Birbhum district General information
Birbhum district is an administrative unit in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the northernmost district of Burdwan division—one of the three administrative divisions of West Bengal. The district headquarters is located at Suri.The state of Jharkhand lies at the western border of this district, whereas the border on other directions is covered by the districts of Bardhaman and Murshidabad of West Bengal.
History
At the dawn of the history, part of the district as now constituted appears to have been included in the tract of the country known as "Rarh" and part in the tract called "Vajjabhumi ". The traditions of the Jainas state that Mahavira, their last great Tirthankara, wandered through these two tracts in the 5th Century, B.C.; and the description of them would seem to show that the eastern part of the district , with its alluvial soil, well watered by rivers, formed part of Rarh, while the wilder and more rugged country to the west was aptly known as Vajjabhumi, i.e., the country of Thunderbolt.
Rarh was part of the territory ruled over by the Maurayan Emperors, and was subsequently included in the empire of the imperial Guptas, of Shasankas and of Harshavardhana. After dismemberment of Harsha's Empire , it was included in the Pala kingdom and formed a part of it until middle of 12th Century A.D. when the overlordship passes to the Sena kings.
In the 13th Century A.D. the district passed under the rule of the Muhammedans, and according to some authorities, Lakhanor (or Lakhnur ), an important frontier post of Musalman territory, lay within its limits. After this, for many centuries the controls of the Mohammedans over the Western part of the district appears to have been merely nominal, and the country was left under the rule of Hindu chiefs, called Bir Rajas.
After the cession of the Diwani to the East India Company in 1765, Birbhum was administered from Murshidabad until 1787. In that year in consequence of the unsettled state of the country, which required a separate administration, it was constituted as district with Vishnupur ( i.e. eastern portion of Bankura), and this arrangement continued till 1793, when Vishnupur was transferred to the Burdwan Collectorate. In 1809, the collectorship of Birbhum was abolished, and the district was again administered from Murshidabad, an Assistant Collector remaining in charge at Suri. In 1820, Birbhum was reconstituted as a separate district and restored to its former area, with the exception of a few estates were transferred to the Jungle Mahals. After the Santhal rebellion, the upland tracts on the West, which had been a rallying point of the rebels, were transferred to the newly constituted district of Santhal Paraganas and in this way four paraganas and a part of the fifth were detached from Birbhum, viz., Sarath Deoghar, Pabbia , Kundahit Karaya, Muhmmadabad and part of Darin Mauleswar. In 1872 the district consisted of the following thanas (1) Suri, (2) Rajnagar, (3) Dubrajpur, (4) Kasba (now Bolpur), (5) Sakulipur, (6) Labpur, (7)Barwan, (8) Mayureswar with a total area of 1,344 square miles. In 1879 Barwan with an area of 108 sq. miles was transferred to Murshidabad, while the thanas of Rampurhat and Nalhati ( including the present thana of Murarai) were transferred from Lalgunj subdivision of that district to Birbhum.
Area and Location
Birbhum is the northernmost District of the Burdwan Division. It lies between 23° 32' 30" and 24° 35' 0" north latitude and 88° 1' 40" and 87° 5' 25" east longitude. In shape it looks like an isosceles triangles. The apex is situated at the northern extremity not far south of point where the Ganges and the hills of the Santhal Paraganas begin to diverge while the river Ajay forms the base of this triangle. Birbhum is bounded on the north and west by Santhal Paraganas, on the east by the districts of Murshidabad and Burdwan and on the south by Burdwan, from which it is separated by the Ajay river. The district extends over an area of 4545 Sq. Kms.
