Partition of Midnapore

The Partition of Midnapore was the administrative breakup of the Midnapore District of West Bengal, India into the western Paschim Medinipur and the eastern Purba Medinipur districts that became effective on January 1, 2002. With a collective population of 97 lakh or 9.7 million, the undivided district was the largest in terms of population in India and more populous than many countries, including Sweden.cite web
last = Staff reporter
first =
date = 2002-01-01
url = http://www.anandabazar.com/archive/1020101/1raj2.htm
title = Abasheshe Medinipur bhenge noya jela aaj (in Bengali)
format = HTML
accessdate = 2006-10-13] With the division of the district, the subdivisions of Medinipur Sadar, Kharagpur, Jhargram, and Ghatal were placed in Paschim Medinipur, with Midnapore, now the district headquarter of only the western half.cite web
last = Staff reporter
first =
date = 2002-01-01
url = http://www.anandabazar.com/archive/1020101/1raj2.htm
title = Abasheshe Medinipur bhenge noya jela aaj (in Bengali)
format = HTML
accessdate = 2006-10-13] The subdivisions of Tamluk, Contai, and Haldia were placed in the eastern district with district headquarters at Tamluk.cite web
last = Acharya
first = Prasun
date = 2002-01-02
url = http://www.anandabazar.com/archive/1020102/2raj1.htm
title = Medinipur bhenge Buddher ashash hotabe jonojuddhoke (in Bengali)
format = HTML
accessdate = 2006-10-13] Egra subdivision, a new subdivision of Purba Medinipur, was created out of the Contai subdivision.cite web
last = Staff reporter
first =
date = 2002-01-01
url = http://www.anandabazar.com/archive/1020101/1raj2.htm
title = Abasheshe Medinipur bhenge noya jela aaj (in Bengali)
format = HTML
accessdate = 2006-10-13]

Early attempts at Partition

The earliest recorded attempt to divide Midnapore district was announced during the time of the British Raj in 1915.cite book
last = Chakrabarty
first = Bidyut
year = 1997
title = Local Politics and Indian Nationalism: Midnapur (1919-1944)
publisher = Manohar
location = New Delhi
pages = 72-76 ] Since, the district was administered by a district magistrate or 'collector'. The idea behind the division was to make the administration of the large district more manageable. The Government of the province of Bengal had floated the idea in 1907, but had not implemented it, due to the volatile situation in the province following the Partition of Bengal.cite book
last = Chakrabarty
first = Bidyut
year = 1997
title = Local Politics and Indian Nationalism: Midnapur (1919-1944)
publisher = Manohar
location = New Delhi
pages = 72-76 ] A new district of Hijli was to be set up to help in administration. Midnapore was also a hotbed of revolutionary activity, and it was thought that dividing the district would allow the British rulers to tighten their grip.cite book
last = Chakrabarty
first = Bidyut
year = 1997
title = Local Politics and Indian Nationalism: Midnapur (1919-1944)
publisher = Manohar
location = New Delhi
pages = 72-76 ] The announcement of the partition on January 26, 1915 was greeted with protests from zamindars who feared they would be taxed twice if their lands spanned two districts, and by the lawyers of the district court who felt their business would be hurt if another district court was set up at Hijli.cite book
last = Chakrabarty
first = Bidyut
year = 1997
title = Local Politics and Indian Nationalism: Midnapur (1919-1944)
publisher = Manohar
location = New Delhi
pages = 72-76 ] Upendra Nath Maity, President of the Midnapore Bar Association commented that the division of the district would be financially unsound since there were, in his opinion, more pressing matters that the administration needed to finance.cite book
last = Chakrabarty
first = Bidyut
year = 1997
title = Local Politics and Indian Nationalism: Midnapur (1919-1944)
publisher = Manohar
location = New Delhi
pages = 72-76 ] Birendranath Sasmal, a prominent barrister and politician, initially supported the partition when it was possible that his hometown, Contai, might be the seat of the new district, but opposed it, when Hijli was announced instead.cite book
last = Chakrabarty
first = Bidyut
year = 1997
title = Local Politics and Indian Nationalism: Midnapur (1919-1944)
publisher = Manohar
location = New Delhi
pages = 72-76 ] A number of members of the Indian National Congress also opposed the partition citing that they believed the ruling class wanted to break the unity of the politically conscious population of the undivided district. Agitation against the partition continued until 1921, when the whole idea was canned, due to financial reasons.cite book
last = Chakrabarty
first = Bidyut
year = 1997
title = Local Politics and Indian Nationalism: Midnapur (1919-1944)
publisher = Manohar
location = New Delhi
pages = 72-76 ]

