Mokama Ghat is a village about four kilometres east of Mokama on the bank of the river Ganga in Bihar, India.

Mokama Ghat
Village
CountryIndia
StateBihar
DistrictPatna
Websitehttp://www.mokama.in

Importance edit

The Hindi word "Ghat" means "bank of a river which is used by people for bathing or transportation of passengers and goods".[1][2] Mokama Ghat was used for ferrying cargo and passengers by ships across the river to the north eastern parts of India. It was linked by rail to Mokama, and was once an important railway station[3] under the Danapur division of the East Central Railway Zone.[4] It was also linked by road. The passengers and goods would be carried by either road or rail to Mokama Ghat, where they would be transported by ship[5] across the river to Simaria Ghat.

History edit

Until the first half of 20th century, Mokama Ghat was an important trade and transport link in eastern India. Malabika Chakrabarti mentions the congestion at Mokama railway Ghat in May 1897 as one of the reasons for the failure of the supply of grains during the Bengal famine of 1896–97 in her book on the said famine.[6] After the construction of Rajendra Setu, which was both a road and rail bridge, that importance was lost.[citation needed]

Naturalist and writer Jim Corbett worked at Mokama Ghat railway station in the early part of 20th century.[7][8] When he was eighteen he joined the railways at Mokama Ghat, working as fuel inspector and assistant station master. Later he became a labour contractor there.[9] Jim Corbett established a school for the children of the staff of the Railways at Mokama Ghat with the help of an 'educationist' named Mr. Ram Saran.[10]

Mokama Ghat was brought to the map of the struggle for Indian independence in 1908 when Prafulla Chaki was spotted at Mokama Ghat railway station[11] while he was trying to escape after throwing a bomb at a carriage at Muzaffarpur on 30 April 1908 in which a European lady, Mrs. Kennedy and her daughter were killed. After a standoff with police, Chaki shot himself.[12][13][14]

References edit

  1. ^ "Majuli passengers harassed by lessees People charged extra money mid-river". The Telegraph, Calcutta, India. 9 February 2012. Archived from the original on 19 May 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  2. ^ Calaon, Diego (2011). "Industrial Archaeology at Aapravasi Ghat: goods, ports and people histories". the Aapravasi Ghat Trust Founf Newsletter. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  3. ^ Guha, Arun Chandra (1971). First spark of revolution: the early phase of India's struggle for independence, 1900-1920. Orient Longman. p. 131. ISBN 9780883860380. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  4. ^ "History of Danapur Division". Danapur Division. 2009. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  5. ^ Chakrabarti, Malabika (2004). The famine of 1896-1897 in Bengal: availability or entitlement crisis?. Orient Blackswan. pp. 415–. ISBN 978-81-250-2389-0. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  6. ^ Chakrabarti, Malabika (2004). The famine of 1896-1897 in Bengal: availability or entitlement crisis?. Orient Blackswan. pp. 415, 463. ISBN 978-81-250-2389-0. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  7. ^ Institute of Historical Studies (Calcutta, India) (1995). The Quarterly review of historical studies, Volumes 35-36. Institute of Historical Studies. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  8. ^ "Tracking the Luminaries – Famous Railway Men(Jim Corbett)". Indian Holiday Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  9. ^ Jim Corbett National Park (2002). "Colonel Jim Corbett". Jim Corbett National Park. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  10. ^ Corbett, Jim (1952). "My India". p. 183. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  11. ^ Guha, Arun Chandra (1971). First spark of revolution: the early phase of India's struggle for independence, 1900-1920. Orient Longman. ISBN 9780883860380. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  12. ^ Ghosh, Satyavrata (1991). Decades of daring deeds. B. R. Pub. Corp. ISBN 9788170186076. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  13. ^ "Khudiram Bose". midnapore.in. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  14. ^ Basak, Sudeshna (1991). Socio-cultural study of a minority linguistic group: Bengalees in Bihar, 1858-1912. B.R. Pub. Corp. pp. 152, 153. ISBN 9788170186274. Retrieved 4 March 2012.

Bibliography edit