Rivers
The district is well drained by a number of rivers and rivulets running in nearly every case from west to east with a slight southerly inclination. Only two are rivers of any magnitude , viz., the Mor and the Ajay, the latter of which marks the southern boundary, while the Mor runs through Birbhum from West to East. Both rivers are of considerable size when they enter the district, their width varying according to the configuration of the country, from two hundred yards to half a mile. The Ajay first touches the district at its south-west corner, and follows a winding course in an easterly direction, till it enters Burdwan at the extreme south-eastern angle of Birbhum, eventually falling into Bhagirathi near Katwa. The Mor enters Birbhum from the Santhal Paraganas near the village of Haripur and flows through the centre of the district from west to east, passing two miles north of Suri and forming the southern boundary of the Rampurhat Sub-division. It leaves the district a little east of Gunutia and joins Dwarka which itself is a tributary of the Bhagirathi. The Mor is also widely known as Mayurakshi meaning "the peacock eyed", i.e. having water as lustrous as the eye of the peacock. Between the Mor and Ajay there are a few large streams coming from beyond the western boundary, of which the Hinglo is the most important. It enters the District from the Santhal Paraganas some eight miles north of Ajay, flows through Dubrajpur thana, and gradually approaches that river, unites with it at Chapla, after a course in Birbhum of about 15 miles. Another river is the Bakreswar, which rises at hot spring of same name near Tantipara, some ten miles west of Suri, and after following a zigzag course eastward, and receiving one by one the waters of almost all the rivulets, joins the Mor a few miles beyond the eastern boundary of the district. Other important rivers of the district includes the Brahmani, the Bansloi, the Pagla, the Kopai or Sal.
Climate
The climate of the district is generally dry, mild and healthy. The hot weather usually last from the middle of March to the middle of the June, the rainy season from the middle of June to the middle of October, and the cold weather from middle of October to the middle of March. They do not always correspond to these limit. As a rule, the wind is from south-east in Summer and from the north-west in winter.
Flora
The eastern portion of the district is a continuation of the rice plain of West Bengal, and the vegetation is characteristics of rice fields in Bengal generally, species of Aponogeton, Utricularia, Drosera, Dopatrium, Ilysanthes, Hydrolea, Sphenoclea and similar aquatic or palustrine genera being abundant. In the drier undulating country to the west the characteristic shrubs and herbs include species of Wendlandia, Evolvulus, Stipa, Tragus, Perotis, Spermacoce, Zizyphus , Capparis and other similar plants affecting a laterite soil. Trees like mango , palm, bamboo are frequently found. Other abundant species are jack, arjun, sal, piar, dhau, kend and mahua.
Fauna
The carnivores of the district included leopards, bears, wolves and other small species. With the growth of population and settlements, leopards and bears have vanished over time. Wild pigs and wolves may be found in small tracts jungle of Chinpai, Bandarsol and Charicha. Wild elephants from nearby Santhal Paraganas (now Jharkhand) migrate into the district in search of food and sometime in attraction of Mahua flower. Apart from these long tailed apes, called Hanuman are commonly found. They often damage growing crops in the villages. The birds commonly found in the district include partridges, green pigeons, and various water fouls. But their number have dwindled considerably due to reckless hunting. Few migratory birds are also found near Bolpur. Common birds of deltaic Bengal are mixed up in this district with birds of wooded hill, doyel, indian robin, drongo, hawk cuckoo, koel, sun bird, Indian roller ( nilkantha ), parrot and babblers are found in abundance. The major verities of fish include rui, katla are found in rivers. Tanks, which are numerous in the district are stocked with rui, katla, mrigel, magur and koi.
Education
According to the 2001 census Birbhum district had a literacy rate of 62.16%, 71.57% among males and 52.21% among females. In 1951 census, the literacy rate was 17.74%. It increased to 48.56% in 1991.
Tourist Place
Santiniketan
Santiniketan has the distinct identity of culture and heritage, which gives the place a unique soft touch. This is a preferred tourist destination developed as a part of the popular religious-cultural tourist circuit of the region viz. Santiniketan-Bakreswar-Tarapith.
The place was originally selected by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore to practice religious mediations. Rabindranath started an experimental school known as ‘Brahmacharya Ashrama’ here with an objective to educate the student in close liaison with nature in the style of ‘Tapovana’ of ancient India. Later an international university named Visva-Bharati came up as a center of Indian culture and the meeting place of the East and the West.
