The Firangi Pirates of the Sundarbans
Ardul and Kanai, two friends, both fishermen, set off with their boats towards the backwaters. It was midnight. This was the time when the waters became a major breeding ground for fish, making their work easier. They could capture thousands of fish with just one cast of the net. They had their supper together- a delicious meal of fish curry and fermented rice, with chillis and onions. Ardul was an expert in making curries, while Kanai prepared the rice. Their villages were far off, so they often met at the coast for the rest of the evening, before setting off in their boats. This was the best season for these night catches. Every day, they were making a handsome profit for the fish merchants and customers. Right now, both of their pockets were full of money that they had made for the day.
They were singing as they sailed
their boats. Kanai’s melodious voice echoed through the silence of the forests
around. The crickets and the occasional nocturnal creatures provided the music
to his earthy tune. Ardul sailed, mesmerised by the beauty of the night, along
with its darkness and the fear of the unknown. They reached the spots where
they wanted to catch the fish and spread their nets. Their expertise had
developed a natural intuition for where they could find the most fish. They
followed that religiously. Their experience had also taught them to identify
the signs of upcoming threats. And today, the dreadful silence had somehow begun
to lead their senses toward an unknown danger lurking in the dark. Just as they
were about to pull the nets onto the boat, some ghostly figures appeared from
the surrounding marshes and approached them. Clad in black, their swords shone
like pointed silver blades in the darkness. Within moments, Ardul and Kanai
were surrounded by a group from all around, leaving them no scope to retreat or
run. One of them came forward with one hand open in front of them. Without
hesitation, they gave them all the money they had. The robbers covered both the
hapless fishermen with their own nets and left them in their boats, only to be
freed by other fishermen the next morning.
As Emperor Akbar was extending his
empire, especially focusing on the fertile lands of Bengal, his able ministers
informed him of an almost uninhabited area around the Bay of Bengal called the
Sundarbans. The majority of the land was covered by mangrove vegetation and
marshy areas. However, it could be a profitable agricultural hub if used
properly. In Ain-i-Akbari, the threats about the Sundarbans ’ hostile geographical
features had been documented, writing off a majority of the area as unfit for
habitation. Another interesting thing was documented: the terror of “Firangi”
pirates.
Ardul and Kanai’s scary encounter
with the robbers spread throughout the area. Robbery was nothing new, but these
men seemed different. They were strong and well-built. Although it was dark, both
men could still tell they had lighter-coloured hair. The local landlords or
Zamindars, who were by then working along peacefully with the Mughal dynasty,
informed Akbar’s ministers about the robbery and a few more such incidents
around the coasts and backwaters. The experienced ministers of Akbar could identify
that foreign pirates led these attacks, and the ones they could think of were
the fierce Portuguese pirate gangs, spreading their network throughout the
world like locusts. The Portuguese settlements in the coastal regions had
become quite active in their mercantile activities. It had also given some
unappointed people the task of spying for the pirates, whose secret network
used to hover over every coastal area. They were spies disguised as common
people who mixed with the crowd, whom no one could ever have doubted. The
sudden prosperity of these areas around the fearful lands of Sundarbans during
Akbar’s rule had drawn their attention. It is said that they made a pact with
the Arakani pirates, who were adept at treading those marshy lands, well aware
of how to sail through the backwaters, and had the resilience to fight against
the hostile wilderness. Thus, their union turned them into a dreadful pack of
pirates that terrorised the regions throughout the Mughal rule.
The situation had become quite
dangerous. But when man gives up, nature takes control. The hostile
geographical turmoil, such as constant flooding, spread diseases among these
Firangi Pirates, who had turned the marshy lands into their hub. By the early
17th century, the Portuguese establishment had been significantly
hit by the onset of British colonisation and the power of the Mughal dynasty.
In addition, the natural disasters and threats had weakened the Firangi
pirates. Then, during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan, the Portuguese presence
in India was expelled following a 1632 campaign. This also marked the end of
the widespread terror of the Firangi Pirates of the Sundarbans.
Dr Deshpande stopped, but she
clearly wanted to add something more. Sensing that, the smart Sunaina took out
her notebook after switching off the recorder. She looked at her grandmother
with earnest eagerness.
Dr Deshpande smiled, “You know it’s
not the pirates and cruel merchants who were the only Portuguese to mark their
presence in Bengal. During the 19th century, a very kind and liberal
poet named Hensman Anthony came to Bengal. He was so passionate about music
that he learned the language of the land, in every colloquial form, to become
an expert Kabiyal. He himself composed devotional songs in Bengali. He came to
be known as Anthony Firangi.”
“Wow, I want to know more about
him, Dadi. He sounds so cool.” Sunaina’s voice shrieked with excitement.
“Some other time, my dear, “her
grandmother again ruffled her hair.
To be continued
This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.
Check out
Part 1: Dr Deshpande's Dainty Tales
Part 2: The Buckriders of Limburg
Part 3: The Mystery of Puteri Gunung Ledang
Part 4: King Vijaya of Simhala
Comments
Post a Comment