Jhargram District

Jhargram district

Jhargram is a district in the state of West Bengal, India.The district lies between the Kangsabati River in the north and the Subarnarekha in the south. Jhargram has one of the lowest population density among the districts of West Bengal,the rural population being higher than the urban. It is a popular tourist destination known for its sal forests, elephants,ancient temples and royal palaces.The district was formed on 4 April 2017, after bifurcation from the Paschim Medinipur district as the 22nd district of West Bengal.The district has its headquarters at Jhargram town.

Demographics

Demographic Label	Value
Area	3,024.38 sq km
Population	11,37,163
Literacy Rate	70.92 %
Subdivision	1
Block	8
Gram Panchayat	79
Villages	2,995
Municipality	1
Police station	10

Geography

Jhargram district covers an area of 3037.64 Sq. km. Out of which 268249 hectare is agricultural land and 59497 hectare is under forest coverage.The district is a part of Chota Nagpur Plateau which gradually slopes down towards east,hilly terrain occurs in the north-western part of the district. Kakrajhore area is having the highest altitude of about 300 mts. This area is covered with unfertile hard laterite soil/rocks. The altitude of southern areas of the district belonging to Nayagram, Gopiballavpur-I & II blocks are having the altitude of about 65 mts,the soil is comparatively alluvial in these areas. The altitude of Jhargram town is around 80 mts.

Jhargram District

Click here to view History of Jhargram

History

Rivers

The important rivers of this division are the Kangsabati (popularly known as Kasai), the Tarafeni, the Subarnarekha, and the Dulong. Apart from the above rivers, there are several rivulets viz. 'Deb', 'Palpala', Rangium', 'Kupon' etc. Most of the above rivers flow from west to east as the Western side of the division is having higher altitude.

The Kangsabati river

This river enters the division on the north from Bankura district and flows along a tortuous course running to the south and southwest direction and then flows towards east keeping the Midnapore town on the left(north). The river has contracted rapidly below Midnapore and at Kapastikri (about 20 km down below from Midnapore) the river has bifurcated. One course has gone towards the north and finally has drained into the Rupnarayan river while the other course has run towards the south-east and finally has fallen into the Haldi river.

The Tarafeni river

This river originates in the northwest portion of this division near Patagarh in Banspahari Range. It runs towards east within the jurisdiction of Belpahari and Binpur police Stations and finally has fallen into the Kangsabati river.

The Subarnarekha river

This river enters the division on the west from Dhalbhum (Jharkhand State) and passes through the south of the division intersecting the Gopiballavpur Police Station and forming the northern boundary of Nayagram Police Station (Kharagpur Division). On the south of Dantan, it enters the Balasore district of Odisha and finally falls into the Bay of Bengal. The Subarnarekha has a rapid stream with a sandy bed, and its banks are generally high and well defined. In the season of high flood, the river overflows its left bank about 6 km above the point where it leaves Paschim Midnapore district to enter the Balasore district.

The Dulung river

It is the main tributary of the Subarnarekha. It originates in the northwest portion of the division near Dulungdiha (J.L.No. 100, P.S.: Binpur) and runs generally in a southern direction near the western boundary of the division till it enters Jamboni Police Station. While passing through this police station from north to south it is joined by the Kupon river, Banshir Khal, Polpala Khal, Deb river and Putrangi Khal. Thereafter, it enters Gopiballavpur Police Station where its general direction is from west to east and then Sankrail police station where it again runs in a southerly direction and joins the Subarnarekha.

Arts & Culture

JHARGRAM is the golden treasury of tribal dances. The Santals, Mundas, Bhumijs, Lodhas and Sabars (aboriginal tribes) co-exist here. Their social performances, religious rites and rituals are expressed through dances amid jungles. Some of these tribal dances are at the verge of extinction. We would represent the rare tribal folk-dances in the following manner :

Bhuang:

bhuang dance

It is a popular and beautiful folk-dance of the Santals. During Durgotsab (Durga Puja) the Vijaya-dasami is the auspicious day for Bhuang-dance. A myth is there, only male artists wearing dhuties on knee, napkin around waist, red tape in unpolished hair and feathers of peacock upon head; dance from afternoon to night. This dance is named after a peculiar musical instrument called 'Bhuang'. The Bhuang is made of pumpkin.

