Sasanka, king of Bengal
Summary
A biography of Śaśānka, the 7th‑century Gauda king, reconstructs his rise amid the decline of the Guptas. Basak pieces together epigraphic and literary sources to show that Śaśānka carved out an independent kingdom in Bengal and Orissa and allied himself with Maukhari ruler Grahavarman. He opposed Harṣavardhana of Thanesar, captured Kannauj, and defied Buddhist powers in the region, leading Chinese sources to depict him as a persecutor. The article reconstructs the chronology of his reign using the Nidhanpur copperplate and Harṣa‑carita. Basak argues that Śaśānka’s kingship was rooted in local traditions rather than Gupta vassalage and that he initiated public works and patronized Śiva cults. The article also examines diplomatic relations with Magadha and Orissa, concluding that Śaśānka died without establishing a durable dynasty, but his assertion of regional autonomy paved the way for the rise of later Bengal powers.
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Conclusion
Basak concludes that Śaśānka was a transitional figure who, through ambition and strategic alliances, temporarily eclipsed both residual Guptas and emerging Pushyabhutis. His religious policies and anti‑Buddhist measures must be understood in the context of a contest for legitimacy rather than religious bigotry. Though his state collapsed soon after his death, Śaśānka’s example demonstrated Bengal’s capacity for independent rule.