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A gaping hole is seen at the side of Nariman House during the encounter in Colaba.
Nariman House ops in last stage, fresh gun shots at TajThe Nariman House encounter appeared to reach the final stagethe National Security Guards cleared the hotel of militants,… ‘They began shooting at anything that moved’Shocked, their voices trembling, French witnesses gave harrowing |
| http://www.expressindia.com/ | More  |
Battle rages for Mumbai hostages
Nitish Condemns Mumbai Terror Attacks; Plea for Calm
Random terror, ad hoc response |
This Evening, a friend, an Eye specialist Dr AK Roychowdhari asked me, `What is the Situation?’
Sabita answered, ` Live TV Coverage continues!’
The Electronic Media has ensured the most wanted TRP as the Round the Clock Live Coverage of WAR ZONE continues without any Laughter, Reality BREAK!
The Doctor addressed me directly, `I am asking you!’
`What may I explain! It is a Ready made MINDSET. Ready made Public Opinion. We have no Reach. No Audience. No Penetration! What the Ruling Hegemony explains,what the Media covers, that being the Ultimate TRUTH, what remains to explain!’
The basic question remains unanswered why the Indian Society well known for its age old Resilience, Restrain, Discipline and Peaceful coexistence, has been made to so VOLATILE as the Unipolar White Zionist State of AMERICA offers Help to resolve Crisis situation in India and government of India has to reject the generous support thankfully! Why?
Why did the Indian Polity allowed so much SPACE for TERRORISM and EXTREMISM? Why do we contribute to War and CIVIL War? Why?
Why the Indian democracy allows AFPSA to be continued in Entire North East and jammu and Kashmir?
Why the Indian State is habitual to deploy all the three wings of Indian Army to tackle day to day Law and Order problems? Why?
Why Indian Political Parties and its Leaders have SWISS BANK Accounts ?
Why Kickbacks is the basis of Blind Nationalism?
Why do we allow Ethnic Cleansing anywhere anytime?
Why the Monopolistic aggression continues against the Indigenous Aboriginal People and Natural resources?
Why the Black Untouchables are Predestined to suffer infinite Injustice and Inequality?
Why Indiscriminate SEZ Drive Continues?
Why the partition Victims are persecuted countrywide?
Why do we entertain the Concepts of ethnic Terrorism and Ethnic Extremism branding communities terrorists and extremists?
Why there happens so much HUE and Cry for STRONG STATE and all Political Parties dis respective of Ideology and color, do favour Military solution for every ETHNIC NATIONALITY Question?
Why the grievances of Aboriginal People, Indigenous communities and Black untouchables are generally dismissed and any Resistance whatsoever is Branded as terrorism or Extremism without addressing the REAL ISSUES at all?
Why the Tribal in different part have to bear Displacement from land, livelihood and life for development, industrialisation and urbanisation?
Why did we allow to disintegrate the traditional social fabrics based on Indigenous Livelihood, Market and Production system?
Why all the Tribal belts are branded as Maoism Inflicted?
Why India made itself a strategical Partner of United states of America in the War Against Terrorism?
Why Indian Ocean is no more a Peace zone?
Why Corporates and MNCs, Foreign Banks, Retail Chain and Chemical Companies,Builders and Promoters have the infinite LICENCE TO KILL?
Why Social activism is often Branded as Maoism?
Why the personalities like Medha, Mahashweta,Arundhuti Roy and Taslima Nasreen become UNWANTED?
Why the Freedom to EXPRESSION is BLOCKED?
Why Parliament is DEFUNCT and subverted, BYPASSED so Often?
Why National Revenue is diverted to FEED the MONEY Machine?
Why Indian Constitution is being Killed?
Why Hindu BOMB is defended?
Why the Sanctity of Indian Army is broken with the involvement of Army Top Guns in service involved?
Why MUMBAI ATS Team investigating Malegaon is wiped out? How?
Why there happens a Vertical Divide between North and South, East and West and in between Kashmir and the Rest of the Nation? North East and Mainstream population?
Why do we reject Tamil nationality?
