PURULIA DISTRICT AT A GLANCE - Shodhganga : a...
Transcript of PURULIA DISTRICT AT A GLANCE - Shodhganga : a...
The University of Burdwan, 2012[21] Purulia district at a glance
PURULIA DISTRICT AT A GLANCE
2.1 History
Jaina Bhagavati Sutra of circa 5th century A. D. mentions that Puruliya was one of
the 16 Mahajanapadas and was a part of the country known as Vajra-bhumi in ancient
times. However, little was known about Purulia before the East-India Company obtained
the ‘Diwani’ of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa in 1765. By regulation XVIIII of 1805, a Jungle
Mahals district composed of 23 parganas and mahals including the present Purulia was
formed. By regulations XIII of 1833 the Jungle Mahals district was broken up and a new
district called Manbhum was constituted with headquarters at Manbazar. The district was
very large in size and it included parts of Bankura, Burdwan of present West Bengal and
Dhanbad, Dhalbhum, Saraikela and Kharswan of present states of Jharkhand and Orissa.
In 1838 the district headquarters was transferred to Purulia as is known today. Finally in
1956 Manbhum district was partitioned between Bihar and West Bengal under the States
Reorganization Act and the Bihar and West Bengal ( Tranfer of Territories) Act 1956 and
the present district Purulia was born on 1st November, 1956.
2.2 Location:
Purulia, the westernmost district of the Indian state of West Bengal (Fig.1, 2 &3)
and a part of Chotanagpur plateau, is located between 23º 42’ 00’ North and 22º 42’ 35’’
South latitude and 86º 54’ 37” East and 85º 49’ 25” West longitude. It is traversed by the
Tropic of Cancer. The Bay of Bengal and the Hooghly estuary are within 200 kilometers
from the centre of the district. Its physiographic location is also distinguishable as a zone
of transition between the young alluvial plains of West Bengal and the ancient plateau of
south east Bihar.
The district has all-India significance because of its tropical climate location,
shape and ‘funnel’ like meteorological functions. It funnels the tropical monsoon current
from the Bay of Bengal to the subtropical parts of North West India. It also acts as a
gateway between the developed industrial belts of West Bengal and their less developed
hinterlands in Orissa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
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Fig.1. Maps showing Location of study site in Purulia district of West Bengal, a state of the eastern
part of India.
Puruliya District
Ayodhya Hills
West Bengal
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Fig 2. Map of Purulia district showing Ayodhya Hills as well as adjoining districts
and states.
2.3 Boundary
Purulia has hardly any natural boundary demarcated by streams or Hills. Only
about a hundred kilometers of the district-boundary follows the Damodar in the north and
the Subarnarekha in the west. The artificial district boundary is mainly an outcome of
linguistic regionalization and administrative convenience. Purulia has its boundaries on
the east with the Midnapur and Bankura district of West Bengal; on the north with the
Burdwan district of West Bengal and Dhanbad district of Bihar, on the north west, and
south west with the Hazaribag, Ranchi and Singhbhum districts of Jharkhand (Fig.2). A
part of the northern boundary runs through the centre of the Panchet reservoir so that its
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water are shared by Dhanbad and Purulia, the latter having the major share. Similarly, the
eastern boundary runs partly through the centre of the Kangsabati reservoir. The land
shape of Purulia is quite unique having distinctive soil, terrain, drainage, forest and whole
gamut of physical environmental set up which is within the ambit of Rarh Tract of West
Bengal.
2.4 Population:
The total area of Purulia district is 6259.00 sq Km. According to the 2001 Census,
it accommodates a population of 25,35,233 of whom 12,98,079 are males and 12,37,154
females. Out of the total population, 2, 218,64belonging to Scheduled Caste (S.C.) -
males and 20816.9 females and 218020 are Scheduled Tribes (S.T.) males and 209746 are
females. Density of population is 405/ sq Km. About 90% of the people live in rural
areas. Its rank in area and population among different districts of West Bengal is 5th and
14th respectively. The literacy rates of male and female are 74.18% and 37.15% of the
total population respectively. Muslim population is approximately 2, 00,000.
