Birnagar

Coordinates: 23°14′36″N 88°33′30″E / 23.2433°N 88.5582°E / 23.2433; 88.5582
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Birnagar
City
Temples in Birnagar, Rajshekhar Basu (bottom right) & Nabin Chandra Sen (right)
Temples in Birnagar, Rajshekhar Basu (bottom right) & Nabin Chandra Sen (right)
Birnagar is located in West Bengal
Birnagar
Birnagar
Location in West Bengal, India
Birnagar is located in India
Birnagar
Birnagar
Birnagar (India)
Coordinates: 23°14′36″N 88°33′30″E / 23.2433°N 88.5582°E / 23.2433; 88.5582
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictNadia
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • BodyBirnagar Municipality
Area
 • Total6 km2 (2 sq mi)
Elevation
13 m (43 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total32,799
 • Density5,500/km2 (14,000/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialBengali, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Websitewww.birnagarmunicipality.org

Birnagar (formerly Ula) is an island municipality the Hooghly River, in the Ranaghat subdivision of Nadia district in West Bengal, India. Birnagar was founded in the pre-colonial era. Before the British colonized India, Birnagar was named “Ula.”


The Birnagar railway station is 81 kilometers north of Kolkata on the Sealdah railway division.[2]

It's the oldest municipality in Nadia district, and has 14 wards

The first chairman of Birnagar was the famous poet Nabinchandra Sen

History[edit]

The oldest temple found at Ula is the Vishnu temple located to the north-east of the Mitra-Mustafi house.
The oldest temple found at Ula is the Vishnu temple located to the north-east of the Mitra-Mustafi house.

As per the records Birnagar was an island in the Hoogly river that changed its course away of the then ULA around 1707 A.D. Before British colonization, Birnagar was called Ula or Ulo. The "Ula" name is still present in the names of some local institutions, such as the library and hospital. It is mentioned in the short story "Post Master" by Rabindranath Tagore. Birnagar Municipality is around 150 years old. Its first chairman was Kabi Nabinchandra Sen. It earlier had two zamindars. One part of Birnagar belonged to the Mukherjees, and the other part belonged to the Mustafis.

Geography[edit]

Map
8km
5miles
none
B
A
N
G
L
A
D
E
S
H
Churni
River
Bhagirathi
River
Payradanga
R
Payradanga (R)
Nokari
R
Nokari (R)
Dhantala
R
Dhantala (R)
Habibpur
R
Habibpur, Nadia (R)
Hanskhali
R
Hanskhali (R)
Duttapulia
R
Duttapulia (R)
Aranghata
R
Aranghata (R)
Panikhali
R
Panikhali (R)
Taherpur
M
Taherpur (M)
Cooper's Camp
M
Cooper's Camp (M)
Birnagar
M
Shantipur
M
Shantipur (M)
Ranaghat
M
Ranaghat (M)
Belgharia
CT
Belgharia, Nadia (CT)
Gangnapur
CTV
Gangnapur (CT)
Nasra
CT
Nasra, Ranaghat (CT)
Ranaghat (CT)
CT
Ranaghat (CT) (CT)
Hijuli
CT
Hijuli, Nadia (CT)
Halalpur Krishnapur
CT
Halalpur Krishnapur (CT)
Parbbatipur
CT
Parbbatipur (CT)
Gopalpur
CT
Gopalpur, Nadia (CT)
Anulia
CT
Anulia (CT)
Satigachha
CT
Satigachha (CT)
Aistala
CT
Aistala (CT)
Panpara
CT
Panpara (CT)
Raghabpur
CT
Raghabpur, Nadia (CT)
Kamgachhi
CT
Kamgachhi (CT)
Gangni
CT
Gangni (CT)
Patuli
CT
Patuli, Nadia (CT)
Badkulla
CT
Badkulla (CT)
Bagula
CT
Bagula (CT)
Phulia
CT
Phulia (CT)
Beharia
CT
Beharia, Nadia (CT)
Harinadibhastsala
CT
Harinadibhastsala (CT)
Ghoralia
CT
Ghoralia (CT)
Nrisinghapur
CT
Nrisinghapur (CT)
Cities and towns in Ranaghat subdivision of Nadia district
M: municipal town/ city/notified area, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre.
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location[edit]

Birnagar is located at 23°14′36″N 88°33′30″E / 23.2433°N 88.5582°E / 23.2433; 88.5582.

