Origins of the Varmans and the Senas—A Rejoinder
By Pramode Lal Paul
Summary
Responding to criticisms by D. C. Ganguli, this rejoinder defends earlier conclusions about the origins of the Varman and Sena dynasties of Bengal. The author reasserts that the Varmans were of indigenous eastern Indian stock rather than immigrants from the north‑west and that the Senas hailed from Karnataka. He marshals epigraphic evidence from the Mandar Hill and Deopara inscriptions, which record Varman genealogy and mention their early association with the Gupta administration. For the Senas, he cites copper plates showing that Samantasena migrated from the south and established himself in Bengal before Vijaya Sena’s rise. The article critiques Ganguli’s reliance on late literary sources and emphasises the primacy of contemporary inscriptions. It also discusses linguistic clues such as the use of Gauda and Karnata dialect forms in royal charters. By systematically addressing counterarguments, the author maintains that the distinct origins of the two dynasties are well supported.
Conclusion
The rejoinder concludes that epigraphic and linguistic evidence still favours an indigenous origin for the Varmans and a southern origin for the Senas. It cautions against dismissing contemporary records in favour of later literary narratives. Clarifying these origins is important for understanding the dynamics of migration, assimilation and state formation in medieval Bengal.