2.5 Administrative units:
At present the district is composed by 20 CD Blocks, 170 Gram Panchayats,
2683Mouzas and 2687 villages and 7 towns (Fig.3).
2.6Indigenous communities:
Purulia district has the second highest percentage of tribal population (18.3%)
after Jalpaiguri (18.9%) and it is higher than those of its adjacent districts like Bankura
(10.4%), Birbhum (6.4%), Burdwan (6.4%), East and West Midnapur (8.3%) of West
Bengal. People of tribal communities of Purulia are mostly associated with rural
phenomenon since almost 95% of their population lives in villages. In case of India, this
value is 93% which in case of West Bengal is 94.86%. Tribal societies of Purulia have
distinct characteristics, most of them being of Proto-Australoids groups with dark skin
colour, sunken nose and lower forehead. As far as linguistic affiliation is concerned the
languages spoken by the tribes in Purulia district belong to Munda branch of Austro-
asiatic family, viz. Santhali, Gond and Kheria.
In Purulia 994 villages have been identified as ‘backward villages’ on the basis of
two parameters, viz., -lack of enough employment for the villagers and extremely low
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women literacy rates. As per the last census in 2001, the population of this district was
25,35,278. Out of the total population, 18.27% is tribal and 32% Mahatos. In the tribal
population, the Santhals have 60%, Bhumij 18%, Mundas 6%, Sabar 7%, Birhores 1%
contributions. Mahatos are more than 8lakhs in number. In Purulia district, the Santals
have been mainly living in the Bagmundi, Bandwan, Balarampur, Arsa Blocks. Having
lived in the thickly forested Hills and the plateau surfaces, the tribals enjoy a certain
degree of isolation.
Table 1. Tribal Population of Purulia District Census Year Total Population Total Tribal
Population Percentage of Tribal Population
1971 16,02,875 3,13,793 19.57 1981 18,53,801 3,48,372 18.79 1991 22,24,577 4,27,766 19.23 2001 25,36,516 4,63,452 18.27 (Source: Census of India, 1971,1981, 1991 and 2001, Government of India.)
Table 2. Block and Town wise Distribution of Tribal Population of Purulia District, 2001 C.D. Blocks and Towns Tribal Population (% of total population) Bunduwan 51.07 Manbazar II 48.96 Santuri 32.26 Balarampur 31.69 Hura 26.73 Bagmundi 24.19 Kashipur 23.92 Puncha 23.68 Manbazar I 22.99 Neturia 22.96 Arsha 22.02 Barabazar 18.38 Jhalda II 12.86 Jhalda I 10.42 Raghunathpur I 10.05 Jaipur 9.9 Purulia I 7.72 Raghunathpur II 6.23 Para 4.58 Purulia II 4.31 Purulia (T) 1.84 Jhalda (T) 1.07 Raghunathpur (T) 0.45 PURULIA 18.27 (Source: Census of India, 2001, Government of India)
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Fig 3. Map of Purulia District showing constituent Blocks.
Table 3. Number of ‘Backward Villages’ in different Blocks of Purulia district. Sl. No. Name of the Blocks No. of Backward villages
1. Arsha 69 2. Bagmundi 98 3. Balarampur 56 4. Bandwan 78 5. Barabazar 80 6. Hura 18 7. Joypur 61 8. Jhalda I 53 9. Jhalda II 102 10. Kashipur 25 11. Manbazar-I 75 12. Manbazar –II 39 13. Neturia 38 14. Para 36 15. Puncha 21 16. Purulia – I 44 17. Purulia –II 24 18. Raghunathpur-I 23 19. Raghunathpur-II 30 20. Santuri 24
TOTAL 994 (Source: Census of India, 2001, Government of India.)
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2.7 Natural Divisions:
The district of Purulia forms the last two steps in the descent from the Hills of
central India and Chotanagpur plateau to the Damodar plains of West Bengal. According
to the structure and land form, Purulia happens to be a part of the Ranchi peneplains and
this physical character is so dominant that the Government of India has classified this
physiographic unit as an economic region.
