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{{Short description|District of West Bengal, India}}
{{Short description|District in West Bengal, India}}
{{about|a district in West Bengal|the district in Bangladesh|Dinajpur District, Bangladesh}}
{{about|a district in West Bengal|the district in Bangladesh|Dinajpur District, Bangladesh}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Uttar Dinajpur District
| name                    = Uttar Dinajpur district
| native_name              =
| other_name              =
| settlement_type          = [[List of districts of West Bengal|District]] of [[West Bengal]]
| settlement_type          = [[List of districts of West Bengal|District]] of [[West Bengal]]
| total_type              = Total
| native_name              =
| image_skyline            = {{photomontage
| image_skyline            = {{photomontage
  |photo1a = Durgapur Zamindar house at Uttar Dinajpur district 10.jpg
  |photo1a = Durgapur Zamindar house at Uttar Dinajpur district 11.jpg
  |photo1b = Mohanta Maszid at Barua village near Goyalpara under Raiganj sub-division of Uttar Dinajpur district. 07.jpg
  |photo1b = Mohanta Maszid at Barua village near Goyalpara under Raiganj sub-division of Uttar Dinajpur district. 07.jpg
  |photo2a = Pirpukur Darga at Ukilpara area of Raiganj town in Uttar Dinajpur district 22.jpg
  |photo2a = Pirpukur Darga at Ukilpara area of Raiganj town in Uttar Dinajpur district 22.jpg
  |photo2b = A flat roofed temple with five pinnacled structure on top dedicated to Pramatheshwar Mahadeb Jew at Marnai village in Uttar Dinajpur district 46.jpg
  |photo2b = A flat roofed temple with five pinnacled structure on top dedicated to Pramatheshwar Mahadeb Jew at Marnai village in Uttar Dinajpur district 46.jpg
  |photo3a = Kulik Bird Sanctuary in the Uttar Dinajpur district 07.jpg
  |photo3a = Kulik Bird Sanctuary in the Uttar Dinajpur district 07.jpg
  |size=250
  |size = 300
|foot_montage = From top-left: Durgapur Rajbari, Mohanta Masjid near Goyalpara, Pramateshwar Mahadeb Mondir, [[Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary|Kulik Bird Sanctuary]], Pirpukur Dargah in [[Raiganj]]
}}
}}
| image_caption            = From top-left: Durgapur Rajbari, Mohanta Masjid near Goyalpara, Pramateshwar Mahadeb Mondir, [[Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary|Kulik Bird Sanctuary]], Pirpukur Dargah in [[Raiganj]]
| image_map                 = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=300|frame-height=300|frame-align=center|type=shape|id=Q2019766 |stroke-colour=#C60C30|stroke-width=2|text=Interactive Map Outlining Uttar Dinajpur District}}
| image_map = Uttar Dinajpur in West Bengal (India).svg
| image_map1                = Uttar Dinajpur in West Bengal (India).svg
| image_map1                      = {{maplink |frame=yes
| mapsize                  = 300
|frame-width=225 |frame-height=225 |frame-align=center
| map_caption1              = Location of Uttar Dinajpur district in West Bengal
|text= '''Uttar Dinajpur district'''
|type=shape |id=Q2019766
|stroke-colour=#C60C30
|stroke-width=2
|title= Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal
|type2=line|id2=Q1356|stroke-width2=1|stroke-colour2=#0000ff|title2=West Bengal
}}
| map_alt                        =  
| map_caption                    = Location in West Bengal
| coordinates              = {{coord|25.62|N|88.12|E|region:IN-WB}}
| coordinates              = {{coord|25.62|N|88.12|E|region:IN-WB}}
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_name        = [[India]]
| subdivision_type1        = [[States and union territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type1        = [[States and union territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flagicon image|..West Bengal Flag(INDIA).png}} [[West Bengal]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[West Bengal]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[Administrative divisions of India|Division]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[Administrative divisions of West Bengal|Division]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Malda division|Malda]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Malda division|Malda]]
| established_title        = Established
| established_date        =
| seat_type                = Headquarters
| seat_type                = Headquarters
| seat                    = [[Raiganj]]
| seat                    = [[Raiganj]]
| parts_type              = [[Tehsils of India|Tehsils]]
| leader_title            = [[List of subdivisions of West Bengal|Subdivisions]]
| parts_style             = para
| leader_name             = [[Raiganj subdivision|Raiganj Sadar]], [[Islampur subdivision|Islampur]]
| p1                      =  
| leader_title1            = [[Community Development Block|CD Blocks]]
| area_total_km2          = 3142
| leader_name1            = [[Raiganj (community development block)|Raiganj]], [[Hemtabad (community development block)|Hemtabad]], [[Kaliaganj (community development block)|Kaliaganj]], [[Itahar (community development block)|Itahar]], [[Islampur, Uttar Dinajpur (community development block)|Islampur]], [[Chopra (community development block)|Chopra]], [[Goalpokhar I]], [[Goalpokhar II]], [[Karandighi (community development block)|Karandighi]]
| leader_title2            = [[List of constituencies of the Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha constituencies]]
| leader_name2            = [[Raiganj (Lok Sabha constituency)|Raiganj]]
| leader_title3            = [[List of constituencies of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly|Vidhan Sabha constituencies]]
| leader_name3            = [[Chopra (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Chopra]], [[Islampur, Uttar Dinajpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Islampur]], [[Goalpokhar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Goalpokhar]], [[Chakulia (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Chakulia]], [[Karandighi (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Karandighi]], [[Hemtabad (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Hemtabad]], [[Kaliaganj (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Kaliaganj]], [[Raiganj (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Raiganj]], [[Itahar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Itahar]]
| total_type              = Total
| area_total_km2          = 3140
| area_footnotes          =  
| area_footnotes          =  
| population_as_of        = 2011
| population_as_of        = 2011
| population_total        = 3,007,134,
| population_total        = 3,007,134,
| population_footnotes    =  
| population_footnotes    =  
| population_urban        =  
| population_urban        = 362,228
| population_density_km2  = 966 / sq.km
| population_density_km2  = auto
| demographics_type1      = Demographics
| demographics_type1      = Demographics
| demographics1_title1    = [[Literacy in India|Literacy]]
| demographics1_title1    = [[Literacy in India|Literacy]]
| demographics1_info1      = 59.1 %
| demographics1_info1      = 59.1 per cent
| demographics1_title2    = Sex ratio
| demographics1_title2    = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| demographics1_info2      = 939
| demographics1_info2      = 939 [[male|♂]]/[[female|♀]]
| leader_title            =  
| demographics_type2      = Languages
| leader_name              =  
| demographics2_title1    = Official
| leader_title1            = [[Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha constituencies]]
| demographics2_info1      = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]<ref name="wblangoff">{{cite web|title=Fact and Figures|url=https://wb.gov.in/portal/web/guest/facts-and-figures;jsessionid=JzdD9RHb7aMY5esZPtcsIVLy|website=Wb.gov.in|access-date=5 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=Nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|access-date=5 July 2019|page=85|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>
| leader_name1            = [[Raiganj (Lok Sabha constituency)|Raiganj]]
| demographics2_title2    = Additional&nbsp;official
| leader_title2            = [[Vidhan Sabha|Vidhan Sabha constituencies]]
| demographics2_info2      = [[English language|English]]<ref name="wblangoff"/>
| leader_name2            = [[Chopra (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Chopra]], [[Islampur, Uttar Dinajpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Islampur]], [[Goalpokhar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Goalpokhar]], [[Chakulia (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Chakulia]], [[Karandighi (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Karandighi]], [[Hemtabad (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Hemtabad]], [[Kaliaganj (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Kaliaganj]],    [[Raiganj (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Raiganj]], [[Itahar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Itahar]]
| timezone1                = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| timezone1                = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1              = +05:30
| utc_offset1              = +05:30
| registration_plate      =
| blank_name_sec1          = [[Roads in India|Major highways]]
| blank_info_sec1          = [[National Highway 27 (India)|NH 27]], [[National Highway 12 (India)|NH 12]]
| blank_name_sec2          = Poverty (2020)
| blank_info_sec2          = 28.36% below poverty line
| website                  = {{URL|http://uttardinajpur.nic.in/}}
| website                  = {{URL|http://uttardinajpur.nic.in/}}
| blank1_name_sec1        =
}}
}}
'''Uttar Dinajpur''' ({{IPA-bn|utor dinadʒpur}}) is a district of the Indian state of [[West Bengal]]. Created on 1 April 1992 by the division of the erstwhile [[West Dinajpur district]], it comprises two [[Subdivisions of India#Subdivision|subdivision]]s: [[Raiganj subdivision|Raiganj]] and [[Islampur subdivision|Islampur]].
 
