Trilingual Inscription (1734 AD)
By Puranchand Nahar
Summary
The Trilingual Inscription of 1734 AD, discovered in Devipur village (on the east bank of the Bhagirathi River, approximately 7 miles north of Murshidabad, Bengal), commemorates the establishment of a temple and well dedicated to Lord Vishnu by Gandharva Simha. The inscription, carved on a thick black stone slab (28" x 14" x 7"), features a decorative border and is divided into three sections: five Hindi verses (upper half), six lines of Bengali prose (lower left), and Persian poetry (lower right). It includes names of Hindu deities (Visudeva, Raghunatha, Laksmana, and Ganesh) on its borders. Dated to 1734 AD (Samvat 1791, Saka 1026, Hijri 1146), the text records Gandharva Simha’s purchase of 22 bighas and eight kathis of rent-free land south of Devipur, adjacent to Bahadurpur, for temple construction and a well. Discrepancies exist between the Hindi/Bengali (mentioning Ratnedvara’s wife’s garden) and Persian (attributing the land to Livari Devi, widow of Pappa, a Brahmin). Gandharva Simha, likely from Bihar (inferred from Maithili orthography and deity preferences), is described as a notable figure with titles like "Nayak" and "Mahiraja." The inscription, now housed in the Asiatic Society Museum, Calcutta, highlights Bengal’s historical connections to other regions. The Bengali text uses archaic spellings (e.g., short/long
Conclusion
The Trilingual Inscription of 1734 AD stands as a remarkable historical artifact, offering a unique tripartite linguistic record in Hindi, Bengali, and Persian. Its distinctive feature lies in the coexistence of three contemporary languages within a single monument, reflecting the multilingual landscape of 18th-century Bengal. The inscription not only documents the religious endowment by Gandharva Simha but also provides insights into the socio-cultural and administrative context of the period. The detailed land transaction, temple construction, and regional deities' mention highlight the interplay of local and broader political dynamics under the Nawab's rule. While the donor's origins remain debated, the inscription underscores the cross-regional influence and the enduring legacy of historical records in unraveling the past. This trilingual tablet remains a vital source for understanding the linguistic, religious, and administrative fabric of early modern Bengal.