South 24 Parganas Explained

South 24 Parganas
Settlement Type:District
Total Type:Total
Mapsize:300
Coordinates:22.1815°N 88.5378°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1: West Bengal
Subdivision Type2:Division
Subdivision Name2:Presidency
Established Title:Established
Seat Type:Headquarters
Seat:Alipore
Parts Type:Tehsils
Parts Style:para
Area Total Km2:9960
Population As Of:2011
Population Total:8161961
Population Urban:2,087,773
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Demographics
Demographics1 Title1:Literacy
Demographics1 Info1:78.57 per cent
Demographics1 Title2:Sex ratio
Demographics1 Info2:949 /
Demographics Type2:Languages
Demographics2 Title1:Official
Demographics2 Info1:Bengali[1] [2]
Demographics2 Title2:Additional official
Demographics2 Info2:English
Leader Title:Subdivisions
Leader Name:Alipore Sadar, Baruipur, Canning, Diamond Harbour, Kakdwip
Leader Title1:CD Blocks
Leader Name1:Thakurpukur Maheshtala, Budge Budge I, Budge Budge II, Bishnupur I, Bishnupur II, Bhangar I, Bhangar II, Sonarpur, Baruipur, Jaynagar I, Jaynagar II, Kultali, Canning I, Canning II, Basanti, Gosaba, Falta, Magrahat I, Magrahat II, Diamond Harbour I, Diamond Harbour II, Mandirbazar, Mathurapur I, Mathurapur II, Kulpi, Kakdwip, Namkhana, Patharpratima, Sagar
Leader Title2:Lok Sabha constituencies
Leader Name2:Jaynagar (SC), Mathurapur (SC), Diamond Harbour, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin
Leader Title3:Vidhan Sabha constituencies
Leader Name3:Gosaba (SC), Basanti (SC), Kultali (SC), Patharpratima, Kakdwip, Sagar, Kulpi, Raidighi, Mandirbazar (SC), Jaynagar (SC), Baruipur Purba (SC), Canning Paschim (SC), Canning Purba, Baruipur Paschim, Magrahat Purba (SC), Magrahat Paschim, Diamond Harbour, Falta, Satgachia, Bishnupur (SC), Sonarpur Dakshin, Bhangar, Sonarpur Uttar, Behala Purba, Maheshtala, Budge Budge, Metiaburuz, Jadavpur, Tollyganj, Kasba, Behala Paschim
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+05:30
Blank Name Sec1:Major highways
Blank Info Sec1:NH-12, SH-1, SH-3
Blank Name Sec2:Average annual precipitation
Blank Info Sec2:1750 mm

South 24 Parganas (Pron: pɔrɡɔnɔs; abbr. 24 PGS (S)), or sometimes South Twenty Four Parganas and Dakshin 24 Parganas, is a district in the Indian state of West Bengal, headquartered in Alipore. It is the largest district of West Bengal by area and second largest by population. It is the sixth most populous district in India (out of 640). On one side of the district there is the urban fringe of Kolkata, and on the other the remote riverine villages in the Sundarbans.[3]

History

Originally, the capital of Raja Bikramaditya and Maharaja Pratapaditya was at Dhumghat. Later it was transferred to Ishwaripur (Originated from the name Jeshoreshwaripur). Maharaja Pratapaditya declared the independence of South Bengal from the Mughal Empire.

Pratapaditya's father Shrihari (Shridhar), a Kayastha, was an influential officer in the service of Daud Khan Karrani. Upon the fall of Daud, he fled with the government treasure in his custody. He then, in 1574, set up a kingdom for himself in the marshy land to the extreme south of Khulna district and took the title of Maharaja. Pratapaditya inherited the kingship in 1574. The Baharistan and travel diary of Abdul Latif, and the contemporary European writers, testify to Pratapaditya's personal ability, political pre-eminence, material resources and martial strength, particularly in war-boats. His territories covered the greater part of what is now included in the greater Jessore, Khulna and Barisal districts. He established his capital at Dhumghat, a strategic position at the confluence of the Jamuna and Ichhamati rivers.

