Purbasthali

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Purbasthali | type = city | latd =23.25 | longd =88.22
locator_position = right | state_name = West Bengal
district = Bardhaman
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude =
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 183,066| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone =
postal_code =
vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website = bardhaman.gov.in/
footnotes = CD Block

Purbasthali is a town in Kalna subdivision of Bardhaman district. It is located 120 km north from Kolkata. Also known as Chupi Char, it lies on the banks of a large oxbow lake created by the Ganges river and is only a few km from the old and holy town of Nabadwip. The 2-3 km long lake attracts migrants and water birds. [ [http://www.kolkatabirds.com/purbast.htm Water Birds of India] ] The Purbasthali area has a fairly high level of arsenic in the ground water. [ [http://www.soesju.org/arsenic/wb7.htm Ground water arsenic contamination] ]

Geography

Purbasthali is located on the agriculturally rich alluvial plains between the Bhagirathi, Ajay and Damodar rivers. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, "Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti" (History and Folk lore of Bardhaman District.), Bn icon , Vol I, p. 15, Radical Impression. ISBN 81-85459-36-3 ] Temperatures in this region varies from 17-18°C in winter to 30-32°C in summer. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p. 19 ] The whole area of Purbasthali is covered with greenery, fruit-gardens,flower-gardens and agricultural fields producing a considerable amount of vegetables and fruits for export.

Demographics

Purbasthali I block has a population of 183,066. [ [http://bardhaman.gov.in/blocks/purbasthali_i.htm Bardhaman District Official site] ] Purbasthali II block has a population of 158, 250. [ [http://bardhaman.gov.in/blocks/purbasthali_ii.htm Bardhaman District Official site] ] A recent study in March,2008 shows a population of 206583.

Transport

Purbasthali is 73 km from Bandel and 8 km from Nabadwipdham on the Bandel-Katwa branch line of Eastern Railway.On road, from Bandel on S.T.K.K.Road(Saptagram TribeniKalna Katwa Road)80 km towards north, 38 km towards south from Katwa.

Health

Purbasthali is one of the areas of Bardhaman district which is affected by arsenic contamination of ground water. [ [http://www.soesju.org/arsenic/wb7.htm Arsenic contamination] ] Purbasthali, as located at Purbasthali Block-II,contains one Block Primary Health centre at Purbasthali, Four Primary Health Centres viz. Patuli P.H.C.at Patuli G.P.,Singhari P.H.C. at Majida GG.P.,Nimdaha P.H.C.at Nimdaha G.P., and Kubajpur P.H.C. at Muksimpara G.P. and also contains twenty-six Sub-centres as follows:-

Sl. No. Name of G.P. number of sub-centres Names of Sub-centres

1 Jhawdanga 1 Jhawdanga 2 Patuli 2 i)Patuli ii)Narayanpur 3 Pilla 3 i)Uttar Srirampur ii)Hapania iii)Shibnagar

4 Nimdaha 4 i)Chhatni ii)Nimdaha iii)Nakadaha iv)Ukhura

5 Muksimpara 3 i)Haldipara ii)Kubajpur iii)Sumuria

6 Kalekhatala-I 3 i)Hrishi ii)Dhitpur iii)Foleya

7 Kalekhatala-II 2 i)Parulia ii)Bargachhi

8 Majida 4 i)Singhari ii)Atpara iii)Majida iv)Tamaghata

9 Mertala 1 Simla

10 Purbasthali 3 i)Purbasthali ii)Chupi iii)Kasthasali

The post of Block Medical Officer of Health is held by Dr. Sk. Mahammad Yunus since 16.05.2000.Prior to that this post was held by Dr. Uttam Kr. Chatterjee, prior to thatDr. Omprakash Pathak,prior to that Dr.Tarun Sarkar,prior to that Dr. Shibani Das,prior to that Dr.Prasanta Sarkar,prior to that Dr. Sachin Chatterjee,prior to that Dr. Gouranga Dutta . . . .

Purbasthali Block Primary Health Centre has a curative service comprising OPD & IPD facilities including Allopathy, Homoeopathy & Ayurvedic sections.Dr.D.C.Kar is the in-Charge of Homoeopathy section since Sept.,2002.Dr. Pranati Sarkar is in-Charge of Ayurvedic sectionPromotive & Preventive health services are provided mainly through the sub-centres.

Politics

Subrata Bhowal of CPI (M) won the Purbasthali Assembly seat in 2006 and 2001 defeating his nearest rival Ansar Mondal of AITC. In 1996, Himangshu Dutta of CPI (M) defeated Ansar Mondal of INC. In 1991, 1987, 1982 and 1977, Manoranjan Nath of CPI (M) won the seat defeating Swapan Bhattacharya of BJP, Mukul Bhattacharya of INC, Manabendra Kumar Roy of INC and Rama Devi of JNP, in the respective years. [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/electionanalysis/AE/S25/partycomp279.htm Election Commission] Assembly election results 1977-2006. Click on Party-wise Performance of Political Parties for details. ]

In 1972, Nurunessa Sattar of INC won the Purbasthali assembly seat. [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1972/StatReport_WB_72.pdf Assembly elections 1972] ] .Molla Humayun Kabir won the seat in 1971 [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1971/StatReport_WB_71.pdf Assembly elections 1971] ] and 1969. [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1969/StatReport_WB_69.pdf Assembly elections 1969] ] I.Hazra of CPI (M) won it in 1967. [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1967/Statistical_report_WB1967.pdf Assembly elections 1967] ] Bimalananda Tarkatirtha of INC won the seat in 1962, [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1962/StatRep_WB_1962.pdf Assembly elections 1962] ] 1957 [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1957/StatRep_WB_1957.pdf Assembly elections 1957] ] and 1951. [ [http://eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_WestBengal.pdf Assembly elections 1951] ]

Purbasthali is part of Katwa (Lok Sabha constituency). [cite web
url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S25/WB_ACPC.pdf
title = General election to the Legislative Assembly, 2001 – List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies
accessdate = 2007-02-21
last =
first =
work = West Bengal
publisher = Election Commission of India]

Notable personalities

* Dr. Upendranath Brahmachari (1873 – 1941), the renowned scientist, hailed from Purbasthali. [http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in/scientists/UNBrahmachari.htm] [http://bardhaman.gov.in/personality/emiper.htm]
* Krishnanath Nyayapanchanan (1833-1911) Sanskrit scholar, authority in Nyaya, Mimangsa and other branches of Indian philosophy [http://a-bangladesh.com/banglapedia/HT/K_0301.htm]
* Baneswar Sarkar won the national award for weaving in 1998. [http://www.craftrevival.org/Ahtml/Awards/003367.htm]

External links

* [http://bardhaman.gov.in/blocks/blocks.htm District map showing blocks]
* [http://www.bardhaman.com/bigmap.htm Map of Bardhaman district]
* [http://www26.brinkster.com/burdwan/home/villages.asp Villages in Bardhaman district]

References

See also