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{{Short description|Princely estate in British India}}
{{About|the medieval historical region|its namesake administrative subdivision|Dhalbhum subdivision|the community development block|Dhalbhumgarh block|its namesake village|Dhalbhumgarh}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
[[Image:Singhbum-Sairakela-Kharsawan.jpg|right|thumb|Singhbhum district in a 1909 map of [[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]]]]
{{Infobox former subdivision
[[Image:1907-bengal-sikkim3.jpg|right|thumb|1907 Map of Bengal with Sikkim]]
|conventional_long_name = Dhalbhum
'''Dhalbhum''' was the name given to parganas Supur and Ambikanagar in the [[Khatra]] area of present [[Bankura district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]].<ref name=omalley>O’Malley, L.S.S., ICS, ''Bankura'', ''Bengal District Gazetteers'', pp. 194-195, 1995 reprint, first published 1908, Government of West Bengal</ref> In the course of time, Dhalbhum kingdom was spread over a much wider area, across the western part of adjoining [[Midnapore district]] and the eastern and south-eastern parts of [[Singhbhum district]] in present-day [[Jharkhand]].<ref name=Ghosh>Ghosh, Binoy, ''Paschim Banger Sanskriti'', (in Bengali), part II, 1978 edition, p. 56, Prakash Bhaban</ref>
| native_name            =
| common_name            =
| nation                = [[British India]]
| subdivision            = [[Zamindari Estate]]
| today                  = [[East Singhbhum district]] of [[Jharkhand]]
| year_start            = 15th century
| date_event1              = 1767
| event1              = Beginning of Revenue Settlement negotiation with British
| date_event2              = 1777
| event2              = Revenue Settlement with British
| date_event3            = 1833
| event3                = Merged with [[Manbhum]]
| date_event4= 1846
| event4 = Merged with [[Singhbhum district|Singhbhum]]
| date_event5              = 1879
| event5              = [[Khatra subdivision|Khatra, Raipur and Simlapal]] area curved out and merged with [[Bankura district|Bankura]]
| year_end              =
| event_end =
|p1 =
|s1 =Republic of India  
|flag_s1 = Flag of India.svg
|image_map              = Singhbum-Sairakela-Kharsawan.jpg
|image_map_caption      = Dhalbhum as part of extended [[Singhbhum district]] in 1909 map of [[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]]
| capital                =
| government_type        = Royal rules
| status_text            =
| stat_year1 = 1872
| stat_area1 = 3111
| stat_pop1  = 117,118
| stat_year2 = 1891
| stat_area2 = 2970
| stat_pop2  = 194,469
| stat_year3 = 1941
| stat_area3 = 3004
| stat_pop3  = 533,402
}}
 
'''Dhalbhum''' was an estate in [[early modern period]] and [[British India]], spread across the [[East Singhbhum district]] in present-day [[Jharkhand]],<ref name=Ghosh>Ghosh, Binoy, ''Paschim Banger Sanskriti'', (in Bengali), part II, 1978 edition, p. 56, Prakash Bhaban</ref> western part of [[Bankura district|Bankura]],<ref name=omalley>{{cite book|last=O'Malley |first=L.S.S. | title=Bengal District Gazetteers – Bankura |pages= 166 |year=1908 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.105557/|publisher=The Bengal secretariat book depot}}</ref> and [[Midnapore district]] of West Bengal.