With a shield-rim land, the district displays the typical old-age characteristics of a
moderate absolute altitude and relatively moderate low relief. Absolute relief increases
towards the west and the south marked by a line of sharply rising but almost flat-topped
arches covered with luxurious vegetation. The rest of the district has a gently undulating
topography with occasional Hillocks of hard rocks (Panchet Hill). These are residual
Hills, bearing testimony to the high plateau of ancient times which got eroded down in
course of time to hand over the present land-form. Some of these isolated Hills and the
bulging interfluves in the eastern part of the district are forested.
Thus, the texture of relief is of two kinds and this contrast of texture corresponds
to different cycles of erosion and also to differences in lithology. The 300 meter contour
line is the dividing line between the higher peneplains of Jhalda I, Jhalda II. Arsha,
Bagmundi, Balarampur, Barabazar and Banduanthanas and the lower undulating plains of
Hura, Joypur, Kashipur, Manbazar I , Manbazar II, Neturia, Para, Puncha, Puruliya I,
Purulia II, Raghunathpur I, Raghunathpur II, and Santurithanas of the district. The
highlands rise very steeply from 300 meters but the slope becomes moderate above 500
meters, appearing more like an uplifted plain surface.
2.8 Hill system:
The highlands of Purulia are actually the remnants of the spurs projecting from the
Ranchi plateau to the west and functioning as watersheds of the Subarnarekha-Kasai-
Damodar group of rivers.
At the extreme north-west one finds the trijunction of Purulia, Ranchi and
Hazaribagh districts where from the east-flowing Subarnarekha takes an elbow - bend
south wards to describe the western boundary of the district and dissect a spur which once
extended from Ranchi - Muri to Jhalda - Balarampur like a great tongue. The eastern part
of this truncated tongue, known as Ajodhya Pahar (Ayodhya Hills), forms the main
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highland region’ of Purulia district. It acts as the watershed between the riversKasai and
the Subarnarekha. Numerous small streams drain over its western and southern slopes
into the Subarnarekha and over the northern and eastern slopes into the Kasai and the
Kumari.
To the west and south of Ajodhya Pahar (Ayodhya Hills) occurs a number of
residual Hills, isolated and detached from the parent body. In Jhalda many such outliers
rising steeply from a relatively smooth surface at 300 meters to above 500 meters
diversify the landscape on either side of the Jhalda-Muri road. Their ridge lines have an
east west trend and an average altitude of 500 meters. The 688 meters high Chamtu is the
highest point on the south - western flank. Some of these prominences are wooded (such
as the Kalimata Palas forest on either side of the Baghmundi – Jargo road) and others are
devoid of vegetation.
At the southern periphery of the Baghmundi Hills, the prominent outliers within
the district are the 377m-high Kadali Pahar and 348m, - high Khaira Pahari. There are
similar Hillocks of igneous rocks extending further south up to the Dalma lava range in
Singhbhum district of Jharkhand state. These Hillocks, like the granite – gneiss Hills of
Baghmundi, though isolated from each other, occur as a belt on the degraded crest of the
Kumari – Subarnarekha interfluves. This crest line provides important rail and road link
between Balarampur and Chandil across the border.
The important peaks on the main highland mass of Baghmundi – Ayodhya are the
Gonja Pahar (580.5 m), the Gugui Pahar (580.5 m) to the north west where porphyritic
granite - gneiss are the predominant rock. Schist and gneisses occur on the southern and
southeastern faces of the Baghmundi Scarps where Gorgaburu and Karma Hill have high
peaks being 677m and 663m respectively. The ridge encircling the high peneplains of
Baghmundi – Ayodhya has an average altitude of 600 meters. The entire highland area is
veiled by a dense mixed forest of Sal.
