Saptagram

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Saptagram (सप्तग्राम) or Satgaon (सातगांव) was a major port, the chief city and sometimes capital of southern Bengal, in ancient and medieval times, the location presently being in the Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is about 4 km from Bandel, a major rail junction.

Variants

• Saptagrama सप्तग्राम = Satgaon सात गाँव (p.933)
• Satgaon सातगांव, जिला हुगली, प. बंगाल (AS, p.953)

History

The word Saptagram means seven villages. These are identified as Bansberia, Kristapur, Basudebpur, Nityanandapur, Sibpur, Sambachora and Baladghati.

By the early twentieth century, the place had dwindled to a group of insignificant huts. The port had to be abandoned because of the silting up and consequent drying of the Saraswati River. It influenced the subsequent development and growth of Kolkata. H. E. A. Cotton writes, "Here then may be traced nucleus of the future city of Calcutta, and as time went on the silting up of the river opposite Satgaon still further favoured her fortunes."

Mythology

There is a mythological story attached to the name. King Priyabanta of Kannauj had seven sons – Agnitra, Medhatithi, Bapusman, Jyotisman, Dutisman, Saban and Bhabya. They were not happy with the royal life and so they set out in search of a place where they could carry out their meditation. When they came to the confluence of the Ganges, Jamuna and Saraswati, they liked the place and settled down in seven villages to a hermit's life. Thus grew Saptagram around the seven villages.

सातगांव

सातगांव (AS, p.953), जिला हुगली, प. बंगाल में स्थित है. प्रारम्भिक ई. शतियों में रोम के साथ व्यापार के लिए यह बंदरगाह प्रसिद्ध था. रोमन इसे 'गंगा की राजधानी’ (Ganges regia) कहते थे.