Why do we see intense Hatred campaign against Communities and amongst communities in the best interest of Vote bank Politics?
Why the demography is Manipulated?
Why the Minorities gain nothing from the system?
Why Job Opportunities remain Infinite Void for the Common Masses?
Why the Generation Next is Americanised?
Why the languages are being killed to promote Americanism and Rural retail Market?
Why XXXXX Blue film Culture is promoted with Technology Transfer?
Why POTA is advocated to deal with law and Order?
Why the Rule of the Law is quite absent?
Why the Peasants commit suicide?
Why our Women and Children are not safe?
Why Indian Agriculture is destroyed for globalisation, Privatisation and Liberalisation?
I had been in Murshidabad and Maldah, the centres of Muslim rule in Bengal. I was amazed to see the common Social fabrics and legacy of Communal harmony scattered all over the districts. I am sure, it remained everywhere! The social Fabrics roots in our Negroid Genes! It roots into our Indigenous Production system and livelihood. It roots into our mother tongue! Into our Folk! Into our Culture! Into the History of the Nation!
If we analyse, it is full circle Indigenous History from Midnapur, Purulia, Ranchi, Mayurbhanj in Orissa, Chhota Nagpur and Santhal Pargana, Bankura, Birbhoom,Murshidabad, Maldah, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Jassore, Khulna, Barishal, 24 pargans, Hugli, Howrah and Burdwan. It continued since Chuar Vidroh. It Continued in TITUMIR`s revolt. In KOL and Bheel revolt. In Munda and santhal Insurrections! In Indigo revolt. And even in TEBHAGA accross partition amidst famine and Holocaust! Even during Naxal Movement, the Indigenious Social Fabrics remained Intact. Of whaich the Governments of India and INTACH, History departments of Indian Universities and the progressive and secular Historians are quite unaware!
It is no wonder that Mother Language Bengali symbolised Bengali Nationality rejecting Religious Identity in the Liberation war of Bangladesh. It is just because of the Aboriginal Indiginous Black untouchable Common Social Fabrics, mind you. Which remains intact even today in Bangladesh, in its Literature, Media and Culture, if not in Politics despite continuous Ethnic cleansing and Minority persecution promoted by religious Politics!
Everywhere in Bengal, ancient religious places of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity speaks of our Common Culture, Language, Folk, History, Production System and society. Regimented Party Gestapos and the Vote Bank Politics try to destroy it every time but fail miserably! But it is not the same case in rest of the Country, as we find ourselves in a Mine Field of CIVIL WAR thanks to the Ruling Brahaminical hegemony, led by ironically , the Bengali elite Brahmins!
Gaur, West Bengal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
GeographyGaur is located at 24°52′N 88°08′E / 24.867, 88.133 near the Indo-Bangladesh international border. It has an average elevation of 22 metres. Gaur lies in the Eastern bank of the rivers Bhagirathi and Pagla.
[edit] Historical Measurements and Statistics
The city in its prime measured 7 1/8 m. from north to south, with a breadth of 1 to 2 m. With suburbs it covered an area of 20 to 30 m²., and in the 16th century the Portuguese historian Faria y Sousa described it as containing 1,200,000 inhabitants. The ramparts of this walled city (which was surrounded by extensive suburbs) still exist; they were works of vast labor, and were on the average about 40 ft (12 m) high, and 180 to 200 ft (61 m) thick at the base. The facing of masonry and the buildings with which they were covered have now disappeared, and the embankments themselves are overgrown with dense jungle. The western side of the city was washed by the Ganges, and within the space enclosed by these embankments and the river stood the city of Gaur proper, with the fort containing the palace in its south-west corner. Radiating north, south and east from the city, other embankments are to be traced running through the suburbs and extending in certain directions for 30 or 40 m. Surrounding the palace is an inner embankment of similar construction to that which surrounds the city, and even more overgrown with jungle. A deep moat protects it on the outside. To the north of the outer embankment lies the Sagar Dighi, a great reservoir, 1600 yd. by 800 yd., dating from 1126.
