Rajnagar, Birbhum

For other places with the same name, see Rajnagar.

Census Town in West Bengal, India

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′N 87°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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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.[citation needed]

## Geography

[edit]

8km
5miles

Ajay River

Bakreshwar
River

Mayurakshi
River

Tilpara
Barrage

Patharchapuri

Bakreshwar

Deucha

Bara Chaturi

Nakrakonda

Abinashpur

Hetampur

Purandarpur

Angar Garia

BTPP Township

Kankartala

Khoyrasol

Panrui

Chandrapur

Lokpur

Mohammad Bazar

Dubrajpur

Sainthia

Suri

Rajnagar

Ahmedpur

Kalipur

Karidhya

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

[edit]

Rajnagar is located at 23°57′N 87°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

[edit]

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

### CD block HQ

[edit]

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

## Demographics

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

### Railway

[edit]

The nearest railway station is Siuri.

### Road

[edit]

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

## Education

[edit]

* Rajnagar Mahavidyalaya
* Rajnagar High School
* Rajnagar Govt ITI

## Culture

[edit]

Kalidaha

### Places of interest

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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. ^ a b "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]

* v
* t
* e

Cities, towns and locations in Birbhum district, West Bengal

Cities, municipal
and census towns|

| Suri Sadar subdivision|

* Ahmedpur
* Dubrajpur
* Kalipur
* Karidhya
* Rajnagar
* Sainthia
* Suri

|

Bolpur subdivision|

* Bolpur
* Ilambazar
* Labhpur
* Parota
* Shantiniketan
* Surul

Rampurhat subdivision|

* Ambhua
* Barua Gopalpur
* Bishnupur
* Fatehpur
* Kashimnagar
* Murarai
* Nalhati
* Rampurhat

Locations
other than cities and towns|

| Suri Sadar subdivision|

* Abinashpur
* Angar Garia
* Babuijore
* Bakreshwar
* Bakreswar Thermal Power Plant Township
* Bara Chaturi
* Beharia
* Bhimgara
* Bholagoria
* Chandrapur
* Chondrapur
* Deucha
* Dighalgram
* Gonpur
* Hetampur
* Kankartala
* Khoyrasol
* Lokpur
* Mohammad Bazar
* Nakrakonda
* Panrui
* Patharchapuri
* Purandarpur

|

Bolpur subdivision|

* Fullara
* Jaydev Kenduli
* Kankalitala
* Khujutipara
* Khustigiri
* Kirnahar
* Mirati
* Nanoor
* Raipur
* Sriniketan
* Supur

Rampurhat subdivision|

* Amba
* Atla
* Banior
* Basoa
* Binuria
* Chakmandala
* Dunigram
* Ekachakra
* Hansan
* Haridaspur
* Jogdhari
* Kotasur
* Kurumgram
* Lohapur
* Lokpara
* Madian
* Margram
* Mallarpur
* Mayureswar
* Nimitala
* Paikar
* Rajgram
* Satpalsa
* Tarapith

See also|

* Notable people associated with Santiniketan
* Birbhum topics
* People from Birbhum district
* People associated with Santiniketan
* Visva-Bharati alumni
* Visva-Bharati faculty
* Villages in Birbhum district
* Cities, towns and locations in Purba Bardhaman district
* Cities, towns and locations in Murshidabad district
* Cities, towns and locations in Nadia district

India portal

* v
* t
* e

Mosques in West Bengal

Malda division|

* Adina Mosque
* Baro Shona Masjid
* Chawk Masjid
* Fauti Mosque
* Kala Masjid
* Katra Masjid
* Kherur Mosque
* Madina Mosque

Burdwan division|

* Bari Mosque
* Hooghly Imambara
* Motichur Mosque
* Sayed Jamaluddin Mosque

Presidency division|

* Basri Shah Mosque
* Barri Mosque
* Haqqani Mosque
* Nakhoda Mosque
* Tipu Sultan Mosque

See also|

* Mosques in Kolkata

* v
* t
* e

Birbhum district topics

General|

* Alkap
* Amar Kutir
* Abhedananda Mahavidyalaya
* Bakreshwar Thermal Power Station
* Ballabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary
* Banalakshmi
* Baul
* Culture of Birbhum
* Dharmathakur
* Gajan
* Fairs in Birbhum
* Kajangala
* Mama Bhagne
* Muluk murder case
* Nandikeshwari Temple
* Nanoor massacre
* Poush Mela
* Sainthia train collision
* Santhal rebellion
* Santiniketan: The Making of a Contextual Modernism

People|

* Bauri
* Bagdi
* Bengalis
* Dom
* Hari
* Santal people

Subdivisions|

* Bolpur
* Rampurhat
* Suri Sadar

Territories|

* Gauda
* Kajangala
* Kankagrambhukti
* Rarh region
* Subbhabhumi
* Vajjabhumi

Municipalities|

* Bolpur
* Dubrajpur
* Nalhati
* Rampurhat
* Sainthia
* Suri

Community development
blocks|

| Suri Sadar subdivision|

* Suri I
* Suri II
* Sainthia
* Dubrajpur
* Khoyrasol
* Rajnagar
* Mohammad Bazar

|

Bolpur subdivision|

* Bolpur Sriniketan
* Ilambazar
* Labpur
* Nanoor

Rampurhat subdivision|

* Mayureswar I
* Mayureswar II
* Rampurhat I
* Rampurhat II
* Murarai I
* Murarai II
* Nalhati I
* Nalhati II

Higher education|

| Universities|

* Visva-Bharati University
* Biswa Bangla Biswabidyalay

|

Medical colleges|

* Birbhum Vivekananda Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital
* Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital

Engineering colleges|

* Birbhum Institute of Engineering & Technology

Rivers|

* Ajay
* Bakreshwar
* Bansloi
* Brahmani
* Dwarka
* Hinglo
* Kopai
* Mayurakshi

Transport|

* Panagarh–Morgram Highway
* Eastern Railway zone
* Sahibganj loop
* Andal–Sainthia branch line
* Ahmedpur–Katwa Railway
* Jasidih–Dumka–Rampurhat line

Railway stations|

* Banshlai Bridge
* Chatra
* Muararai
* Rajgram
* Rampurhat
* Sainthia

Lok Sabha constituencies|

* Birbhum
* Bolpur

Vidhan Sabha constituencies|

* Dubrajpur
* Suri
* Bolpur
* Nanoor
* Labpur
* Sainthia
* Mayureswar
* Rampurhat
* Hansan
* Nalhati
* Murarai

Former Vidhan Sabha
constituencies|

* Mahammad Bazar
* Rajnagar

See also|

* Cities, towns and locations in Birbhum district
* People from Birbhum district
* People associated with Santiniketan
* Villages in Birbhum district

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