Among the Bengal zamindars, Pratapaditya was the first to send his envoy to Islam Khan Chisti with a large gift to win the favour of the Mughals, and then, in 1609, tendered personal submission to the Subahdar. He promised military assistance and personal service in the Mughal campaign against Musa Khan, a pledge he did not keep. To punish Pratapaditya for his disloyalty and to subjugate his territory, a large expedition was launched under the command of Ghiyas Khan, which soon reached Salka, near the confluence of the Jamuna and Ichhamati, in 1611. Pratapaditya equipped a strong army and fleet and placed them under expert officers. His eldest son Udayaditya constructed an almost impregnable fort at Salka with natural barriers on three sides. In battle, the Jessore fleet gained an initial advantage but the imperial army cut off the Jessore fleet, made a breach in its ranks and broke its unity and discipline. In the melee that followed, the admiral, Khwaja Kamal, was killed. Udayaditya lost heart and hastily fled to his father, narrowly escaping capture.

Pratapaditya prepared himself to fight a second time from a new base near the confluence of the Kagarghat canal and the Jamuna river. He constructed a fort and gathered all his available forces there. The imperialists began the battle on January, 1612 with an attack on the Jessore fleet, compelling it to seek shelter beneath the fort. But their advance was checked by the heavy cannonade of the Jessore artillery. However, a sudden attack by the imperialists completely defeated the Jessore fleet and they fell upon the fort with elephants in front, compelling Pratapaditya to evacuate the fort and retreat.

This second defeat sealed the fate of Pratapaditya. At Kagarghat he tendered submission to Ghiyas Khan, who personally escorted Pratapaditya to Islam Khan at Dhaka. The Jessore king was put in chains and his kingdom was annexed. Pratapaditya was kept confined at Dhaka. No authentic information is available regarding his last days, however, he probably died as a prisoner at Benares, on his way to Delhi.[4]

Administration

See also: List of subdivisions of West Bengal. The district comprises five subdivisions: Alipore Sadar, Baruipur, Canning, Diamond Harbour and Kakdwip.[5]

Alipore is the district headquarters. There are 33 police stations, 29 community development blocks, 7 municipalities and 312 gram panchayats in the district.[6]

Other than the municipality areas, each subdivision contains community development blocks which in turn are divided into rural areas and census towns. In total there are 118 urban units: 7 municipalities and 111 census towns.[7] [8]

Alipore Sadar Subdivision

See main article: Alipore Sadar subdivision. The Alipore Sadar subdivision consists of:[5]

Baruipur Subdivision

See main article: Baruipur subdivision. The Baruipur subdivision consists of:

Canning Subdivision

See main article: Canning subdivision. The Canning subdivision consists of:

Diamond Harbour Subdivision

See main article: Diamond Harbour subdivision. The Diamond Harbour subdivision consists of:

Kakdwip Subdivision

See main article: Kakdwip subdivision. The Kakdwip subdivision consists of:

Representation

Parliamentary Constituencies

The district has five parliamentary constituencies:

  1. Jaynagar (SC) (parliamentary constituency no. 19)
  2. Mathurapur (SC) (parliamentary constituency no. 20)
  3. Diamond Harbour (parliamentary constituency no. 21)
  4. Jadavpur (parliamentary constituency no. 22)
  5. Kolkata Dakshin (parliamentary constituency no. 23)

Assembly Constituencies

1997 to 2008

Based on the 1991 census, the district was divided into thirty-two legislative assembly constituencies