==History==
==History==
According to tradition, the original Raja of Dhalbhum was [[Chintamoni Dhoba]], a person of [[Dhobi|Rajak]] caste. The ''pai'' or grain measure used in these parganas was for a long time called ''Chintaman pai''. Legend goes on to say that Dhalbhum was wrested from him by Jagannath Deb of [[Dholpur]] in Rajputana. After 32 generations Supur Raj, as it was locally called, was divided in consequence of a disputed succession. One of the successors continued at Supur and the other shifted to Ambikanagar. Both the families were related to the families of [[Bishnupur, Bankura|Bishnupur]], [[Raipur, Bankura|Raipur]], Shyamsundarpur and others.<ref name=omalley/> They ruled for about 700 years. A branch of the same family ruled in Chikligarh or Jamboni.<ref name=Ghosh/>
{{See also|Singhbhum district}}
===Prehistory===
====Dhalbhum Raj====
According to [[Edward Tuite Dalton|Colonel Dalton]] and [[Herbert Hope Risley|H.H. Risley]], the Dhal zamindar family of Dhalbhum was the members of the primitive [[Bhumij people|Bhumij]] race, who was selected by the other Bhumij chiefs as their feudal ruler.<ref>{{Cite book |last=J |first=Reid |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hPk2AQAAMAAJ |title=Final Report on the Survey and Settlement of Pargana Dhalbhum in the District of Singhbhum, 1906 to 1911 |date=1912 |publisher=Bengal Secretariat Book Departmentôt |language=en}}</ref> The zamindars later became Hinduised, and adopted the title 'Dhal' or 'Dhabal Deo'.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Commissioner |first=India Census |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7qUJAAAAIAAJ&dq=dhalbhum+bhumij&pg=PA150 |title=Census of India, 1901: India (4 v.) |date=1903 |publisher=Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India |language=en}}</ref> The family is related to the families of [[Bishnupur Kingdom|Bishnupur]], [[Raipur, Bankura|Raipur]], Shyamsundarpur and others.<ref name="omalley" /> {{cns|They ruled for about 700 years.|date=November 2025}} A branch of the same family ruled in Chikligarh or Jamboni.<ref name="Ghosh" />
 
[[Rankini|Rankini Devi]] is established as the family goddess of the Dhalbhum rulers. It is said that human sacrifice was offered to the goddess every year.<ref name=Ghosh/>
 
===Colonial period===
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2025}}
[[File:Southwest Bengal, 1776, by Rennell.jpg|thumb|Dhalbhum under jurisdiction of Medinipur, 1776]]
 
Dhalbhum was part of the [[Midnapore district|Midnapore region]] of Bengal until 1760 when the [[East India Company]] (EIC) acquired Midnapore and Burdwan. Following the cession, the EIC continued revenue surveys and settlements, expanding westward into tribal-concentrated areas where many local chiefs were either of tribal origin or had tribal support. This led to a series of civil and military conflicts, collectively known as the [[Chuar Rebellion]] (c. 1760–1833), aimed at resisting British authority. The [[Tamar block|Tamar Revolt]] (c. 1783–1793), [[Kol uprising|Kol Uprising]] (c. 1831–1832), and [[Bhumij rebellion|Bhumij Rebellion]] or ''Ganga Narayan Hangama'' (c. 1832–1833) were part of this larger resistance. To control the unrest, the British created the [[Jungle Mahals|Jungle Mahal]] administrative unit in 1805, which was bifurcated into smaller districts in 1833, with Dhalbhum becoming part of [[Manbhum District|Manbhum district]]. It was merged into [[Singhbhum district]] in 1846, while the Porihati area comprising {{convert|14.5|sqmi|sqkm}} transferred to [[Jhargram district|Jhargram]] of Midnapore district in 1847 and Khatra, Raipur, and Simlapal areas were transferred to Bankura district in 1879. By 1872, Dhalbhum had a population of {{formatnum:117118}} across 1,201 square miles. It became part of the [[Bihar and Orissa Province]] in 1912 and remained in [[Bihar Province]] after 1932. Following India's independence in 1947, Dhalbhum was reorganized as [[East Singhbhum district]] in 1990 after being carved out from the extended Singhbhum district.


Rankini Devi is established as the family goddess of the Dhalbhum rulers. It is said that human sacrifice was offered to the goddess every year,<ref name=Ghosh/>
==Demographics==
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Dhalbhum (1891)
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|darkorange|65.34}}
{{bar percent|[[Animism]]|silver|34.06}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|green|0.55}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|dodgerblue|0.05}}
}}
According to the [[Census in British India|Census of 1891]], Dhalbhum covered an area of {{convert|1,147|sqmi|sqkm}} and was inhabited by 194,469 people. Hindus formed 65.34 of the population, while 34.06 followed animistic beliefs; Muslims accounted for 0.55 and Christians for 0.05.