Partition on January 1, 2002

In independent India, successive governments had expressed a desire to divide the district but this was never done until the government led by Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya finalized the details of the partition and set a date.cite web
last = Jana
first = Naresh
date = 2001-12-31
url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1011231/national.htm#head3
title = Tamluk readies for giant's partition
format = HTML
accessdate = 2006-10-13] The mood in various towns in that were affected was variable, as gauged by local newspapers. In general, the event was treated with concern and dismay in Midnapore by inhabitants citing a loss of importance, greeted with parades and other festivities in Tamluk since it was now a district town, and with dismay or apathy in Contai since Contai had failed to become the district town in the newly formed district.cite web
last = Staff reporter
first =
date = 2002-01-01
url = http://www.anandabazar.com/archive/1020101/1raj2.htm
title = Abasheshe Medinipur bhenge noya jela aaj (in Bengali)
format = HTML
accessdate = 2006-10-13] cite web
last = Acharya
first = Prasun
date = 2002-01-02
url = http://www.anandabazar.com/archive/1020102/2raj1.htm
title = Medinipur bhenge Buddher ashash hotabe jonojuddhoke (in Bengali)
format = HTML
accessdate = 2006-10-13] cite web
last = Jana
first = Naresh
date = 2001-12-31
url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1011231/national.htm#head3
title = Tamluk readies for giant's partition
format = HTML
accessdate = 2006-10-13] cite web
last = Telegraph editorial
first =
date = 2002-01-03
url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/archives/archive.html
title = Divide and rule
format = HTML
accessdate = 2006-10-13] The major opposition party, the Trinamool Congress opposed the move, but a section of the media was favorable.cite web
last = Telegraph editorial
first =
date = 2002-01-03
url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/archives/archive.html
title = Divide and rule
format = HTML
accessdate = 2006-10-13] Dividing the district, it was felt would help the administration reach the people and assist in providing better healthcare and educational facilities.cite web
last = Telegraph editorial
first =
date = 2002-01-03
url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/archives/archive.html
title = Divide and rule
format = HTML
accessdate = 2006-10-13] Opponents mentioned that many of the problems of Naxalite elements would be plaguing the district of Paschim Medinpur and would take up too much of its now limited resources.cite web
last = Staff reporter
first =
date = 2002-01-01
url = http://www.anandabazar.com/archive/1020101/1raj2.htm
title = Abasheshe Medinipur bhenge noya jela aaj (in Bengali)
format = HTML
accessdate = 2006-10-13] cite web
last = Telegraph editorial
first =
date = 2002-01-03
url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/archives/archive.html
title = Divide and rule
format = HTML
accessdate = 2006-10-13] New administrative and legislative buildings began to come up immediately in Tamluk after the partition came into effect.cite web
last = Staff reporter
first =
date = 2002-01-01
url = http://www.anandabazar.com/archive/1020101/1raj2.htm
title = Abasheshe Medinipur bhenge noya jela aaj (in Bengali)
format = HTML
accessdate = 2006-10-13] A new district magistrate and superintendent of police was also appointed.cite web
last = Jana
first = Naresh
date = 2001-12-31
url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1011231/national.htm#head3
title = Tamluk readies for giant's partition
format = HTML
accessdate = 2006-10-13]

References