Cossimbazar
Encyclopedia
Kasim Bazar or Cossimbazar, or Kasimbazar is a census town
in Murshidabad
in the India
n state
of West Bengal
. The town on the river Bhagirathi in the Murshidabad
district of West Bengal
, India
, at one time included in the Berhampore
municipality. In 1901 its population was just 1,262.
, Kasim Bazar had a population of 10,175. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Kasim Bazar has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 72%. In Kasim Bazar, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.
and Jalangi
, on which the city stands, as the island of Cossimbazar. The proximity of the factory to Murshidabad, the capital of the Nawabs of Bengal, while it was the main source of its wealth and of its political importance, exposed it to a constant risk of attack. Thus in 1757 it was the first East India Company
factory to be taken by Siraj-ud-dowlah, the Nawab; and the resident with his assistant Warren Hastings
were taken as prisoners to Murshidabad.
At the beginning of the 19th century the city still flourished; as late as 1811 it was described as famous for its silk
s, hosiery, koras and beautiful ivory work. However, its once healthy climate gradually worsened,and, probably because of endemic malaria
, the area of cultivated land round it shrank drasticly. Jungle took its place, and in 1813 its ruin was completed by a sudden change in the course of the Bhagirathi. A new channel formed 3 miles from the old town, leaving an evil-smelling swamp around the ancient wharves. Of its splendid buildings the fine palace of the Maharaja of Cossimbazar alone remained, the rest being in ruins or represented only by great mounds of earth. The first wife of Warren Hastings was buried at Cossimbazar, where her tomb with its inscription still remained in the early 20th century.
Census town
In India, a census town is one which has:# A minimum population of 5,000# At least 75% of male working population engaged in non-agricultural pursuits# A density of population of at least 400 persons per km2.In Ireland, a census town is;...
in Murshidabad
Murshidabad
Murshidabad is a city in Murshidabad district of West Bengal state in India. The city of Murshidabad is located on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi, a distributary of the Ganges River. It was the capital of undivided Bengal during the Mughal rule. Nawabs of Bengal used to rule Bengal from this...
in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
. The town on the river Bhagirathi in the Murshidabad
Murshidabad
Murshidabad is a city in Murshidabad district of West Bengal state in India. The city of Murshidabad is located on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi, a distributary of the Ganges River. It was the capital of undivided Bengal during the Mughal rule. Nawabs of Bengal used to rule Bengal from this...
district of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, at one time included in the Berhampore
Berhampore
Berhampore may refer to one of several places:*Baharampur, in West Bengal, India, formerly known as Berhampore *Berhampore, New Zealand, a suburb of WellingtonSee also:*Brahmapur, a City in Orissa, India...
municipality. In 1901 its population was just 1,262.
Geography
Cossimbazar is located at 24.12°N 88.28°E. It has an average elevation of 17 metres (56 feet).Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Kasim Bazar had a population of 10,175. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Kasim Bazar has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 72%. In Kasim Bazar, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.
History
Though the history of the place cannot be traced back earlier than the 17th century, it was of great importance long before the foundation of Murshidabad. From the first European traders set up factories here, and after the ruin of Satgaon by the silting up of the mouth of the Saraswati river it gained a position, as the great trading centre of Bengal, which was not challenged until after the foundation of Calcutta. In 1658 the first English agent was established at Cossimbazar, and in 1667 the chief of the factory there became an ex-officio member of council. In English documents of this period, and till the early 19th century, the Bhagirathi was described as the “Cossimbazar river”, and the triangular piece of land between the Bhagirathi, PadmaPadma River
The Padma is a major trans-boundary river in Bangladesh. It is the main distributary of the Ganges , which originates in the Himalayas. The Padma enters Bangladesh from India near Chapai Nababganj...
and Jalangi
Jalangi River
Jalangi River , is a branch of the Ganges in Murshidabad and Nadia districts in the Indian state of West Bengal. The Jalangi and the Mathabhanga flow into the Bhagirathi-Hooghly and strengthens its lower channel, the Hooghly....
, on which the city stands, as the island of Cossimbazar. The proximity of the factory to Murshidabad, the capital of the Nawabs of Bengal, while it was the main source of its wealth and of its political importance, exposed it to a constant risk of attack. Thus in 1757 it was the first East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
factory to be taken by Siraj-ud-dowlah, the Nawab; and the resident with his assistant Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings PC was the first Governor-General of India, from 1773 to 1785. He was famously accused of corruption in an impeachment in 1787, but was acquitted in 1795. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1814.-Early life:...
were taken as prisoners to Murshidabad.
At the beginning of the 19th century the city still flourished; as late as 1811 it was described as famous for its silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
s, hosiery, koras and beautiful ivory work. However, its once healthy climate gradually worsened,and, probably because of endemic malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, the area of cultivated land round it shrank drasticly. Jungle took its place, and in 1813 its ruin was completed by a sudden change in the course of the Bhagirathi. A new channel formed 3 miles from the old town, leaving an evil-smelling swamp around the ancient wharves. Of its splendid buildings the fine palace of the Maharaja of Cossimbazar alone remained, the rest being in ruins or represented only by great mounds of earth. The first wife of Warren Hastings was buried at Cossimbazar, where her tomb with its inscription still remained in the early 20th century.