==Dhalbhumgarh==
Ethnically, [[Santals]] constituted the largest group (29.52), followed by [[Bhumij people|Bhumij]] (21.74), Tatwa or [[Tanti]] (4.62), [[Kudmi Mahato|Kurmi]] (3.73), [[Gowala (caste)|Goala]] (3.31), [[Munda people|Munda]] (3.11), [[Bagal (caste)|Bagal]] (2.99), [[Lohar (caste)|Lohar]] and [[Kamar (caste)|Kamar]] (2.37), [[Deswali Majhi|Manjhi]] (2.19), [[Bhuiya]] (1.90), [[Kharia people|Kharia]] (1.79), [[Kumhar]] (1.77), [[Teli]] and Kalu (1.37), [[Brahman (caste)|Brahman]] (1.32), and [[Vaishnavism|Baishnab]] (1.16). The remaining population comprised smaller communities such as [[Mahali people|Mahili]], [[Mal (caste)|Mal]], [[Hajjam]] or [[Nai (caste)|Napit]], [[Dhobi]], [[Domba|Dom]], [[Hari caste|Hari]] and Mihtar, [[Kalwar (caste)|Kalwar]] and Sunri, [[Kayastha]] and [[Karan (caste)|Karan]], [[Kharwar]], [[Ghasi]], [[Ho people|Ho]], [[Gondi people|Gond]], [[Bania (caste)|Baniya]], [[Rajput]], [[Shaikh (caste)|Shaikh]], [[Oraon people|Oraon]], [[Chamar]] and Muchi, [[Bagdi (caste)|Bagdi]], [[Kewat]], and Pan.
Dhalbhumgarh is a community development block in [[East Singhbhum district]], in [[Jharkhand]] where it borders [[West Bengal]] and [[Orissa, India|Orissa]]. The town is on [[National Highway 33 (India)|NH 33]]. There is a railway station.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://jamshedpur.nic.in/dhlblk.htm#Intro | title = East Singhbhum, Jamshedpur. Dhalbhumgarh Block | access-date = 2009-09-20 | publisher = District administration | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090905020304/http://www.jamshedpur.nic.in/dhlblk.htm#Intro | archive-date = 5 September 2009 | url-status = dead }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Paschim Medinipur district]]
[[Category:Paschim Medinipur district]]
[[Category:East Singhbhum district]]
[[Category:East Singhbhum district]]
{{WestBengal-geo-stub}}
{{jharkhand-geo-stub}}

Latest revision as of 23:38, 23 November 2025


This article is about the medieval historical region. For its namesake administrative subdivision, see Dhalbhum subdivision. For the community development block, see Dhalbhumgarh block. For its namesake village, see Dhalbhumgarh.
Dhalbhum
Zamindari Estate of British India

Dhalbhum as part of extended Singhbhum district in 1909 map of The Imperial Gazetteer of India
Area 
• 1872
3,111 km2 (1,201 sq mi)
• 1891
2,970 km2 (1,150 sq mi)
• 1941
3,004 km2 (1,160 sq mi)
Population 
• 1872
117,118
• 1891
194,469
• 1941
533,402
History
 • TypeRoyal rules
History 
• Established
15th century
• Beginning of Revenue Settlement negotiation with British
1767
• Revenue Settlement with British
1777
• Merged with Manbhum
1833
• Merged with Singhbhum
1846
• Khatra, Raipur and Simlapal area curved out and merged with Bankura
1879
 Succeeded by
Republic of India
Today part ofEast Singhbhum district of Jharkhand

Dhalbhum was an estate in early modern period and British India, spread across the East Singhbhum district in present-day Jharkhand,[1] western part of Bankura,[2] and Midnapore district of West Bengal.

