Rajnagar, Birbhum

For other places with the same name, see Rajnagar.

Rajnagar
Census Town
Rajnagar Motichur Mosque
Rajnagar Location in West Bengal, India Show map of West Bengal Rajnagar Rajnagar (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 23°57′N87°19′E / 23.95°N 87.32°E / 23.95; 87.32
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Birbhum
Elevation	101 m (331 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	13,965
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	731130
Telephone code	03462
Vehicle registration	WB
Sex ratio	961 ♂/♀
Lok Sabha constituency	Birbhum
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Suri
Website	birbhum.nic.in

Rajnagar is a census town situated in the Rajnagar CD block within the Suri Sadar subdivision of Birbhum district in the Indian state of West Bengal. ^[1] Once the capital of Royal Kingdoms in the area, Rajnagar's significance declined with the fading away of the kingdoms.

History

Founded by Bir Singh, a Hindu Raja, Rajnagar fell under the control of Muhammad Shiran and Ali Mardan in the early 13th century. The district eventually came under Mughal administration, with the later Muslim Zamindars of Rajnagar, known as "Nagar Raj," being feudatories of the Mughals. The decline of the Nagar Raj began in the mid-18th century, marked by battles with the British and Marathas. ^[2]

Nagar Raj

Rajnagar Raj Palace in a ruined condition

Established by Jonad Khan in 1600, the Nagar Raj witnessed a period of autonomy during the rule of Asadullah Khan. However, subsequent rulers faced challenges, and by the early 19th century, Rajnagar had become a deserted town with dilapidated palaces and ruins. ^[3]

His son, Badi-uz-zaman Khan (1718–52) made an abortive attempt at shaking off the nominal allegiance to Murshidabad. He was invested with the title of Raja by Murshid Quli Khan. During his reign Birbhum was ravaged by the Marathas. They also overran Rajnagar. It was during the reign of his son, Asad-uz-Zaman Khan (1752-1777) that the Nagar Raj witnessed the zenith of its power and then started declining. The Raja was faithful to the Nawab and after the Battle of Plassey, was on bad terms with the British. He was defeated by the combined forces of the British and Mir Qasim in 1761. He fled, regrouped and fought back again. He was completely routed at the Battle of Hetampur in 1765. By a treaty, he was restored to his estate but much of his autonomy was lost. ^[4] In the course of time, they lost their supremacy to the Hetampur Raj. The British set up their district headquarters at Suri, and by the early 19th century, Rajnagar had been reduced to a deserted town with dilapidated palaces and ruins of habitation, and the forest slowly encroaching. ^[5]

Nostalgia

Despite the decline, the last Pathan ruler, Rafiqul Alam Khan, is still honored as the Raja during Muslim festivals. He wears a royal attire twice a year, connecting the present with the town's historical past.

Geography

8km
5miles

Ajay River

Bakreshwar
River

Mayurakshi
River

Tilpara
Barrage

B

Patharchapuri

R

Bakreshwar

RV

Deucha

R

Bara Chaturi

R

Nakrakonda

R

Abinashpur

R

Hetampur

R

Purandarpur

R

Angar Garia

R

BTPP Township

R

Kankartala

R

Khoyrasol

R

Panrui

R

Chandrapur

R

Lokpur

R

Mohammad Bazar

R

Dubrajpur

M

Sainthia

M

Suri

M

Rajnagar

CT

Ahmedpur

CT

Kalipur

CT

Karidhya

CT

  

Cities and towns in Suri Sadar subdivision of Birbhum district
M: municipal city/ town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, B: Barrage.
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

Rajnagar is located at 23°57′N87°19′E / 23.95°N 87.32°E / 23.95; 87.32 , with an average elevation of 101 m. It sits on ancient Archean rocks, receiving an annual rainfall of 1405 mm. The area has laterite soil, unsuitable for agriculture.

