North 24 Parganas district

Ancient history

According to Ptolemy's Treatise on geography, written in the 2nd Century A.D., the ancient land of Gangaridi was stretched between the rivers Bhagirathi-Hoogly (lower Ganges) and Padma-Meghna. The modern-day 24 Parganas was the southern and the south-eastern territory of that legendary kingdom.

Archaeological excavation at Berachampa village in Deganga PS proves that though the area was not directly attached to the rule of the Guptas, yet it could not shun their cultural influence. Xuanzang (c. 629-685) visited 30 Buddhist Biharas and 100 Hindu Temples in India and some of these were in the Greater 24 Parganas region.

The district was not a part of Shashanka's unified Bengali empire known as Gauda, but it is assumed that the district which was the south-west frontier territory of ancient Bengal, was comprised in under the rule of Dharmapala (estimated c. 770-810). The Pala rule was not quite strong in this part, as no excavation uncovered any of Buddhist Pala antiquities but many Hindu Sena sculptures.

Middle Ages

In the middle of the 16th century, Portuguese pirates began to invade and plunder many of the waterways and prosperous human settlements in the lower delta region. People left these places out of the fear of being murdered, raped, or captured to be sold as slaves. The Basirhat sub-division of North 24 Parganas suffered most from these torments.

Shrihari (Shridhar), a Kayastha, was an influential officer in the service of Daud Khan Karrani. On the fall of Daud he fled away with the government treasure in his custody. He then set up a kingdom for himself in the marshy land to the extreme south of Khulna district (1574) and assumed the title of Maharaja. Pratapaditya succeeded to the kingship in 1574. The baharistan and the travel diary of Abdul Latif and the contemporary European writers, all testify to the personal ability of Pratapaditya, his political pre-eminence, material resources. His territories covered the greater part of what is now included in the greater Jessore, Khulna and Barisal districts. He established his capital at Dhumghat, a strategic position at the confluence of the Jamuna and Ichhamati before it was shifted to Ishwaripur.

Maharaja Pratapaditya, soon became one of the 12 feudal lords of Bengal who not only declared their sovereignty from the Mughal Empire in the ruling of Jessore, Khulna, Barisal and Greater 24 Parganas, but also fought and resisted the Portuguese in the early years of the 17th Century. When he was finally defeated by the Mughals. Pratapaditya lost both the battles of Salka and Magrahat. His fate was sealed and he was compelled to tender submission to Islam Khan at Dhaka. His kingdom was annexed. Probably he died at Benares on his way to Delhi from Dhaka, as a prisoner. of war to the Mughals.

After his death, Bhavanand Majumdar, who had been in the service of Pratapaditya, was given the throne by Raja Man Singh, and he later became the founder of the Nadiya Raj family. Laksmikanta Gangopadhyay better known as Laksmikanta Roy Choudhury, the well known Brahmin scholar who was the son of great saint Kamdev Brahmachari and also a close associate of Raja Basanta Ray, was given tax free jaigir of eight parganas, including the areas in and around Kalikatah as Gurudakshina by Raja Man Singh in 1608.

Jashoreshwari Kali Temple (built by Pratapaditya), Chanda Bhairab Mandir at Ishwaripur (built during the Sena period), Five domed Tenga Mosque at Banshipur (Mughal period), two big and four small domed Hammankhana (constructed by Pratapaditya) at Bangshipur, Govinda Dev Temple at Gopalpur (built by Basanta Roy, uncle of Maharaja Pratapaditya in 1593), Jahajghata Port (Khanpur), Kalighat Temple (owned by Laksmikanta Roy Choudhury) bear archaeological evidences of the Bhuiyan and Majumdar kings.