  1. Gosaba (SC) (assembly constituency no. 100)
  2. Basanti (SC) (assembly constituency no. 101)
  3. Kultali (SC) (assembly constituency no. 102)
  4. Jaynagar (assembly constituency no. 103)
  5. Baruipur (assembly constituency no. 104)
  6. Canning Paschim (SC) (assembly constituency no. 105)
  7. Canning Purba (assembly constituency no. 106)
  8. Bhangar (assembly constituency no. 107)
  9. Sonarpur (SC) (assembly constituency no. 109)
  10. Bishnupur Purba (SC) (assembly constituency no. 110)
  11. Bishnupur Paschim (assembly constituency no. 111)
  12. Behala Purba (assembly constituency no. 112)
  13. Behala Paschim (assembly constituency no. 113)
  14. Garden Reach (assembly constituency no. 114)
  15. Maheshtala (assembly constituency no. 115)
  16. Budge Budge (assembly constituency no. 116)
  17. Satgachhia (assembly constituency no. 117)
  18. Falta (assembly constituency no. 118)
  19. Diamond Harbour (assembly constituency no. 119)
  20. Magrahat Paschim (assembly constituency no. 120)
  21. Magrahat Purba (SC) (assembly constituency no. 121)
  22. Mandirbazar (SC) (assembly constituency no. 122)
  23. Mathurapur (assembly constituency no. 123)
  24. Kulpi (SC) (assembly constituency no. 124)
  25. Patharpratima (assembly constituency no. 125)
  26. Kakdwip (assembly constituency no. 126)
  27. Sagar (assembly constituency no. 127)
  28. Jadavpur (assembly constituency no. 108)
  29. Tollyganj (assembly constituency no. 150)
  30. Alipore (assembly constituency no. 148)
  31. Dhakuria (assembly constituency no. 151)
  32. Kabitirtha (assembly constituency no. 147)

Gosaba, Basanti, Kultali, Canning Paschim, Sonarpur, Bishnupur Purba, Magrahat Purba, Mandirbazar and Kulpi constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates. Along with one assembly constituency from North 24 Parganas district, Gosaba, Basanti, Kultali, Jaynagar, Canning Paschim and Canning Purba assembly constituencies form the Jaynagar (Lok Sabha constituency), which is reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). Baruipur, Bishnupur Purba, Kabitirtha, Jadavpur, Behala Paschim, Behala Purba and Magrahat Paschim constituencies form the Jadavpur (Lok Sabha constituency). Bishnupur Paschim, Garden Reach, Maheshtala, Budge Budge, Satgachhia, Falta and Diamond Harbour constituencies form the Diamond Harbour (Lok Sabha constituency). Magrahat Purba, Mandirbazar, Mathurapur, Kulpi, Patharpratima, Kakdwip and Sagar constituencies form the Mathurapur (Lok Sabha constituency), which is reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC). Along with six assembly segments from North 24 Parganas district, Bhangar assembly constituency forms the Basirhat (Lok Sabha constituency). Along with three assembly constituencies from Kolkata district, Alipore, Dhakuria, Tollyganj, Sonarpur form the Kolkata Dakshin (Lok Sabha constituency).

2008 to Date

In the 2008 order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in the West Bengal, the district was divided into thirty-one assembly constituencies. Baruipur Purba, Basanti, Bishnupur, Canning Paschim, Gosaba, Kultali, Jaynagar, Magrahat Purba and Mandirbazar constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates.[9] [10]

