Berachampa

Berachampa Berachanpa
Village
Berachampa Location in West Bengal, India Show map of West Bengal Berachampa Berachampa (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 22°42′N88°41′E / 22.70°N 88.69°E / 22.70; 88.69
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	North 24 Parganas
Government
• Type	Gram Panchayat | Zilla Parishad
• Body	Berachampa Gram Panchayat No. II
• Block Development Officer (BDO)	Anindya Bhattacharya
• Member of Parliament (MP)	Kakali Ghosh Dastidar
• Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA)	Rahima Mondal
• Zilla Parishad Member (ZPM)	Usha Das
Area
• Total	1.09 km2 (0.42 sq mi)
Elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	2,957
• Density	2,700/km2 (7,000/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Bengali
• Additional official	English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	743424
Telephone code	91 3216
Vehicle registration	WB26
Website	north24parganas.nic.in

Berachampa (also known as Berachanpa) is a village in the Deganga CD block in the Barasat Sadar subdivision in the Deganga CD block of the North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Etymology

The name derives from বেড়া (In English: Fence) and চাঁপা (In English: The flower Plumeria). There are multiple explanations on the etymology of this name. But the most accepted one is about Pir Gorachand of Haroa and a conflict with King Chandraketu.

Little is known about the early life of the princes Akananda and Bakananda. Satish Chandra Mitra however identified Akananda with his apparently uncorrupted name viz. Akshayananda.^{[ citation needed ]} Akananda and Bakananda were the sons of Mahidananda, the ruler of Hatiagarh. According to Dr. Girindranath Das, Akananda and Bakananda were two generals based at Hatiagarh, under the command of king Chandraketu. ^[4] According to Binay Ghosh, Akananda and Bakananda were either Poundra Kshatriyas or Byagra Kshatriyas by caste. ^[5]

History

The Bidyadhari River, which flows through the area, has been part of local life since time immemorial. The river was a major navigation route for early civilisations. In the 3rd century BCE, the nearby river port of Chandraketugarh was on the banks of this river. There are still signs of that era, and efforts are on near Berachampa to find more evidence of a lost civilization, possibly Mauryan. The source of the river is near Haringhata in Nadia. Later it meets the Raimangal at the confluence of Sundarbans. ^{[6] [7]}

Near Berachampa, there is the archeological site of Chandraketugarh, thought to be a part of the ancient kingdom Gangaridai that was first described by Ptolemy. The history of Chandraketugarh dates back to almost the 3rd century BCE, during the pre-Mauryan era. Artefacts suggest that the site was continuously inhabited and flourished through the Shunga-Kushana period, onwards through the Gupta period and finally into the Pala-Sena period. Archaeological studies suggest that Chandraketugarh was an important town and a port city. It had a high encircling wall complete with a rampart and moat. The residents were involved in various crafts and mercantile activities. Although the religious inclinations of the people are unclear, hints of the beginning of some future cults can be seen in the artefacts. Some of the potteries carry inscriptions in Kharoshthi and Brahmi scripts. ^[8]

Period	Dynasty	Year
Period I	Maurya	300–200 BCE
Period III	Shunga	200 BCE – 50 CE
Period IV	Kushan	50–300 CE
Period V	Gupta	300–500 CE
Period VI	Post-Gupta	500–750 CE
Period VII	Pala-Chandra-Sena	750–1250 CE

After these periods, there was no such example of any other civilization on the ruin of Chandraketugarh. Anyway, the history of Berachampa was same as the History of Bengal. The Deva dynasty, Ilyas Shahi dynasty, Ganesha dynasty and Hussain Shahi dynasty ruled this region finally before Mughal period started. After these periods, there was no such example of any other civilization on the ruin of Chandraketugarh. Anyway, the history of Berachampa was same as the History of Bengal. The Deva dynasty, Ilyas Shahi dynasty, Ganesha dynasty and Hussain Shahi dynasty ruled this region finally before Mughal period started. ^[9]

