Purba Bardhaman district is in the Indian state of West Bengal. Its headquarters is in Bardhaman. It was formed on 7 April 2017 after the division of the previous Bardhaman district.
Etymology Some historians link the name of the district to the 24th and last Jain tirthankara, Mahavira Vardhamana, who came to preach in the area. Alternatively, Bardhamana means a prosperous and growing area. It was a forward frontier zone in the progress of Aryanisation by the people in the Upper Gangetic valley. Purba means east.
History
The district is recorded in the early 20th century British chronicles as 'the richest tract in Bengal and the area of its oldest and most settled cultivation'. Archaeological excavations at Pandu Rajar Dhibi have indicated settlements in the Ajay valley in the Mesolithic age, around 5,000 BC. In early historical times Bardhamanbhukti, a part of the Rarh region, was ruled successively by the Magadhas, Mauryas, Kushanas and Guptas. In the 7th century AD, when Shashanka was king, the area was part of the Gauda Kingdom. It was subsequently ruled by the Palas and Senas.
Bakhtiyar Khilji captured it in 1199 AD. The early Muslim rulers ruled over major parts of Bengal from Gauda or Lakhnauti. In Ain-i-Akbari, Bardhaman is mentioned as a mahal or pargana of Sarcar Sharifabad. Some western parts of Bardhaman formed Gopbhum, ruled for many centuries by the Sadgop kings. There are remains of a fort at Amrargar.
In 1689, Raja Krishnaram Roy, of the Bardhaman Raj family, obtained from Aurangzeb a (royal decree) which made him the zamindar (landlord) of Bardhaman, and since then the Raj family's history became identical with that of the district. After the death of Aurangzeb, the Mughal Empire became weak and Murshid Quli Khan became the Nawab of Bengal, owning only nominal allegiance to the Mughal emperor. At that time Bardhaman was referred to as a , a change from the earlier pargana. Subsequently, during the reign of Alivardi Khan, the Bargis attacked and plundered Bardhaman.
After the victory of the British in the Battle of Plassey in 1757, Bardhaman, Medinipur and Chittagong were ceded to the East India Company. In 1857, the British Crown took over the administration of the country from the East India Company.
In 1765, when East India Company acquired the diwani of Bardhaman, it was composed of Bardhaman, Bankura, Hooghly and a third of Birbhum. Hooghly was separated in 1820, Bankura and Birbhum in 1837.Chattopadhyay, Akkori, Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti (History and Folk lore of Bardhaman District.), , Vol I, pp 367-370, Radical Impression.
In 1765, Tilakchand Ray, as the zamindar of Bardhaman, controlled 75 parganas and also looked after the law and order. At the time of the Permanent Settlement of Lord Cornwallis in 1793, the were reduced in size, in order to make them more manageable, and districts were created. Six subdivisions were created in Bardhaman district – Bud Bud in 1846, Katwa, Raniganj, Jahanabad (later named Arambagh), Bardhaman Sadar in 1847 and Kalna in 1850. The parganas were converted to thanas (police stations). At that time Bardhaman district had 22 . Later, Jahanabad was transferred out of Bardhaman. Some minor changes continued.
The Permanent Settlement ultimately led to the dismemberment of the Bardhaman estate. As the rajas often failed to pay the rent demands, some parts of the estate were auctioned off. However, there were bright spots. Mahatabchand was appointed additional member of the Viceroy's Executive Council and in 1877 was allowed to use the title of His Highness before his name. Bijoy Chand Mahatab was conferred the title of Maharajadhiraj by Lord Minto in 1908. Uday Chand Mahtab took over in 1941 and served till abolition of the zamindary system in 1954, after independence of the country.Chattopadhyay, Akkori, Vol I, pp 345-365
Bardhaman district was bifurcated into two districts, Purba Bardhaman and Paschim Bardhman, on 7 April 2017.
Geography Overview Purba Bardhaman district is a flat alluvial plain area that can be divided into four prominent topographical regions. On the north, the Kanksa Ketugram Plain lies along the Ajay, which joins the Bhagirathi. The Bardhaman Plain occupies the central area of the district, with the Damodar on the south and the south-east. On the southern part is the Khandaghosh Plain. The Bhagirathi flows along the eastern boundary of the district, and the Bhagirathi Basin occupies the eastern part of the district. The undulating laterite topography of Paschim Bardhaman district extends up to Ausgram area of this district.Chattopadhyay, Akkori, Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti (History and Folk lore of Bardhaman District.), , Vol I, p18,28, Radical Impression.
Climate Purba Bardhaman district has a tropical climate - hot and humid. While the hottest month is May, the coldest is January. The monsoon season is from June to September, with an annual average rainfall of 1,400 mm, 75% of it falling in the monsoon months. Localised thunderstorms, called kalbaisakhi in Bengali, are a special feature from March until the monsoon sets in.
Administrative divisions Purba Bardhaman district is divided into the following administrative subdivisions:
Subdivision HeadquartersAreakm2 Population(2011) RuralPopulation %(2011)Urban Population % (2011)Bardhaman Sadar NorthBardhaman1,958.431,586,62373.5826.42Bardhaman Sadar SouthBardhaman1,410.031,198,15595.544.46KatwaKatwa1,070.48963,02288.4411.56KalnaKalna993.751,097,73287.0013.00Purba Bardhaman districtBardhaman5,432.694,835,53284.9815.02
The district comprises four subdivisions: Kalna subdivision consists of one municipality at Kalna and five CD blocks: Kalna I, Kalna II, Manteswar, Purbasthali I and Purbasthali II. Katwa subdivision consists of two municipalities at Katwa and Dainhat and five CD blocks: Katwa I, Katwa II, Ketugram I, Ketugram II and Mongakote. Bardhaman Sadar North subdivision consists of two municipalities at Bardhaman and Guskara and seven CD blocks: Ausgram I, Ausgram II, Bhatar, Burdwan I, Burdwan II, Galsi I and Galsi II.
