There were two such archeological sites in the north eastern part of India in North Bengal which became quite talked about sites in the early January of the year 2020. The issue was such that it challenged the pride and prestige of the state for which the state govt decided and requested the center to keep it extremely confidential for the sake of the state, as well as for the country's pride. Thus, the famous historian and archeologist of West Bengal, Mr. Anushankar Bhattacharjee was given the responsibility of research and excavation with much confidentiality. He was promised adequate resources - both human and financial.
The first site was Gosanimari which was also known as Khalisa Gosanimari was both a village and an archaeological site in the Dinhata subdivision of the Cooch Behar district of West Bengal, north-eastern India. The name of this site was taken from the modern grampanchyat name of the Dinhata subdivision. The second site was Rajpat or Kamtapur Fort which was an archaeological site in the same place.
Kamata kingdom stood as a buffer between eastern Kamrupa and the Bengal Sultanate in the 15th century CE. The Khens might have built Gosanimari, but it was also possible that these Mongols only used the ruins of fortification which had been built several centuries earlier. After the independence Archaeological Survey of India took over the responsibility of this site yet they were still unexplored even today for which Anushankar was assigned to form a team and take them along with him to research, especially when the nearby villagers complained of some weird noises and attacks on a few that they had been facing for last six or seven months.
In his studies, Mr. Dev found parts of the ancient kingdoms and their important temples and buildings are now buried under a large grass grown mound. So far only two large stone wells have been excavated, along with a large stone wall and a number of idols too. Pottery work includes vases, bowls, basin, dish, beaker etc. The facial and physiognomic portrayal indicate the idols are the products of 11th and 12th century AD. But he also found in his studies that the Khen dynasty replaced the weak rulers of Kamata kingdom following Arimatta in the middle of the 15th century. And in the year close to 1500 the Khens were besieged and defeated and the war destroyed everything. The wicked Mongol king could last many days for his own wounds but his wickedness had devastated everything. There was nothing left, not a single life except it became a place for the future historians yet no one had ever got the opportunity to explore deeper into it.
The date was planned and three people were selected to go with Mr. Bhattacharjee but everything again was suspended because of the Pandemic and eventually there was a complete lockdown in the whole of India.
Anushankar was such a person who loved his job and he hated sitting at home. After three months, he appealed to the state govt to allow him to go alone and do the research in that site. The state government knew the seriousness of the exploration and excavation of the sits so it wasn't difficult for them to acknowledge when he convinced them saying this would be the best time for him to go and explore it as there will be less of public interference. Moreover, a few villagers can be used for his help and ultimately they will get paid for their services especially when they all are struggling financially during this crisis time. The proposal looked good to the officials and they agreed. But they refused to force anyone to go with him risking their lives during this covid situation as this work was not under the purview of essential work
When Anushankar was wondering what to do now, how he can manage alone, his daughter Shelby chipped in saying, "Dad, if no one goes with you, I will go with you. And you know I have been following your footsteps since my childhood. I am trained both academically as well as professionally." Shelby was a very intelligent final year post graduate student of history and archaeology who aspires to be an archeologist like her father. But he denied her without giving a second thought to her request.
"Dad, you are so passionate about your work and you know I share the same passion, then why on earth are you denying me to accompany you?" Shelby pleaded.
"Baby, it is an unexplored site and I am hearing things that are not so pleasant...There were two villagers who lost their family members. They were either lost or dead. Haven't I suffered so much till now...? I can't risk my daughter's life... so..." He retorted quickly but subtly.
"Villagers are superstitious people, Dad. They say whatever they feel or believe. But the reality will be something different and interesting for us, when we go and find out ourselves. And if something happens to you, then?" She persuaded him.
"You are now arguing with me, Shel..." He replied sternly.
"No Dad, I am not. I am just sayi..." She could not finish as she was interrupted by her dad.
"My experience says there's danger for a young woman like you to enter inside that cave. So I don't want you to be in any danger." He declared and Shelby resigned.
Anushankar was a 47 year old divorcee who lives with his daughter alone for the last 12 years. Shelby was only 10, when her mother, his wife left them and went to her country. She was an Irish woman. But Shelby chose her Dad over her mother to live with, all because of her inclination to him and his work. Her Dad is her hero and she can do anything to help her dad. She knows he needed efficient people with him but he was alone at this time of his need. She was sad he refused her but wasn't disappointed or disheartened. She decided to leave her father for now and looked for the right opportunity to make him take her with him.
He finalised the day on which he will start his trip but he never likes it whenever he has to deny his daughter something she asked for. But he could not have helped it. His experience says how deadly that place would be if what he was assessing is correct.
Shelby was quiet all these days and she prepared her dad's favourite meal for him just the night before his trip. They both had a normal dinner time but she seemed to be hiding something. Anushankar bid good night to his daughter kissing on her forehead when he went to sleep earlier that day but Shelby went into his research and study room as soon as she confirmed that her dad was fast asleep. She had been upto something for the last few days since he had denied her to accompany him. She had her note book and a pen. She kept jotting down something that she felt important for her to remember. Finally, when she finished she switched off the light of the room and went into her bedroom with a mischievous smile on her face.
The next morning, Anushankar hurried with his morning routine and after getting ready when he walked out to their living room with his luggage he saw Shelby was sitting on the couch ready with her own luggage.
"Is that a joke, Shel?" Anushankar asked his daughter as he looked at her surprised.
"You never lied to me before, Dad, but this time, you did. No one was dead or hurt as yet. There's no reports of violence. Yeah, the Mongols were sex starved humans and there's a report that the last Mongol king was seen around the fort and have taken a few women into his captives. It's not exactly how it happened in Egypt but quite similar to it. Right, Dad? I have read everything that you had jotted down in your research papers." She had a sense of pride about her own research on her father's research. She continued with a chuckle, "The last king must have been deprived of sex so much that he had to return again to fulfill his desires. And I would love to find out what this sex starved Mongol king's ghost is upto, Dad. Please allow me to accompany you."
Shelby presented her case with folded hands and her dad could not deny her plea this time. But he started having varied thoughts in his mind regarding the risks of taking his daughter with him, as they both finally set out for their trip to investigate the return of the last Mongol king.
(I wrote something after so many months and look, I published it when there's return of my beloved sister as well. Nothing can be happier than this. By the way, Sheena had given me an idea about such a plot which I wrote according to my discretion.)