After the Battle of Plassey, the region came under British control and was a part of British India Bengal Presidency until India got its independence in 1947. The area was heavily used in the initial days of British occupancy for Indigo farming as the area is known to be full of highly fertile farming lands. ^[10]

This region witnessed migrations of Hindus and Muslims due to 1947 partition struggle and during 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

Geography

5km
3miles

Jamuna
River

Bidyadhari River

Shasan

R

Sabdalpur

R

Krishnapur Madanpur

R

Deganga

R

Chhota Jagulia

R

Berunanpukuria

R

Berachampa

R

Barbaria

R

Amdanga

R

Chandraketugarh

H

Madhyamgram

M

Habra

M

Ashoknagar Kalyangarh

M

Barasat

M

Shibalaya

CT

Sadpur

CT

Purbba Narayanpur

CT

Nokpul

CT

Maslandapur

CT

Kulberia

CT

Koyra

CT

Kokapur

CT

Khorddabamonia

CT

Joypul

CT

Guma

CT

Gobardanga

M

Gangapur

CT

Duttapukur

CT

Digha

CT

Dhania

CT

Deulia

CT

Deara

CT

Chatta Baria

CT

Chandrapur

CT

Chak Barbaria

CT

Bira

CT

Betpuli

CT

Bara Bamonia

CT

Bamangachhi

CT

Anarbaria

CT

  

Cities, towns and locations in Barasat subdivision, North 24 Parganas
M: municipal town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical centre
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly ^[11]

Location

Berachampa is located at 22°43'N 88°29'E. Berachampa is located in the Ganges Brahmaputra delta region in the district of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal state in eastern India. The village is roughly half-way between the towns of Barasat and Basirhat, approximately 34 kilometres (21 miles) from Kolkata. The area is very close to the Bangladesh border. ^{[12] [13]}

Climate

The climate is tropical, like the rest of West Bengal. A notable weather feature is the Monsoon season, which runs from early June to mid-September. The weather remains dry during the winter (mid-November to mid-February) and humid during summer. Typical temperature variations would be from 41 °C (106 °F) in May (high), to 11 °C (52 °F) in January (low). Relative humidity fluctuates between an average of 50% in March up to 96% in July. ^[13]

Area overview

The area covered in the map alongside is largely a part of the north Bidyadhari Plain. located in the lower Ganges Delta. ^[14] The country is flat. It is a little raised above flood level and the highest ground borders the river channels. ^[15] 54.67% of the people of the densely populated area lives in the urban areas and 45.33% lives in the rural areas. ^[16]

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Demographics

The mound of Khana-Mihir or Baraha-Mihir on Prithiba road, Berachampa.

According to the 2011 Census of India, Berachanpa had a total population of 2,957, of which 1,506 (51%) were males and 1,451 (49%) were females. Population in the age range 0-6 years was 279. The total number of literate persons in Berachanpa was 2,453 (91.60% of the population over 6 years). ^[17]

Others include Sikhism, Buddhism & Other religions

Religion in Berachampa [17]
Religion			Percent
Hinduism			73.5%
Islam			25.8%
Christianity			0.1%
Jainism			0.1%
Others			0.5%

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Languages spoken in Berachampa (2011 census) ^[18]

   Bengali (official) (87.9%)

   Hindi (8.3%)

   Urdu (2.5%)

   Odia (0.2%)

   Punjabi (0.2%)

   Nepali (0.1%)

  Others (0.4%)

Economy

Cotton weaving is the major industry in Berachampa; it is also an important trade center for goods such as rice, legumes, jute, sugar cane, potatoes, edible oil and coconuts. ^[11] Many small industries can be found in and around the town, especially metalworking factories and embroidery workshops. Retail is a major source of income for the town, with the main market located on Taki Road.

