Bishnupur, Bankura (community development block)

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.[1]

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.[1]

According to 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 in the age range of 0 to 6 years was 19,102. Scheduled Castes numbered 55,940 (35.67%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 11,812 (7.53%).[11]

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).[11]

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), Belshula (1,028), Gumut (1,723), Dwadashbari (604), Ajodhya (2,862) and Joykrishnapur (2,749).[11]

According to 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%.[11]

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

According to the District Census Handbook 2011, Bankura, as of 2001, Bengali was the mother-tongue of 89.9% of the population, followed by Santali (8.1%), Kurmali Thar (1.1%), Hindi (0.5%) and Telugu (0.1%).[12]

According to the West Bengal Official Language Act 1961 and the West Bengal Official Language (Amendment Act) 2012, the Bengali language is to be used for official purposes in the whole of West Bengal. In addition to Bengali, the Nepali language is to be used for official purposes in the three hills subdivisions, namely Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong, in the district of Darjeeling, and Urdu is to be used for official purposes in district/subdivision/ block/ municipality where the population speaking Urdu exceeds 10% of the total population. The English language will continue to be used for official purposes as it was being used prior to the enactment of these laws.[13][14][15][16]

The West Bengal Official Language (Second Amendment) Bill, 2012, included Hindi, Santhali, Odiya and Punjabi as official languages if it is spoken by a population exceeding 10 per cent of the whole in a particular block or sub-division or a district. Subsequently, Kamtapuri, Rajbanshi and Kurmali were also included in the list of minority languages by the West Bengal Official Language (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018.[17][18] However, as of 2019, there is no official / other reliable information about the areas covered.

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.[19] Others include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria,[20] and other religious communities.[19]

In the Bishnuur CD block in 2011, among the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 14,261 and formed 21.24%, agricultural labourers numbered 29,960 and formed 44.61%, household industry workers numbered 3,876 and formed 5.77% and other workers numbered 19,059 and formed 28.38%.[23]Total workers numbered 67,156 and formed 42.82% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 89,666 and formed 57.18% of the population.[24]

Note: In the census records a person is considered a cultivator, if the person is engaged in cultivation/ supervision of land owned by self/government/institution. When a person who works on another person's land for wages in cash or kind or share, is regarded as an agricultural labourer. Household industry is defined as an industry conducted by one or more members of the family within the household or village, and one that does not qualify for registration as a factory under the Factories Act. Other workers are persons engaged in some economic activity other than cultivators, agricultural labourers and household workers. It includes factory, mining, plantation, transport and office workers, those engaged in business and commerce, teachers, entertainment artistes and so on.[25]

There are 147 inhabited villages in the Bishnupur CD block, as per the District Census Handbook, Bankura, 2011. 100% villages have power supply. 146 villages (99.32%) have drinking water supply. 22 villages (14.97%) have post offices. 124 villages (84.35%) have telephones (including landlines, public call offices and mobile phones). 40 villages (27.21%) have pucca (paved) approach roads and 68 villages (46.26%) have transport communication (includes bus service, rail facility and navigable waterways). 16 villages (10.88%) have agricultural credit societies and 8 villages (5.44%) have banks.[26]

There were 117 fertiliser depots, 22 seed stores and 46 fair price shops in the Bishnupur CD block.[27]

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%.[27]

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.[28]

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.[27]

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.[27]

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.[29]

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.[30]

In 2013-14, Bishnupur CD block had offices of 6 commercial banks and 3 gramin banks.[27]

The Bankura district is listed as a backward region and receives financial support from the Backward Regions Grant Fund. The fund, created by the Government of India, is designed to redress regional imbalances in development. As of 2012, 272 districts across the country were listed under this scheme. The list includes 11 districts of West Bengal.[31][32]