At the extreme north–west, the district boundary runs along the centre of the
Ghoramara Pahar, the ridge lines of which have an east to west strike. This highland acts
as a watershed between the Damodar and the Subarnarekha rivers. Although it is
narrower than the Ayodhya Hill, its average altitude is more than 600 meters and its main
rock formations are sedimentaries and metamorphics. Of the nine major peaks, the 621m
high Bijoli Pokhar at the western flank and the 641m-high Jabarban Peak at the eastern
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flank are worth mentioning. The Kanguai Nala descends from the latter. Sal trees cover
only the valley bottoms and the less steep summits.
. To the north-east of the district lies the 643.5m-high Panchakot or Panchet Hill formed
by the upper Gondwana sedimentaries. This formation continues eastwards into Bankura
district where it rises again as the Biharinath Parbat. The Panchet Hill is well forested and
now it looks over the vast Panchet Hill dam built across the river Damodar.
In Purulia district there are several Hills, peaks and small mounds, the important
ones of which are discussed in the following:
2.8.1 Ayodhya Hills:
The area of Ajodhya Hills is about 320 Sq Kilometer which covers portions
ofJhalda, Baghmundi, Balarampur and Arsha Blocks in Purulia district (Fig.1 and Plate
6).The word ‘Ayodhya’ (locally called‘Ajodhya’) is derived from a Dravidian word
‘Ajhaida’ (Ajhai=large, Da=daha)i.e. there was a large abyss (daha). In Ayodhya Hill
there are 70 hamlets containing 15-20 thousand inhabitants, two Gram Panchayats- Ranga
and Ayodhya , a library, an office of Comprehensive Area Development Corporation,
Ayodhya Hill hospital , water project etc. The height of Ayodhya Hill is about 2200 feet.
The figure of Ayodhya Hills is somewhat L- shaped (Fig.1) covering 32 miles in length
and 10 miles in width. It is treated as sacred by the tribal communities of Purulia district.
In Santhal language the word ‘buru’ denotes ‘paha’r (Hill) like Gagaburu, Gargaburu,
Mathaburu, Chemtuburu etc. The large boulders, rough rocks, gravels, large sand
particles are found in profusion on the river beds which are called ‘rahr’ in local
language. It is for this reason that Purulia is also recognized as the ‘rahr’ district of West
Bengal.
Several concealed water sources have emerged from Ayodhya Hill like Kansai,
Rupai, Kerensai, Saharjuri, Samarbishi, Bandu, Chatuhasa, Kumari, Lekragara, Kulbera,
Shakha, Shova, Bamni, Kadrugara, Machkanda, etc which flow over areas with
abundant herb, climber, shrubs and vegetation. The tribal communities settled in
Ayodhya Hill belong to Santhal, Birhor, Munda, Bhumij, Ghashi, Paharia, and Kheria
tribes whose main source of earning was hunting. During Buddha Purnima ( the full
moon-birth day of Gautam Buddha), the tribal groups used to hunt in Ayodhya Hill by
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Purulia district at a glance
using traditional hunting weapons
, dove, parrot, swallow, squirrel etc
Community Area Development Corporation
collaterally promotes farming, poultry, dairy
construction and maintenance of roads
inhabitants of Ayodhya Hill. There are two routes
One may follow the route from
There are also vehicle facilities
‘Sagarika’ housings were constructed for
2.8.2Joychandi Hill
Joychandi Hill was familiar as ‘hanging pahar’ during the reign of king of
Kashipur. It was formed by the meeting of Joychandi,
are located in Raghunathpur Block in Puruli
formed by a single large rock. It contains
frailway station is also called Joychandi
the Hill is about 1045 feet.
Plate 6. A view of the Ayodhya
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weapons to kill fox, porcupine, deer, pig, rabbit, snake, peacock
, dove, parrot, swallow, squirrel etc and gather the bodies as source of food.
