Murshidabad district

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Murshidabad district
District of West Bengal
Hazar Duari Palace at Murshidabad
Hazar Duari Palace at Murshidabad
Murshidabad district is located in West Bengal
Murshidabad district
Murshidabad district
Location in West Bengal
Coordinates: 24°11′N 88°16′E / 24.18°N 88.27°E / 24.18; 88.27Coordinates: 24°11′N 88°16′E / 24.18°N 88.27°E / 24.18; 88.27
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DivisionMalda division
HeadquartersBerhampore
Area
 • Total5,324 km2 (2,056 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total7,102,430
 • Density1,300/km2 (3,500/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Literacy63.88%
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
Average annual precipitation1126 mm
Websitemurshidabad.nic.in

Murshidabad district is one of the districts of the Indian state of West Bengal.

History[edit]

Raja Shashanka, the first important king of ancient Bengal who ruled in the 7th century had made Karnasuvarna the capital of Gauda Kingdom. The ruins of Karnasuvarna have been located at Kansona in this district.[1][2][3] It is 9.6 kilometres (6.0 mi) south-west of Berhampore, headquarters of Murshidabad district.[4] During the Muslim rule, Murshid Quli Khan shifted the capital from Dhaka to Murshidabad in 1704, It was then the capital of the Sube Bangla comprising Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.[5][6]

Murshidabad district got recognition as an independent district in 1787.[6]

The Partition of India in 1947 brought an end to the British Raj and divided the country into two parts, broadly along religious lines.[7] While Pakistan was formed on 14 August 1947, India was granted independence on 15 August 1947, the Radcliffe Line line which demarcated the borders between India and Pakistan by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, better known as the Radcliffe Award, was published on 17 August 1947.[8] The geographical location of Murshidabad and Malda districts, largely with a Muslim population, was given to India and the Hindu-dominated Khulna district to East Pakistan. During the intervening period the two districts of India hoisted the Pakistani flag, obviously due to the oblivion that prevailed during that period.[9]

Geography[edit]

Murshidabad district covers an area of 5,324 sq km.[10]

Murshidabad district is divided into two natural regions – Rarh to the west and Bagri to the east. The Rarh region, an extension of the Chota Nagpur Plateau, consists of a high undulating land drained by the western tributaries of the Bhagirathi river. It is flooded largely by the Mayurakhsi, as well as other rivers such as Dwarka, Brahmani, Gambhira, Kopai and Bakreshwar. The Bagri region, a part of the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta, consists of fertile, low-lying area, prone to flooding by the spill of the Bhagirathi and other rivers. The Bagri region is in the form of an isosceles triangle. The Bhagirathi and the Padma forms two equal sides and the Jalangi forms the base.[11][12]

The Farakka Barrage was commissioned in 1975. The 2245 meters long barrage is located between the Murshidabad and Malda districts. The 40 km long feeder canal originates on the right bank, upstream of the barrage and outfalls into the Bhagirathi river. It flows through the Rahr region of Murshidabad district.[13]

A major problem in Murshidabad district is riverbank erosion. As of 2013, an estimated 2.4 million people reside along the banks of the Ganges alone in Murshidabad district. Between 1931 and 1977, 26,769 hectares have been eroded and many villages have been fully submerged. 1980–1990 was a decade of erosion for this district and during the decade Giria, Sekhalipur, Khejustala, Mithipur, Fajilpur, Rajapur, Akheriganj, Parashpur villages were badly affected.[11]

The total erosion and accretion of the study zone from 1980 to 2020 were estimated as 250.82 and 236.75 sq km respectively. The total erosion and accretion of the study zone from 1980 to 2020 were estimated as 250.82 and 236.75 sq km respectively. The research report about Jangipur subdivision says, “The total erosion for the year 2000 to 2010 was 1,401,159.22 square metre and total land accumulation was 1,014,170.001 square metres. It is found that total land erosion exceeds total land deposition. Therefore, it can be said that the area is suffering from active bank erosion by the Ganga-Bhagirathi river”.[14]

Murshidabad district has a 150 km long international border with Bangladesh.[15]

Murshidabad district is bounded by Malda district on the north, Chapai Nawabganj and Rajshahi districts in Bangladesh on the east, Purba Bardhaman district and Nadia district on the south and Santhal Pargana division of Jharkhand on the west.[10]

Murshidabad district has five subdivisions: Berhampre, Jangipur, Lalbag, Kandi and Domkal.[16]

Murshidabad district has the following community development blocs: Farakka, Raghunathganj I, Raghunathganj II, Sagardighi, Samserganj, Suti I, Suti II, Beldanga I, Beldanga II, Berhampore, Naoda, Bharatpur I, Bharatpur II, Burwan, Kandi, Khargram, Bhagawangola I, Lalgola, Murshidabad-Jiaganj, Nabagram, Domkal, Raninagar I, Raninagar II and Jalangi.[16]

Demographics=[edit]

As per the 2011 census, Murshidabad district had a total population of 71,02,430, of which 36,29,595 were males and 34,72,835. The decadal growth of population was 21.07%. 80.22% of the population lived in rural areas and 19.78% in the urban areas.[17]

Literacy rate in Murshidabad district in 2011 was 63.88%.[17]

According to official source, the minority population maybe over 66% of the total population in Murshidabad district in 2011.[17] According to private source, Muslims constitute 66.27% of the population and Hindus 33.21% in Murshidabad district.[18]

Economy[edit]

Agriculture[edit]

With the majority of the work-force in the district being engaged in agriculture and it being the greatest contributor to the district’s total income, Murshidabad district is primarily an agricultural district. Murshidabad district had an annual rainfall of 1,126 mm in 2014. It had a cropped area of 395,980 ha, 56.84% of which was irrigated.[6] Rice, wheat, pulses, oilseeds, jute and potatoes were the main field crops. Mulberry was widely grown in the western part of the district.

