Bardhaman district

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name= Bardhaman
type= district
hq=Bardhaman
latd = 23.24 | longd = 87.85
state_name=West Bengal
area=7074
population_total = 6,895,514
population_year=2001
population_density= 974
website= http://bardhaman.gov.in/
footnotes=

Bardhaman (Bengali: বর্ধমান "bôrdhoman") is a district in West Bengal. The main town is Bardhaman.

Alternate spelling: Burdwan, Burdhman.Alternate name: Sharifabad (See Medieval history).

History

Bardhaman had been important during Medieval age and British rule.

Origin of Name

The name of Bardhaman city, which lends its name to the district, comes from the 24th Jain monk Tirthankar Mahavir Bardhaman.

Prehistory

This fertile land was important even during the Gupta and Sena rule.

Medieval Age

During Mughal age, starting thirteenth century, the city of Bardhaman was known as Sharifabad. It was an important administrative center. When Sufi pir Baharam had to leave Delhi because of the plots of Abul Fazal and Faizi, he came to Sharifabad. His tomb is visited by both Muslims and Hindus.

Modern Era

Post independence, Bardhaman became an important economic hub in West bengal because of its location, and also due to the natural resources available in the region (esp Coal.)

Geography

Bardhaman District has an area of 7024 km², and a population of 6,895,514 (2001 census). It is bounded on the north by Birbhum and Murshidabad districts, on the east by Nadia District, on the southeast by Hooghly District, on the southwest by Bankura and Purulia districts, and on the northwest by Jharkhand state. The district has six sub-divisions, Asansol, Sadar (North), Sadar (South), Durgapur, Kalna, and Katwa. It was amongst the first districts to have a 100% literacy rate.

Bardhaman is the most advanced district in West Bengal both industrially and agriculturally. The eastern part is enriched by the alluvial soil of river Bhaghirathi (minor stream of river Ganga), and is one of the most productive agricultural regions in West Bengal. The western part of the district, chiefly Asansol, is rich in coal and other mineral resources. This part is highly industrialised and contains various factories based on iron and steel processing, as well as many cement factories. Durgapur, Burnpur, and Kulti are in the western part of the district. It also contains power plants at Durgapur and Dishergarh.

External links

* [http://bardhaman.nic.in/home.htm Bardhaman District official web site]
* [http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V09_097.gif"Bardhaman District", The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1909, v. 9, p. 91.]

References