Development Corporation also renders medical
promotes farming, poultry, dairy, nursery, water supply, irrigation,
construction and maintenance of roads, literacy, ration shop, tea garden etc
. There are two routes to reach Ayodhya from Purulia S
One may follow the route from Purulia to Ayodhya either via Sirkabador via
There are also vehicle facilities for tourism from morning to evening and ‘Niharika’ and
‘Sagarika’ housings were constructed for accommodating tourists.
was familiar as ‘hanging pahar’ during the reign of king of
. It was formed by the meeting of Joychandi, Kalipahari and Jugtila
Raghunathpur Block in Purulia District. According to geologists,
formed by a single large rock. It contains a platform and a Chandi temple
lled Joychandi Pahar in accordance with its name
Plate 6. A view of the Ayodhya Hill s
, 2012
to kill fox, porcupine, deer, pig, rabbit, snake, peacock
rce of food.
also renders medical facilities and
water supply, irrigation,
, literacy, ration shop, tea garden etc for the welfare
to reach Ayodhya from Purulia Sadar.
or via Baghmundi.
from morning to evening and ‘Niharika’ and
was familiar as ‘hanging pahar’ during the reign of king of
Kalipahari and Jugtila Hills which
geologists, it was
Chandi temple. The nearest
its name. The height of
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2.8.3 Panchakot Hill:
Panchakot Hill is familiar as a Panchet Pahar. Panchakot was atraditional and
historical Hill which was situated in Nituriya Block of Purulia district. It was the
metropolis in the domain of Panchakot Kingdom. It contains ancient royal
mansion,ancient temple, guest house, Shiva temple, hunting and playing grounds,
waterfall, platform, ornamented arch etc as the remains of Panchakot Kingdom. The
height of the Panchakot Hill is about 2110 feet. Garpanchakot is located beside the base
of Panchakot Hill. The Panchet wetland was constructed on the Damodar river beside
Panchakot Hill. Besides these, there are several small Hills like Karma, Chandi,
Sindurpur, Panjoniya, Kapil, Gogoi, Jabar, Ganga, Parsha etc in different blocks in the
district of Puruliya. Murraburu(Murra-Naked, Buru- Peak) was converted to Pakhi Pahar.
The height of the tallest peak of Gorgaburu is 667 meters and peak of Karma is 553
meters.
( Source:Amiya Kumar Sengupta,‘Pahar o Banabhumi’, P. 69.1999. AamaderPurulia)
2.9 Rivers:
The rivers that flow across the district are few in number and these rivers remain
dry during most of the year. These rivers are very turbulent only for a small period during
the monsoon and thus provide little scope for fishery. There are, however, some ‘bundh’
type of water bodies or tanks of various size distributed throughout the district and these
are the only source of water for the purpose of drinking, bathing and irrigating rice fields.
Pisciculture is taken up in these tanks as a secondary measure. These tanks where
rainwater is collected during the rainy season, get dried up during other seasons especially
when the district experiences drought conditions. The principal rivers of this district are
described briefly in the following:
2.9.1 The Subarnarekha:
It is the westernmost river of this district originating from a surface spring near
Pisk rail station. Only three streams of this river have built up small patches of alluvial
plains most of which now lie outside the district.
2.9.2The Damodar :
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The Damodar marks the northern district boundary and its course through the
district is almost due east through the vast Panchet Hill reservoir. The most important
right bank tributary of the Damodar empting into the tail-end of the Panchet reservoir is
the Gobai or Gowai Nadi which has only a part of its upper course and the entire lower
course within Purulia.
2.9.3 The Dwarakeswar:
The Dwarakeswar or Dhalkisor rises from the east of Bagalia rail station on the Asansol -
Purulia section and flows east up to Kashipur Police Station and then southeast from
86044`E where it receives the Beko Nala flowing in east-south east direction.
2.9.4 The Kasai:
The Kasai is the most important river of Purulia district, although for more than
three- fourths of its length it is non-perennial. The Jabarban peak on the Ghoramara Pahar
is the place of origin of the southeast flowing Kangsai Nala which becomes Kasai Nadi
after receiving the combined waters of Girgiri Nala and SaharJore 3 Km north of
Begunkudar. A number of non-perennial streams descend down the northern face of the
Baghmundi Hills as right - bank tributaries of the Kasai.
