kushmandi in West Bengal, India
Kushmandi: Tracing Its Roots from Dinajpur District to Becoming a Community Development Block in Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal, India.
Kushmandi is a small town located in the Dakshin Dinajpur district of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is one of the many community development blocks that form an administrative division in the Gangarampur subdivision of the district. Our Other Website
A Historical Account of its Formation and Territorial Changes
Kushmandi is a community development block that is currently part of the Gangarampur subdivision of Dakshin Dinajpur district in West Bengal, India. The history of the district dates back to 1786 when Dinajpur district was established. However, the partition of Bengal in 1947 caused significant changes in the district’s administrative divisions.
Following the partition, the Sadar and Thakurgaon subdivisions of Dinajpur district were placed in East Pakistan by the Radcliffe Line. The Balurghat subdivision of Dinajpur district was reconstituted as West Dinajpur district in West Bengal. In 1948, the new Raiganj subdivision was formed.
To restore the territorial links between the northern and southern parts of West Bengal, which had been disrupted due to the partition, and as recommended by the States Reorganisation Commission, a portion of the former Kishanganj subdivision was transferred from Purnea district in Bihar to West Bengal in 1956.
kushmandi
This transfer included Goalpokhar, Islampur, and Chopra thanas, along with parts of Thakurganj thana and adjacent parts of the former Gopalpur thana in the Katihar subdivision, which were formally incorporated into the Raiganj subdivision in West Dinajpur. It is noteworthy that the township of Kishanganj and its entire municipal boundary remained within Bihar.
With the introduction of the Community Development Programme in 1960-61, community development blocks were set up in the West Dinajpur district, including Kushmandi. In 1992, West Dinajpur district was bifurcated, and Dakshin Dinajpur district was established. Today, Kushmandi serves as a vital administrative division of Dakshin Dinajpur district, showcasing a rich history and diverse cultural heritage.
kushmandi in West Bengal, India
Geography and Border Proximity of Kushmandi in Dakshin Dinajpur District
Kushmandi is a community development block situated in Dakshin Dinajpur district, which is a part of the Barind Tract. The district’s topography is generally flat, with a slight undulation, and the elevation is around 15 meters above mean sea level. However, the soil composition varies across different CD Blocks. While Balurghat, Hili, and Kumarganj have alluvial soil, Tapan CD Block has laterite soil.
The district is drained by three major rivers – the Atreyee, Punarbhaba, and Tangon. There is also a small river called Jamuna in the Hili CD Block. During monsoons, all rivers overflow and cause floods as they flow from north to south.
Kushmandi CD Block shares its borders with Kaliaganj CD Block in Uttar Dinajpur district and Biral Upazila in Dinajpur District, Bangladesh, to the north. Gangarampur CD Block bounds it to the east, while Bansihari and Harirampur CD Blocks are situated to the south. Kaliaganj CD Block in Uttar Dinajpur district borders Kushmandi CD Block to the west.
The district is known for its porous international border with Bangladesh, with six out of its eight CD Blocks situated along the border. In total, 2,216 km of the 4,096 km long India-Bangladesh border falls in West Bengal, and over 11,000 people reside near or around the zero line in Dakshin Dinajpur. The international border stretches for approximately 252 km in Dakshin Dinajpur district alone.
Kushmandi CD Block spans over an area of 310.63 km2 and has 1 panchayat samiti, 8-gram panchayats, 133-gram salads (village councils), 231 mouzas, and 228 inhabited villages. The Kushmandi police station serves the CD Block, with its headquarters located in Kushmandi.
Kushmandi News Media Pratidin24Ghanta
The town is bordered by Kaliaganj CD Block in the Uttar Dinajpur district and Biral Upazila in the Dinajpur District of Bangladesh on the north, Gangarampur CD Block on the east, Bansihari and Harirampur CD Blocks on the south, and Kaliaganj CD Block in the Uttar Dinajpur district on the west.
The area in and around Kushmandi is known for its rich cultural heritage, which is reflected in the numerous historical monuments and archaeological sites present in the region.
The town is also surrounded by natural beauty, including the Atreyee River, which flows through Kumarganj and Balurghat CD Blocks and goes back to Bangladesh, the Punarbhaba River, which flows through Gangarampur and Tapan CD Blocks, and the Tangon River, which flows through Kushmandi and Bansihari CD Blocks. All rivers, flowing from north to south, overflow during the monsoons and cause floods.
Kushmandi CD Block covers an area of 310.63 km2 and has 1 panchayat samiti, 8-gram panchayats, 133-gram salads (village councils), 231 mouzas, and 228 inhabited villages. The Kushmandi police station serves this block, and the headquarters of this CD Block is located in the town of Kushmandi.
Being located near the porous India-Bangladesh border, Kushmandi is an important area in terms of international trade and commerce. The border stretches for approximately 252 km in the Dakshin Dinajpur district, and more than 11,000 people live near/around the zero line in this region. The proximity to the border has also led to a unique blend of cultures in Kushmandi, with influences from both India and Bangladesh.
Overall, Kushmandi is a fascinating place to explore for those interested in history, culture, and natural beauty. The town and its surroundings offer visitors a chance to experience a unique blend of past and present and to witness the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of West Bengal.