Industry[edit]

Farakka Super Thermal Power Station at Nabarun has an installed capacity of 2,100 MW.[19]

Sagardighi Thermal Power Plant, generating 1,600 MW power, is in Murshidabad district.[6]

According to a 2016 report, there were around 1,000,000 (1 million/ ten lakh) workers were engaged in the beedi industry in Jangipur subdivision. 90% are home-based and 70% of the home-based workers are women. There are 18 big factories and 50 small factories in the subdivision.[20]

Bell-metal and brass utensils are manufactured in the district.[6]

Murshidabad district was traditionally a major silk producing area, but with various problems, the silk industry has declined.[21]

Murshidabad district is famous for its delicate ivory craft. 99% of the production is exported. Sandalwood etching is becoming more popular.[22]

Poverty[edit]

In Murshidabad district, 55.9% of the population is below the poverty line. It is one of the 100 districts in India with the highest poverty rates.[23]

Transport[edit]

National Highway 12 (India) passes through Murshidabad district.[24]

Panagarh–Morgram Highway terminates at Morgram in Murshidabad district.[25]

Barharwa–Azimganj–Katwa loop was constructed in 1913.[26]

Tourism[edit]

Some major tourist attractions in Murshidabad district are:[27]

  • Hazarduari Palace atMurshidabad.
  • Katra Masjid at Murshidabad.
  • Kathgola Gardens at Kathgola near Murshidabad
  • Motijheel Park at Murshidabad.
  • Char Bangla temple at Baranagar, the temple town of Rani Bhabani.
  • Nizamat Imambara at Murshidabad
  • Khosh Bagh on the opposite side of Bhagirathi
  • Nasipur Palace at Nasipur.

Education[edit]

The following institutions are located in Murshidabad district:

Note: More Information about private engineering colleges and degree colleges are available in the subdivision pages.

Healthcare[edit]

The major medical facilities in the district are:[32]

Note: The subdivision and community development block pages provide information about medical facilities within their jurisdiction.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Ray, Nihar Ranjan, Bangalir Itihas Adi Parba, (in Bengali), 1980 edition, pp. 160–161, Paschim Banga Niraksharata Durikaran Samiti
  2. ↑ Sengupta, Nitish, History of the Bengali-speaking People, p.25, UBS Publishers’ Distributors Pvt. Ltd.
  3. ↑ "Sasanka the ancient king of Bengal". imp. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  4. ↑ Majumdar, Dr. R.C., History of Ancient Bengal, first published 1971, reprint 2005, pp. 5–6, Tulshi Prakashani, Kolkata, ISBN 81-89118-01-3.
  5. ↑ "Murshibad, the history rich place has many stories to tell". Rupasi Bangla. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "District Industrial Profile, Murshidabad, 2017-18" (PDF). Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Industries. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "1947 Partition of India & Pakistan". C. Ryan Perkins. Stanford Libraries. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  8. ↑ "What Was the Partition of India? By Kallie Szczepanski". The Radcliffe Line. ThoughtCo. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "Here's why these two Indian districts celebrated Independence Day with Pakistani flags in 1947". Updated Aug 15, 2019 - Mohammad Adil. TIMESNOWNEWS.COM. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Murshidabad". West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Types and sources of floods in Murshidabad, West Bengal" (PDF). Swati Mollah. Indian Journal of Applied Research, February 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  12. ↑ "Murshidabad". Britannica. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  13. ↑ "Farakka Barrage Project". Government of India. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  14. ↑ "The impact of population displacement due to river bank erosion on the education of erosion victims: a study in Jangipur sub-division of Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India by Debika Ghosh and Abhay Sankar Sahu". 4.1 Problem of river erosion in Jangipur subdivision. ResearchGate. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  15. ↑ "Indo-Bangladesh border:No-woman's land". Usha Rai. The Hindu, 14 May 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Murshidabad". About District-Administrative Setup-Subdivisions and Blocks. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Murshidabad". About District-Demography. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  18. ↑ "Murshidabad District Religion Data - Hindu/Muslim". Population Census. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  19. ↑ "Farakka". NTPC. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  20. ↑ "Note ban sends biri workers up in smoke". Pari, December 17, 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  21. ↑ "Murshidabad". isha. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  22. ↑ "Murshidabad". Home-Tourism-Handicarsft. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  23. ↑ "Table 1". Vani Barooah. Research Gate. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  24. ↑ "Rationalisation of Numbering Systems of National Highways" (PDF). New Delhi: Department of Road Transport and Highways. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  25. ↑ "List of State Highways in West Bengal". West Bengal Traffic Police. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  26. ↑ Saxena, R. P. "Indian Railway History Time line". Irse.bravehost.com. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  27. ↑ "Places to visit in Murshidabad". Tripadvisor. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  28. ↑ "The Murshidabad University Act, 2017" (PDF). Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  29. ↑ "Central Sericulture and Research Institute, Berhampore (W.B.)". Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  30. ↑ "Government College of Engineering & Textile Technology, Berhampore". GCETTB. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  31. ↑ "Murshidabad Medical College & Hospital, Murshidabad". collegedunia. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  32. ↑ "Directory of Medical Institutions: West Bengal (as on 31 March 2018" (PDF). Murshidabad, p. 125. Directorate of Health Services, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
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