2.9.5 The Kumari:
The Kumari Nadi issues from the eastern face of the Baghmundi uplands being
covered by dense Sal forest (Mudali Reserve Forest). From the same uplands, the Kumari
receives two tributaries: the east - flowing Kunwari Nala at an altitude of about 266
meters and the south- east flowing Hanumata Nala. The Kumari flows south – south east
almost in form of a straight and steep channel and then turns east describing a less steep
and more tortuous channel. The Kumari receives numerous small right bank tributaries
from the Dalma range.
2.9.6 The Nangasai:
The Nangasai Nala originates from the saddle like interfluves of the Kumari
Subarnarekha basins and flows eastwards up to the headquarters of Barabhum Police
Station where it suddenly turns northwards to meet the Kumari on its right bank at a right
angle.
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2.9.7The Silabati:
The Silabati or Silai river as well as the Arkusa Nala and their ramifying channels
have furrowed up the eastern end of the south-east projecting Dwara Keswar-Kasai
interfluves at Hura Thana. The Silabati originates at Baragram on the Manbazar - Adra
road, flows south east to Bankura district and ultimately joins the Dwarakeswar on the
border of Hooghly district.
2.10 Forest:
It is only in limited area, viz. the inaccessible uplands of Panchet, Ayodhya–
Baghmundi and Dalma and some patches of the upper catchment areas of the Silai,
Arkusha, Dwarakeswar and also the Kasai valley (in Hura Police Station) where forests
exist. Even in these tracts the forests are rarely virgin, but more often of secondary origin,
i.e. forest which have grown again after being cleared by man. Secondary dry deciduous
forests are neither as lofty nor as dense as the virgin moist deciduous forests, because they
usually grow on impoverished soils and through regeneration of coppice.
Table 4. Classification of Forest areas ( area in hectares) in the district of Purulia Class of Forest 1996-
97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001
Reserved Forest
12912.64
12035.32 10370.12 10435.62 10435.62
Protected Forest
73441.16
76895.90 82693.50 67638.65 56184.66
Unclassed State Forest
2401.07
- 22274.59 22274.59 34015.01
Khas Forest - 645.47 645.47 15332.12 14686.65 Vested waste land
- - - - -
Forest owned by corporated bodies
3829.75
- - - -
Forest owned by private individuals
4541.00
23936.21 2420.00 850.00 850.00
Total 97125.62
113512.90 118403.68 116530.98 116171.94
(Source:Divisional Forest Officer, a) Purulia Division, b) Soil Conservation Division-1, c)Soil Conservation Division-11,d)Extension Forest Division, Purulia)
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Table 5. Classification of Forest produce in the district of Purulia Forest Produce
Unit 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999- 2000
2000-2001
Timber Thousand cubic metre
19.542 29.523 75.237 89.58 51.069
Fuel Thousand cubic metre
0.078 101.768 761.169 14.433 45.432
Pulp Wood Thousand cubic metre
- - - - 1.826
Pole In number
5983 1171 - 105344 26832
Post/Cogging Sleeper
In number
- - - 126653 -
(Source:Divisional Forest Officer,a) Purulia Division, b)Soil Conservation Division-1, c)Soil Conservation Division-11,d)Extension Forest Division,Purulia)
Forest clearing causes unpleasant consequences, since minerals and deep humus
are rapidly leached exposing poor sand or lateritic clay. Secondarily developed forests
face great hindrances in growing up again in a changed microclimate and on nutrient
exhausted soils. Only stunted trees survive on these depleted soils. Such edhaphic
influences are most prominent in the dry, gravelly and rocky surface outcrops , capable of
supporting only scrub, grass, ephemeral herbs and xerophytic plants. These plants are
better adapted to the dry season, unreliable precipitations and depleted soils. Where they
grow, the deeper layers are too dry to sustain such deep rooted plants as trees.
Sal (Shorea robusta) the most prevalent tree species has a dense growth to
compose the tropical dry deciduous type of forest. It is the Piasal (Pterocarpus
marsupium) which is prevalent in lower Hills. The sal timber is heavy, strong and tough.
The sal fruit is edible, the resin is used locally for various purposes and the bark yields
tan. Sal is always a sacred tree of tribals and under its shade their deities are worshipped.
