Daspur Explained

Daspur is a village, with a police station, in Daspur I CD Block in Ghatal subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district in the state of West Bengal, India. Previously a part of Hooghly District, later in 1872 it was merged with Medinipur district.

History

Daspur is a very old establishment. British made their barrack in this area in the early 17th century. Earlier it was part of Hooghly District later in 1872 it was merged with Medinipur district.

Geography

Location

Daspur is located at 22.608°N 87.725°W.

Area overview

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, scholar, social reformer and a key figure of the Bengal Renaissance, was born at Birsingha on 26 September 1820.^{[1] [2]}

Ghatal subdivision, shown in the map alongside, has alluvial soils. Around 85% of the total cultivated area is cropped more than once.^[3] It has a density of population of 1,099 per km², but being a small subdivision only a little over a fifth of the people in the district reside in this subdivision. 14.33% of the population lives in urban areas and 86.67% lives in the rural areas.^[4]

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.

Demographics

As per 2011 Census of India Daspur had a total population of 3,667 of which 1,878 (51%) were males and 1,789 (49%) were females. Population below 6 years was 435. The total number of literates in Daspur was 2,957 (80.64% of the population over 6 years).^[5]

Civic administration

CD block HQ

The headquarters of Daspur I block are located at Daspur.^[6]

Police station

Daspur police station has jurisdiction over Daspur I and Daspur II CD blocks.^{[7] [8]}

Culture

David J. McCutchion mentions the following temples in Daspur town:^[9]

• The Gopinatha temple as an ek-ratna with a ridged rekha tower of the smaller Bishunupur type with single porch, brick-built in 1716, measuring around 21’ square, having rich terracotta façade.
• The Shyama-Raya temple as an ek-ratna with smooth rekha tower of the smaller Daspur type generally with the tower displaced to the back, measuring around 24’ square, built in 1699. The ruinous tower seemed to have been at the corner.
• The Lakshmi-Janardana temple of the Pal family as a pancha-ratna with smooth rekha turrets and porch on three arches. Measuring around 18’ square, it was built in 1847 and richly terra-cotta decorated.
• The abandoned temple of the Chakravarti family, also in the same category as the Lakshmi-Janardana temple, measuring around 17’ 8” square, built in 1847and richly terracotta decorated.

The Gopinatha temple is a state protected monument.^[10]

Transport

State Highway 4 running from Jhalda (in Purulia district) to Digha (in Purba Medinipur district) passes through Daspur.^[11]

Healthcare

Daspur Rural Hospital, with 30 beds at Daspur is the major government medical facility in the Daspur I CD block.^[12]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Vidyasagar, Pundit Iswar Chandra . Banglapedia . 24 July 2016 . Murshid . Ghulam.
2. Web site: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar . www.whereincity.com . 24 July 2016 .
3. Web site: District Human Development Report Paschim Medinipur, 2011. page 27-28. Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal . 10 September 2020.
4. Web site: District Statistical Handbook Paschim Medinipur, 2013. Table 2.2, 2.4 (a). Department of Planning and Statistics . 10 September 2020.
5. Web site: 2011 Census – Primary Census Abstract Data Tables . West Bengal – District-wise . Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India . 27 October 2016 .
6. Web site: District Census Handbook: Paschim Medinipur . Map of Paschim Medinipur with CD Block HQs and Police Stations (on the fifth page) . Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal, 2011 . 20 November 2016 .
7. Web site: District Statistical Handbook 2014 Paschim Medinipur . Tables 2.1, 2.2 . Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal . 14 September 2020 .
8. Web site: District at a Glance . Paschim Medinipur District Police . 27 October 2016 . 27 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161027124602/http://policewb.gov.in/wbp/district/wmdp/wmdpstat.php . dead .
9. McCutchion, David J., Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal, first published 1972, reprinted 2017, pages 42, 43, 49. The Asiatic Society, Kolkata,
10. http://asi.nic.in/asi_protected_monu_list.asp List of State Protected Monuments as reported by the Archaeological Survey of India
11. Web site: List of State Highways in West Bengal . West Bengal Traffic Police . 15 September 2016.
12. Web site: Health & Family Welfare Department . Health Statistics – Rural Hospitals . Government of West Bengal . 1 September 2020 . 8 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221008143352/https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/other_files/RH.pdf . dead .