Raina, Bardhaman
Encyclopedia
Raina I (also spelled Rayna and called Rainagar) is an administrative division in Bardhaman Sadar South subdivision
of Bardhaman district
in the India
n state
of West Bengal
. Raina and Madhabdihi police stations serve this block. Headquarters of this block is at Shyamsundar.
Raina I community development block
has an area of 266.44 km2.
Unlike the rest of Bardhaman district, which lies to the north of the Damodar River
, the Khandaghosh-Jamalpur-Raina area lies on the alluvial plains between the Damodar on its southern/ eastern side and the Dwarakeswar River
. As a result, it has been a flood prone area.
It is from this area that the Mundeswari River
originates. The small Ratnela khal also originates in the region and later flows in to the Ghia river in Hooghly district
.
s of Raina I block/panchayat samiti
are: Hijalna, Mugura, Narugram, Natu, Palasan, Raina, Sehara and Shyamsundar.
Permanent Settlement
, parganas of the earlier period were converted into ‘thanas’ or police stations. As early as 1860, there is mention of Jahanabad (subsequently renamed Arambag
), Kotulpur, Goghat and Raina police stations in Jahanabad subdivision. In Peterson’s District Gazeteer of 1910 there is mention of Raina and other police stations in Bardhaman subdivision.
In 1968-69, Raina and other blocks were created.
was involved in Swadeshi dacoities in Meral, Mirzapur and Bogra in the area.Damodar floods wrought havoc in the area and Dasarathi Tah initiated the ‘Nakrah hana embankment movement’ and even published a weekly newspaper named Damodar to focus on the problems faced by the people. In 1948, Raina witnessed the ‘Tebhaga movement’, where share croppers demanded a higher share of the crops they grew. The movement was led by Benoy Choudhury
and Bipadtaran Roy.
Scheduled castes at 54,462 formed around one-third the population. Scheduled tribes numbered 9,808.
was the railway minister in the NDA government. The plans were to convert the old track to a broad gauge one and connect it with the Howrah Burdwan chord line near Masagram
. The work was scheduled to be completed in three phases:Bankura-Sonamukhi
, Sonamukhi-Rainagar, and Rainagar-Masagram.
The 41 kilometres (25.5 mi) long Bankura-Sonamukhi broad gauge section was completed and opened to the public in 2005.The 55 kilometres (34.2 mi) long Sonamukhi-Rainagar broad gauge section was completed and opened to the public in 2008.
Bardhaman Sadar South subdivision
Bardhaman Sadar South subdivision is a subdivision of the Bardhaman district in the state of West Bengal, India. It consists of Memari municipality and six community development blocks: Khandaghosh, Jamalpur, Memari–I, Memari –II, Raina–I and Raina–II. The six blocks...
of Bardhaman district
Bardhaman District
'Bardhaman district is a district in West Bengal. The headquarter of the district is Bardhaman, though it houses other important industrial towns like Durgapur and Asansol...
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...
. Raina and Madhabdihi police stations serve this block. Headquarters of this block is at Shyamsundar.
Geography
Raina is located at 23.0685°N 87.9062°E.Raina I community development block
Community Development Block in India
The Community development block is a rural area earmarked for administration and development in India. The area is administered by a Block Development Officer...
has an area of 266.44 km2.
Unlike the rest of Bardhaman district, which lies to the north of the Damodar River
Damodar River
Damodar River originates near Chandwa village, Palamau district, on the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Jharkhand state in eastern India, and flows eastward for about 592 km through the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal to the estaury of the River Hooghly...
, the Khandaghosh-Jamalpur-Raina area lies on the alluvial plains between the Damodar on its southern/ eastern side and the Dwarakeswar River
Dwarakeswar River
Dwarakeswar River is a major river in the western part of West Bengal.-Course:It originates from Tilboni hill in Purulia district and enters Bankura district near Chhatna. It cuts across the district flowing past the district head quarters and enters the south-eastern tip of Bardhaman District...
. As a result, it has been a flood prone area.
It is from this area that the Mundeswari River
Mundeswari River
Mundeswari river is a small river in West Bengal which causes floods in Hooghly, Purba Medinipur and Howrah districts during the monsoons. Any discharge above 70,000 ft³/s downstream of Durgapur Barrage may cause flooding depending on the outfall condition of the Mundeswari at Harinkhola...
originates. The small Ratnela khal also originates in the region and later flows in to the Ghia river in Hooghly district
Hooghly District
Hooghly district is one of the districts of the state of West Bengal in India. It can alternatively be spelt Hoogli or Hugli. The district is named after the Hooghly River.The headquarters of the district are at Chinsura...
.