[edit] Architecture
Fergusson in his History of Eastern Architecture thus describes the general architectural style of Gaur: “It is neither like that of Delhi nor Jaunpur, nor any other style, but one purely local and not without considerable merit in itself; its principal characteristic being heavy short pillars of stone supporting pointed arches and vaults in brick whereas at Jaunpore, for instance, light pillars carried horizontal architraves and flat ceilings. Owing to the lightness of the small, thin bricks, which were chiefly used in the making of Gaur, its buildings have not well withstood the ravages of time and the weather; while much of its enamelled work has been removed for the ornamentation of the surrounding cities of more modern origin. Moreover, the ruins long served as a quarry for the builders of neighboring towns and villages, till in 1900 steps were taken for their preservation by the government. The finest ruin in Gaur is that of the Great Golden Mosque, also called Bara Darwaza, or twelve doored (1526). An arched corridor running along the whole front of the original building is the principal portion now standing. There are eleven arches on either side of the corridor and one at each end of it, from which the mosque probably obtained its name. These arches are surmounted by eleven domes in fair preservation; the mosque had originally thirty-three.”
Early 19th century lithograph of the Muslim ruins of Dakhil Darwaza at Gaur
[edit] Notable structures
The Small Golden or Eunuchs’ mosque, in the ancient suburb of Firozpur, has fine carving, and is faced with stone fairly well preserved. The Tantipar mosque (1475 – 1480) has beautiful moulding in brick, and the Lotan mosque of the same period is unique in retaining its glazed tiles. The citadel, of the Muslim period, was strongly fortified with a rampart and entered through a magnificent gateway called the Dakhil Darwaza (1459-1474). At the south-east corner was a palace, surrounded by a wall of brick 66 ft (20 m) high, of which a part is standing. Near by were the royal tombs. Within the citadel is the Kadam Rasut mosque (1530), which is still used, and close out side is a tall tower called the Firoz Minar (perhaps signifying tower of victory). There are a number of Muslim buildings on the banks of the Sagar Dighi, including, notably, the tomb of the saint Makhdum Shaikh Akhi Siraj (d. 1357), and in the neighborhood is a burning ghat, traditionally the only one allowed to the use of the Hindus by their Muslim conquerors, and still greatly venerated and frequented by them.
Many inscriptions of historical importance have been found in the ruins. -
See M. Martin (Buchanan Hamilton), Eastern India, vol. iii. (1831); G. H. Ravenshaw, Gaur (1878); James Fergusson, History of Indian and Eastern Architecture (1876); Reports of the Archaeological Surveyor, Bengal Circle (1900-1904).
[edit] Archaeological Preservation, Restoration and Excavation
The monuments of Gour are now looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India. The brick work of several monuments have been restored, though none to its early perfection or completeness. The ASI is also carrying out excavations of a mound about a kilometer from the Chikha building within the Baisgaji wall where remains of a palace are turning up.
[edit] Exhibitions on Gour
A permanent artefact and photographic exhibition highlighting the major monuments of Gour and the restoration work undertaken by the ASI is being held at the Metcalfe Hall, Kolkata. Among the exhibits are also some fine specimens of brick moulding and glazed tiles from Gour.
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
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| Richness of History: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The district got its present name in the early eighteenth century and its present shape in the latter half of the eighteenth century, the earliest evidences of history in the district date back to the pre-historic days perhaps as early as circa 1500 B.C.
The capital city of Sasanka, the great king of Gouda (comprising the most of Bengal) in the seventh century AD and perhaps that of Mahipala, one of the later Pala kings of Bengal, were in this district too. The Nawab Murshid Quli Khan made Murshidabad the capital city of Sube Bangla, comprising of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. The East India Company reigned from here for many years after the Battle of Plassey; Travellers extolled its glory through ages. Here thrived the cultures of many races and of religions like Buddhism, Brahmanism, Vaishnavism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity. Here settled the European traders like the Dutch, the British, the French and the Armenians. |
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| The Land | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The great river Bhagirathi has bifurcated the triangle shaped district and has divided it into two broad historical and geographical regions. I) The Radha Area – This is the area on the right side of the Bhagirathi having the pre-dominant geographical character of a plateau. It was also known as Gouda. II) The Bagdi Area – This is the area on the left side of the river formed by the Gangetic alluvial deposits. It was also known as Bangal. This area was formed later than the Radha. |
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| The Age of Pre-History and Proto-History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| During the excavation of the irrigation-cum-navigational channel from the Ganga in 1974, just to the North-East of Farakka Barrage, evidence of ancient civilization was found.