British Raj

The territory of Greater 24 Parganas were under the Satgaon (ancient Saptagram, now in Hoogly district) administration during the Mughal era and later it was included in Hoogly chakla (district under post-Mughal Nawabi rule) during the rule of Murshid Quli Khan. In 1757, after the Battle of Plassey, Nawab Mir Jafar conferred the Zamindari of 24 parganas and janglimahals (small administrative units) upon the British East India Company. These were Amirpur, Akbarpur, Balia, Birati, Azimabad, Basandhari, Baridhati, Bagjola, Kalikata, Garh, Hatiagarh, Islampur, Dakshin Sagar, Kharijuri, Khaspur, Ikhtiarpur, Magura, Medanmalla, Maida, Manpur, Barasat, Muragachha, Pechakuli, Paikan, Rajarhat, Shahpur, Shahnagar, Satal, New Barrackpore [Aharampur] and Uttar Pargana. Since then, this entire territory is known as Twentyfour Parganas.

In 1751, the Company assigned John Zephaniah Holwell as zemindar of the District. In 1759, after the Bengali War of 1756-57, the Company assigned it to Lord Clive as a personal Jaghir (zamindari) and after his death it again came under the direct authority of the Company.

In 1793, during the rule of Lord Cornwallis, entire Sunderbans were in Twentyfour Parganas. In 1802, some parganas on the western banks of river Hoogly were included into it. These parganas were in Nadia earlier. In 1814, a separate collectorate was established in Twenty-four Parganas. In 1817, Falta and Baranagar and in 1820, some potions of Nadia’s Balanda and Anwarpur were encompassed to it. In 1824, portions of Barasat, Khulna and Bakhargunge (now in Bangladesh) were also included to it. In 1824, the district headquarters was shifted from Kolkata to Baruipur, but in 1828, it was removed to Alipore. In 1834, the district was split into two districts – Alipore and Barasat, but later these were united again.

In 1905, some portion of this district around the Sunderbans was detached and linked to Khulna and Barishal. These parts remained in Pakistan (later Bangladesh territories where Jessore’s Bangaon was joined to Twentyfour Pargana after the 1947 partition.

After Independence

In 1983, an administrative reform committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Ashok Mitra suggested to split the district into two and as per the recommendation of the committee in 1986, 1 March two districts – North 24 Parganas (24 PGS N) and South 24 Parganas (24 PGS S) were created. The North 24 Parganas which was included to the Presidency Division has been formed with 5 sub-divisions of the Greater 24 Parganas namely Barasat (Headquarters), Barrackpore, Basirhat, Bangaon and Bidhannagar (a satellite township of Kolkata, popularly known as Salt Lake).

Geography

The district lies within the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta. The river Ganges flows along the entire west border of the district. There are many other rivers, which include the Ichhamati, Jamuna, and Bidyadhari.

Location

Latitude: 23°15'North - 22°11' North
Longitude: 89°5'East - 88°20' East

Land

The type of soil varies widely from alluvial to clay loam.

Groundwater Arsenic Contamination

North 24 Parganas is one of the nine severely Arsenic affected district in West Bengal. On the basis of updated survey conducted by School of Environmental Studies (SOES), Jadavpur University, out of total 22 administrative blocks in 22, 21 and 16 blocks arsenic above the 10 μg/L (WHO Recommended value of arsenic in drinking water), 50 μg/L (Indian standard value of arsenic in drinking water) and 300 μg/L (the concentration predicting overt arsenical skin lesions) was noted respectively.

The maximum arsenic contamination level found in this district is 2830μg/L in the Baduria block.

Climate

The climate is tropical, like the rest of the Gangetic West Bengal. It is also characterised by the Monsoon, which lasts from early June to mid September. The weather remains dry during the winter (mid November to mid February) and humid during summer.

Economy

People are mainly engaged in farming, fishing and other agricultural activities. The average size of agricultural landholdings is about 3.2 Bighas. Hindu refugees from Bangladesh form a major part of the industrial workforce. North 24 Parganas is one of the less economically backward districts of West Bengal, but there is chronic poverty in the southern half of the District ( the Sundarbans area )

The Information Technology hub of Kolkata is at this district, which is the centre of some of the notable IT/ITES Indian and multinational companies. Around 1.2 Lakh people are Employed in Sector V and Sector III.

