Murshidabad is a district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the central-northern part of the state, it lies on the western bank and partly across the Bhagirathi (Hooghly) River, which divides the district into two distinct physiographic regions. The district headquarters is at Berhampore (Baharampur), while the historic town of Murshidabad, after which the district is named, served as the capital of Bengal during the late Mughal and early colonial periods.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | West Bengal |
| Headquarters | Berhampore |
| Region | Presidency division |
| Major river | Bhagirathi (Hooghly) |
| Named after | Murshid Quli Khan, Nawab of Bengal |
| Official language | Bengali |
The Bhagirathi River flows through the district from north to south, dividing it into two natural tracts. The eastern part, known as Bagri, is a low-lying alluvial plain that forms part of the Ganges delta and is prone to seasonal flooding. The western part, called Rarh, is comparatively higher, with harder, lateritic soils. The district shares an international border with Bangladesh to the east, and is bounded by Malda district to the north, Birbhum district to the west, and Bardhaman and Nadia districts to the south.
The town of Murshidabad rose to prominence in the early 18th century when Murshid Quli Khan, the Mughal Diwan of Bengal, transferred the capital from Dhaka to the settlement then known as Maksudabad and renamed it after himself. As the capital of the Bengal Subah, Murshidabad became one of the wealthiest cities of the Indian subcontinent, serving as the administrative, commercial and cultural centre of the Nawabs of Bengal.
The district was the setting of decisive events in the early colonial history of India. The Battle of Plassey in 1757, fought at Palashi in present-day Murshidabad district, ended the rule of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah and laid the foundation of British political power in Bengal. The subsequent Battle of Buxar (1764) and the grant of the Diwani to the East India Company in 1765 progressively reduced the Nawabs to titular rulers based at Murshidabad, while real administrative power shifted to Calcutta.
Following the Partition of Bengal in 1947, Murshidabad was briefly placed in East Pakistan but was transferred to India under the Radcliffe Award, partly because of the strategic importance of the Bhagirathi headworks at Farakka and the demographic composition of the area.
The district is part of the Presidency division and is divided into administrative subdivisions including Berhampore, Lalbag, Kandi, Jangipur and Domkal. It comprises a number of community development blocks, municipalities and gram panchayats. Berhampore is the largest urban centre and the seat of district administration; other notable towns include Jangipur, Kandi, Jiaganj–Azimganj, Dhulian and the heritage town of Murshidabad.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the rural economy, with paddy, jute, wheat, oilseeds and pulses among the principal crops. Murshidabad is one of the leading silk-producing districts of India; mulberry cultivation and sericulture, together with traditional handloom weaving, are concentrated around centres such as Islampur and Mirzapur. The district is also known for the production of Murshidabad silk sarees and ivory and brass craftsmanship of historical repute. Beedi manufacturing, particularly around Aurangabad and Jangipur, employs a large rural workforce.
The town of Murshidabad and adjoining Lalbag retain a substantial corpus of 18th- and 19th-century monuments associated with the Nawabi era. Notable sites include the Hazarduari Palace, built during the reign of Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah and now a museum under the Archaeological Survey of India; the Nizamat Imambara; the Katra Masjid, the burial place of Murshid Quli Khan; the Khushbagh cemetery, where Siraj-ud-Daulah is buried; and the Motijheel and Kathgola garden complexes. Jiaganj–Azimganj is associated with the Jain Sheherwali community and contains several Jain temples.
Bengali is the principal language. The district has a religiously mixed population with significant Hindu and Muslim communities, reflected in its festivals, cuisine and architectural heritage.
The district is served by the Sealdah–Lalgola line of the Eastern Railway, with major stations at Berhampore Court, Murshidabad, Jiaganj and Lalgola. National Highway connections link Berhampore with Kolkata, Malda and beyond. The Farakka Barrage in the neighbouring Murshidabad–Malda border area is a key engineering structure on the Ganga that diverts water into the Bhagirathi to maintain the navigability of the Hooghly River and the port of Kolkata.
Educational institutions in the district include Kazi Nazrul Islam University-affiliated colleges, Berhampore College, Krishnath College (one of the oldest colleges in the region), and the Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital at Berhampore. The district also hosts a campus of the Aliah University and several technical and teacher-training institutes.