Balasore

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Balasore (also known as Baleswar or Baleshwar) is a city in Orissa state of eastern India. It has originated from Bal Gotra Jats. It is the administrative headquarters of Balasore District. It is best known for Chandipur, the site of the Indian army development of different missiles such as Nag, Agni missile etc.. The lingua franca is Oriya. Balasore is located at 21°30′N, 86°56′E.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census[1], Baleshwar had a population of 106,032. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Baleshwar has an average literacy rate of 86%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Tank Jat rulers

A Tak kingdom is mentioned by Hiuen-Tsang (631-643 A.D.) It is mentioned as situated towards east of Gandhara. Hiuen-Tasng Gives its name as Tekka, and the History of Sindh, ChachNama, mentions it as Tak. Its capital was Shekilo (Sakala, modern Sialkot) and formerly King Mihiragula was ruling from this place. In seventh century A.D. Its people were not preeminently Buddhists, but worshiped the sun, too. Abhidhana Chintamani Says that Takka is the name of Vahika country (Punjab). For what follows, we are indebted to Chandrashekhar Gupta for his article on Indian coins. ^[1] The Tanks must have come to India, Prior to fourth century A.D. i.e. with the Kushana. And with the Kushanas, they must have spread up to Bengal and Orissa, like the Manns and Kangs who spread into southern Maharashtra and the Deccan. In Orissa, the Tanks, had their rule in Orissa proper, Mayurbhanj, Singbhoom, Ganjam, and Balasore Districts. They are called by historians as “ Puri Kushans” or Kushanas of Puri (Orissa). Their coins have been found at Bhanjakia and Balasore (Chhota Nagpur) and these coins have the legend Tanka written in Brahmi script of the fourth century A.D. Allan suggested the reading Tanka as the name of a tribe “ ^[2] and others generally accepted the reading Tanka as correct. ^[3] Allan placed them in the third or early fourth century A.D., while V.A. Smith placed them in the fourth or fifth century A.D. ; R.D. Bannerji called them “ Puri Kushanas” ^[4]

References

1. ↑ Vishveshvaranand Indological Journal (Hoshiarpur, Pb.) Vol, XVI, pt. I. p.92 ff
2. ↑ Ancient India, Plate XII, fig. 3
3. ↑ Journal of Numismatic Society of India, 12, 1950 p.72
4. ↑ Bhim Singh Dahiya, Jats the Ancient Rulers ( A clan study), 1980, Sterling Publishers New Delhi, p. 274

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