Jiaganj Azimganj

Jiaganj Azimganj জিয়াগঞ্জ-আজিমগঞ্জ Jiaganj and Azimganj
Town
Jiaganj Azimganj Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates:
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Murshidabad
Elevation	30 m (100 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	47,228
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	742123 of Jiaganj and PIN code for Azimganj is 742122
Telephone code	91-3483-2xxxxx
Vehicle registration	WB57, WB58
Lok Sabha constituency	Murshidabad
Website	www.jiaganjazimganj.blogspot.com

Jiaganj and Azimganj is a twin town and a municipality in Murshidabad district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The municipality for the twin town is situated near Azimganj city railway station. Visit the personal website of Jiaganj Azimganj town in the district of Murshidabad. http://www.jiaganjazimganj.blogspot.com

Geography

Jiaganj and Azimganj- the two towns located on opposite sides of the Baghirathi River, Jiaganj (Ziaganj) on the east bank and Azimganj on the west bank. Baluchar is the original ancestral name of Jiaganj. The name was changed to Jiaganj only after the Muslim rulers invaded Bengal and came in power of Murshidabad.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Jiaganj Azimganj had a population of 47,228. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Jiaganj and Azimganj has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 73%, and female literacy is 62%. In Jiaganj Azimganj, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Neighbourhoods

Begamganj

Begamganj is a very old locality in Jiaganj. The main marketplace in Jiaganj(e.g. SabjiMandi) is within this locality. The Boro Govinda Bari is a place of religious interest. The Sarbajanani Durga Puja in Baroaritala and Saraswatitala is famous and old one.

Bhattapara

Bhattapara is a locality at Jiaganj town named after Bhattacharyas, who used to live here (more than 350 years) from the earlier time of Nawab Murshid Kuli Khan(Subedar of Bengal) of Murshidabad and the next generations of Bhatta family have been living still now at Bhattapara. "Pathar Bari" temple of Goddess Durga is situated near the bank of the river Bhagirathi at Bhattapara is their ancient architecture. Bhattas(Bhattacharyas)were also one of the old Landlord(Lakheraj i.e. Non-Taxable Zamindary). They were also Hindu Paschatya Vaidic Brahmins. Originally they came from Kanauj(U.P)at the time of King Ballal Sen /Laxman Sen. They have also a temple of "Laxmi-Narayan Dev" adjacent to their residential house and have trusty of Sabayat among themselves. The most of their buildings are now dilapidated and abandoned condition. The descendants of the said Bhattacharyas are commonly known as their glorious title "Bhatta" and they have been using the title as surname.

Rampada Chakraborty(1831 A.D.)of Bhattapara was the first priest of Amaipara Goddess 'Kali' whose elder daughter was Matangini Devi got married with Debendra Nath Bhatta(1863 A.D.).There after next Sabayet(Priest)of Amaipara Kalibari,Jiaganj is Shrish Bhattacharya S/o Kailash Bhattacharya and Rampada's grand son-in-law Mahendra Nath Bhattacharya founded Lord Shiva Temple (More than 100 Years old)situated at Bhattapara. The only one Girls'High School of Jiaganj was started in 1937 at Bhattapara under the tenancy of Land owners(Zaminder) 1)Priya Nath Bhatta & 2)Manindra Nath Bhatta being patronize and founded by Rai Bahadur Surendra Narayan Singha. After that Rabi Sankar Bhatta of traditional member of Bhatta family of Bhattapara gifted his landed property in favour of Jiaganj S.N.Girls' High School for the extension of the construction of Higher Secondary Buildings.Jhunu Bhatta was the Ex-Head mistress for more than 37 years of this school also a daughter-in-law of the Bhatta Family. In Bhattapara was residence of several landlords from British India. Most prominent of them is Manmothonath Saha and Sripath Sing. There is a college named "Sripath Sing College" made by Sripath Sing Dugar at Bhattapara. Also a temple of Lord Krishna (ThakurBari) made by Manmothonath Saha. There was also a famous house named "Kartik Bari" where taxes was used to be collected when Manmothonath Saha was a landlord (up to 1965). Every year a puja of Lord Kartik (another Hindu God) was used to be held there in "Kartik Bari". Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose visited Kartik Bari before independence ( before 1947). A gigantic sweet (Chomchom) was made in his honour. After 1965, when Land Lord system or "Zamindari" system was abolished, Bhattapara lost its glory. Prominent author Dr S.K.Roy has written a lot about Bhattapara and Jiaganj in his books. The title Bhatta was given by the Nawab of Murshhidabad. At present, Dhar family in Bhattapara is famous for their social work and education.