Bardhaman Sadar South subdivision consists of one municipality at Memari and six CD blocks: Khandaghosh, Jamalpur, Memari I, Memari II, Raina I and Raina II.
Demographics As per the 2011 Census of India data, recast after bifurcation of Bardhaman district in 2017, Purba Bardhaman district had a total population of 4,835,532. There were 2,469,310 (51%) males and 2,366,222 (49%) females. Population below 6 years was 509,855. 726,345 (15.02%) live in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 1,487,151 (30.75%) and 327,501 (6.77%) of the population respectively.
As per the 2011 census data, recast after bifurcation of Bardhaman district in 2017, the total number of literates in Purba Bardhaman district was 3,232,452 (74.73% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 1,781,090 (80.60% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 1,453,362 (68.66% of the female population over 6 years).
Religion
+ Religion in present-day Purba Bardhaman district (1941) Religion Population (1941) Percentage (1941)Population (2011)Percentage (2011) Hinduism 922,29071.77%3,566,06873.75% Islam 277,57321.60%1,215,73725.14% Tribal religion 84,4936.58% 32,396 0.67% Others 6870.05%21,3310.44% Total Population 1,285,043 4,835,532100% Hinduism is the majority religion, while Islam is the second-largest religion. The many zamindars of Bardhaman, largely Hindus, built many family temples which dot the landscape. Most of the tribals follow Hinduism but with the flavour of their tribal religion.
Islam is more concentrated in rural areas, and makes up a significant minority in Ketugram I (46.77%) and Manteswar (41.77%) CD blocks.
Languages
According to the 2011 census, 92.86% of the population in what is now Purba Bardhaman district spoke Bengali, 5.03% Santali and 1.66% Hindi as their first language.
Flora The flora of Purba Bardhaman district is composed mostly of woody plants. Amongst the flora are: Simul (Salmalia malabarica), neem (Azadirachta indica, amlaki (Phyllanthus emblica), Indian ash tree (Lannea coromandelica), coconut, date palm, tal (Palmyra palm / Borassus flabellifer), bat (banyan/ Ficus benghalensis), asvattha (pipal/ Ficus religiosa), palash (Butea monosperma), krishnachuda (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) and am (mango/ mangifera indica). There are some shrubby plants: ashsheoda (orangeberry/ Glycosmis pentaphylla, (onion), rasun (garlic), rajanigandha (tube rose/Agave amica), gulancha (Tinospora cordifolia), tulsi (basil/ Ocimum tenuiflorum) etc.
The common aquatic or marsh weeds found in jheels (lakes) and swamps of the eastern part of the district (in the Bhagirathi Basin) are: bena (andropogon squarrosos), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), padma (nelumbo nucifera), hogla (Typha domingensis) etc.
Fauna The mammals of the district include wolf and golden jackal whilst wild boar and monkeys (including hanuman) are seen frequently. Poisonous snakes such as Indian cobra, common krait and Russell's viper, as well as dhamnas and harmless grass snakes are very common. The common avifauna of the district include red-vented bulbul, bluethroat, Indian robin and common myna. Other bird species include fowls, crows, munia, sparrow, cuckoo, Asian koel, parakeet, woodpecker, kingfisher, owl, vulture, eagle, kite, hawk, stork, duck, pigeon, falcon and heron. The low lying swampy areas are home to migratory birds in winter.
The principal varieties fish caught are rohu, mrigala, catla, (reba), (bata), shrimp (smaller variety of prawn), (large variety of prawn), , and .
Rural poverty According to the District Human Development Report, Bardhaman, "The legendary prosperity of Bardhaman in history has to be taken as that of the ruling class – the rich, the royals and their assistants." It is only in the relatively recent past that the focus has shifted to the toiling masses.
As per the rural household survey conducted by the state government in 2005, the percentage of rural households living below poverty line in the old Bardhaman district was 33.49%. Using the same data the percentage of households living below poverty line in Purba Bardhaman district is 37.14%.
Economy Agriculture Purba Bardhaman is an agriculturally prosperous district of West Bengal. The soil and climate of the district favour the production of food grains. The undivided Bardhaman district was the largest producer of rice in West Bengal, and bulk of it was produced in what is now Purba Bardhaman district. Rice, the major crop has three varieties – Aus (in autumn), Aman (in winter) and Boro (in summer). Other than cereals and pulses, cash crops such as mustard, til, jute and potatoes are also grown.
The year 1953 was a major turning point for agriculture in the district. Prior to 1953, cultivation was largely monsoon-dependent. In 1953, the irrigation projects of Damodar Valley Corporation were implemented. Irrigation and intensive cropping pattern provided the real momentum to agriculture. The undivided Bardhaman district topped the state with maximum irrigated land. The district utilises both surface water and groundwater for irrigation. In 2003–2004, 27.07% of the gross cropped area was under irrigation. 65.51% of the reported area was net sown area.
Operation Barga provided tenurial security and increased the share of produce in favour of the tenants. In the 1980s agricultural production reflected robust growth rates against stagnation in the previous decades. Horticulture, pisciculture, dairy etc. have successfully emerged as economically rewarding viable options for diversifying.
Industry and crafts