'''Uttar Dinajpur''' ({{IPA|bn|utːor dinad͡ʒpur}}), also known as '''North Dinajpur''', is one of the [[List of districts of West Bengal|23 districts]] of the state of [[West Bengal]] in India. The district is the part of [[Malda division|Malda Division]]. [[Raiganj]] city is the headquarters of the district. This district bifurcated on 1 April 1992 from the erstwhile [[West Dinajpur district]].


== History ==
== History ==
Undivided Dinajpur district was part of the [[Pundravardhana|Pundra kingdom]]. The whole of Pundra was part of the Mauryan empire, and Jainism was spread in the region in the fourth century BCE. Their capital was at Pundrabardhan (now in Bangladesh), and two other ancient towns were Gourpur and Kotibarsha, now called [[Bangarh]]. Later multiple inscriptions show how the Guptas also controlled Pundra. The district was then under [[Pala Empire|Pala]] rule from 750 CE. The Senas overthrew the Palas in 1143. In 1204, [[Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji|Bakhtiyar Khilji]] defeated the Senas and had Bangarh as its capital. After his murder, it was controlled by various governors sent by the Delhi Sultan from [[Gauḍa (city)|Gauda]]. In 1586, [[Akbar]] conquered Bengal and Dinajpur was controlled by the ''sarkars'' of Tajpur and Panjara. In 1765, it fell under the rule of the East India Company and was ruled from Murshidabad. In the later part of the 18th century, the district was home to the [[Fakir-Sannyasi rebellion|Sanyasi-Fakir rebellion]] until the early 19th century. The district remained relatively peaceful all through the rest of the 1800s. In 1905, the people of Dinajpur district protested against the Partition of Bengal. They participated in the Freedom struggle by refusing to pay tax, doing hartals, and launching agitations. In 1947, Dinajpur district was split between India and Pakistan with West Dinajpur remaining with India. In 1992, West Dinajpur district was bifurcated to form Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur districts.<ref name=districtcensus/>
Undivided Dinajpur district was part of the Pundra Kingdom of ancient Bengal.<ref name="districtcensus" />The whole of Pundra was part of the Mauryan empire, and Jainism was spread in the region in the fourth century BCE.<ref name="districtcensus" /> Later multiple inscriptions show how the Guptas also controlled Pundra.<ref name="districtcensus" /> After the reign of Guptas the district was ruled by Pala Empire from 750 CE.<ref name="districtcensus" /> The Senas overthrew the Palas in the 12th century AD<ref name="districtcensus" />. In [[1586|1585]], [[Mughal emperors|Mughal Emperor]] [[Akbar]] conquered [[Bengal]] and [[Dinajpur District, Bangladesh|Dinajpur]] was controlled by the ''sarkars'' of Tajpur and Panjara.<ref name="districtcensus" /> In 1765, it fell under the rule of the East India Company and was ruled from [[Murshidabad]].<ref name="districtcensus" />In the later part of the 18th century, the district was home to the [[Fakir-Sannyasi rebellion|Sanyasi-Fakir rebellion]] until the early 19th century.<ref name="districtcensus" />The district remained relatively peaceful all through the rest of the 1800s. In 1905, the people of Dinajpur district protested against the Partition of Bengal. They participated in the Freedom struggle by refusing to pay tax, doing hartals, and launching agitations. In 1947, Dinajpur district was split between India and [[east Pakistan|Pakistan]] with West Dinajpur remaining with India. In 1992, West Dinajpur district was bifurcated to form Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur districts.<ref name=districtcensus/>
 
