Jiaganj Azimganj


Jiaganj Azimganj is a city and a municipality in Murshidabad district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Geography

Jiaganj and Azimganj- the two towns located on opposite sides of the Baghirathi River, Jiaganj on the east bank and Azimganj on the west bank.
Baluchar is the original ancestral name of Jiaganj. The name was changed to Jiaganj after the Mughal Empire conquered Bengal, and came in power of Murshidabad.

Demographics

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% : 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 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.

Shibtalaghat

It is a locality in jiaganj near the Bhagirathi river. Bikki Khela Ghar, Anjali Villa, an ancient Shiva temple etc are located here.

Bhattapara

Bhattapara is a locality at Jiaganj town named after Bhattacharyas, who used to live here from the earlier time of Nawab Murshid Kuli Khan 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 were also one of the old Landlord. They were also Hindu Paschatya Vaidic Brahmins. Originally they came from Kanaujat 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. 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 Chakrabortyof Bhattapara was the first priest of Amaipara Goddess 'Kali' whose elder daughter was Matangini Devi got married with Debendra Nath Bhatta. Thereafter next Sabayetof Amaipara Kalibari, Jiaganj is Shrish Bhattacharya S/o Kailash Bhattacharya and Rampada's grand son-in-law Mahendra Nath Bhattacharya founded Lord Shiva Temple situated at Bhattapara. The only one Girls'High School of Jiaganj was started in 1937 at Bhattapara under the tenancy of Landowners : Priya Nath Bhatta & Manindra Nath Bhatta being patronized 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 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. Every year a puja of Lord Kartik was used to be held there in "Kartik Bari". Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose visited Kartik Bari before independence. A gigantic sweet was made in his honour. After 1965, when Land Lord system or "Zamindari" system was abolished, Bhattapara lost its glory. Prominent author S.K.Roy has written a lot about Bhattapara and Jiaganj in his books. The title Bhatta was given by the Nawab of Murshidabad. At present, Dhar family in Bhattapara is famous for their social work and education.

Debipur

Debipur a small neighbourhood situated on the banks of Bhāgirathi-Hooghly river,traditionally known as 'Ganga'. Debipur constitutes the ward number 8 of Jiaganj-Azimganj Municipality.It consists of Debipur Mahanta Ganapati Das High School and Debipur Sub-Post office.

Azimganj

Azimganj is situated at the west bank 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.
Nehalia is renowned for its Historical Museum, Roybahadur's Palace, "Hat".
Goursundar Singha Choudhury the great educationist belongs to this place who has a great contribution to Jiaganj's education system.

Education

Notable Schools: St.Joseph's School,Jiaganj Raja Bijoy Singh Vidyamandir, 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.
Sripat Singh College was established in 1949 at Jiaganj. The Svetambara Jain zemindar of Jiaganj, Sripat Singh Dugar, gifted the palatial out-house of his palace and a handsome sum in cash for the college. Affiliated with the University of Kalyani, it offers honours courses in Bengali, history, philosophy, political science, economics, physics, chemistry, mathematics and botany, and post graduation in Bengali.
Rani Dhanya Kumari College was initially started as an evening college in the premises of Sripat Singh College in 1962 at Jiaganj. It shifted to its present premises in 1972. Affiliated with the University of Kalyani, it offers honours courses in Bengali, English, sociology, political science, history, geography and BCom.
Jiaganj College of Engineering and Technology at Jiaganj offers diploma courses in engineering.
Notable personalities: Well-known playback singer Arijit Singh, famous proponent and guru of Kirtan style of devotional music, Hari Makhan Das and his disciple Radharani Devi, who was also a noted film-actress of 1930s-40s, a contemporary co-actress of Kanan Bala.

Municipality

Jiaganj-Azimganj Municipality was established in 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. The present chairman of Jiaganj and Azimganj Municipality is Sri Prasenjit Ghosh. Sri Prasenjit Ghosh is also active and energetic person.
Jiaganj-Azimganj Municipality is one of the oldest municipalities in Murshidabad district. The twin town is situated on the opposite banks of the river Bhagirathi, a branch of river Ganges. Jiaganj is on the east side while Azimganj is on the west. The municipal area is surrounded by Murshidabad town in the south, vast land of Bhagabangolla in the North and while in the east and west sides by the Rada area of Nabagram and Sagardighi. This conglomeration of ancient Gauda and Rada area constituting this municipality was a part of Murshidabad municipality till 1896 when it was curved out as a separate municipal area. These two riparian settlements remind the rich history and cultural heritage of Bengal. The twin towns of Jiaganj and Azimganj were important trade centre during the Subah reign in Bengal, considered as the ‘Baranasi of Bengal’ during the period of Rani Bhabani, a renowned landlord of Bengal. It was also a holy place for Vaishnava culture in some point of time in the past. Because of the abundance of silk, muslin, ivory and rich agricultural yield the entire area had become the centre of vigorous economic activities during the nineteenth century Bengal. Attracted by the promise of trade and banking several families, especially Jains settled here, many Jain temples on both banks of the river of standing tall till date are the witnesses for the same. Traversing over hundred years since today this historic municipal town is inhabited by people of all religion, caste, creed, language, and culture and the municipal area is embellished and honoured with the harmonious existence of Temples, Mosques, Churches and Gurudwara in it.

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 1872.
Important train that originates from Azimganj Junction railway station :
  1. Ganadevata Express
  2. Howrah Azimganj Kavi Guru Express
Apart from this through road links, Jiaganj is connected to adjacent townships like Lalbagh, Berhampore, Lalgola, Bhagabangola.
Important train that goes through Jiaganj railway station :
  1. Bhagirathi Express
  2. Hazarduari Express
  3. Dhano Dhanye Express
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 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.

Healthcare

Jiagnj Rural Hospital functions with 30 beds at Jiaganj and Azimganj Primary Health Centre at Azimganj functions with 15 beds.

Notable People