Suri, 25 km away, is connected by a road. ^[6]

Police station

Rajnagar police station has jurisdiction over Rajnagar CD block. ^{[7] [8]}

CD block HQ

The headquarters of Rajnagar CD block are located at Rajnagar. ^[9]

Demographics

As per the 2011 Census of India, Rajnagar had a total population of 13,965 of which 7,173 (51%) were males and 6,792 (49%) were females. Population below 6 years was 1,771. The total number of literates in Rajnagar was 8,845 (72.54% of the population over 6 years). ^[10]

Infrastructure

As per the District Census Handbook 2011, Rajnagar covered an area of 9.4773 km². It has 7 km roads and open drains. The major source of protected water supply is from bore well pumping. There are 1,923 domestic electric connections. Amongst the medical facilities it has are 3 medicine shops. Amongst the educational facilities it has are 7 primary schools, 1 secondary school and 1 senior secondary school. Amongst the recreational and cultural facilities it has 3 cinema theatres, 1 public library and 1 reading room. It has branches of 1 nationalised bank, 1 private commercial bank and 1 agricultural credit society. Amongst the commodities it produces are wooden furniture, lead industry and bamboo products. ^[11]

Economy

Proximity to the supply centres of raw material, as well as the royal court and an aristocratic community, gave rise to certain centres of cottage industries for cotton and tasar silk in the Tantipara-Bhabanipur-Karidhya zone. The famine of 1770 left both agriculture and industry in a bad shape. Trade also suffered. People had sunk to a depth of poverty which the magistrate of Birbhum emphatically said he had not seen anywhere in India. The Maratha raids of 1742-45 had earlier laid waste not only the countryside but also Rajnagar itself. ^[12]

Transport

Railway

The nearest railway station is Siuri.

Road

The State Highway 6 originates from Rajnagar. Buses are available in the town for larger cities like Suri, Bolpur etc.

Education

• Rajnagar Mahavidyalaya

Culture

Kalidaha

Places of interest

Motichur Terracotta mosque at Rajnagar

Kalidaha, a pond, is said to have been excavated by Hindu Rajas and dedicated to goddess Kali. There is an island in the middle of the pond. It is believed to have been connected with the palace through a tunnel. On three sides of Kalidaha tank there are the wings of the former palaces of Muslim Rajas. In front of the ruins of the Imambara stands a fine Mosque in a state of good preservation, which is still used by local Muslims. A little to the south are the ruins of another old mosque called the Motichur Masjid which had 12 towers but some have fallen down. This mosque was built of Terracotta and protected by Government of West Bengal. Other important sites to be mentioned are 'Nahabatkhana' of the Bir Rajas, and Fulbagan burial place of the Muslim Rajas. ^{[6] [13]}

Craft

The National Institute of Fashion Technology has trained almost 2000 artisans from various parts of Birbhum in handicraft and handloom as a part of its consolidated cluster development project undertaken in collaboration with the ministry of rural development and its counterpart in the state. Estimated at Rs 15 crore this project is underway in five selected parts of the country. The main project in the eastern zone was implemented in Bolpur, Nalhati, Ilambazar and Rajnagar. ^[14]

References

1. "BDO Rajnagar Block | Birbhum District, West Bengal, India | India" . Retrieved 9 April 2024.
2. "Bangla News|| ঐতিহ্যে ঠাসা বীরভূমের রাজনগর রাজবাড়ি, ইতিহাস গায়ে কাঁটা দেবে, গরম কমলে ঘুরে আসুন". News18 বাংলা (in Bengali). 20 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
3. AMITABHA GUPTA. "Tales of a palace" . Retrieved 9 April 2024.
4. Gupta, Dr. Ranjan Kumar, The Economic Life of a Bengal District: Birbhum 1770 – 1857, pp. 2 – 9, The University of Burdwan, 1984.
5. Gupta, Dr. Ranjan Kumar, p. 14
6. "Rajnagar". Birbhum district administration. Retrieved 17 September 2007.
7. "District Statistical Handbook 2008, Birbhum" (PDF). Table 2.1. Bureau of Applied Economics and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
8. "Birbhum Police". Police Stations. West Bengal Police. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
9. "District Census Handbook: Birbhum, Series 20, Part XII B" (PDF). Map of Birbhum with CD Block HQs and Police Stations (on the fourth page). Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal, 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
10. "2011 Census – Primary Census Abstract Data Tables". West Bengal – District-wise. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
11. "District Census Handbook Birbhum, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Section II Town Directory, Pages 1025- 1033. Directorate of Census Operations V, West Bengal. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
12. Gupta, Dr. Ranjan Kumar, pp. 14,20,26
13. Sarkar, Joydeep, Paryatan Boichitre Birbhum Jela, Paschim Banga, Birbhum Special Issue, February 2006, (in Bengali), p. 200, Information & Cultural Department, Government of West Bengal.
14. Roy Chowdhury, Amrita. "NIFT in a new role, to train artisans". The Statesman, 1 August 2005. Retrieved 17 September 2007.^{[ dead link ]}