==Geography==
==Geography==
{{Unsourced section|date=May 2024}}
Uttar Dinajpur district lies between [[latitude]] 25°11' N to 26°49' N and [[longitude]] 87°49' E to 90°00' E occupying an area of {{cvt|3142|km2}} enclosed by [[Panchagarh District|Panchagarh]], [[Thakurgaon District|Thakurgaon]] and [[Dinajpur District (Bangladesh)|Dinajpur]] districts of [[Bangladesh]] on the east, [[Kishanganj district|Kishanganj]], [[Purnia district|Purnia]] and [[Katihar district|Katihar]] districts of [[Bihar]] on the west, [[Darjeeling district]] and [[Jalpaiguri district]] on the north and [[Malda district]] and [[Dakshin Dinajpur district]] on the south. Uttar Dinajpur is well connected with the rest of the state through National Highways, State Highways and Railways. [[National Highway 27 (India)|NH-27]] and [[National Highway 12 (India)|NH-12]] pass through the heart of the district.
Uttar Dinajpur district lies between [[latitude]] 25°11' N to 26°49' N and [[longitude]] 87°49' E to 90°00' E occupying an area of {{cvt|3142|km2}} enclosed by [[Panchagarh District|Panchagarh]], [[Thakurgaon District|Thakurgaon]] and [[Dinajpur District (Bangladesh)|Dinajpur]] districts of [[Bangladesh]] on the east, [[Kishanganj district|Kishanganj]], [[Purnia district|Purnia]] and [[Katihar district|Katihar]] districts of [[Bihar]] on the west, [[Darjeeling district]] and [[Jalpaiguri district]] on the north and [[Malda district]] and [[Dakshin Dinajpur district]] on the south. Uttar Dinajpur is well connected with the rest of the state through National Highways, State Highways and Railways. [[National Highway 27 (India)|NH-27]] and [[National Highway 12 (India)|NH-12]] pass through the heart of the district.


The regional topography is generally flat with a gentle southerly slope towards which the main rivers like [[Kulik River|Kulik]], Nagar, [[Mahananda River|Mahananda]]. The District forms a part of the basin lying between Rajmahal hills on the east. The older alluvium is estimated to be [[Pleistocene]] age. Uttar Dinajpur is bestowed with a very fertile soil. The soil is very rich in nature due to the [[alluvial]] deposition which helps to grow [[Rice|Paddy]], [[Jute]], Mesta and [[Sugarcane]] etc. Raiganj on the banks of the River Kulik is the District Headquarters where the [[Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary]], the second largest bird sanctuary in Asia, is situated. In Uttar Dinajpur district, there are two sub-divisions, [[Raiganj subdivision|Raiganj]] and [[Islampur subdivision|Islampur]], {{convert|110|km|mi|abbr=on}} apart from each other. There are four municipalities, nine blocks and 99 Panchayats covering 1577 villages.
The regional topography is generally flat with a gentle southerly slope towards which the main rivers like [[Kulik River|Kulik]], Nagar, [[Mahananda River|Mahananda]]. The District forms a part of the basin lying between Rajmahal hills on the east. The older alluvium is estimated to be [[Pleistocene]] age. Uttar Dinajpur is bestowed with a very fertile soil. The soil is very rich in nature due to the [[alluvial]] deposition which helps to grow [[Rice|Paddy]], [[Jute]], Mesta and [[Sugarcane]] etc. Raiganj on the banks of the River Kulik is the District Headquarters where the [[Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary]], the second largest bird sanctuary in Asia, is situated. In Uttar Dinajpur district, there are two sub-divisions, [[Raiganj subdivision|Raiganj]] and [[Islampur subdivision|Islampur]], {{convert|110|km|mi|abbr=on}} apart from each other. There are four municipalities, nine blocks and 99 Panchayats covering 1577 villages.


==Economy==
==Demographics==
In 2006 the [[Ministry of Panchayati Raj]] named Uttar Dinajpur one of the country's 250 [[Poverty in India|most backward districts]] (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=brgf/> It is one of the eleven districts in West Bengal currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).<ref name=brgf>{{cite web|author=Ministry of Panchayati Raj|date=8 September 2009|title=A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme|publisher=National Institute of Rural Development|url=http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf|access-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405033402/http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf|archive-date=5 April 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
{{historical populations|11=1901|12=4,01,121|13=1911|14=4,28,300|15=1921|16=3,76,366|17=1931|18=4,03,576|19=1941|20=4,51,684|21=1951|22=5,28,607|23=1961|24=7,60,199|25=1971|26=10,87,269|27=1981|28=14,15,653|29=1991|30=18,97,045|31=2001|32=24,41,794|33=2011|34=30,07,134|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901]</ref>|align=center}}
but now [[Dalkhola]] the main commercial, business town with well connected railway and roadways. increasing the economy of [[Dalkhola]] and Uttar Dinajpur District.
 
==Divisions==
 
===Sub-divisions===
Uttar Dinajpur District comprises two subdivisions:
*[[Raiganj subdivision|Raiganj Sub-Division]]
*[[Islampur subdivision|Islampur Sub-Division]]
 
===Assembly constituencies===
The district is divided into nine [[assembly constituency|assembly constituencies]]:<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S25/WB_ACPC.pdf | title = General election to the Legislative Assembly, 2001 – List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies | access-date = 2008-11-16 | work = West Bengal | publisher = Election Commission of India | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080411104739/http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S25/WB_ACPC.pdf | archive-date = 11 April 2008 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
#[[Chopra (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Chopra]] (assembly constituency no. 28),
#[[Islampur, Uttar Dinajpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Islampur]] (assembly constituency no. 29),
#[[Goalpokhar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Goalpokhar]] (assembly constituency no. 30),
#[[Karandighi (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Karandighi]] (assembly constituency no. 32),
#[[Raiganj (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Raiganj (SC)]] (assembly constituency no. 35),
#[[Kaliaganj (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Kaliaganj (SC)]] (assembly constituency no. 33),
#[[Itahar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Itahar]] (assembly constituency no. 34)
#[[Chakulia (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Chakulia]] (assembly constituency no. 31)
#[[Hemtabad (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Hemtabad]] (assembly constituency no.33 )


