Manteswar

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Manteswar | type = city/ CD Block | latd =23.43 | longd =88.10
locator_position = right | state_name = West Bengal
district = Bardhaman
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude =13
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 213,498| population_density =699
area_magnitude=
area_total = 305.40
area_telephone =91 3454
postal_code =713145
vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =bardhaman.gov.in/
footnotes =CD Block

Manteswar is a town, a police station and a community development block in the Kalna Subdivision of Bardhaman District in West Bengal, India.

Geography

Manteswar is located at coord|23.43|N|88.10|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/28/Manteswar.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Manteswar] ] . It has an average elevation of m to ft|13|m|abbr=on. It is located in the flood plains of the Khargeswari or Khari river. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, "Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti" (History and Folk lore of Bardhaman District.), Bn icon, Vol I, pp31-32, Radical Impression. ISBN 81-85459-36-3 ]

History

Gopbhum

The area between the Damodar and Ajay was known as Gopbhum, where the Sadgope kings ruled for many centuries, prior to the advent of the Muslims. The Sur kings also occupy a somewhat mythical position in the region. Adi Sur of this dynasty is credited with having brought the five Brahmins and Kayasthas (two important upper castes in Bengal) from Kannauj in what is now Uttar Pradesh. The capital of Adi Sur’s son, Bhu Sur was located at Surnagar or Surogram in Manteswar police station area. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, pp 150-151 ] It also has been a stronghold of the Ugrakshatriyas, who hailed from Rajasthan and settled in Bengal (mainly in Bradhaman district) as a land-owning class. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p151 ]

Administrative set up

When subdivisions were first formed by the British in 1860, Manteswar was one of the police stations of Kalna subdivision. It is also mentioned in Peterson’s "District Gazetteer" of 1910. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, pp369-370 ]

Movements

In the wake of the movements against the partition of Bengal in 1905, Bandhab Samitis or Mahamaya Samitis were formed at Kalna, Manteswar and Purbasthali for physical training and revolutionary activities. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p429 ] In 1926-27, Damodar canal was developed for irrigation purposes. However, when canal tax was imposed opposition developed in Memari, Manteswar, Bhatar,Ausgram and other irrigated areas. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p472 ] In 1938-40 the Congress organisation was strengthened by Gopen Kundu, Narayan Choudhury and Abdur Rahman. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p456 ] In 1943, when Damodar River flooded the entire area relief was organised in the Manteswar area by the Communist Party. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, pp478-479 ]

Politics

Chaudhuri Md. Hedayatullah of CPI (M) won the Manteswar Assembly seat in 2006 defeating his nearest rival Narayan Hazra Chowdhury of AITC. In 2001, 1996 and 1991, Abu Ayes Mondal of CPI (M) defeated Narayan Hazara Choudhury of AITC, Debabrata Roy of INC and Biseswar Bhattacharya of INC in the respective years. In 1982 and 1977, Hemanta Roy of CPI (M) defeated Tuhin Samanta of INC. [cite web
url = http://eci.gov.in/electionanalysis/AE/S25/partycomp278.htm
title = WB state assembly elections 1977-2006 - Manteswar
accessdate = 2007-02-21
last =
first =
work =
publisher = Election Commission of India] In 1972, Tuhin Samanta of INC won the seat. [cite web
url = http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1972/StatReport_WB_72.pdf
title = WB state assembly elections 1972 - Manteswar
accessdate = 2007-02-21
last =
first =
work =
publisher = Election Commission of India] In 1971 [cite web
url = http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1971/StatReport_WB_71.pdf
title = WB state assembly elections 1971 - Manteswar
accessdate = 2007-02-21
last =
first =
work =
publisher = Election Commission of India] and 1969, [cite web
url = http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1969/StatReport_WB_69.pdf
title = WB state assembly elections 1969 - Manteswar
accessdate = 2007-02-21
last =
first =
work =
publisher = Election Commission of India] Kashinath Hazra Choudhury of CPI (M) won the seat. N.C.Chaudhuri of INC won the seat in 1967. [cite web
url = http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1967/Statistical_report_WB1967.pdf
title = WB state assembly elections 1967 - Manteswar
accessdate = 2007-02-21
last =
first =
work =
publisher = Election Commission of India] Syed Abul Mansur Habibullah won the seat in 1962. [cite web
url = http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1962/StatRep_WB_1962.pdf
title = WB state assembly elections 1962 - Manteswar
accessdate = 2007-02-21
last =
first =
work =
publisher = Election Commission of India] Bhakta Chandra Roy (Indepenedent) won the seat in 1957. [cite web
url = http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1957/StatRep_WB_1957.pdf
title = WB state assembly elections 1957 - Manteswar
accessdate = 2007-02-21
last =
first =
work =
publisher = Election Commission of India] Ananda Prasad Mondal of INC won the seat in 1951. [cite web
url = http://eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_WestBengal.pdf
title = WB state assembly elections 1951 - Manteswar
accessdate = 2007-02-21
last =
first =
work =
publisher = Election Commission of India]

Manteswar is part of Katwa (Lok Sabha constituency). [ [http://genesys.eci.gov.in/fullcandidatelist/BGReports%5CAC_PC_District%5CDist_PC_AC_S25.pdf Election Commission of India - assembly segments] ]

Demographics

Manteswar community development block had an area of 305.40 km². In 2001, it had a population of 213,498, out of which 110,163 were males and 103,335 were females. No. of scheduled castes were 42,987 and the number of scheduled tribes were 42,723. Hindus formed 62.49% of the population and Muslims 37.32% of the population. [ [http://bardhaman.gov.in/blocks/monteswar.htm Official website of District Authorities] ]

Health

Manteswar 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] ]

External links

* [http://bardhaman.gov.in/blocks/blocks.htm District map showing blocks]
* [http://www.bardhaman.com/bigmap.htm Map of Bardhaman district]

References

ee also