S No.NameLok Sabha constituencyMLAParty
127Gosaba (SC)JaynagarSubrata Mondal
128Basanti (SC)Shyamal Mondal
129Kultali (SC)Ganesh Chandra Mondal
130PatharpratimaMathurapurSamir Kumar Jana
131KakdwipManturam Pakhira
132SagarBankim Chandra Hazra
133KulpiJogaranjan Halder
134RaidighiAloke Jaldata
135Mandirbazar (SC)Joydeb Halder
136Jaynagar (SC)JaynagarBiswanath Das
137Baruipur Purba (SC)JadavpurBivas Sardar
138Canning Paschim (SC)JaynagarParesh Ram Das
139Canning PurbaSaokat Molla
140Baruipur PaschimJadavpurBiman Banerjee
141Magrahat Purba (SC)JaynagarNamita Saha
142Magrahat PaschimMathurapurGiasuddin Molla
143Diamond HarbourDiamond HarbourPannalal Halder
144FaltaSankar Kumar Naskar
145SatgachiaMohan Chandra Naskar
146Bishnupur (SC)Dilip Mondal
147Sonarpur DakshinJadavpurArundhuti Maitra
148BhangarMd. Nawsad Siddique
149KasbaKolkata DakshinJaved Ahmed Khan
150JadavpurJadavpurDebabrata Majumdar
151Sonarpur UttarFirdousi Begum
152TollygungeAroop Biswas
153Behala PurbaKolkata DakshinRatna Chatterjee
154Behala PaschimPartha Chatterjee
155MaheshtalaDiamond HarbourDulal Chandra Das
156Budge BudgeAshok Kumar Deb
157MetiaburuzAbdul Khaleque Molla

Demographics

See also: List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate. According to the 2011 census of India, South 24 Parganas district had a total population of 8,161,961, roughly equal to the nation of Honduras[11] or the US state of Virginia.[12] This made in the 6th most populous district in India out of a total of 640. The district had a population density of 819PD/sqkm. Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 18.05%. South 24 Parganas had a sex ratio of 949 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 78.57%. 25.58% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 24,64,032 (30.19%) and 96,976 (1.19%) of the population respectively.

Religion

Religion in present-day South 24 Parganas district!Religion!Population (1941)[13] !Percentage (1941)!Population (2011)[14] !Percentage (2011)
1,198,84770.14%5,155,54564.25%
485,79128.43%2,903,07534.57%
13,4480.79%66,4980.81%
Tribal religion 10,0780.59%6,0650.07%
Others 1,1320.05%39,0520.38%
Total Population1,709,296100%8,161,961100%
Population by religion in CD blocks!CD Block!Hindu!Muslim!Other
Thakurpukur Mahestola67.32%26.64%6.04%
Budge Budge I54.41%45.39%0.20%
Budge Budge II67.55%32.23%0.22%
Bishnupur I63.54%31.08%5.38%
Bishnupur II62.92%36.59%0.48%
Sonarpur82.49%14.91%2.59%
Bhangar I33.38%66.38%0.24%
Bhangar II31.26%68.49%0.24%
Canning I63.97%35.49%0.53%
Canning II34.08%65.08%0.75%
Baruipur62.87%34.96%2.17%
Magrahat II49.60%50.01%0.39%
Magrahat I43.44%54.80%1.76%
Falta64.86%35.00%0.13%
Diamond Harbour I47.72%52.16%0.12%
Diamond Harbour II59.77%39.68%0.55%
Kulpi61.25%38.50%0.53%
Mandirbazar62.03%37.65%0.32%
Mathurapur I59.44%40.41%0.15%
Jaynagar I53.65%45.86%0.49%
Jaynagar II48.03%51.23%0.74%
Kultali69.81%29.86%0.34%
Basanti53.48%43.87%2.64%
Gosaba88.06%8.63%3.31%
Mathurapur II82.08%15.37%2.55%
Kakdwip82.37%17.09%0.54%
Sagar87.88%11.73%0.38%
Namkhana85.97%13.88%0.15%
Patharpratima88.91%10.72%0.37%
Area not under any Sub-district73.91%24.97%1.12%
Hindus are the majority community in most of the district. Scheduled Castes make up nearly half the Hindu population and the majority of rural Hindus. The most populous Scheduled Castes are Poundras and Namashudras. The proportion of Hindus is maximum in the coastal south of the district, especially in the Sunderbans bordering Bangladesh.[14]

Muslims have a greater concentration in the north and west of the district, especially in the rural areas surrounding Kolkata. Christians are also present in small numbers, and have their highest concentration in Thakurpukur Maheshtola where they are 8.84% of the rural population.[14]