Raiganj and Kaliaganj constituencies are reserved for [[Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes|Scheduled Castes (SC)]] candidates. Along with five assembly constituencies from [[Darjeeling district]], Chopra and Islampur constituencies form the [[Darjeeling (Lok Sabha constituency)]]. Goalpokhar, Karandighi, Raiganj and Itahar constituencies are part of the [[Raiganj (Lok Sabha constituency)]], which also contains three assembly constituencies from [[Malda district]]. Along with six assembly constituencies from [[South Dinajpur district]], Kaliaganj forms the [[Balurghat (Lok Sabha constituency)]].
According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]] Uttar Dinajpur district has a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 3,007,134,<ref name=districtcensus>{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=District Census Handbook: Uttar Dinajpur |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/1334/download/4350/DH_2011_1904_PART_A_DCHB_UTTAR_DINAJPUR.pdf |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref> roughly equal to the nation of [[Albania]]<ref name="cia">{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison:Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070613004507/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 13 June 2007 | access-date = 1 October 2011 | quote = Albania 2,994,667 July 2011 est.}}</ref> or the US state of [[Mississippi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php|title=2010 Resident Population Data|publisher=U. S. Census Bureau|access-date=30 September 2011|quote=Mississippi 2,967,297|archive-date=27 December 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20101227010452/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 124th in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=districtcensus/> The district has a population density of {{convert| 956 |PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}} .<ref name=districtcensus/> Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001-2011 was  22.9%.<ref name=districtcensus/> Uttar Dinajpur has a [[sex ratio]] of 936 [[Women in India|females]] for every 1000 males,<ref name=districtcensus/> and a [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 59.1%. 12.05% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 26.87% and 5.41% of the population respectively.<ref name=districtcensus/><ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zc77I8CMgTYC&q=surjapuri+west+bengal&pg=PA508 |title = The Handbook of Historical Sociolinguistics|isbn = 9781118257265|last1 = Hernández-Campoy|first1 = Juan Manuel|last2 = Conde-Silvestre|first2 = Juan Camilo|date = 15 February 2012}}</ref>


====Impact of delimitation of constituencies====
===Religion===
As per order of the [[Delimitation Commission]] in respect of the [[boundary delimitation|delimitation of constituencies]] in the West Bengal, the district will be divided into nine assembly constituencies:<ref>{{cite web
{{bar box
| url = http://www.wbgov.com/e-gov/English/DELIMITATION.pdf  | title = Press Note, Delimitation Commission| access-date = 2008-11-16 | work = Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal| publisher =Delimitation Commission}}</ref>
|title=Religion in Uttar Dinajpur district (2011)<ref name="religion"/>
#[[Chopra (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Chopra]] (assembly constituency no. 28),
#[[Islampur, Uttar Dinajpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Islampur]] (assembly constituency no. 29),
#[[Goalpokhar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Goalpokhar]] (assembly constituency no. 30),
#[[Chakulia (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Chakulia]] (assembly constituency no. 31),
#[[Karandighi (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Karandighi]] (assembly constituency no. 32),
#[[Hemtabad (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Hemtabad (SC)]] (assembly constituency no. 33),
#[[Kaliaganj (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Kaliaganj (SC)]] (assembly constituency no. 34),
#[[Raiganj (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Raiganj]] (assembly constituency no. 35),
#[[Itahar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Itahar]] (assembly constituency no. 36)
 
Hemtabad and Kaliaganj constituencies will be reserved for [[Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes|Scheduled Castes (SC)]] candidates. Along with six assembly constituencies from [[Darjeeling district]], Chopra constituency will form the [[Darjeeling (Lok Sabha constituency)]]. Islampur, Goalpokhar, Chakulia, Karandighi, Hemtabad, Kaliaganj and Raiganj constituencies will form the [[Raiganj (Lok Sabha constituency)]]. Along with six assembly constituencies from [[South Dinajpur district]], Itahar will form the [[Balurghat (Lok Sabha constituency)]].
 
==Demographics==
{{historical populations|11=1901|12=4,01,121|13=1911|14=4,28,300|15=1921|16=3,76,366|17=1931|18=4,03,576|19=1941|20=4,51,684|21=1951|22=5,28,607|23=1961|24=7,60,199|25=1971|26=10,87,269|27=1981|28=14,15,653|29=1991|30=18,97,045|31=2001|32=24,41,794|33=2011|34=30,07,134|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901]</ref>|align=right}}{{bar box
|title=Religion in Uttar Dinajpur district (2011)<ref>{{cite web |title=C-1 Population By Religious Community |url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW19C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=censusindia.gov.in |access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=
|left1=
|right1=Percent
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|float=right
|width=
|width=
|bars=
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Islam|Muslims]]|#008000|49.92}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam in West Bengal|Islam]]|green|49.92}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism|Hindus]]|darkorange|49.31}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in West Bengal|Hinduism]]|darkorange|49.31}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity|Christians]]|dodgerblue|0.56}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity in West Bengal|Christianity]]|blue|0.56}}
{{bar percent|Others|black|0.21}}
{{bar percent|Others|black|0.21}}
}}
}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Religion in present-day Uttar Dinajpur district
!Religion
!Population (1941)<ref name="1941religion">{{cite web |title=CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME VI BENGAL PROVINCE |url=https://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10973/37365/GIPE-020591.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y |access-date=13 August 2022}}</ref>{{rp|88-91}}<ref name="1941religion1">{{cite web |title=CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME VII BIHAR PROVINCE |url=https://dspace.gipe.ac.in/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10973/37331/GIPE-CENSUS41004.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y}}</ref>{{rp|106}}
!Percentage (1941)
!Population (2011)<ref name="religion">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-01 Population by Religion: West Bengal |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11396/download/14509/DDW19C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>
!Percentage (2011)
|-
|[[Islam]] [[File:Star_and_Crescent.svg|15x15px]]
|266,415
|53.61%
|1,501,170
|49.92%
|-
|[[Hinduism]] [[File:Om.svg|16x16px]]
|200,051
|40.25%
|1,482,943
|49.31%
|-
|Tribal religion
|29,763
|5.99%
|1,622
|0.05%
|-
|Others{{efn|Including [[Jainism]], [[Christianity]], [[Buddhism]], [[Zoroastrianism]], [[Judaism]], [[Ad-Dharmi]]s, or not stated.}}
|740
|0.15%
|21,399
|0.72%
|-
|'''Total population'''
|'''496,969'''
|'''100%'''
|'''3,007,134'''
|'''100%'''
|}
{{Pie chart
{{Pie chart
|thumb = left
|thumb = right
|caption = Languages of Uttar Dinajpur district (2011).<ref name=m>{{cite web |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1900.XLSX |website=censusindia.gov.in |access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref><ref name=censusindia>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/Language-2011/Part-A.pdf |title=DISTRIBUTION OF THE 22 SCHEDULED LANGUAGES-INDIA/STATES/UNION TERRITORIES - 2011 CENSUS  |archive-date=29 March 2016  }}</ref>  
|caption = Languages of Uttar Dinajpur district (2011).<ref name="languages"/>  
|label1 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]] |value1 = 68.06 |color1 = orchid
|label1 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]] |value1 = 68.06 |color1 = orchid
|label2 = [[Surjapuri]] |value2 = 13.22 |color2 = mediumvioletred
|label2 = [[Surjapuri]] |value2 = 13.22 |color2 = mediumvioletred
Line 145: Line 141:
|label7 = Others |value7 = 0.62 |color7 = Grey
|label7 = Others |value7 = 0.62 |color7 = Grey
}}
}}
According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]] Uttar Dinajpur district has a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 3,007,134,<ref name=districtcensus>{{cite web | url = https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/1904_PART_B_DCHB_UTTAR%20DINAJPUR.pdf | title = District Census 2011 | access-date = 2011-09-30 | year = 2011 | publisher = censusindia.gov.in}}</ref> roughly equal to the nation of [[Albania]]<ref name="cia">{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison:Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | access-date = 2011-10-01 | quote = Albania 2,994,667 July 2011 est.
{| class="wikitable"
}}</ref> or the US state of [[Mississippi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php|title=2010 Resident Population Data|publisher=U. S. Census Bureau|access-date=2011-09-30| quote =Mississippi 2,967,297
|+Population by religion in CD blocks<ref name="religion"/>
}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 124th in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=districtcensus/> The district has a population density of {{convert| 956 |PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}} .<ref name=districtcensus/> Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001-2011 was  22.9%.<ref name=districtcensus/> Uttar Dinajpur has a [[sex ratio]] of 936 [[Women in India|females]] for every 1000 males,<ref name=districtcensus/> and a [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 59.1%. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 26.87% and 5.41% of the population respectively.<ref name=districtcensus/><ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zc77I8CMgTYC&q=surjapuri+west+bengal&pg=PA508 |title = The Handbook of Historical Sociolinguistics|isbn = 9781118257265|last1 = Hernández-Campoy|first1 = Juan Manuel|last2 = Conde-Silvestre|first2 = Juan Camilo|date = 15 February 2012}}</ref> 2,644,906 were rural and 362,228 were urban.<ref name="districtcensus" />
|-
! CD Block
! Muslim
! Hindu
! Other
|-
| [[Chopra (community development block)|Chopra ]]
| style="background:green;color:white" |62.01%
|35.92%
|2.07%
|-
| [[ Islampur, Uttar Dinajpur (community development block)| Islampur]]
| style="background:green;color:white" | 72.13%
| 27.56%
| 0.31%
|-
| [[Goalpokhar I ]]
| style="background:green;color:white" | 77.26%
| 22.35%
| 0.39%
|-
| [[ Goalpokhar II ]]
| style="background:green;color:white" | 64.14%
| 34.52%
| 1.34%
|-
| [[ Karandighi]]
| style="background:green;color:white" | 53.71%
| 45.74%
| 0.56%
|-
| [[Raiganj (community development block)|Raiganj]]
| 34.14%
| style="background:darkorange" |65.13 %
| 0.73%
|-
| [[Hemtabad]]
| style="background:green;color:white" | 50.14%
| 49.25%
| 0.61%
|-
| [[ Kaliaganj (community development block)|Kaliaganj]]
| 20.55%
| style="background:darkorange" | 79.08%
| 0.37%
|-
| [[ Itahar]]
| style="background:green;color:white" | 51.98%
| 47.43%
| 0.59%
|}
 