Administrative subdivisions

The district comprises five subdivisions: Barrackpore, Barasat Sadar, Basirhat, Bangaon and Bidhannagar.

Barasat is the district headquarters. There are 35 police stations, 22 development blocks, 27 municipalities, 200 gram panchayats and 1599 villages in this district.

Other than municipality area, each subdivision contains community development blocks which in turn are divided into rural areas and census towns. In total there are 48 urban units: 27 municipalities and 20 census towns and 1 cantonment board.

Barrackpore subdivision

Barasat Sadar subdivision

Bangaon subdivision

Basirhat subdivision

Bidhannagar subdivision

This subdivision consists of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation

Assembly constituencies

The district was divided into 28 assembly constituencies before delimitation 2011 :

1. Bagadaha (SC) (assembly constituency no. 84),
2. Bangaon (assembly constituency no. 85),
3. Gaighata (assembly constituency no. 86),
4. Habra (assembly constituency no. 100),
5. Ashoknagar (assembly constituency no. 101),
6. Amdanga (assembly constituency no. 89),
7. Barasat (assembly constituency no. 90),
8. Rajarhat (SC) (assembly constituency no. 91),
9. Deganga (assembly constituency no. 92),
10. Swarupnagar (assembly constituency no. 93),
11. Baduria (assembly constituency no. 94),
12. Basirhat (assembly constituency no. 125),
13. Hasnabad (assembly constituency no. 96),
14. Haroa (SC) (assembly constituency no. 97),
15. Sandeshkhali (SC) (assembly constituency no. 98),
16. Hingalganj (SC) (assembly constituency no. 99),
17. Bijpur (assembly constituency no. 128),
18. Naihati (assembly constituency no. 129),
19. Bhatpara (assembly constituency no. 130),
20. Jagatdal (assembly constituency no. 131),
21. Noapara (assembly constituency no. 132),
22. Titagarh (assembly constituency no. 133),
23. Khardaha (assembly constituency no. 134),
24. Panihati (assembly constituency no. 135),
25. Kamarhati (assembly constituency no. 136),
26. Baranagar (assembly constituency no. 137),
27. Dum Dum (assembly constituency no. 138) and
28. Belgachia East (assembly constituency no. 139).

Bagdaha, Rajarhat, Haroa, Sandeshkhali and Hingalganj constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates. Bagdaha, Bangaon, Gaighata, Habra, Ashoknagar, Barasat and Deganga assembly constituencies form the Barasat (Lok Sabha constituency). Amdanga, Bijpur, Naihati, Bhatpara, Jagatdal, Titagarh and Noapara assembly constituencies form the Barrackpore (Lok Sabha constituency). Rajarhat, Khardah, Panihati, Kamarhati, Baranagar, Dum Dum and Belgachia East assembly constituencies form the Dum Dum (Lok Sabha constituency). Swarupnagar, Baduria, Basirhat uttar, Basirhat Dakshin, Haroa and Hingalganj constituencies are part of the Basirhat (Lok Sabha constituency), which also contains one assembly segment from South 24 Parganas district. Along with six assembly constituencies from South 24 Parganas district, Sandeshkhali assembly constituency forms the Joynagar (Lok Sabha constituency), which is reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC).