Language

Nearly the entire population speaks Bengali. There is a small number of Hindi speakers who live in the suburbs of Kolkata.[15]

Flora and fauna

In 1984, South 24 Parganas district became home to Sundarbans National Park, which has an area of 1330abbr=onNaNabbr=on.[16] It shares the park with North 24 Parganas district and is also home to four wildlife sanctuaries: Haliday Island, Lothian Island, Narendrapur, and Sajnekhali.[17]

Sundarbans, formerly Sunderbunds, is a vast tract of forest and saltwater swamp forming the lower part of the Ganges Delta and extending about 260km (160miles) along the Bay of Bengal from the Hooghly River Estuary in the north to the Meghna River Estuary in Bangladesh in the east. The whole tract reaches inland for 100 to 130 kilometres (60– to 80 miles).

A network of estuaries, tidal rivers, and creeks intersected by numerous channels, it encloses flat, marshy islands covered with dense forests. The name Sundarbans is perhaps derived from the word meaning "forest of sundari," a reference to the large mangrove tree that provides valuable fuel. Along the coast the forest passes into a mangrove swamp; the southern region, with numerous wild animals and crocodile-infested estuaries, is virtually uninhabited. It is one of the last preserves of the Royal Bengal tiger and the site of a tiger preservation project. The cultivated northern area yields rice, sugarcane, timber, and betel nuts.

The region is also famous for some commonly domesticated livestock breeds which includes the Garole breed of sheep and China hens or Muscovy ducks, the Garole sheep is considered as the progenitor of the Booroola merino sheep and is noted for its prolific character. However, the wool of the sheep which can be a valuable natural asset does not find any use among the natives. Bakkhali beach resort, located on one of the islands jutting out into the Bay of Bengal, is gaining in popularity, with improvements in transport links with Kolkata. The area has been declared as world heritage site by the UNESCO. Boat tours are provided at many places in the region.

Economy

Agriculture, Industry and Pisciculture are all at their peak in the district. On the west side of the district is the Falta Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which houses various types of industry.

In 2006, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named South 24 Parganas one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).

Education

South 24 Parganas district had a literacy rate of 77.51% as per the provisional figures of the census of India 2011. Alipore Sadar subdivision had a literacy rate of 81.14%, Baruipur subdivision 77.45%, Canning subdivision 70.98%, Diamond Harbour subdivision 76.26% and Kakdwip subdivision 82.04%[18] Given in the table below (data in numbers) is a comprehensive picture of the education scenario in South 24 Parganas district, with data for the year 2013–14:[18]

SubdivisionPrimary
School
Middle
School
High
School
Higher Secondary
School
General
College, Univ
Technical /
Professional Instt
Non-formal
Education
InstitutionStudentInstitutionStudentInstitutionStudentInstitutionStudentInstitutionStudentInstitutionStudentInstitutionStudent
Alipore Sadar53153,719344,4555016,4719166,81358,12263,0941,37953,429
Baruipur883132,649658,9545026,443128129,195827,65776,7353,116138,507
Canning53281,697599,1812910,5155557,92145,4901n/a2,10596,622
Diamond Harbour1,212116,407616,6809838,470145113,147720,06151,7743,140137,378
Kakdwip59853,058455,6544820,3838256,19235,42011001,84478,897
South 24 Parganas district3,756437,53026434,924275118,282501423,2682766,7502011,70311,584504,833
.* Does not include data for portions of South 24 Parganas district functioning under Kolkata Municipal Corporation

Healthcare

The table below (all data in numbers) presents an overview of the medical facilities available and patients treated in the hospitals, health centres and sub-centres in 2014 in South 24 Parganas district.[19]