Farming is a vital occupation in Berachampa. The presence of many leading banks (State Bank of India, United Bank of India, Allahabad Bank, Axis Bank, etc.) and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LICI) offices also provide employment. Deganga BDO office, other administrative offices, schools and colleges are also providing employments to the local residents. ^[19]

Education

Schools

Binapani Balika Vidyalaya

• Berachampa Deulia Uchcha Vidyalaya
• Binapani Balika Vidyalaya
• Chowrashi High School
• Hadipur Adorsho Vidyalaya
• Deganga Karthikpur Adorsho Vidyapith
• Eajpur High Madrasah
• Rahmat-e-Alam Mission

Colleges

Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Polytechnic

• Chandraketugarh Sahidullah Smriti Mahavidyalaya was established at Berachampa in 1997. Affiliated with the West Bengal State University, it offers honors courses in Bengali, English, Sanskrit, Arabic, history, philosophy, education, political science, sociology and agriculture & rural development, and general courses in arts and science. The college has developed a "Chandraketugarh Museum". ^{[20] [21]}
• Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Polytechnic was approved in 1963. It offers diploma courses in civil, mechanical, electrical and electronics & telecommunication engineering. ^[22]
• Rahmat-E-Alam Mission, a modern Educational Institute. ^[23]

Healthcare

Berachampa is one of the areas where ground water is affected by arsenic contamination. ^[24]

The North 24 Parganas District Hospital is located in Barasat. Berachampa also has several privately operated nursing homes and hospitals, such as the United Nursing Home, Janoseva Nursing Home, Sundarban Nursing Home etc. The Block Primary Health Care facility is in Biswanathpur and Chakla, Kolsur and Hadipur Jhikra have primary health care facilities with only outdoor services. ^[25]

There is an Appollo Pharmacy and a lot of local medicine shops in Berachampa to get medicines. Pathology centers, private doctor's chambers are also there for non-emergency treatments. Most of online medicine providers serves the area for home delivery of medicines as well.

See also

• Barasat (Lok Sabha constituency)

References

1. "Census 2011 Deganga Block" (PDF). Census 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
2. "Deganga Block". North 24 Pgs Gov. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
3. "Deganga Block". North 24 Pgs Gov. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
4. Chakraborty, Dr. Barun Kumar (ed) (2007). Bangiya Loksanskriti Kosh. Aparna Book Distributors (Publishing Division), p. 143.
5. Ghosh, Binay (1980). Paschimbanger Sanskriti Volume III. Prakash Bhavan, p. 168.
6. Chatterjee, Rajib. "Health of Vidyadhari a cause for concern". The Statesman, 31 October 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
7. "Potential tourist hubs remain in obscurity". The Statesman, 22 April 2003. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
8. "Reference Study for Chandraketugarh". History of Bengal. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
9. "History of Bengal". India Today. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
10. "History of Bengal". Histropedia. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
11. "Census 2011" (PDF). Govt. of India. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
12. "Berachampa". India 9. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
13. "North 24 Pgs Govt". Govt of WB. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
14. "District Census Handbook North Twenty Four Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Page 13. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
15. LSS O’Malley (2009). Bengal District Gazetteers: 24 Parganas. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN   9788172681937 . Retrieved 3 May 2018.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
16. "District Statistical Handbook". North 24 Parganas 2013, Tables 2.1, 2.2, 2.4b. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
17. "C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA)". West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
18. 2011 Census censusindia.gov.in
19. "North 24 Pgs Govt". Govt of WB. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
20. "Chandraketugarh". CSSM. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
21. "Chandraketugarh Sahidullah Smriti Mahavidyalaya". College Admission. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
22. "Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Polytechnic". ICBSE. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
23. "Rahmat-E-Alam Educational & Welfare Trust". REW. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
24. "Groundwater Arsenic contamination in West Bengal-India (19 years study )". Groundwater arsenic contamination status of North 24-Parganas district, one of the nine arsenic affected districts of West Bengal-India. SOES. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2007.
25. "North 24 Pgs Govt". Govt of WB. Retrieved 19 May 2018.