 1857 to August Kranti 1942, on every spot sons of Araria have contributed significantly to free from the shackles of slavery to the nation. District residents are proud of their sons these.
According to the pages of history when in 1857 the year of revolution, Indian troops against English guns in Nathpur of Araria district faced with bravery. Indian troops cross the Kosi river at Chatra Gaddhi in Nepal to support Begum Hazrat Mahal of Avadh. They move through forest valley route. However, many of horses and stuffs lost during the strong current of Kosi, but Major Richardson who was stand at opposite side couldn’t do anything.
Pandit Ramdeni Tiwari Dwijdeni has been considered as initiator of Freedom movement in the district. Army of fighters formed under Pt. Dwijdeni and Babu Basant Singh in the area, always troubled to the British. Ram Lal Mandal belongs from village Bhodhar same district who was one of the assistant of Gandhi ji. He participated in Dandi Yaatra(visit). His voice was very melodious and he used to speech Ramayana for Gandhiji.
Fighters were not deterred under English regime’s suppression. Fighters in the district’s army and former senior fighters emerged… Pt Ramadhar Dwivedi, Kanhaiya Lal Verma, Kamala Nanda Biswas, Dhanusdhari Chowdhury, Harilal Jha, Nageshwar Jha, Buddhinath Thakur, Suryanand Sah, Fnishwar Nath Renu, Bodhnarayan Singh, Ganesh Lal are few names. Freedom struggle were continued led by them. (Source support by Jagran news)
Role of Araria in Bollywood Hindi Cinema
Film: Teesri Kasam, Raj & Waheeda
In 1966, Famous film director Mr. Raj Kapoor(Showman of Hindi Cinema) worked in “Teesri Kasam” which is based on a story “Mare Gaye Gulfam” written by native novelist Sri Fanishwarnath Renu. Suitings of this film done here at the grass of Araria’s villages. This one is a film set a golden success in hindi cinema history. Directed by Basu Bhattacharya, produced and lyric by Shailendra, Screenplay written by Nabendu GhoshTeesri Kasam is an unconventional film that portrays the society of the rural India and simplicity of villagers.
This film was nominated for Grand Prix in 1967 Moscow International Film Festival.
Compiled by Sulabh Jaiswal
- Also see Detail History of Araria
ARARIA अररिया ﺍﺭﺭﯼﺍ 