Chang-Dance :

chang dance

Far away from civilized society the aboriginal hunting tribe Lodha & Sabars reside. They live in the woods. Their only dance is 'Chang'. It is generally held during worship, marriage and sometime during funerals also. A daffli like musical instrument is 'changu' made from karat tree is needed at the time of dancing. Five to Seven Lodha male artists participate in it. They dance in encircling from evening to mid-night amid the jungles. It is very thrilling. The dance is quite unknown to the greater world. It is a matter of great tragedy that due to rapid urbanization, cultural aggression and influence of external culture, this dance is becoming extinct.

Chhou :

Chau Dance

Originally Chhouu dance is a tropical traditional composition of a place in Purulia district of West Bengal. Having its base from Ramayana and Mahabharata, accepting different tales from these epics, the artist wear Mask of the heroes and perform the play. Chhou dance is the traditional dance belonging to Raj Family of Chilkigarh. It has gained international recognition. In later periods this dance spread in various places of Jhargram without the use of Masks.

Dangrey :

Dangrey dance

It is a rare war-dance of the Santal tribe of the forest-based areas. The dance is held during summer on the eve of hunting. Artists with arms show their heroic attitude with music. Only male santal youth take part in the dance. Musical instruments like Madals & Dhamsas and Bows-arrows, arms like Tangi are used in the dance.

Jhumur :

Jhumur Dance

Jhumur is a people's movement, which touches revolution, sadness and love. Only Jhumur has a main attraction of music and folk dance. Jhumur has earned a place in the king's palace. Mainly West Bengal and South-eastern Kings of Purulia, kings of Chilkigarh has placed Jhumur in high esteem. Because of this Jhumur has earned a special Gharana. It comes from Chatonagpur plateau. But apart from this Jhumur has a collocial place in the hearts of the people.

Panta-Dance :

In the local dialect 'Panta' means group. It is group-dance of the Bhumij tribe of West Bengal. During crop cutting and planting this dance is in vogue. This is a very common dance of Bhumij, where both male & female take part spontaneously.

Ranpa Dance

Ranpa :

The dance is a rare Mundari dance. The artists use ladder made of bamboos while dancing. The dancers have to work hard during the dance. There is every chance to fall from ladder. The folk artists are young, use dhuties, red-napkins, red-tap on the forehead, wear stockings on their feet. Madal and dhamsas are the main musical-instruments.

Saharul :

It is a seasonal dance of the Santals. When new leaves grow on Sal-trees in the Bengali month 'Vaisak' (April-May) the Santals worship their Goddess 'Mamarey' under an old Sal tree and welcome leafy Sal trees by their unusual dance. The dance is called 'Saharul' or 'Sarul'. Both male and female artists wearing dhuties and saries, wearing flowers in their head dance encircling. Madal, Dhamsa, Jhumka, are the musical instruments played by male artists. The dance is performed since morning to evening.

Tusu song

"Chal Tusu Naite Jabo
Balite bandh Bandhabo
Kalir Jale Naiyan Karibo
Jharnae Kesh Milabo."

Tusu :

tusu dance

Tusu is the integral part of the rural lifestyle, which comes from within the music and dance. Mainly the Kurmis and Mahatos are entitled to this ancient form of art. It is a seasonal festival. Tusu is reapin of the sown. Here reaping means a child. That is why women play a main part.

Bhadhu :

Bhadhu is a harvesting song. It is all round the year sadness for the Tusu and Bhadhu.Tusu and Bhadhu is the crop with gold.