SubdivisionHealth & Family Welfare Deptt, WB Other
State
Govt
Deptts
Local
bodies
Central
Govt
Deptts /
PSUs
NGO /
Private
Nursing
Homes
TotalTotal
Number
of
Beds
Total
Number
of
Doctors
Indoor
Patients
Outdoor
Patients
Hospitals
Rural
Hospitals
Block
Primary
Health
Centres
Primary
Health
Centres
Alipore Sadar-33713style="text-align:center;"-48651,15919933,498633,233
Baruipur16118style="text-align:center;"-2style="text-align:center;"-66941,04520148,1141,266,244
Canning1316style="text-align:center;"-style="text-align:center;"-style="text-align:center;"-15263514922,467666,377
Diamond Harbour16317style="text-align:center;"-style="text-align:center;"-style="text-align:center;"-6895107716965,0511,325,535
Kakdwip13111style="text-align:center;"-style="text-align:center;"-style="text-align:center;"-20364587328,707405,501
South 24 Parganas district42195915style="text-align:center;"-2173164,090691197,8374,397,890
Note: The district data does not include data for portions of South 24 Parganas district functioning under Kolkata Municipal Corporation. The number of doctors exclude private bodies.

Notable People

Freedom Fighters

Social Reformer

Sports

Advocates

Music

Writer

Film Personality

Filmmaker

Dance

Physicians

Religious Scholars

Others

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fact and Figures. Wb.gov.in. 5 July 2019.
  2. Web site: 52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India. Nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. 5 July 2019. 85. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf. 25 May 2017.
  3. Web site: 2011 . District Census Handbook: South 24 Parganas . censusindia.gov.in . Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  4. Muazzam Hussain Khan (Banglapedia)
  5. Web site: Directory of District, Sub division, Panchayat Samiti/ Block and Gram Panchayats in West Bengal. National Informatics Centre, India. 19 March 2008. 3 December 2008.
  6. Web site: District Profile . Official website of South 24 Parganas district . 3 December 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090207074231/http://s24pgs.gov.in/main_Dist_Profile.htm . 7 February 2009.
  7. Web site: Population, Decadal Growth Rate, Density and General Sex Ratio by Residence and Sex, West Bengal/ District/ Sub District, 1991 and 2001 . 3 December 2008 . West Bengal . Directorate of census operations . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110719041523/http://web.cmc.net.in/wbcensus/DataTables/02/Table4_18.htm . 19 July 2011.
  8. Web site: Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011 . 26 April 2016 . Constituents of Urban Agglomeration Having Population Above 1 Lakh . Census of India 2011.
  9. Web site: Press Note, Delimitation Commission. 21 November 2008. Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal. Delimitation Commission. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130529163454/http://wb.gov.in/BanglarMukh/Download?AlfrescoPath=WebContent%2FDepartments%2FHome%2FOther_Documents&FileName=DELIMITATION.pdf. 29 May 2013.
  10. Web site: Electors Details as on 30-10-2010: South 24 Parganas. South 24 Parganas District. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130529011629/http://www.s24pgs.gov.in/election/doc/electors%20details.pdf. 29 May 2013.
  11. Web site: US Directorate of Intelligence . Country Comparison:Population . https://web.archive.org/web/20070613004507/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html . dead . 13 June 2007 . 1 October 2011 . Honduras 8,143,564 .
  12. Web site: 2010 Resident Population Data . U. S. Census Bureau . 30 September 2011 . Virginia 8,001,024 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131019160532/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php . 19 October 2013.
  13. Web site: CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME VI BENGAL PROVINCE . 13 August 2022.
  14. Web site: 2011 . Table C-01 Population by Religion: West Bengal . censusindia.gov.in . Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  15. Web site: Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: West Bengal . www.censusindia.gov.in . Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  16. Web site: Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment. Protected areas: West Bengal.
  17. Web site: Protected Area Network in India. 1 September 2011. Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
  18. Web site: District Statistical Handbook 2014 South Twenty-four Parganas . Basic data: Table 4.4, 4.5, Clarifications: other related tables . Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal . 29 October 2019 .
  19. Web site: District Statistical Handbook 2014 South Twenty-four Parganas . Table 3.1, 3.3 . Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal . 29 October 2019.