History[edit | edit source]

See also: Singhbhum district

Prehistory[edit | edit source]

Dhalbhum Raj[edit | edit source]

According to Colonel Dalton and H.H. Risley, the Dhal zamindar family of Dhalbhum was the members of the primitive Bhumij race, who was selected by the other Bhumij chiefs as their feudal ruler.[3] The zamindars later became Hinduised, and adopted the title 'Dhal' or 'Dhabal Deo'.[4] The family is related to the families of Bishnupur, Raipur, Shyamsundarpur and others.[2] Template:Cns A branch of the same family ruled in Chikligarh or Jamboni.[1]

Rankini Devi is established as the family goddess of the Dhalbhum rulers. It is said that human sacrifice was offered to the goddess every year.[1]

Colonial period[edit | edit source]

Dhalbhum under jurisdiction of Medinipur, 1776

Dhalbhum was part of the Midnapore region of Bengal until 1760 when the East India Company (EIC) acquired Midnapore and Burdwan. Following the cession, the EIC continued revenue surveys and settlements, expanding westward into tribal-concentrated areas where many local chiefs were either of tribal origin or had tribal support. This led to a series of civil and military conflicts, collectively known as the Chuar Rebellion (c. 1760–1833), aimed at resisting British authority. The Tamar Revolt (c. 1783–1793), Kol Uprising (c. 1831–1832), and Bhumij Rebellion or Ganga Narayan Hangama (c. 1832–1833) were part of this larger resistance. To control the unrest, the British created the Jungle Mahal administrative unit in 1805, which was bifurcated into smaller districts in 1833, with Dhalbhum becoming part of Manbhum district. It was merged into Singhbhum district in 1846, while the Porihati area comprising 14.5 square miles (38 km2) transferred to Jhargram of Midnapore district in 1847 and Khatra, Raipur, and Simlapal areas were transferred to Bankura district in 1879. By 1872, Dhalbhum had a population of 117,118 across 1,201 square miles. It became part of the Bihar and Orissa Province in 1912 and remained in Bihar Province after 1932. Following India's independence in 1947, Dhalbhum was reorganized as East Singhbhum district in 1990 after being carved out from the extended Singhbhum district.

Demographics[edit | edit source]

Religion in Dhalbhum (1891)
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 65.34%
Animism
 
 34.06%
Islam
 
 0.55%
Christianity
 
 0.05%

According to the Census of 1891, Dhalbhum covered an area of 1,147 square miles (2,970 km2) and was inhabited by 194,469 people. Hindus formed 65.34 of the population, while 34.06 followed animistic beliefs; Muslims accounted for 0.55 and Christians for 0.05.

Ethnically, Santals constituted the largest group (29.52), followed by Bhumij (21.74), Tatwa or Tanti (4.62), Kurmi (3.73), Goala (3.31), Munda (3.11), Bagal (2.99), Lohar and Kamar (2.37), Manjhi (2.19), Bhuiya (1.90), Kharia (1.79), Kumhar (1.77), Teli and Kalu (1.37), Brahman (1.32), and Baishnab (1.16). The remaining population comprised smaller communities such as Mahili, Mal, Hajjam or Napit, Dhobi, Dom, Hari and Mihtar, Kalwar and Sunri, Kayastha and Karan, Kharwar, Ghasi, Ho, Gond, Baniya, Rajput, Shaikh, Oraon, Chamar and Muchi, Bagdi, Kewat, and Pan.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ghosh, Binoy, Paschim Banger Sanskriti, (in Bengali), part II, 1978 edition, p. 56, Prakash Bhaban
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 O'Malley, L.S.S. (1908). Bengal District Gazetteers – Bankura. The Bengal secretariat book depot. p. 166.
  3. ↑ J, Reid (1912). Final Report on the Survey and Settlement of Pargana Dhalbhum in the District of Singhbhum, 1906 to 1911. Bengal Secretariat Book Departmentôt.
  4. ↑ Commissioner, India Census (1903). Census of India, 1901: India (4 v.). Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India.

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