Cossimbazar

Coordinates: 24°07′N 88°17′E / 24.12°N 88.28°E / 24.12; 88.28
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Cossimbazar
Census Town
Baharampur

Cossimbazar is a sub-urban area of

CD block in the Berhampore subdivision of Murshidabad district in the Indian state of West Bengal.[1]

Name

According to Irfan Habib, Qāsimbāzār is probably named after Qāsim Khān, who was governor of Bengal Subah early during the reign of Shah Jahan.[2]: 44 

Geography

Map
8km
5miles
none
Tomb of Mir Madan
H
Tomb of Mir Madan (H)
Jalangi
River
Dwaraka
River
Mayurakshi
River
Bhagirathi
River
Panchthupi
R
Panchthupi (R)
Nagar
R
Nagar, Murshidabad (R)
Khargram
R
Khargram (R)
Gram Salkia
R
Gram Salkia (R)
Gokarna
R
Gokarna, West Bengal (R)
Burwan
R
Burwan (R)
Bharatpur
R
Bharatpur, Murshidabad (R)
Surangapur
R
Surangapur (R)
Shaktipur
RV
Shaktipur (R)
Sarulia
R
Sarulia (R)
Rejinagar
R
Rejinagar (R)
Naoda
R
Naoda (R)
Hariharpara
R
Hariharpara (R)
Daulatabad
R
Daulatabad, Murshidabad (R)
Amtala
R
Amtala, Murshidabad (R)
Karnasuvarna
H
Karnasuvarna (H)
Kandi
M
Kandi, Murshidabad (M)
Beldanga
M
Beldanga (M)
Berhampore
M
Berhampore (M)
Salar
CT
Salar, Murshidabad (CT)
Sibdanga Badarpur
CT
Sibdanga Badarpur (CT)
Haridasmati
CT
Haridasmati (CT)
Gora Bazar
CT
Gora Bazar (CT)
Gopjan
CT
Gopjan (CT)
Goaljan
CT
Goaljan (CT)
Cossimbazar
CT
Chaltia
CT
Chaltia (CT)
Barua
CT
Barua, Murshidabad (CT)
Banjetia
CT
Banjetia (CT)
Ajodhya Nagar
CT
Ajodhya Nagar (CT)
Cities, towns and locations in the Berhampore and Kandi subdivisions, Murshidabad district
M: municipal town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical centres
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

Cossimbazar is located at 24°07′N 88°17′E / 24.12°N 88.28°E / 24.12; 88.28.[3] It has an average elevation of 17 metres (56 feet).

Area overview

The area shown in the map alongside, covering

Karnasubarna, the capital of Shashanka, the first important king of ancient Bengal who ruled in the 7th century, is located 9.6 kilometres (6.0 mi) south-west of Berhampore.[7][8][9] The entire area is overwhelmingly rural with over 80% of the population living in the rural areas.[10]

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivisions. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

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. The first European traders set up factories here, and after the ruin of

Satgaon due to 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.[11]

Cossimbazar and Murshidabad in the mid-18th century
The Dutch cemetery in Cossimbazar.

The English, Dutch and French East India companies all maintained factories at Cossimbazar. In 1658 the first English agency of the

Siraj-ud-dowlah, the Nawab; and the resident with his assistant Warren Hastings were taken as prisoners to Murshidabad.[11]

The town was the seat of the Maharajas of Cossimbazar. The maharajas were descendants of

Chait Singh, Maharaja of Benares.[1] Maharaja Sir Manindra Chandra Nandy (1860–1929) was a philanthropist and patron of education who figured in the Bengal Renaissance
.

At the beginning of the 19th century the city still flourished; as late as 1811 it was described as famous for its silks, 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 drastically. Jungle took its place, and in 1813 its ruin was completed by a sudden change in the course of the Hoogly. A new channel formed 3 miles from the old town, leaving an evil-smelling swamp around the ancient wharves. In 1829, a census recorded the population as 3,538.[1] 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 till the early 20th century. In 1901 its population was just 1,262.[11]

Places of interest

Cossimbazar is a historic town and predates Murshidabad. It houses two Christian cemeteries, an Armenian Church and two colonial styled mansions of local landlords one of which have been converted into a heritage hotel. By the middle of the 16th century Dutch, French and British had already established their trading posts (often referred to as factories) in Cossimbazar. The trading community like the Armenians also had there presence.[12]