The Muchkunda(Pterospermum acerifolium), a tall evergreen tree, is not very common,
and its large flowers are used as a disinfectant. Bel (Aegle marmelos) is in commonly
found in the wild, but katbel (Limonia acidissima) is not so common. The tun(Toona
ciliata) is a tall elegant tree the crowns of which spread out in form of numerous parasols
of delicate foliage. Its reddish and scented wood is immune to white ants for which it is
mainly used for construction purposes, cabinet work and making cigar boxes. The seeds
and leaves are used as cattle feed. The bark is a powerful astringent.
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Matkam, Mohul or Mahua (Madhuca indica) is another very important plant of
the area. Its hard reddish brown timber is used for many purposes, but it is seldom cut
down for timber alone. The flowers, raw or cooked, contribute important ingredients of
food. When dry, they store well, retaining good condition for a very long time. A coarse
spirit distilled from the fermented flowers is the liquor most generally consumed in the
district, even the wild animals, such as Jackals, pigs and bears are particularly fond of the
flowers and it is on record that bears behave like drunkards after eating quantities of
flower. The unripe fruit (Kochra) is cooked as a vegetable. When ripe, the outer fleshy
pulp is only eaten. It is generally infested by a small white worm and can only be
consumed by the less fastidious people. The kernel yields an oil which is used for
culinary purposes, lamps, making soaps, anointments and adulterant of ghee. The tree is
particularly important because flowers and fruits appear in the hot season when rice
stocks are low. It has been observed that the district has a rich assemblage of timber, fibre
and oil yielding and especially medicinal plants. In addition to those mentioned in the
foregoing, the following medicinal plants are also very important.
Arisaema tortuosum, Curcuma longa, Ichnocarpus frutescens, Leucas aspera,
Argemone mexicana, Dioscorea alata, Terminalia arjuna, T. bellirica, T. chebula,
Centella asiatica, Nyctanthes arbortristis, Martynia annua, Andrographis paniculata,
Justicia adhatoda , Gloriosa superba, Euphorbia hirta, Nymphoides hydrophylla,
Jatropha gossypifolia, Nymphaea pubescens, Calotropis procera, Calotropis gigantea,
Paedaria foetida, Hygrophila Schulii, Tabernaemontana divaricata, Plumeria rubra,
Agave americana, and Pedilanthus tethymeloides.
2.11Economic status of Purulia district
Agriculture is the principal source of livelihood in Purulia district. Almost 70
percent of the working population gets engaged in agriculture either as cultivators or as
agricultural labourers. A large portion of the district’s income comes from the agricultural
sector. While the labour participation ratio in the field of agriculture is significantly high,
the average income of cultivator is very low for which there is a poor progress of
agricultural development.
Traditional implements are still in use in the district though the cultivators are
gradually becoming aware of improved agricultural practices. The land holding in the
district is too limited and the cultivators are very poor. As such, it is very difficult for
Studies on dependence of tribal communities………………………
Purulia district at a glance [36]The University of Burdwan, 2012
them to purchase all the modern implements. A cultivator in the district usually possesses
one plough, one sickle and one khurpi or nirani with which he works in the field while he
borrows a pair of bullocks from the rich farmers for ploughing prior to cultivation
At Hatara under Purulia Police Station, there is a Government poultry farm with
about 200 birds. In addition, there are 40 small poultry units and 10 dairy farms in the
private sector of the district.
Tasar silk weaving is an age-old industry especially in the early part of the
twentieth century when it was located at Raghunathpur and some other places.
Raghunathpur appears to have been the chief centre of the manufacture in earlier days,
but the industry was on the decline with the gradual disappearances of forests from where
the cocoons used to be procured. The raw material had to be purchased from a distance at
a high cost. The profits of manufacture were thus reduced and many of the weaving
families had to take up other occupations. The quality of silken cloth produced at
Raghunathpur was good and there was a local demand of it for weaving dhutis, saris,
chaddars, napkins and pagris.
(Source: West Bengal District Gazetters, Purulia, Government of West Bengal, 1985)