The excavations revealed remnants of habitation at four different strata: |
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| I) The Pre-Maurya Era | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The first mention of the Radha region is found in the Jaina scripture Acharanga Sutra. The scripture mentions a visit to the Radha by Mahavira in the 6th century BC. Probably he did not visit Murshidabad but possibly visited Radha areas under Birbhum and Bankura districts. However Bimbisara (6th century BC) or later the Nandas might have brought Radha and Bagdi areas of Murshidabad within their empire. |
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| II) The Maurya Era | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chandragupta Maurya (324-300 BC) established the Maurya Empire by ousting the Nandas. Though the Chinese traveler Hiuen-Tsang made references of Ashoka stupas at Karnasuvarna it cannot be said with certainty whether this district area formed part of the Maurya Empire at any time. |
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| III) The Post-Maurya Era | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Whether this area was under the rule of the post-Maurya empires like the Shungas, Kanvas or Kushanas cannot be ascertained. However, some Kushana coins have been found at Rajbari Danga; but findings of these coins do not necessarily imply occupation.
Excavations at Rajbari Danga: Excavations at Rajbari Danga near Karnasubarna Railway Station were done by the Archaeology Department of the Kolkata University in 1962, 1964 & 1979. They revealed evidence of civilizations in four layers dating back to the 2nd- 3rd Century AD and up to the 2nd- 3rd Century AD. |
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| IV) The Gupta Era (AD 4th Century to 6th Century) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It can be said with some certainly that areas of this district were under the rule of the Gupta, which might have continued up to the early 6th Century AD. There is evidence of this in the chronicles of the Chinese traveler I-Tsing (AD 673 – 675), the Allahabad Pillar Edict of Samudragupta (AD 335 – 338), Damodarpur copper plate of Chadragupta-II, Brihatsamhita (5th century AD) of Barahamihira. Besides, there are archeological evidence within the district, like Gupta coins found at Rajbari Danga, Gitagram (near Salar) and Gouripur (near Mahipala). |
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| V) The Gouda Kingdom and Sasanka | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Gupta suzerainty over Gauda or Gaudaka (as mentioned in Brihatsamhita) became merely nominal by the 6th century AD. From the Haraha inscription of Maukhari King Ishanavarma dated AD 554, it is learnt that in course of his victorious campaigns he ravaged the Gauda people and forced them to retreat towards the sea (meaning southern Bengal). The later Guptas tried to occupy Gauda and perhaps Mahasenagupta briefly occupied it. In the latter part of the 6th century AD, Sasanka was perhaps a vassal chief under him.
