The history of the establishment of 'Shahi Bangla' or 'Saltanat-i-Bangla' is no less than a common story. It is essentially an epic tale of the heroism and foresight of Sultan
Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah.
The Birth of a United Bengal
In the mid-fourteenth century, Bengal was divided into three isolated towns—Lakhnauti, Satgaon and Sonargaon. Although under the rule of the Sultans of Delhi, these regions were often at war with each other. Legend has it that this brilliant hero from Sijistan seized the throne of Lakhnauti in 1342 and over the next ten years conquered the remaining two regions to form a united Bengal. He declared himself the first 'Shah-i-Bangla' (King of Bengal), from which the name 'Shahi Bangla' originated.
The story of the defense of Ekdala Fort
The most exciting event in the history of Shahi Bengal took place in 1353. When the Sultan of Delhi Firoz Shah Tughlaq invaded Bengal with a large army, Ilyas Shah strategically retreated and took refuge in the Ekdala Fort near Pandua. This fort was an impenetrable area surrounded by a river on one side and a dense forest on the other.
The Sultan's strategy: Firoz Shah failed despite besieging the fort for 22 days.
Disguise attack: Finally, when the Delhi army pretended to retreat, Ilyas Shah's army came out of the fort. Then a fierce battle took place and at one point the Sultan of Delhi was forced to retreat.
Peace treaty: As a result of this war, the Delhi Sultanate was forced to accept the independence of Bengal and Shahi Bengal became an independent and powerful state.
Influence of Shahi Bengal
The triumphant journey that began under Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah lasted for the next 200 years as the Golden Age of Bengal. It was during this period that new doors were opened for literary practice and cultural development in the Bengali language. Historians also call him the 'father of Bengali nationalism', because he was the first to unite the people of this region under the name 'Bengali'.
This glorious history of Shahi Bengal still reminds us of how unity and courage teach a nation to stand tall in the world court.