Dakshin Dinajpur (also written as South Dinajpur) is a district in the northern part of the Indian state of West Bengal. The district was carved out of the erstwhile West Dinajpur district on 1 April 1992, when West Dinajpur was bifurcated into Dakshin Dinajpur and Uttar Dinajpur. Its administrative headquarters are located at Balurghat, which is also the largest urban centre in the district.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| State | West Bengal |
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Balurghat |
| Formation | 1 April 1992 |
| Parent district | West Dinajpur |
| Division | Malda division |
| Major river | Atreyi |
Geography
Dakshin Dinajpur lies in the alluvial plains of north Bengal and shares an extensive international border with Bangladesh on its south, east and west. To the north it is bounded by Uttar Dinajpur, and to the west, beyond a narrow strip, lies Malda district. The terrain is largely flat and agricultural, drained by rivers such as the Atreyi, Punarbhaba, Tangon and Brahmani. The district is part of the Malda administrative division.
Administration
The district is organised into two subdivisions, Balurghat and Gangarampur, and is further divided into eight community development blocks: Balurghat, Hili, Kumarganj, Tapan, Gangarampur, Kushmandi, Bansihari and Harirampur. The principal towns include Balurghat, Gangarampur, Buniadpur and Hili. Hili is a notable land port on the India–Bangladesh border, used for cross-border trade.
Politics
The district sends representatives to both the Lok Sabha and the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The Balurghat Lok Sabha constituency covers most of the district. Assembly constituencies in the district include Kushmandi, Kumarganj, Balurghat, Tapan, Gangarampur and Harirampur.
Economy
The economy of Dakshin Dinajpur is predominantly agrarian. Paddy is the principal crop, supplemented by jute, wheat, mustard and pulses. Rice milling, handloom weaving and small-scale agro-processing are common occupations. Cross-border trade through the Hili integrated check post contributes to local commerce.
Demographics and culture
The population of the district is a mix of Bengalis, including Rajbongshi communities, and a significant tribal population, with Santhals among the prominent groups. Bengali is the dominant language, while Santali, Sadri and other languages are also spoken. The cultural landscape includes folk traditions such as Khon, Gambhira and tribal dance forms. The district has a number of historical and archaeological sites, including the ruins at Bangarh near Gangarampur, associated with the ancient kingdom of Kotivarsha and the Pala–Sena period.
Transport
Balurghat is connected by rail through the Balurghat railway station, which links the district to Kolkata and other parts of Bengal. National and state highways connect Balurghat with Malda, Raiganj and Siliguri. Hili serves as a road link to Bangladesh.
History
The region historically formed part of ancient Pundravardhana and later came under the Pala, Sena and subsequently the Sultanate and Mughal administrations. During the colonial period it was part of the larger Dinajpur district of the Bengal Presidency. After the Partition of Bengal in 1947, the western portion of Dinajpur was retained in India as West Dinajpur, which was eventually split in 1992 to form the present districts of Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur.
Related topics
References
- Wikidata: Q