The long drawn war with the Maukharis, the Kalachuris and the rulers of the Kamarupa shattered the power of the later Guptas. Sasanka took this opportunity to build his own kingdom, perhaps also in the 6th Century AD. After becoming king he attacked Kamarupa, he defeated the princes Supratishthita Varman and Bhashkara Varman;and later he freed them by making the king his vassal. He then occupied the eastern parts of Bengal and by AD 619 extended his territories up to the Chilka lake of Orrisa in the South and up to Varanasi in the West. In the last part of his reign he had to face joint attacks by the great king of Northern India, Harshavardhana and the king of Kamarupa, Bhashkara Varman. But they could occupy Gouda only after the death of Sasanka (sometime between AD 630 – 637). |
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| Karnasuvarna: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Excavations as Rajbari Danga have helped to identify Karnasuvarna and the Buddhist Raktamrittika Mahavihara. After the death of Sasanka the famous Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang came to Karnasuvarna in AD 637 – 638. At that time it was a thriving city. The Mahavihara was in its full glory. Though Sasanka was himself a follower of Brahmanism both Hindu and Buddhist religions thrived during his time. |
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| VI) The Pala Era | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| After about a hundred years of anarchy in Bengal, Gopala (760 AD), the founder of the Pala kingdom, was elected the king. The dynasty continued for more than four hundred years. This district was under their rule for almost the entire period. Mahipala, one of the later Pala kings, perhaps had the capital at Mahipala Nagar (now village Mahipal) in Jangipur Sub-division. |
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| VII) The Sena Era | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| During the reign of the Senas, the most powerful dynasty after the Pala, this district was probably within their empire for some time. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| References : | |
| Statistical accounts of Bengal – W.W. Hunter | |
| History of the Murshidabad – Major Tool Walsh | |
| Musnad of Murshidabad – P.C. Majumdar | |
| History of Bengal – Sir Jadunath Sarkar | |
| Murshidabader Kahini – Nikhil Nath Roy | |
| Bengal Nawabs – Sir Jadunath Sarkar | |
| House of Jagat Seth – J.H. Litl | |
| Glimpses of Bengal – A.C. Campbell | |
| West Bengal District Gazetteer | |
Murshidabad
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| ?Murshidabad West Bengal • India |
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| Coordinates: 24°11′N 88°16′E / 24.18, 88.27 | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 10 m (33 ft) |
| District(s) | Murshidabad |
| Population | ?? (2001[update]) |
| Codes • Pincode • Telephone |
• 74**** • +91-3472-2xxxxx |
Coordinates: 24°11′N 88°16′E / 24.18, 88.27
Murshidabad (Bengali: মুর্শিদাবাদ) 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 tributary of the Ganges River. It was the capital of undivided Bengal during the Mughal rule. Nawabs of Bengal used to rule Bengal from this city. It is still inhabited, but has none of the glory it used to have- except for the royal buildings.
Contents[hide] |
[edit] History
Mushidabad or Moorsheedabad, a town and district of British India, in the Presidency division of Bengal. The administrative headquarters of the district are at Berhampur. The town of Murshidabad is on the left bank of the Bhagirathi or old sacred channel of the Ganges. Pop. (1901), 15,168. The city of Murshidabad was the latest capital of Bengal before British era. In 1704 the nawab Murshid Quli Khan changed the seat of government from Dacca to Maksudabad, which he called after his own name. The family of Jagat Seth maintained their position as state bankers at Murshidabad from generation to generation. Even after the conquest of Bengal by the British, Murshidabad remained for some time the seat of administration. Warren Hastings removed the supreme civil and criminal courts to Calcutta in 1772, but in 1 775 the latter court was brought back to Murshidabad again. In 1790, under Lord Cornwallis, the entire revenue and judicial staffs were fixed at Calcutta. The town is still the residence of the nawab, who ranks as the first nobleman of the province with the style of Nawab Bbahadur of Murshidabad, instead of Nawab Nazim of Bengal. The Murshidabad palace, dating from 1837, is a magnificent building in Italian style. The city still bears memories of Nawabs with other palaces, mosques, tombs, and gardens, and retains such industries as carving in ivory, gold and silver embroidery, and silk-weaving. An educational institution is named after Nawab family.
