Bishnupur, Bankura (community development block)

From Bishnupur kingdom to the British Raj

From around 7th century AD till around the advent of British rule, for around a millennium, history of Bankura district is identical with the rise and fall of the Hindu Rajas of Bishnupur. The Bishnupur Rajas, who were at the summit of their fortunes towards the end of the 17th century, started declining in the first half of the 18th century. First, the Maharaja of Burdwan seized the Fatehpur Mahal, and then the Maratha invasions laid waste their country.

Bishnupur was ceded to the British with the rest of Burdwan chakla in 1760. In 1787, Bishnupur was united with Birbhum to form a separate administrative unit. In 1793 it was transferred to the Burdwan collectorate. In 1879, the district acquired its present shape with the thanas of Khatra and Raipur and the outpost of Simplapal being transferred from Manbhum, and the thanas of Sonamukhi, Kotulpur and Indas being retransferred from Burdwan. However, it was known for sometime as West Burdwan and in 1881 came to be known as Bankura district.

Geography

Bishnupur is located at 23°05′00″N 87°19′00″E.

Bishnupur CD Block is located in the north-eastern part of the district and belongs to the fertile low lying alluvial plains, similar to the predominating rice lands in the adjacent districts of West Bengal. Here, the eye constantly rests on wide expanses of rice fields, green in the rains but parched and dry in summer.

Bishnupur CD Block is bounded by Sonamukhi CD Block on the north, Indas and Patrasayer and Joypur CD Blocks on the east, Garhbeta I CD Block in Paschim Medinipur district, on the south and Taldangra and Onda CD Block on the west.

It is located 50 km from Bankura, the district headquarters.

Large forest areas exist in Sonamukhi, Joypur, Bishnupur, Khatra and Ranibandh areas.

Bishnupur CD Block has an area of 365.73 km². It has 1 panchayat samity, 9 gram panchayats, 113 gram sansads (village councils), 161 mouzas and 147 inhabited villages. Bishnupur police station serves this block.Headquarters of this CD Block is at Bishnupur.

Gram panchayats of Bishnupur block/ panchayat samiti are: Ajodhya, Bankadha, Belsulia, Bhora, Dwarika Gosainpur, Layekbandh, Marar, Radhanagar and Uliara.

Population

As per the 2011 Census of India Bishnupur CD Block had a total population of 156,822, all of which were rural. There were 79,941 (51%) males and 76,881 (49%) females. Population below 6 years was 19,102. Scheduled Castes numbered 55,940 (35.67%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 11,812 (7.53%).

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Bishnupur CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Chua Masina (5,726), Radhanagar (5,335), Marar (7,799), Majura (4,245) and Chak Uparsol (5,416).

Other villages in Bishnupur CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Dwarika (2,366), Dihar (815), Layek Bandh (3,325), Ajodhya (2,862), Bhara (2,970), Uliara (2,067) and Belshula (1,028).

Literacy

As per the 2011 census the total number of literates in Bishnupur CD Block was 91,309 (66.30% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 53,099 (75.51% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 38,210 (56.69%) of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 18.82%.

See also – List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate

Language and religion

Bengali is the local language in these areas.

In the 2011 census Hindus numbered 124,197 and formed 79.20% of the population in Bishnupur CD Block. Muslims numbered 27,849 and formed 17.76% of the population. Christians numbered 100 and formed 0.06% of the population. Others numbered 4,676 and formed 2.98% of the population. Others include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria, and other religious communities.

BPL families

In Bishnupur CD Block 45.21% families were living below poverty line in 2007.

Infrastructure

149 or 93% of mouzas in Bishnupur CD Block were electrified by 31 March 2014.

161 mouzas in Bishnupur CD Block had drinking water facilities in 2013-14. There were 117 fertiliser depots, 22 seed stores and 46 fair price shops in the CD Block.

Agriculture

In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Bishnupur CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 15.71%, patta (document) holders 21.77%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 4.90%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 16.61% and agricultural labourers 41.02%.

In 2003-04 net area sown Bishnupur CD Block was 16,123 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 11,904 hectares.

In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Bishnupur CD Block was 20,384 hectares, out of which 6,760 hectares was by canal water, 350 hectares by tank water, 820 hectares by river lift irrigation, 1,050 hectares by deep tube well, 11,094 hectares by shallow tubewell, 20 hectares by open dug wells and 290 hectares by other methods.

In 2013-14, Bishnupur CD Block produced 103,234 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 37,032 hectares, 358 tonnes of Aus paddy from 236 hectares, 1,707 tonnes of Boro paddy from 561 hectares, 30 tonnes of wheat from 14 hectares and 26,873,000 tonnes of potatoes from 2,005 hectares. It also produced pulses and mustard.

Handloom and pottery industries

The handloom industry engages the largest number of persons in the non farm sector and hence is important in Bankura district. The handloom industry is well established in all the CD Blocks of the district and includes the famous Baluchari saris. In 2004-05 Bishnupur CD Block had 154 silk looms in operation. In Bishnupur municipal area (outside the CD Block) there were 1,220 looms in operation.

Bankura district is famous for the artistic excellence of its pottery products that include the famous Bankura horse. The range of pottery products is categorised as follows: domestic utilities, terracota and other decorative items and roofing tiles and other heavy pottery items. Around 3,200 families were involved in pottery making in the district in 2002. 135 families were involved in Bishnupur CD Block.

Banking

In 2013-14, Bishnupur CD Block had offices of 6 commercial banks and 3 gramin banks.

Transport

In 2013-14, Bishnupur CD Block had 2 ferry services and 11 originating/ terminating bus routes.

The Kharagpur-Adra line of South Eastern Railway passes through this CD Block. There are stations at Bishnupur and Piardoba.

NH 14, (old numbering NH 60), running from Morgram to Kharagpur, passes through this CD Block. State Highway 2 (West Bengal) running from Bankura to Malancha (in North 24 Parganas district) passes through this CD Block.

Education

In 2013-14, Bishnupur CD Block had 150 primary schools, 18 middle schools, 8 high schools and 10 higher secondary schools. It also has 1 general college and 3 professional/ technical institutions. Bishnupur (municipal town) had a general college outside the CD Block.

Healthcare

In 2014, Bishnupur CD Block had 1 rural hospital and 3 primary health centre.