===Language===
According to the 2011 census, 68.06% of the population spoke [[Bengali language|Bengali]], 13.22% [[Surjapuri language|Surjapuri]], 9.48% [[Urdu]], 3.77% [[Santali language|Santali]], 3.76% [[Hindi]] and 1.03% [[Rangpuri language|Rajbongshi]] as their first language.<ref name="languages">{{Cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: West Bengal |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10226/download/13338/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1900.XLSX |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref><ref name=censusindia>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/Language-2011/Part-A.pdf |title=DISTRIBUTION OF THE 22 SCHEDULED LANGUAGES-INDIA/STATES/UNION TERRITORIES - 2011 CENSUS  }}</ref>
 
==Divisions==
 
===Sub-divisions===
Uttar Dinajpur District comprises two subdivisions:
*[[Raiganj subdivision|Raiganj Sub-Division]] and
*[[Islampur subdivision|Islampur Sub-Division]]
 
===Assembly constituencies===
As per order of the [[Delimitation Commission]] in respect of the [[Electoral boundary delimitation|delimitation of constituencies]] in the West Bengal, the district is divided into nine assembly constituencies:<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.wbgov.com/e-gov/English/DELIMITATION.pdf  | title = Press Note, Delimitation Commission| access-date = 16 November 2008 | work = Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal| publisher =Delimitation Commission}}</ref>
 
{| class="wikitable"
!No.
!Name
!Lok Sabha
!MLA
! colspan="2" |2021 Winner
! colspan="2" |2024 Lead
|-
| 28
| [[Chopra Assembly constituency|Chopra]]
|[[Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency|Darjeeling]]
|[[Hamidul Rahman]]
|{{Full party name with color|Trinamool Congress|rowspan=6}}
|{{Full party name with color|Trinamool Congress|rowspan=3}}
|-
| 29
| [[Islampur, West Bengal Assembly constituency|Islampur]]
| rowspan="7" |[[Raiganj Lok Sabha constituency|Raiganj]]
|[[Abdul Karim Chowdhury]]
|-
| 30
| [[Goalpokhar Assembly constituency|Goalpokhar]]
|[[Md. Ghulam Rabbani|Mohammad Ghulam Rabbani]]
|-
| 31
| [[Chakulia Assembly constituency|Chakulia]]
|[[Minhajul Arfin Azad]]
|{{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
|-
| 32
| [[Karandighi Assembly constituency|Karandighi]]
|[[Goutam Paul]]
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party|rowspan=4}}
|-
| 33
| [[Hemtabad Assembly constituency|Hemtabad (SC)]]
|[[Satyajit Barman]]
|-
| 34
| [[Kaliaganj Assembly constituency|Kaliaganj (SC)]]
| [[Soumen Roy]]
|{{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
|-
| 35
| [[Raiganj Assembly constituency|Raiganj]]
| [[Krishna Kalyani]]
|{{Full party name with color|Trinamool Congress|rowspan=2}}
|-
| 36
| [[Itahar Assembly constituency|Itahar]]
|[[Balurghat Lok Sabha constituency|Balurghat]]
|[[Mosaraf Hussen]]
|{{Full party name with color|Trinamool Congress}}
|}
 
Hemtabad and Kaliaganj constituencies are reserved for [[Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes|Scheduled Castes (SC)]] candidates. Along with six assembly constituencies from [[Darjeeling district]], Chopra constituency forms the [[Darjeeling (Lok Sabha constituency)]]. Islampur, Goalpokhar, Chakulia, Karandighi, Hemtabad, Kaliaganj and Raiganj constituencies forms the [[Raiganj (Lok Sabha constituency)]]. Along with six assembly constituencies from [[South Dinajpur district]], Itahar forms the [[Balurghat (Lok Sabha constituency)]].
 