The District Of Murshidabad has an area of 2143 sq. m. It is divided into two nearly equal portions by the Bhagirathi, the ancient channel of the Ganges. The tract to the west, known as the Rarh, consists of hard clay and nodular limestone. The general level is high, but interspersed with marshes and seamed by hill torrents. The Bagri or eastern half belongs to alluvial plains of eastern Bengal. There are few permanent swamps; but the whole country is low-lying, and liable to annual inundation. In the north-west are a few small detached hillocks, said to be of basaltic formation. Pop. (1901), 1,333,184, showing an increase of 6.6% in the decade. The major industry is that of silk, formerly of much importance, and now revived with government assistance. The city is also famous for producing exotic mango and litchi. A narrow-gauge railway crosses the district, from the East Indian line at Nalhati to Azimganj on the Bhagirathi, the home of many rich Jain merchants; and a branch of the Eastern Bengal railway has been opened.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census[1], Murshidabad had a population of 36,894. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Majority of the people are Muslim. Murshidabad has an average literacy rate of 66%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 61%. In Murshidabad, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Murshidabad City
Murshidabad palace
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The origins of Murshidabad are not entirely clear. According to Ghulam Hussain, author of the Riyaz-us-Salatin, a merchant named Makhsus Khan first improved the present site of Murshidabad. Makhsus Khan had been mentioned in Akbar’s biography, the Ain-i-Akbari, as a nobleman who served in Bengal and Bihar during the last decades of the sixteenth century. In Valentyn’s map (1658-64) Moxudabath is shown on an island formed by the two branches of the Ganges.
In 1704, Murshid Quli Khan, the Diwan (aprox. Chief Minister) of Bengal under Aurangzeb transferred the capital from Dacca (now Dhaka in Bangladesh), and renamed the city Murshidabad. In 1716, he attained the title of Nawab (ruler) of the Subah (province) of Bengal, and Murshidabad became his capital. It continued to be the capital under a succession of Nawabs, and also under the British until 1790. It was constituted as a municipality in 1869, which remains to the present day.
palace ground and Hoogly river
While it features extensively in history books, the large potential for heritage tourism has been somewhat neglected. Of historic interest are Nizamat Kila (the Fortress of the Nawabs), also known as the Hazaarduari Palace (Palace of a Thousand Doors), built by Duncan McLeod of the Bengal Engineers in 1837, in the Italianate style, the Moti Jhil (Pearl Lake) just to the south of the palace, the Muradbagh Palace and the Khushbagh Cemetery, where the remains of Ali Vardi Khan and Siraj Ud Daulah are interred.
The city today is a center for agriculture, handicrafts and sericulture. The famous Murshidabad Silk, much in demand for making saris and scarves, is produced here.
[edit] Murshidabad District
The district of Murshidabad – 2,062 sq mi (5,341 km²), population 5.863m (2001 census) – has its district headquarters at Baharampur. The district comprises two distinct regions separated by the Bhagirathi River. To the west lies the Rarh region, a high, undulating continuation of the Chota Nagpur plateau. The eastern portion, the Bagri, is a fertile, low-lying alluvial tract, part of the Ganges Delta. The district is drained by the Bhagirathi and Jalangi rivers and their tributaries. Rice, jute, legumes, oilseeds, wheat, barley, and mangoes are the chief crops in the east; extensive mulberry cultivation is carried out in the west. The district became part of the Gaur kingdom in 1197 and passed to the British East India Company in the 18th century.
Hazarduari Palace
[edit] Politics
Current MLA from Murshidabad assembly constituency is Bivas Chakraborty of AIFB, who won the seat in State elections of 2006. Chhaya Ghosh of FBL had won this seat in 2001, 1991, 1982 and in 1977. Independent candidate Mozammel Haque was MLA from this seat in 1996. Mannan Hossain of INC had won this seat in 1987.[2]
Murshidabad assembly constituency is part of Murshidabad (Lok Sabha constituency).[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
- ^ “Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)“. Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved on 2008-11-01.
- ^ “State Elections 2006 – Partywise Comparision for 58-Murshidabad Constituency of West Bengal“. Election Commission of India. Retrieved on 2008-10-27.
- ^ “Assembly Constituencies – Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies“. West Bengal. Election Commission of India. Retrieved on 2008-10-02.
[edit] External links
- Official site for Murshidabad district here contains extensive information about the district and its history, along with maps.