  • Dutch Cemetery: The dutch cemetery is located next to the Cossimbazar railway station. It once had 47 craves out of which only 20 stands to this day. The oldest grave is of Daniel van der Muy and dates back to 1721. Most of the graves are of obelisks style but a few are topped with domes. The white domed tomb of Tammerus Canter Visscher stands out among the other tombs.[12]
  • British Cemetery: This cemetery is even smaller than the Dutch cemetery. It contains the graves of British officials and their family members who died in Cossimbazar after the Battle of Plassey. The cemetery houses the grave of Warren Hastings' first wife Mary and their infant daughter Elizabeth.[12]
  • Palace of the Roys:
  • Palace of the Nandis:
  • St. Mary's Armenian Church: The prominent trading community of Armenians also had a large presence in Cossimbazar. In 1758 the Armenians came up with their own church, St. Mary's Church. After the fall in the business activities of Cossimbazar the Armenians left their town leaving their church behind. The last sermon at the church was held here in 1860. In 2005, the Armenian Church Committee of Kolkata restored the church to its former glory and also added a clock tower. Today the church is well maintained and is surrounded by a small well maintained garden.[12]

Demographics

According to the

2011 Census of India, Kasim Bazar had a total population of 11,724, of which 5,978 (51%) were males and 5,746 (49%) were females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 981. The total number of literate persons in Kasim Bazar was 9,872 (91.89% of the population over 6 years).[13]

As of 2001[update] India census, Kasim Bazar had a population of 10,175.[citation needed] Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%.[citation needed] 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%.[citation needed] In Kasim Bazar, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.[citation needed]

Infrastructure

According to the District Census Handbook, Murshidabad, 2011, Kasim Bazar covered an area of 2.78 km2 (1.07 sq mi). x had 5 km roads with open drains. The protected water-supply involved overhead tank, tank/pond/lake, hand pump. It had 2,500 domestic electric connections, 300 road lighting points. Among the medical facilities it had 3 medicine shops. Among the educational facilities, it had 3 primary schools, 2 senior secondary schools, 1 engineering college. It had 1 recognised shorthand, typewriting & vocational training institute. It had branch offices of 1 nationalised bank, 1 cooperative bank.[14]

Transport

Sealdah–Lalgola line of the Eastern Railway
.

References

  1. ^
    Imperial Gazetteer of India
    , Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1908–1931 [v. 1, 1909].
  2. ISBN 0195603796
    . Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  3. ^ MSN 2016.
  4. ^ "District Census Handbook: Murshidabad, Series 20 Part XII A" (PDF). Physiography, Page 13. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal, 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Murshidabad". Geography. Murshidabad district authorities. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Murshidabad". Murshidabad district authorities. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  7. ^ Ray, Nihar Ranjan, Bangalir Itihas Adi Parba, (in Bengali), 1980 edition, pp. 160-161, Paschim Banga Niraksharata Durikaran Samiti
  8. ^ Sengupta, Nitish, History of the Bengali-speaking People, p.25, UBS Publishers’ Distributors Pvt. Ltd.
  9. ISBN 81-89118-01-3
    .
  10. ^ "District Census Handbook, Murshidabad, Series 20, Part XII B" (PDF). District Primary Census Abstract page 26. Directorate of Census Operations West Bengal. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  11. ^ a b c Chisholm 1911, p. 218.
  12. ^ a b c d Datta, Rangan. "Cossimbazar: The other colonial town near Murshidabad". My Kolkata. The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  13. ^ "District Census Handbook, Murshidabad, Series 20, Part XII B" (PDF). Rural PCA-C.D. blocks wise Village Primary Census Abstract, location no. 315444, page 32-33. Directorate of Census Operations West Bengal. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  14. ^ "District Census Handbook Murshidabad, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Section II Town Directory, Pages 981-987: Statement I: Growth History, Pages 990-993: Statement III: Civic & Other Amenities, Pages 993-995: Statement IV: Medical Facilities 2009, Pages 995-1001 Section V: Educational, Recreational and Cultural Facilities; Pages 1 001- 1002: Statement VI: Industry & Banking. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.

Further reading

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