Impact of delimitation of constituencies

As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in the West Bengal, the district will be divided into 33 assembly constituencies:

1. Bagda (SC) (assembly constituency no. 94),
2. Bangaon Uttar (SC) (assembly constituency no. 95),
3. Bangaon Dakshin (SC) (assembly constituency no. 96),
4. Gaighata (SC) (assembly constituency no. 97),
5. Swarupnagar (SC) (assembly constituency no. 98),
6. Baduria (assembly constituency no. 99),
7. Habra (assembly constituency no. 100),
8. Ashoknagar (assembly constituency no. 101),
9. Amdanga (assembly constituency no. 102),
10. Bijpur (assembly constituency no. 103),
11. Naihati (assembly constituency no. 104),
12. Bhatpara (assembly constituency no. 105),
13. Jagatdal (assembly constituency no. 106),
14. Noapara (assembly constituency no. 107),
15. Barrackpur (assembly constituency no. 108),
16. Khardaha (assembly constituency no. 109),
17. Dum Dum Uttar (assembly constituency no. 110),
18. Panihati (assembly constituency no. 111),
19. Kamarhati (assembly constituency no. 112),
20. Baranagar (assembly constituency no. 113),
21. Dum Dum (assembly constituency no. 114),
22. Rajarhat New Town (assembly constituency no. 115),
23. Bidhannagar (assembly constituency no. 116),
24. Rajarhat Gopalpur (assembly constituency no. 117),
25. Madhyamgram (assembly constituency no. 118),
26. Barasat (assembly constituency no. 119),
27. Deganga (assembly constituency no. 120),
28. Haroa (assembly constituency no. 121),
29. Minakhan (SC) (assembly constituency no. 122),
30. Sandeshkhali (ST) (assembly constituency no. 123),
31. Basirhat Dakshin (assembly constituency no. 124),
32. Basirhat Uttar (assembly constituency no. 125) and
33. Hingalganj (SC) (assembly constituency no. 126).

Along with two assembly constituencies of Nadia district, Bagda, Bangaon North, Bangaon South, Gaighata and Swarupnagar assembly constituencies will form the Bangaon (Lok Sabha constituency), which will be reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates. Amdanga, Bijpur, Naihati, Bhatpara, Jagatdal, Noapara and Barrackpur assembly constituencies will form the Barrackpur (Lok Sabha constituency). Khardah, North Dumdum, Panihati, Kamarhati, Baranagar, Dum Dum and Rajarhat Gopalpur assembly constituencies will form the Dum Dum (Lok Sabha constituency). Habra, Ashoknagar, Rajarhat New Town, Bidhannagr, Madhyamgram, Barasat and Deganga assembly constituencies will form the Barasat (Lok Sabha constituency). Baduria, Haroa, Minakhan, Sandeshkhali, Basirhat South, Basirhat North, and Hingalganj constituencies will form the Basirhat (Lok Sabha constituency).

Railways

The electrified suburban rail network of the ER is extensive and penetrates far and deep into the neighbouring districts of Kolkata, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Howrah, Hooghly etc.

The Circular Rail encircles the entire city of Kolkata, and also provides an offshoot to connect the airport.

Airport

The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (IATA code:CCU) at Dum Dum (previously known as Dum Dum airport) is the only airport in the city Kolkata, which is in North 24 Parganas, operating both domestic and international flights. It is a gateway to North-East India, Bangkok, and Bangladesh. The number of people using the airport has consistently increased over the last few years.

Roadways

The road network is fairly well developed.Sparsed across by state-highways it provide an convenient means of transport.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census North 24 Parganas district has a population of 10,082,852, roughly equal to the nation of Bolivia or the US state of Michigan. This gives it a ranking of 2nd in India (out of a total of 640) and 1st in its state. The district has a population density of 2,463 inhabitants per square kilometre (6,380/sq mi) . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 12.86%. North Twenty Four Parganas has a sex ratio of 949 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 84.95%.

2001 Census data

Hindus - 75.23%, Muslims - 24.22%, Christians-0.23% and Sikhs - 0.12% (Source: Census Report of 2001, Government Of India). Hindu refugees from Bangladesh form 42% of the total population.

Flora and fauna

In 1984 North 24 Parganas district became home to Sundarbans National Park, which has an area of 1,330 km² (513.5 sq mi). It shares the park with South 24 Parganas district. It is also home to the Bibhutibhushan Wildlife Sanctuary, which was established in 1985 and has an area of 0.6 km² (0.2 sq mi).

Health facilities