=== Villages ===
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a location to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦--->
*[[Baroduary]]
*[[Bindole]]
*[[Maharaja Hat]]
 
==Economy==
In 2006 the [[Ministry of Panchayati Raj]] named Uttar Dinajpur one of the country's 250 [[Poverty in India|most backward districts]] (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=brgf/> It is one of the eleven districts in West Bengal currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).<ref name=brgf>{{cite web|author=Ministry of Panchayati Raj|date=8 September 2009|title=A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme|publisher=National Institute of Rural Development|url=http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf|access-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405033402/http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf|archive-date=5 April 2012}}</ref>
but now [[Dalkhola]] the main commercial, business town with well-connected railway and roadways, increasing the economy of [[Dalkhola]] and Uttar Dinajpur District. Other important urban regions include [[Raiganj]], [[Islampur, Uttar Dinajpur|Islampur]] and [[Kaliaganj]].
 
== Tourism ==
In 1985, Uttar Dinajpur district became home to the [[Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary]], which has an area of {{convert|1.3|km2|mi2|abbr=on|1}}.<ref name=parks>{{cite web|author=Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment|title=Protected areas: West Bengal|url=http://oldwww.wii.gov.in/envis/envis_pa_network/index.htm|access-date=25 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823163836/http://oldwww.wii.gov.in/envis/envis_pa_network/index.htm|archive-date=23 August 2011}}</ref>


[[Bengali language|Bengali]] is the main language but a sizeable number of [[Urdu]], [[Hindi]] and [[Maithili language|Maithili]] speaking people live in Islampur sub-division. It is one of the most backward districts of India educationally and economically owing to state neglect. The dialects here are spoken throughout North Bengal and are variously called Kamatpuri, Dinajpuri or Surjapuri.
Other tourist places include:
* Swaminath Temple at Swaminath
* Rajbari at Rajbari Gate
* Shiv Mandir at [[Itahar, Uttar Dinajpur|Itahar]]
* Danhasori Pithasthal at Chandigram
* Shree Shree Ma Bhabani Devi Than at Bouaha
*Shidhi binayak Mandir at, [[Maharaja Hat]]
*Bhairobi Mandir at [[Bindole]]


According to the 2011 census, 68.06% of the population spoke [[Bengali language|Bengali]], 13.22% [[Surjapuri language|Surjapuri]], 9.48% [[Urdu]], 3.77% [[Santali language|Santali]], 3.76% [[Hindi]] and 1.03% [[Rangpuri language|Rajbongshi]] as their first language.<ref name="m" /><ref name="censusindia" />
== Transport ==
Major railway stations are [[Raiganj railway station|Raiganj(RGJ)]], [[Radhikapur railway station|Radhikapur]] (RDP), [[Kaliaganj|Kaliyagunj]], [[Dalkolha]] and [[Aluabari Road Junction railway station|Aluabari Road Jn]] (Islampur). [[Dalkolha]] is most important stoppage of long-distance train.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} NH 27 and NH 12 are two National Highways in this District.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} Radhikapur-Kolkata (RDP-KOAA) Express train and Radhikapur-Howrah Kulik Express (RDP-HWH) are the two direct train for Raiganj to South Bengal Communication. Although RDP-SGUJ DEMU is the only direct train for Raiganj to North Bengal Communication. [[North Bengal State Transport Corporation|NBSTC]], [[South Bengal State Transport Corporation|SBSTC]] are transport corporations serving the area.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} Siliguri More is that point zone which connect four district zone North Dinajpur,  South Dinajpur, North Bengal and South Bengal through High Ways.


==Education==
==Education==
As of 2012, there were 3282 schools in the Uttar Dinajpur district. 3100 of these are in rural areas, and 182 urban.<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Schools in Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal|url=https://allindiafacts.com/school/west-bengal/uttar-dinajpur.html|website=All India Facts|access-date=30 January 2018}}</ref>
As of 2012, there were 3282 schools in the Uttar Dinajpur district. 3100 of these are in rural areas, and 182 urban.<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Schools in Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal|url=https://allindiafacts.com/school/west-bengal/uttar-dinajpur.html|website=All India Facts|access-date=30 January 2018}}</ref>


There is '''Raiganj University''' in Uttar Dinajpur situated at Raiganj
There is [[Raiganj University]] in Uttar Dinajpur situated at Raiganj.


Others general degree and diploma colleges are here also.
Others general degree and diploma colleges are here also.
Line 171: Line 310:
* [[Shree Agrasen Mahavidyalaya]]
* [[Shree Agrasen Mahavidyalaya]]


==Flora and fauna==
== Notable people==
In 1985 Uttar Dinajpur district became home to the [[Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary]], which has an area of {{convert|1.3|km2|mi2|abbr=on|1}}.<ref name=parks>{{cite web|author=Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment|title=Protected areas: West Bengal|url=http://oldwww.wii.gov.in/envis/envis_pa_network/index.htm|access-date=25 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823163836/http://oldwww.wii.gov.in/envis/envis_pa_network/index.htm|archive-date=23 August 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a person to this list if they already have their own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
 
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order by LAST NAME ♦♦♦--->
== Transport ==
*[[Abdul Karim Chowdhury]] - politician
Major railway stations are [[Raiganj railway station|Raiganj(RGJ)]], [[Radhikapur railway station|Radhikapur]] (RDP), [[Kaliaganj|Kaliyagunj]], [[Dalkolha]] and [[Aluabari Road Junction railway station|Aluabari Road Jn]] (Islampur). [[Dalkolha]] is most important stoppage of long-distance train.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} NH 27 and NH 12 are two National Highways in this District.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} Radhikapur-Kolkata (RDP-KOAA) Express train and Radhikapur-Howrah Kulik Express (RDP-HWH) are the two direct train for Raiganj to South Bengal Communication. Although RDP-SGUJ DEMU is the only direct train for Raiganj to North Bengal Communication. [[North Bengal State Transport Corporation|NBSTC]], [[South Bengal State Transport Corporation|SBSTC]] are transport corporations serving the area.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} Siliguri More is that point zone which connect four district zone North Dinajpur,  South Dinajpur, North Bengal and South Bengal through High Ways.
*[[Mosaraf Hussen]] - politician
 