Gram panchayats
Gram panchayatGram panchayat
Gram panchayats are local self-governments at the village or small town level in India. As of 2002 there were about 265,000 gram panchayats in India. The gram panchayat is the foundation of the Panchayat System. A gram panchayat can be set up in villages with minimum population of 300...
s of Raina I block/panchayat samiti
Panchayat samiti
Panchayat samiti is a local government body at the tehsil or Taluka level in India. It works for the villages of the Tehsil or Taluka that together are called a Development Block. The Panchayat Samiti is the link between the Gram Panchayat and the district administration. There are a number of...
are: Hijalna, Mugura, Narugram, Natu, Palasan, Raina, Sehara and Shyamsundar.
Administrative set up
Subsequent to Lord Cornwallis’Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis KG , styled Viscount Brome between 1753 and 1762 and known as The Earl Cornwallis between 1762 and 1792, was a British Army officer and colonial administrator...
Permanent Settlement
Permanent Settlement
The Permanent Settlement — also known as the Permanent Settlement of Bengal — was an agreement between the East India Company and Bengali landlords to fix revenues to be raised from land, with far-reaching consequences for both agricultural methods and productivity in the entire Empire and the...
, parganas of the earlier period were converted into ‘thanas’ or police stations. As early as 1860, there is mention of Jahanabad (subsequently renamed Arambag
Arambag
Arambag is a town and a municipality in Hooghly district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the head quarter of Arambagh subdivision.-Geography:...
), Kotulpur, Goghat and Raina police stations in Jahanabad subdivision. In Peterson’s District Gazeteer of 1910 there is mention of Raina and other police stations in Bardhaman subdivision.
In 1968-69, Raina and other blocks were created.
Movements
In 1933, independence activist Dasarathi TahDasarathi Tah
Dasarathi Tah was a politician and journalist in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Early life:Dasarathi Tah did not have the benefit of any formal education and was a completely self-educated person...
was involved in Swadeshi dacoities in Meral, Mirzapur and Bogra in the area.Damodar floods wrought havoc in the area and Dasarathi Tah initiated the ‘Nakrah hana embankment movement’ and even published a weekly newspaper named Damodar to focus on the problems faced by the people. In 1948, Raina witnessed the ‘Tebhaga movement’, where share croppers demanded a higher share of the crops they grew. The movement was led by Benoy Choudhury
Benoy Choudhury
Benoy Choudhury was a revolutionary freedom fighter and politician, belonging to the CPI, who played a major role in land reforms in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Early life:...
and Bipadtaran Roy.
Demographics
As per 2001 census, Raina I block had a total population of 162,921, out of which 83,633 were males and 79,288 were females. Raina I block registered a population growth of 13.71 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for Bardhaman district was 14.36 per cent.Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.Scheduled castes at 54,462 formed around one-third the population. Scheduled tribes numbered 9,808.
Literacy
As per 2001 census, Raina I block had a total literacy of 74.69 per cent for the 6+ age group. While male literacy was 83.01 per cent female literacy was 65.88 per cent. Bardhaman district had a total literacy of 70.18 per cent, male literacy being 78.63 per cent and female literacy being 60.95 per cent.Education
The Raina area has not lagged behind in education. In 1838, a survey by Adams revealed that there were 190 Sanskrit tols in Bardhaman district. Out of this 13 were in Raina. The same report also mentioned Persian schools in the area.In 1947, at the time of independence there were only three colleges in Bardhaman district – at Bardhaman, Kalna and Asansol. Shyamsundar College at Raina was established in 1948.Transport
Bankura Damodar Railway was planned to be revived when Mamata BanerjeeMamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee is the 11th and current chief minister of the Indian state of West Bengal. She is the first woman to hold the office. Banerjee founded All India Trinamool Congress in 1997 and became chairperson, after separating from the Indian National Congress...
was the railway minister in the NDA government. The plans were to convert the old track to a broad gauge one and connect it with the Howrah Burdwan chord line near Masagram
Masagram
Masagram is a village in Ajhapur gram panchayat of Jamalpur block in Bardhaman Sadar South subdivision of Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Geography:Masagram is located at .It is located near the banks of the Damodar River...
. The work was scheduled to be completed in three phases:Bankura-Sonamukhi
Sonamukhi
Sonamukhi is a town and a municipality in Bankura District in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Geography:Sonamukhi is located at . It has an average elevation of 66 metres .-Demographics:...
, Sonamukhi-Rainagar, and Rainagar-Masagram.
The 41 kilometres (25.5 mi) long Bankura-Sonamukhi broad gauge section was completed and opened to the public in 2005.The 55 kilometres (34.2 mi) long Sonamukhi-Rainagar broad gauge section was completed and opened to the public in 2008.