Potagarh of Ganjam

Orissa Review * April - 2005 Potagarh of Ganjam Biswanath Mallick The fort of Potagarh was the first Collectorate It is said that the construction of complex of Ganjam. Later on it was shifted to Potagarh fort was commenced in 1768 by Berhampur in 1815 and subsequently to Edward Costford, the first Resident of Ganjam. Chhatrapur in 1835, where it is continuing till But the star-shaped design of the fort and a to-day. very old Masjeed standing near it attest more Potagarh or the "burried fort" is named of its Mahammadan origin than British. During as such since it is burried. It is situated at the Kutabsahi rule in 17th century Ganjam was present near a village named Ganjam between extended from Chilika to Chicacole and 180 15' and 200 15'N. designated as Chicacole Latitude and 830 49' and Circar which was the 850 15' E. Longitude on Northern-most Circar of the mouth of river the Northern Circars and Rushikulya. The fort is in was controlled from ruins and still it stands as Golconda. In 1641 a the mute witness to many Faujdar named rulers, who have used it Mahammed Khan was as their administrative appointed in Srikakulam Headquarters to rule over for the first time by this region named in Abdul Kutab Shah, the different periods as ruler of Golconda. He Kalinga, Kalinga constructed some fine Dandapat, Ganjam, mosques at Srikakulam Chichacole Circar etc. It and Icchapur. The old is not a single fort, rather a cluster of forts erected by different governments, the remanants Kalinga Dandapat (Ganjam) was then divided of which tell the stories of their administrative into two divisions namely Chicacole procedures. Thus the history of Potagarh is the (Srikakulam) and Icchapur. Most probably it history of the Ganjam Collectorate that involves was Mahammed Khan who erected a fort at the history of Ganjam, Northern Circars, French the present site of Potagarh for administration Government, Madras Presidency, Bengal of Icchapur division. Some scholars are of the Presidency and the history of the East India opinion that the fort was erected by the Fourth Company as a whole. Sultan Ibrahim Kutabshah. 62 Orissa Review * April - 2005 In 1753 the Northern Circar was granted One was probably used as a secret passage to to the French and Monsieur De Bussy, the escape into the sea and the other for the queen French Commander took control over Ganjam to go to the river to take bath. The compound and functioned from Potagarh. He must have wall is about 8' thick with a moat encircling it. erected a fort there for him as well as his The fort has two nicely designed doors, one is French people. The presence of the French in the front side the other one is in the back people is proved by two tombs erected in the side, close to the river. cemetery close to Potagarh in honour of two The fort of Potagarh is described by the souls of French origin. celebrated historian W.W.Hunter having towers in 1765, the Northern Circars were in the star angles except in the east front where granted to English by an there is a large gateway, imperial farman. the walls neither under French power ended 18 nor above 22 feet in and Edward Costford height and a ditch was appointed as the running in three sides in British Resident of many parts with deep Ganjam in 1766 and water and in the fourth took direct charge of side defended by a thick Ganjam in 1768. He wood which runs to 150 constructed there yards from the walls". another fort. Potagarh tells many stories of horror The fort is spread in a vast area close to relating to the wrath of the fort-goddess on the the river in star-shape. Inside the compound ancient village of Ganjam and the escape of there are three residential buildings of three the king through the secret passage into the Bay different architectural designs, most probably of Bengal by a boat at the time of attack. assigned to the Mahammadans, French and The fort Potagarh is an archaeological British. The first one probably of Mahammadan asset of the state and deserves preservation. or Kutabshahi origin is completely in ruined state. The other two are also not in so good condition. Besides, two magazine houses are Biswanath Mallick is the Officer-in-Charge, Elections, there. Two passages are there in the eastern in the Collectorate of Ganjam district located at side of the compound wall opening to the river. Chhatrapur. Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik inaugurating the Blood Bank at Daspalla on 20.2.2005. Shri Bijayashree Routray, Minister, Health and Family Welfare and Shri Prasanna Kumar Patsani, M.P. are also present. 63.

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