*[[Krishna Kalyani]] - politician, industrialist
== Tourism ==
*[[Md. Ghulam Rabbani]] - politician
* [[Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary]], the largest bird sanctuary of Asia
*[[Hamidul Rahman]] - politician
* Swaminath Temple at Swaminath
*[[Soumen Roy]] - politician
* Rajbari at Rajbari Gate
*[[Tapan Deb Singha]] - politician
* Shiv Mandir at [[Itahar, Uttar Dinajpur|Itahar]]
* Danhasori Pithasthal at Chandigram
* Shree Shree Ma Bhabani Devi Than at Bouaha
*Shidhi binayak Mandir at, [[Maharaja Hat]]


== See also ==
==Notes==
* [[Bengali language movement in India|Bengali language Movement (North Dinajpur)]]
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
Line 218: Line 353:
[[Category:Uttar Dinajpur district| ]]
[[Category:Uttar Dinajpur district| ]]
[[Category:Districts of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Districts of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Minority Concentrated Districts in India]]
[[Category:Minority concentrated districts in India]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in West Bengal]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in West Bengal]]

Latest revision as of 23:36, 5 May 2026


This article is about a district in West Bengal. For the district in Bangladesh, see Dinajpur District, Bangladesh.
Uttar Dinajpur district
District of West Bengal
From top-left: Durgapur Rajbari, Mohanta Masjid near Goyalpara, Pramateshwar Mahadeb Mondir, Kulik Bird Sanctuary, Pirpukur Dargah in Raiganj
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Location of Uttar Dinajpur district in West Bengal
Coordinates: 25°37′N 88°07′E / 25.62°N 88.12°E / 25.62; 88.12
CountryIndia
StateWest Bengal
DivisionMalda
HeadquartersRaiganj
Government
 • SubdivisionsRaiganj Sadar, Islampur
 • CD BlocksRaiganj, Hemtabad, Kaliaganj, Itahar, Islampur, Chopra, Goalpokhar I, Goalpokhar II, Karandighi
 • Lok Sabha constituenciesRaiganj
 • Vidhan Sabha constituenciesChopra, Islampur, Goalpokhar, Chakulia, Karandighi, Hemtabad, Kaliaganj, Raiganj, Itahar
Area
 • Total3,140 km2 (1,210 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total3,007,134
 • Density960/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
 • Urban
362,228
Demographics
 • Literacy59.1 per cent
 • Sex ratio939 ♂/♀
Languages
 • OfficialBengali[1][2]
 • Additional officialEnglish[1]
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
Websiteuttardinajpur.nic.in

Uttar Dinajpur (bn), also known as North Dinajpur, is one of the 23 districts of the state of West Bengal in India. The district is the part of Malda Division. Raiganj city is the headquarters of the district. This district bifurcated on 1 April 1992 from the erstwhile West Dinajpur district.

History[edit | edit source]

Undivided Dinajpur district was part of the Pundra Kingdom of ancient Bengal.[3]The whole of Pundra was part of the Mauryan empire, and Jainism was spread in the region in the fourth century BCE.[3] Later multiple inscriptions show how the Guptas also controlled Pundra.[3] After the reign of Guptas the district was ruled by Pala Empire from 750 CE.[3] The Senas overthrew the Palas in the 12th century AD[3]. In 1585, Mughal Emperor Akbar conquered Bengal and Dinajpur was controlled by the sarkars of Tajpur and Panjara.[3] In 1765, it fell under the rule of the East India Company and was ruled from Murshidabad.[3]In the later part of the 18th century, the district was home to the Sanyasi-Fakir rebellion until the early 19th century.[3]The district remained relatively peaceful all through the rest of the 1800s. In 1905, the people of Dinajpur district protested against the Partition of Bengal. They participated in the Freedom struggle by refusing to pay tax, doing hartals, and launching agitations. In 1947, Dinajpur district was split between India and Pakistan with West Dinajpur remaining with India. In 1992, West Dinajpur district was bifurcated to form Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur districts.[3]

Geography[edit | edit source]

Uttar Dinajpur district lies between latitude 25°11' N to 26°49' N and longitude 87°49' E to 90°00' E occupying an area of 3,142 km2 (1,213 sq mi) enclosed by Panchagarh, Thakurgaon and Dinajpur districts of Bangladesh on the east, Kishanganj, Purnia and Katihar districts of Bihar on the west, Darjeeling district and Jalpaiguri district on the north and Malda district and Dakshin Dinajpur district on the south. Uttar Dinajpur is well connected with the rest of the state through National Highways, State Highways and Railways. NH-27 and NH-12 pass through the heart of the district.

The regional topography is generally flat with a gentle southerly slope towards which the main rivers like Kulik, Nagar, Mahananda. The District forms a part of the basin lying between Rajmahal hills on the east. The older alluvium is estimated to be Pleistocene age. Uttar Dinajpur is bestowed with a very fertile soil. The soil is very rich in nature due to the alluvial deposition which helps to grow Paddy, Jute, Mesta and Sugarcane etc. Raiganj on the banks of the River Kulik is the District Headquarters where the Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary, the second largest bird sanctuary in Asia, is situated. In Uttar Dinajpur district, there are two sub-divisions, Raiganj and Islampur, 110 km (68 mi) apart from each other. There are four municipalities, nine blocks and 99 Panchayats covering 1577 villages.

Demographics[edit | edit source]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901401,121—    
1911428,300+0.66%
1921376,366−1.28%
1931403,576+0.70%
1941451,684+1.13%
1951528,607+1.59%
1961760,199+3.70%
19711,087,269+3.64%
19811,415,653+2.67%
19911,897,045+2.97%
20012,441,794+2.56%
20113,007,134+2.10%
source:[4]

According to the 2011 census Uttar Dinajpur district has a population of 3,007,134,[3] roughly equal to the nation of Albania[5] or the US state of Mississippi.[6] This gives it a ranking of 124th in India (out of a total of 640).[3] The district has a population density of 956 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,480/sq mi) .[3] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 22.9%.[3] Uttar Dinajpur has a sex ratio of 936 females for every 1000 males,[3] and a literacy rate of 59.1%. 12.05% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 26.87% and 5.41% of the population respectively.[3][7]

Religion[edit | edit source]