Rabindranath was great lover of nature. He planted trees in and around the Ashrama and gave it a green look. He introduced several festival to celebrate seasons, to commemorate great name and these were free from any religious narrowness.
Tarapith
Tarapith, a holy religious place, is situated in a village Tarapur under Rampurhat Police Station of Rampurhat Sub-Division in the district of Birbhum.
It is said to be so called because the eye ball (tara) of Sati fell here. Others say that Tarapith is not a pith but the place owes its sanctity to the fact that the Sage Basistha here worshipped the Goddes Sati in the form of Tara. The common local opinion is that it is really a Pith and Basistha selected this place for worshipping Sati because it was a pith.
It is visited everyday by a good number of devotees. Here pilgrims constitute a vast chunk of domestic tourists.
Bakreshwar
Village Bakreswar in Suri Sub-division is situated 18 kms South West of Suri, the district headquarter of Birbhum. The place is renowned for "HOT-SPRING" and has historical importance as holy place for the existence of " SHIVA LINGAM ". There are a number of hot springs with cold springs in close proximity to them. They all discharge in to a rivulet which run past and join a small stream about 200 yards from the temple. The hot springs at Bakreswar are reputed to cure numerous chronic ailments.
A big Mela is held every year on the day of Shiva-Ratri.
Kankalitala
It is one of the fifty two pithas or sacred where a part of the dismembered body of Sati fell. In this case the waist (Kankal), hence the name.
Labpur
It is one of the 52 Pithas or sacred place where Sati's dead-body fell. Famous for temple of Goddess Fullora and lake named Daldali.
Nanoor
Famous for birth place of Chandidas, a famous lyric poet of 14th century.
Joydev-Kenduli
It is renowned as the birth place of great Sanskrit poet Joydev who flourished in 12th Century and composed the well known Geet - Govinda, a Sanskrit Lyrical poem. Annual- Mela is held in the village Kenduli in the last day of Bengali month Pous and first 2 days of Magh and is attended by thousands of pilgrims including Bauls. The word ‘Baul’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Batul’ which means ‘mad’. Baul philosophy emphasises love for all human beings as the path leading to divine love.
Dubrajpur
A small township which contains a number of Shiva temple. Numbers of gigantic rocks are found in the vicinity. The granite is gray and composed of glassy quartz pink, gray feldspar and black mica. Two remarkable of these rocks are known as Mama & Bhagne (Uncle & Nephew).
Nalhati
It is famous for Nalateswari Temple. It is so called because Nala or throat of Sati fell here as known by tradition. Another report says that it was a Lalat or forehead that fell here. It is regarded as a Pithas i.e. one of the 52 places where parts of Sati's body fell. It is located on a small & beautiful hill.
Patharchapuri
It is precedence of a Mohammedan Saint named Shah Meheboob but commonly known as "Data-Saheb" who is reported to have died in 1299 B.S. corresponding to 1892 A.D. It is said that he was gifted to miraculous power and used to cure dangerous diseases by applying ashes of dust. His tomb in the village is frequented by many visitors. A large Mela, perhaps the largest in the region is held in Patharchapuri village in the month of Chaitra every year to commemorating the death anniversary of Data Saheb. Lakhs of pilgrims assembled during the occasions.
Rajnagar
Famous for artificial tank Kalidaha. It is said to have been excavated by Hindu Rajas and dedicated to Goddess Kali. On three sides on Kalidaha tank there are the wings of the former palaces of Mohamedan Rajas of Nagar. In front of the ruins of the Imambara stands a fine mosque in a state of good preservation, which is still used by local Mohemadan. A little to the south are the ruins of another old mosque called the Motichur Masjid which had 12 Tombs but some fell down. Other wings may be mentioned are Nahabatkhana of the Bir Rajas, the Full-bagan, Burial place of the Mohamedan Rajas.
Hetampur
It was formerly within the Zamindary of the Raja Bahadur of Hetampur. It is famous for Rajbari, a historical heritage. Hetampur has a number of good tanks surrounded by tall palm trees.