Baghmundi (community development block)

Baghmundi
বাঘমুন্ডি সমষ্টি উন্নয়ন ব্লক
Community development block
Baghmundi
Coordinates: 23°12′00″N 86°03′00″E / 23.20000°N 86.05000°E / 23.20000; 86.05000
Country  India
State West Bengal
District Purulia
Parliamentary constituency Purulia
Assembly constituency Baghmundi
Area
 • Total 171.83 sq mi (445.05 km2)
Population (2001)
 • Total 112,388
 • Density 660/sq mi (253/km2)
Time zone IST (UTC+5.30)
Literacy Rate 46.95
Website http://bdobaghmundi.in/

Baghmundi (community development block) is an administrative division in Purulia Sadar West subdivision of Purulia district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Baghmundi police station serves this block. Headquarters of this block is at Pathardihi.[1][2]

History

Jaina Bhagavati-Sutra of 5th century AD mentions that Purulia was one of the sixteen mahajanapadas and was a part of the kingdom known as Vajra-bhumi in ancient times. In 1833, Manbhum district was carved out of Jungle Mahals district, with headquarters at Manbazar. In 1838, the headquarters was transferred to Purulia. In 1956, Manbhum district was partitioned between Bihar and West Bengal under the States Reorganization Act and the Bihar and West Bengal (Transfer of Territories) Act 1956.[3]

Mythology

According to Hindu mythology, Rama and Sita had come to Ayodhya Hill, about 10 kilometres (6 mi) from Bagmundi and stayed during their exile. Sita was thirsty and Ram pierced an arrow through the Earth's soil crust and through that water gushed out. Sita quenched her thirst. The place is known as Sita-kunda. During the full moon day in Baisakh every year tribals of nearby areas come and join in the game of hunting wild animals.[4]

Geography

Baghmundi is located at 23°12′N 86°03′E / 23.20°N 86.05°E / 23.20; 86.05.

Baghmundi community development block has an area of 445.05  km2.[2]

The area forms the lowest step of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. The general scenario is undulating land with scattered hills.[5]

Gram panchayats

Gram panchayats of Baghmundi block/panchayat samiti are: Ajodhya, Baghmundi, Birgram, Burda-Kalimati, Matha, Serengdih, Sindri and Tunturi-Suisa.[6]

Demographics

As per 2001 census, Baghmundi block had a total population of 112,388, out of which 57,650 were males and 54,738 were females. Baghmundi block registered a population growth of 13.64 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for Purulia district was 13.96 per cent.[2]Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.[7]

Scheduled castes at 13,101 formed around one-tenth the population. Scheduled tribes numbered 28,272, forming around one-fourth the population.[8]

Literacy

As per 2001 census, Baghmundi block had a total literacy of 46.95 per cent for the 6+ age group. While male literacy was 67.61 per cent female literacy was 25.12 per cent. Purulia district had a total literacy of 55.57 per cent, male literacy being 73.72 per cent and female literacy being 36.50 per cent.[9]

Economics

Purulia Pumped Storage Project with an installed capacity of 900 MW (4 X 225 MW) is being set up in Ajodhya hills under Bagmundi police station with the loan assistance of Japan Bank for International Cooperation.[10]

Natural Beauty

Thousands of tourists come to visit Bagmundi to witness the charm of natural beauty of Ajodhya Hills and Bagmundi dams like Murguma.

Culture

Chhau dance mask

Chhau dance is popular in the area. All the characters in the dance are required to wear masks and as such cannot express the moods with facial expressions. Such moods are expressed with body and head (with the mask) movements. While mask movements show anger, shoulder and chest movements portray joy, melancholy, courage etc. The masks used in Chhau dance are made in Charida village in the Bagmundi area by sutradharas (artisans), who have been engaged in such work for generations. The artisans, who are familiar with the details of the Indian epics, that form the base of Chhau dance themes, produce masks that bear testimony to their artistic skills.[11]

Radha Govinda temple

There is a Radha Govinda temple within Bagmundi Rajbari, dating back to 1733. It is an atchala (eight-eaves) temple with floral and geometrical terracotta designs but no figures. The rasmancha (stage) of a comparatively new temple has terracotta figures - enthroned Rama and Sita with entourage, Krishna in rasmandala with the gopis, episodes like the holding up of Giri Gobardhan, or the killing of Bakasur, and many secular figures and animals-all crudely modelled.

Sports

Pinki Pramanik, an athlete from the remote village of Tilakdih in Bagmundi block, won a gold medal at the 15th Asian Games women's relay in Doha in 2006. She brought her first international medal at the 18th Commonwealth Games women's relay race, by winning silver in Melbourne. She made a golden hat trick at the 10th SAF Games, securing gold in 400, 800 and women's relay.[12]

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Contact details of Block Development Officers". Purulia district. West Bengal Government. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  2. 1 2 3 "Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 4, Purulia District". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  3. ↑ "Historical background". Purulia District. Archived from the original on 2008-01-03. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  4. ↑ "Ayodhya Hill". SeeMyIndia. Archived from the original on 2007-10-16. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  5. ↑ Houlton, Sir John, Bihar, the Heart of India, 1949, p. 170, Orient Longmans Ltd.
  6. ↑ "Annexure A to G.O No.121(Sanction)-RD/CCA/BRGF/1C-5/08". Allotment under BRGF Fund 1st Instalment 2010-11 – Purulia District. Government of West Bengal - Department of Panchayats & Rural Development. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
  7. ↑ "Provisional Population Totals, West Bengal. Table 4". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
  8. ↑ "TRU for all Districts (SC & ST and Total)". Census 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  9. ↑ "Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 5, Purulia District". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  10. ↑ "Purulia Pumped Storage Project". West Bengal State Electricity Board. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  11. ↑ "West Bengal Chhau". India Line Expeditions. Archived from the original on 28 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  12. ↑ Pal, Nani Gopal. "Pinki braces for Beijing Olympics". The Statesman, 21 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-24.
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