Lalgola Explained

Lalgola
Settlement Type:census town
Pushpin Map:India West Bengal
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates:24.42°N 88.25°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:West Bengal
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Murshidabad
Government Type:Panchayat
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:134
Elevation M:23
Population Total:267563
Population As Of:2001
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Demographics1 Info1:Bengali, English
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Postal Code:742148
Blank1 Name Sec1:Sex ratio
Blank1 Info Sec1:955 / 1000
Blank2 Name Sec1:Lok Sabha constituency
Blank2 Info Sec1:Jangipur
Blank3 Name Sec1:Vidhan Sabha constituency
Blank3 Info Sec1:Lalgola

Lalgola is a census town in the Lalgola CD block in the Lalbag subdivision of Murshidabad district, West Bengal. It is situated about north of Kolkata, near the head of the Ganges delta. It is a terminal railway station on the Ranaghat-Lalgola branch line.[1] The distance between Lalgola railway station and Krishnapur railway station is one of the shortest distance between two railway stations in India (1.7 km). It is also a border checkpoint but presently non functional.

Backdrop

Lalgola is a trading hub situated near Bangladesh-India border surrounded by a number of large and small lakes (dighis). It was a settlement which came into existence after the Permanent Settlement in Bengal in 1793 by the Bhumihar Brahmin Zamindar employed by the British East India Company. It was one of the prominent businesses hubs in then Murshidabad. Mainly agricultural products were collected and exported to different corner of the country. The remnant of the Palaces, called Rajbari, is still present. In one of these palaces Lalgola Open Air Correctional Home is established. It is the oldest open air correctional home in West Bengal which runs here since 1987.[2] [3]

Geography

Location

Lalgola is located at 24.42°N 88.25°W.[4] It is located near the Padma River, which is the principal distributary of the Ganges, and which forms the border between India and Bangladesh in this area; thus Bangladesh bounds the town on the north and east. The average elevation is about 23m (75feet)

The climate is similar to the rest of Gangetic West Bengal. The maximum temperature during the summer is about 45C; the minimum during the winter is between 8C10C.

Border checkpoint

Lalgola is a border checkpoint on the Bangladesh-India border. On the other side is Godagiri, across the Padma.[5] [6]

Area overview

While the Lalbag subdivision is spread across both the natural physiographic regions of the district, Rarh and Bagri, the Domkal subdivision occupies the north-eastern corner of Bagri. In the map alongside, the Ganges/ Padma River flows along the northern portion. The border with Bangladesh can be seen in the north and the east. Murshidabad district shares with Bangladesh a porous international border which is notoriously crime prone (partly shown in this map). The Ganges has a tendency to change course frequently, causing severe erosion, mostly along the southern bank.[7] [8] [9] [10] The historic city of Murshidabad, a centre of major tourist attraction, is located in this area. In 1717, when Murshid Quli Khan became Subahdar, he made Murshidabad the capital of Subah Bangla (then Bengal, Bihar and Odisha).[11] The entire area is overwhelmingly rural with over 90% of the population living in the rural areas.[12]

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.

Civic administration

Police station

Lalgola police station has jurisdiction over Lalgola CD block.[13]

CD block HQ

The headquarters of Lalgola CD block are located at Lalgola.[14]

Open Air Jail

Probably, the most special thing about Lalgola is that, the first 'Open Air Jail', officially Lalgola Open Air Correctional Home, was founded here in the year 1987. For this purpose Sri Birendra Narayan Roy, popularly known as Biren Roy, descendants of Lalgola Raj family and erstwhile king of Lalgola, gifted their residential palace to the Government. Royal residence made way first for female lunatic convicts and later, from 1987, the open-air correctional home. Open Air Correctional Home is a relatively new and revolutionary concept. Situated over 100acres of land and mango garden containing about 1000 mango trees, this Open Air Jail is a correction home for the prisoners. Convicts sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 7 years or more and such of them as have already served 2/3 of their sentence and have maintained all along a good jail record are eligible for transfer to the open jail after thorough screening and personal interview by a board constituted for such selection.

Demographics

According to the 2011 Census of India, Lalgola had a total population of 31,698, of which 16,147 (51%) were males and 15,551 (49%) were females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 4,290. The total number of literate persons in Lalgola was 19,797 (72.23% of the population over 6 years).[15]

Economy

As a trading town and transit point for farm products, Lalgola is visited daily by hundreds of people from the surrounding villages.

Education

There is a public library, Mahesh Narayan Academy Town Library, was established in 1913.

Culture

Almost all major and minor Hindu and Muslim festivals are celebrated here. A popular Bengali proverb is baro mase tero parbon, translated as thirteen festivals in twelve months.

One of the main festivals is the Hindu Durga Puja, when pandals (ceremonial structures) are constructed throughout the town.

The Muslim Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha is also celebrated here. A number of local festivals are also held, including the local Flower Show and Exhibition, held every January since 1986 and also a Local Football event called Lalgola Challenge Cup which is organised by the local voluntary organization.

Healthcare

There is one hospital in the town, Krishnapur Primary Health Centre. A number of local and visiting doctors are also available for consultation. A local voluntary organisation, Lalgola Sanjeeban, works in health-related fields.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [IRFCA] Murshidabad District (1914) ]. 2024-05-14 . www.irfca.org.
  2. Web site: Anandabazar Patrika Read Latest Bengali News, বাংলা সংবাদ, বাংলা খবর from West Bengal's Leading epaper . 2024-04-19 . epaper.anandabazar.com.
  3. Web site: Official Website of West Bengal Correctional Services, India - Open Air Correctional Home . 2024-04-19 . www.wbcorrectionalservices.gov.in.
  4. http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/28/Lalgola.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Lalgola
  5. Web site: Bangladesh - Getting there and around . Lonely Planet. 2013-03-06.
  6. Web site: Notification No. 63/94-Cus. (N.T.) dtd 21/11/1994 with amendments - Land Customs Stations and Routes for import and export of goods by land or inland water ways . 2013-03-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120128165640/http://www.cbec.gov.in/customs/cs-act/notifications/csnt63-94.htm . 2012-01-28 .
  7. Web site: Types and sources of floods in Murshidabad, West Bengal . Swati Mollah . Indian Journal of Applied Research, February 2013 . 15 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170820073737/http://gangawaterway.in/assets/7-murshidabad.pdf . 20 August 2017 . dead .
  8. Web site: District Census Handbook: Murshidabad, Series 20 Part XII A . Physiography, Page 13 . Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal, 2011 . 24 July 2017.
  9. Web site: Murshidabad . Geography . Murshidabad district authorities. 24 July 2017.
  10. Web site: Child labour, illness & lost childhoods, India’s tobacco industry . Edge of Humanity Magazine, 27 December 2020. 13 July 2021.
  11. Web site: District Gazeteer . Chapter 3: History . Murshidabad District Administration . 12 September 2017.
  12. Web site: District Census Handbook, Murshidabad, Series 20, Part XII B. District Primary Census Abstract page 26. Directorate of Census Operations West Bengal . 2 July 2021.
  13. Web site: District Statistical Handbook 2014 Murshidabad . Table 2.1 . Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal . 17 May 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170729135056/http://www.dospiwb.org.in/site.php . 29 July 2017 .
  14. Web site: District Census Handbook: Murshidabad, Series 20 Part XII A . Map of Murshidabad with CD Block HQs and Police Stations (on the fourth page). . Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal, 2011 . 27 August 2017.
  15. Web site: C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA) . West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India . 27 August 2017.