The maps of Ranaghat I and Ranaghat II CD blocks, in the District Census Handbook 2011, Nadia, shows the census towns of Kamgachhi, Raghabpur, Panpara, Aistala, Satigachha, Anulia, Halalpur Krishnapur, Hijuli and Ranaghat (CT) forming a cluster around Ranaghat. Certain other localities such as Nokari, Nasra, Cooper's Camp, Birnagar, Habibpur, Gopalpur and Parbbatipur are also linked with this cluster.[3]

Area overview[edit]

Nadia district is mostly alluvial plains lying to the east of Hooghly River, locally known as Bhagirathi. The alluvial plains are cut across by such distributaries as Jalangi, Churni and Ichhamati. With these rivers getting silted up, floods are a recurring feature.[4] The Ranaghat subdivision has the Bhagirathi on the west, with Purba Bardhaman and Hooghly districts lying across the river. Topographically, Ranaghat subdivision is spread across the Krishnanagar-Santipur Plain, which occupies the central part of the district, and the Ranaghat-Chakdaha Plain, the low-lying area found in the south-eastern part of the district. The Churni separates the two plains. A portion of the east forms the boundary with Bangladesh. The lower portion of the east is covered by a portion of the North 24 Parganas district.[5] The subdivision has achieved reasonably high urbanisation. 41.68% of the population lives in urban areas and 58.32% lives in rural areas.[6]

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map. All the four subdivisions are presented with maps on the same scale – the size of the maps vary as per the area of the subdivision.

Demographics[edit]

Religion in Birnagar[7]
Birnagar Percent
Hindu
98.32%
Muslim
1.51%
Christian
0.09%
Buddhist
0.01%
Not stated
0.06%

As per the 2021 Indian census, Birnagar has a population of 41200 of which 16,658 are males while 16,141 are females as per the report released by Census India 2011.

In Birnagar (M), most of the people are from Schedule Caste (SC). Schedule Caste (SC) constitutes 35.40% while Schedule Tribe (ST) were 0.65% of total population in Birnagar (M). The child sex ratio in Birnagar is around 943 compared to the West Bengal state average of 956.

The following municipalities, notified area, outgrowths and census towns were part of Ranaghat Urban Agglomeration in 2011 census: Ranaghat (M), Birnagar (M), Cooper's Camp (NA), Magurkhali (OG), Ranaghat (CT) (CT), Hijuli (CT), Aistala (CT), Satigachha (CT), Nasra (CT), Panpara (CT), Raghabpur (CT), Kamgachhi (CT), Anulia (CT) and Halalpur Krishnapur (CT).[8]

Education[edit]

The town boasts a number of primary and high schools and for higher education.

Higher-secondary schools
  • Birnagar High School (Uttar Para)
  • Shivkali Girls' High school (Library Para)
Primary schools
1 NCPL
Other schools
  • Ramkrishna Ashramic primary (Bengali Medium) (Khan para)
  • Gunedranath Public School (English medium) (Library Para)
  • Chatterji Noble School (English Medium) (Kharda Para)
College
  • Birnagar Kabinabin Chandra Sen Teachers Training Institute[9]
Other institutions
  • There are several computer centers and NGOs. Among the NGOs YOURS (Ula Youth Organization For Reformation Service) arranges MDP, ESDP, and IMC programs on various technical skills. There are also several dance and drawing schools.
Computer training institutes
  • BCTI (Birnagar Computer Training Institute, W.B. Govt. Regd. Computer Training Institute, Estd: 2007) Birnagar, Hat, near Birnagar Municipality Market Complex
  • Edutech Academy (Rashtriya Youth Computer Saksharata Mission # ISO 9001:2015 Certified # Govt. Of India Affiliated @ RYCSM) Palitpara Bazar, Birnagar, Nadia

The literacy rate of Birnagar city is 84.60% higher than state average of 76.26%. In Birnagar, male literacy is around 88.26% while the female literacy rate is 80.82%.

Library[edit]

Ula Sadharon Pathagar[10] was established in 1922 at Library Para near Shivkali Girl's Higher Secondary School. Any person over 18 years of age can become a member and borrow one book at a time for one month.

Library statistics
  • Total books - 12000
  • Magazines - 13
  • Rare books - 63
  • Registered members - 856

Birnagar Municipality[edit]

Birnagar municipality is the oldest municipality in Nadia district which is more than 200 years old. The first chairman of Birnagar municipality was the poet Nabinchandra Sen. Birnagar municipality has 14 wards.[11] Birnagar Municipality has total administration over 6,702 houses to which it supplies basic amenities like water and sewerage. It is also authorized to build roads within municipality limits and impose taxes on properties coming under its jurisdiction.

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Birnagar City".
  2. ^ "District Wise List of Statutory Towns". Census of India 2001, Urban Frame. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2007.
  3. ^ "District Census Handbook Nadia, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Map of Ranaghat I CD block, page 449, and Map of Ranaghat II CD block, page 475. Directorate of census Operations V, West Bengal. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  4. ^ Gangopadhyay, Basudev, Paschimbanga Parichay, 2001, (in Bengali), p. 70, Sishu Sahitya Sansad
  5. ^ "District Census Handbook, Nadia, 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Pages 13,14. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  6. ^ "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Nadia". Table 2.2, 2.4(a). Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Towns in Birnagar - Religion 2011".
  8. ^ "Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011" (PDF). Constituents of Urban Agglomeration Having Population Above 1 Lakh. Census of India 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Birnagar Kabinabin Chandra Sen Teachers Training College". Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  10. ^ http://rrrlf.nic.in/hindi/rrrlf_hindi/Book/Web/DigitalLibrary/ViewLibrary.aspx?Lib_ID=221300393[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Brnagar Municipality Official Website". Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.