Tourist Attractions

Click Here to View Tourist Place In Jhargram

Education

Colleges / Universities

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Polytechnic: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Polytechnic, (also known as I.C.V. Polytechnic), established in 1957, is a government polytechnic located in Jhargram, West Bengal. This polytechnic is affiliated to the West Bengal State Council of Technical Education, and recognised by AICTE, New Delhi. This polytechnic offers diploma courses in Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical, Electronics and Telecommunication, Mechanical, Metallurgical and Civil Engineering.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Polytechnic
Jhargram Government Industrial Training Institute: During the year 1955 Technical Training Centre & Training cum Production Centre under the Department of Cottage and Small Scale Industries, Government of West Bengal was started at Ghoradhara, P.O- Jhargram, Dist- Paschim Medinipur with the aim to make local youth self employed by imparting training in the trades Bakery, Book Binding, Tailoring, Weaving, Carpentry, Foundry & Sheet metal.
The Technical Training Centre & Training cum Production Centre was upgraded to Industrial Training Institute, Jhargram during the year 1958 under Technical Education and Training Department with the trades Electrician, Draughtsman Civil, Wireman, Fitter, Welder, Moulder, Sheet Metal Worker, Blacksmith and Carpenter. Since then numerous number of trainees comes mainly from the districts Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Purba Medinipur and Purulia and some other districts of West Bengal are trained in different trades at this Institute. Passed out trainees of this institute gets their employment almost in all the Engineering departments and Public Sector undertaking companies of different State governments and Central Government of India and different Multinational and Private Limited Companies. Also some of them were self employed in different fields.
Jhargram Government Industrial Training Institute
Jhargram Raj College: Jhargram Raj College, established in 1949, is one of the oldest government college in jhargram, in the jhargram district. It offers undergraduate courses in arts, commerce and science & postgraduate courses in some arts & science subjects. Earlier, it was affiliated to the University of Calcutta. Now, it is affiliated to Vidyasagar University.
Jhargram Raj College

Jhargram Raj College
Kapgari Seva Bharati Mahavidyalaya: Seva Bharati Mahavidyalaya, also known as Kapgari College, is an undergraduate, coeducational college situated in Kapgari, Jhargram, West Bengal. It was established in 1964. The college is under Vidyasagar University.
Seva Bharati Mahavidyalaya
Lalgarh Government College: Lalgarh Government College, established in 2014,.It is the government degree college in Jhargram district. It offers undergraduate courses in arts. It is affiliated to Vidyasagar University.

lalgarh government college

Silda Chandra Sekhar College: Silda Chandra Sekhar Mahavidyalaya, also known as Silda College, is an undergraduate, coeducational college situated in Silda, Jhargram, West Bengal. It was established in the year 1971. The college is under Vidyasagar University.
silda college
Subarnarekha Mahavidyalaya: Subarnarekha Mahavidyalaya, also known as Gopiballavpur College, is an undergraduate, coeducational college situated in Gopiballavpur, Jhargram district, West Bengal. It was established in 1988.The college is under Vidyasagar University.
subarnarekha mahavidyalaya
Vivekananda Satavarshiki Mahavidyalaya: Vivekananda Satavarshiki Mahavidyalaya, also known as Manikpara College, established in 1964, is a college in Manikpara, in Jhargram District. It offers undergraduate courses both honours and general courses in arts, commerce and sciences. It is affiliated to Vidyasagar University.The college is accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2015.
Vivekananda Satavarshiki Mahavidyalaya

Schools

Jhargram Ashok Vidyapith (H.S.)
Jhargram Banitirtha High School
Jhargram Kumud Kumari Institution
Jhargram Nanibala Balika Vidyalaya
Jhargram Nanibala Boys School

Transportation

Air

The nearest operational airport is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport of Kolkata 155 km (by train) and 169 km (by road- NH-6).Sonari Airport of Jamshedpur is located at a distance 96 km by train. Birsa Munda Airport of Ranchi is located at a distance of 233 km (by road- NH-33) and 258 km (by train).

Train

Jhargram is connected not only to larger cities in the region, but also to smaller towns and villages in the district. Jhargram Railway Station is on the Kharagpur-Tatanagar section of Howrah-Nagpur-Mumbai line, an express train route. The Jhargram railway station comes under South Eastern Railway. Jhargram is well connected by train to nearest big city like Kolkata/Howrah (155 km), Kharagpur (39 km), Asansol, Tatanagar (96 km), Ranchi, Dhanbad, Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Bhilai and also Delhi and Mumbai.

Jhargram Railway Station

Road

Jhargram is also very well connected by highways it lies on AH46 which is a part of the Asian Highway Network and also with other nearby cities like Medinipur (40 km over Dherua - Medinipur Road), Kharagpur (46 km over NH-6), Durgapur (156 km over SH-9), Asansol (181 km over NH-60 and SH-9), Bankura (114 km over SH-9 and 5), Purulia (142 km over SH-5), Haldia (150 km over AH46 and NH41), Contai (144 km over SH-5), Digha (165 km over NH-60), Kolkata/Howrah (169 km over AH46), Tatanagar (114 km over NH-33), Baripada (99 km over AH46 and NH-5),etc

Knowledge Pedia (ज्ञान कोश)

9/06/20