Religion in Uttar Dinajpur district (2011)[8]
Percent
Islam
 
 49.92%
Hinduism
 
 49.31%
Christianity
 
 0.56%
Others
 
 0.21%
Religion in present-day Uttar Dinajpur district
Religion Population (1941)[9]:88–91[10]:106 Percentage (1941) Population (2011)[8] Percentage (2011)
Islam Error creating thumbnail: File missing 266,415 53.61% 1,501,170 49.92%
Hinduism Error creating thumbnail: File missing 200,051 40.25% 1,482,943 49.31%
Tribal religion 29,763 5.99% 1,622 0.05%
Others[lower-alpha 1] 740 0.15% 21,399 0.72%
Total population 496,969 100% 3,007,134 100%

Languages of Uttar Dinajpur district (2011).[11]

  Bengali (68.06%)
  Surjapuri (13.22%)
  Urdu (9.48%)
  Santali (3.77%)
  Hindi (3.76%)
  Rajbongshi (1.03%)
  Others (0.62%)
Population by religion in CD blocks[8]
CD Block Muslim Hindu Other
Chopra 62.01% 35.92% 2.07%
Islampur 72.13% 27.56% 0.31%
Goalpokhar I 77.26% 22.35% 0.39%
Goalpokhar II 64.14% 34.52% 1.34%
Karandighi 53.71% 45.74% 0.56%
Raiganj 34.14% 65.13 % 0.73%
Hemtabad 50.14% 49.25% 0.61%
Kaliaganj 20.55% 79.08% 0.37%
Itahar 51.98% 47.43% 0.59%

Language[edit | edit source]

According to the 2011 census, 68.06% of the population spoke Bengali, 13.22% Surjapuri, 9.48% Urdu, 3.77% Santali, 3.76% Hindi and 1.03% Rajbongshi as their first language.[11][12]

Divisions[edit | edit source]

Sub-divisions[edit | edit source]

Uttar Dinajpur District comprises two subdivisions:

Assembly constituencies[edit | edit source]

As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in the West Bengal, the district is divided into nine assembly constituencies:[13]

No. Name Lok Sabha MLA 2021 Winner 2024 Lead
28 Chopra Darjeeling Hamidul Rahman Trinamool Congress Trinamool Congress
29 Islampur Raiganj Abdul Karim Chowdhury
30 Goalpokhar Mohammad Ghulam Rabbani
31 Chakulia Minhajul Arfin Azad Indian National Congress
32 Karandighi Goutam Paul Bharatiya Janata Party
33 Hemtabad (SC) Satyajit Barman
34 Kaliaganj (SC) Soumen Roy Bharatiya Janata Party
35 Raiganj Krishna Kalyani Trinamool Congress
36 Itahar Balurghat Mosaraf Hussen Trinamool Congress

Hemtabad and Kaliaganj constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates. Along with six assembly constituencies from Darjeeling district, Chopra constituency forms the Darjeeling (Lok Sabha constituency). Islampur, Goalpokhar, Chakulia, Karandighi, Hemtabad, Kaliaganj and Raiganj constituencies forms the Raiganj (Lok Sabha constituency). Along with six assembly constituencies from South Dinajpur district, Itahar forms the Balurghat (Lok Sabha constituency).

Villages[edit | edit source]

Economy[edit | edit source]

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Uttar Dinajpur one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[14] It is one of the eleven districts in West Bengal currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[14] but now Dalkhola the main commercial, business town with well-connected railway and roadways, increasing the economy of Dalkhola and Uttar Dinajpur District. Other important urban regions include Raiganj, Islampur and Kaliaganj.

Tourism[edit | edit source]

In 1985, Uttar Dinajpur district became home to the Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 1.3 km2 (0.5 sq mi).[15]

Other tourist places include:

  • Swaminath Temple at Swaminath
  • Rajbari at Rajbari Gate
  • Shiv Mandir at Itahar
  • Danhasori Pithasthal at Chandigram
  • Shree Shree Ma Bhabani Devi Than at Bouaha
  • Shidhi binayak Mandir at, Maharaja Hat
  • Bhairobi Mandir at Bindole

Transport[edit | edit source]

Major railway stations are Raiganj(RGJ), Radhikapur (RDP), Kaliyagunj, Dalkolha and Aluabari Road Jn (Islampur). Dalkolha is most important stoppage of long-distance train.[citation needed] NH 27 and NH 12 are two National Highways in this District.[citation needed] Radhikapur-Kolkata (RDP-KOAA) Express train and Radhikapur-Howrah Kulik Express (RDP-HWH) are the two direct train for Raiganj to South Bengal Communication. Although RDP-SGUJ DEMU is the only direct train for Raiganj to North Bengal Communication. NBSTC, SBSTC are transport corporations serving the area.[citation needed] Siliguri More is that point zone which connect four district zone North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, North Bengal and South Bengal through High Ways.

Education[edit | edit source]

As of 2012, there were 3282 schools in the Uttar Dinajpur district. 3100 of these are in rural areas, and 182 urban.[16]

There is Raiganj University in Uttar Dinajpur situated at Raiganj.

Others general degree and diploma colleges are here also.

Some notable colleges such as:

Notable people[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Including Jainism, Christianity, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Ad-Dharmis, or not stated.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Fact and Figures". Wb.gov.in. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  2. ↑ "52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India" (PDF). Nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. p. 85. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 "District Census Handbook: Uttar Dinajpur" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  4. ↑ Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  5. ↑ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2011. Albania 2,994,667 July 2011 est.
  6. ↑ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 30 September 2011. Mississippi 2,967,297{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ↑ Hernández-Campoy, Juan Manuel; Conde-Silvestre, Juan Camilo (15 February 2012). The Handbook of Historical Sociolinguistics. ISBN 9781118257265.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Table C-01 Population by Religion: West Bengal". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  9. ↑ "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME VI BENGAL PROVINCE" (PDF). Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  10. ↑ "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME VII BIHAR PROVINCE" (PDF).
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: West Bengal". www.censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  12. ↑ "DISTRIBUTION OF THE 22 SCHEDULED LANGUAGES-INDIA/STATES/UNION TERRITORIES - 2011 CENSUS" (PDF).
  13. ↑ "Press Note, Delimitation Commission" (PDF). Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal. Delimitation Commission. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Ministry of Panchayati Raj (8 September 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  15. ↑ Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment. "Protected areas: West Bengal". Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  16. ↑ "List of Schools in Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal". All India Facts. Retrieved 30 January 2018.

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:Dalkhola topics

Template:Minority Concentrated Districts in India 25°37′N 88°07′E / 25.62°N 88.12°E / 25.62; 88.12

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