- West Bengal Govt site for Murshidabad district
- An excellent article from Banglapedia on Murshidabad here
- Lots of statistical information on Murshidabad district here
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 Shola pith is a milky-white sponge-wood which is carved into delicate and beautiful objects of art. Sola is a plant which grow wild in marshy waterlogged areas. The biological name of shola is Aeschynomene Indica or Aeschynomene Aspera (bean family) and it is a herbaceous plant. The shola pith is the cortex or core of the plant and is 1 ½ inch in diameter. The outer harder brown skin is removed by expert hands to reveal the inner soft milky-white and spongy material, almost similar to “Thermocol”, artificially produced in a laboratory. However, sholapith is much superior to thermocol in terms of malleability, texture, lustre and sponginess. Artisans use it for making artifacts used for decoration and ornate head-wears of bridal couple. The finest examples of craftsmanship are however seen on images of “Gods and Goddesses” on festivals, especially the massive decorative backdrops made for “Durga Puja” celebrations. Craftsmen spend months working on each piece and every details is meticulously worked out.
In Murshidabad the shola crafts are flowery designs, decorative head-wears of gods and goddesses, garlands, exquisite figurines like faces of gods and goddesses, elephant-howdahs, peacock-boats, palanquins and so on are made of sholapith. |
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| Bell-metal and brass utensils are manufactured in large quantities at Khagra, Berhampore, Kandi, Baranagar and Jangipur. Thev are exported as well as sold in the local markets. Locks and betelnut cutters of a superior kind are made at Dhulian and iron chests at Jangipur. The problem of getting raw materials for the brass and bell-metal artisans of the district is, however, acute. While delay in getting raw materials owing to the complicated procedural formalities involved in the submission of applications for raw materials has been almost a constant factor, the industry has also been affected by the change in consumers demand in favour of stainless steel, plastic and ceramic goods and crockery. | |||
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 The Baluchari sarees are figured silk saree produced in the town of Baluchar in Murshidabad district. Baluchar sarees essentially have a silk base with silk brocaded designs with respect to their colours, where inspite of a rich composition, the Baluchar bootidars almost avoid strong contrasts. Each pattern is treated in a colour which harmonises with the ground on which it is laid. The most popular colours used are red, blue, yellow, green and scarlet. The Baluchari sarees have large floral motifs interspersed with flowering shrubs. Traditionally the Muslim community was also known to produce these Baluchars with figured patterns depicting court scenes, horse with a rider, women smoking hookah. The Kalka design or the cone motif is often surrounded with floral borders.
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The Ivory and Wood craft industry dates back to the time when the Nawabs of Bengal had their court at Murshidabad. As this industry was fully dependent for its prosperity on the support of a luxurious court and wealthy noblemen, it had to face a crisis when the Nawabs lost their power and their court disappeared.
Bengal had a nourishing silk industry in the past and Murshidabad long enjoyed a special reputation in this respect. The Bengal silk manufactures formed one of the important exports of the English East India Company to England, and these were exported also to the markets in the Asiatic countries. After the establishment of English factories at Malda and Cossimbazar, the English Company’s trade in Bengal silk manufactures began to increase, and their use became common among the people in England because of their good quality and cheapness. In the mid-eighteenth century the country round about it (Cossimbazar) was very fertile, and the inhabitants remarkably industrious, being employed in many useful manufactures. About 1663 AD, the Dutch in their Cossimbazar factory sometimes employed 700 silk weavers, and the English and the other European nations smaller number. They generally furnished 22,000 bales of silk a year, each bale weighing 100 Ibs. The Total was equivalent to 30,078 maunds ( 1 maund = 40 Kg ie. 12,03,120 Kg ). The silk thread was thus distributed : the Dutch took for Japan or Holland 6,000 to 7,000 bales, the merchants of Tartary and the Mughal Empire about the same quantity, and the remainder ( about 9,000 bales ) were consumed by the people of the country for manufacturing their own stuff. This silk was brought to Ahmedabad and Surat and were woven into fabrics. There was considerable demand for Bengal’s raw silk in England’s markets as the Continental System occasioned an entire cessation of the customary importations of the Italian raw silk.| Want to purchase ? |
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http://www.taratv.com/top_story.php?task=full&newsid=496
Palash Biswas
Filed under: Uncategorized
I sincerely hope there won’t be a back lash,which could result in unending bloody riots
I share my views here
very good