Azimganj

Azimganj is situated at the right side of river Bhagirathi. There are two railway stations Azimganj city and Azimganj junction. The old and historic city of Nawab period is situated near Azimganj city railway station.

Nehalia

One of the most famous place in Jiaganj.It is the birthplace of great freedom fighters.Durgapada Singha,Shyamsundar Singha Choudhury,Anil Singha,Umapada Ghosh, Ashit Ghosh,Kalinarayan singha are few of them.These people played a very vital role in the famous Nashhipure incident.The great Ramkrishna Vivekanada Byam Samiti(known as Shshuudyan)is located here.This club witnessed the younghood of great freedom fighters.This club has a notable contribution in Districts Sports. Nehalia is renowned for its Historical Museum,Roybahadur's Palace,"Hat"(A local fair arranged on every Wednesday).

Goursundar Singha Choudhury the great educationist belongs to this place who has a great contribution to Jiaganj's education system.

Education

Notable Schools: Jiaganj Raja Bijoy Singh Vidyamandir(old name Edward Coronation Institution), Azimganj Rai Budh Singh Bahadur High School,Azimganj Keshore Kumari Balika Vidyalaya, Birendra singh Singhi High School, Surendra Narayan Girls High School, Amaipara High School, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose DAV School, St. Josheph School etc.

Notable Colleges: Sripat Singh College, R.P.B.M. Jiaganj College of Engineering and Technology (Polytechnic)

Notable personalities: famous proponent & guru of Kirtan style of devotional music Hari Makhan Das & his disciple Radharani Devi, who was also a noted film-actress of 1930s-'40s, a contemporary & co-actress of Kananbala.

Municipality

Jiaganj-Azimganj Municipality was established in the year 1896.From the British reign most famous personalities came to the post of Chairman and had their greatest activity for the development of this Municipality. Now the Present chairmain of Jiaganj and Azimganj Municipality is Sri Sankar Mandol.Sri Mondal is also active and energetic person.

Connectivity

There are two parallel railway links on both the sides of river Bhagirathi. One is connecting Sealdah to Jiaganj through Lalgola Branch Line and another Howrah to Azimganj through Barharwa-Azimganj-Katwa Loop Line. A new rail bridge is coming up over river Bhagirathi connecting Nashipur to Azimganj.Azimganj-Nalhati Railway line started in the year 1872.

Apart from this through road links Jiaganj is connected to adjacent townships like Lalbagh (Murshidabad), Berhampore, Lalgola, Bhagabangola.

Jiaganj and Azimganj are connected by boat service managed by local municipality on river Bhagirathi.

Jain temples

There are several historic Jain temples in the city including Sri Neminath Swami, Chintamani Parasnath, Shantinath, Gaudi Parshwanath, Padmaprabhu, and Sanwalia Parasnath (Rambagh) temples and a dadabadi at Rambagh.

Jiaganj 1. Shree Shambhabnath Ji, 2. Shree Adinath Ji, 3. Shree Bimalnath Ji, 4. Shree Adinath Ji, Kathgola temple, 5. Dadabari at Kiratbagh, 6. Basupujya Parswanath Swami Jinalaya at Kiratbagh, Mahavir Swami Digambar Jain Mandir

Sources

• Indian trains
• Official site of Jiaganj Azimganj Municipality
• Personal website of Jiaganj Azimganj Murshidabad Town