Guskara

Guskara railway station

The area between the Damodar and Ajay was previously known as Gopbhum, where the Sadgope kings ruled for many centuries, before the advent of the Muslims. The Sur kings also occupy a somewhat mythical position in the region. Adi Sur of this dynasty is credited with having brought the five Brahmins and Kayasthas (two important upper castes in Bengal) from Kannauj in what is now Uttar Pradesh.[2]

Damage to embankments of the Ajay and consequent flooding was a regular problem in the Ausgram and Mangalkot area. The devastating flood of 1943 caused immense suffering and lead to a mass movement for restoration/repair of the embankments. A massive meeting was organized at Guskara in 1944, with Udaychand Mahtab, Maharaja of Bardhaman. However, the government did not take any action. Ultimately, the Communist Party, which had been at the forefront of agitations for some years, provided a huge workforce for the purpose and completed the repair work. That laid the foundation for the party's popularity in the area.[3]

Guskara has a wholesale market.[8] The area thrives on brick kilns, woodcraft, and cloth sales.[9] This area depends on the agro-based economy. Potato, Paddy, and Arum are the main agricultural produce of the area. Arum of this area is famous for its taste. Huge amounts of potato and paddy are produced in this area. As fish cultivation and breeding is becoming more popular, fishery is becoming a larger factor within the local economy. Poultry farms are becoming another factor in the growing economy of this area.

As per the 2011 Census of India, Guskara had a total population of 35,888, of which 18,573 (51%) were males and 17,315 (49%) were females. Population below 6 years was 3,544. The total number of literates in Guskara was 25,525 (72.13% of the population over 6 years).[10]

As of 2001 India census,[11] Guskara had a population of 31,863. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Guskara has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 59%. In Guskara, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The steady flow of refugees from East Pakistan increased the population of the area in the fifties.[12] Recently, an influx of people from outskirt villages has further increased the population of the area.

Guskara has sixteen primaries, one upper primary, one secondary, and three higher secondary schools. It also has one college.

Gushkara Mahavidyalaya was established at Guskara in 1955. It offers honors courses in Bengali, Sanskrit, English, history, geography, political science, philosophy, physics, chemistry, mathematics, botany, zoology, nutrition, and B.Com.[13]

Guskara Purnananda Public Institution, a coeducational institution, is affiliated with West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education.[14] The school has got a very good academic record. It got President's Medal during the decade of the 1950s and was received by former Head Master of the school Nirod Boron Mahata.

Sushila Jangeswar Public High School, a coeducational institution, is affiliated with West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education.[15]

Guskara Balika Vidyalaya is affiliated with West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education.[16]

A private polytechnic college was established in 2010 "Gobindapur Sephali Memorial Polytechnic" which is recognized by the West Bengal state council of technical education.[17]

The area is renowned for its dhokra art castings.[18] In particular, Dariapur village in the area is famous for its dhokra metal craft. The craftsmen and craftswomen are very poor. Middlemen buys dokra artifacts from them and sell them in markets. The middlemen earn the profit. The poor craftsmen and women cannot gain much from their produce as they cannot reach prospective markets to sell their products themselves. Moreover, the craftsmen and women usually take loans from the nearby grocery shops for their daily needs of sustenance. The grocery or shop owners take artifacts from the craftsmen and women as a mortgage for loans. The craftsmen and women are unable to repay the loan. So, the mortgage items become the items of sale in the grocery or shop owners. The last but not the least of the problem that has beset the craftsmen and women is the lack of health and sanitary consciousness.

There are many totos (e-rickshaw) which are plying here & there. It is a good communication medium of going anywhere at the town. Without it, there are taxis (beside the station) for going far distances.