Berachampa
Berachampa
Berachanpa | |
|---|---|
census town | |
  Berachampa Location in West Bengal, India  Berachampa Berachampa (India) | |
| Coordinates: 22°42′N 88°41′E / 22.70°N 88.69°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | West Bengal |
| District | North 24 Parganas |
| Government | |
| • Type | Gram Panchayat | Zilla Parishad |
| • Body | Berachampa Gram Panchayat No. II |
| • Block Development Officer (BDO) | Fahim Alam |
| • Member of Parliament (MP) | Kakali Ghosh Dastidar |
| • Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) | Rahima Mondal |
| • Zilla Parishad Member (ZPM) | Usha Das |
| Area | |
• Total | 3 km2 (1.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 2,957 |
| • Density | 990/km2 (2,600/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Bengali |
| • Additional official | English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 743424 |
| Telephone code | 91 3216 |
| Vehicle registration | WB26 |
| Website | north24parganas |
Berachampa (also known as Berachanpa) is a census town in the Deganga CD block in the Barasat Sadar subdivision in the Deganga CD block of the North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal.[1][2][3]
Etymology
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The name derives from বেড়া (In English: Fence) and চাঁপা (In English: The flower Plumeria). There are multiple explanations on the etymology of this name. But the most accepted one is about Pir Gorachand of Haroa and a conflict with King Chandraketu.
Little is known about the early life of the princes Akananda and Bakananda. Satish Chandra Mitra however identified Akananda with his apparently uncorrupted name viz. Akshayananda.[citation needed] Akananda and Bakananda were the sons of Mahidananda, the ruler of Hatiagarh. According to Dr. Girindranath Das, Akananda and Bakananda were two generals based at Hatiagarh, under the command of king Chandraketu.[4] According to Binay Ghosh, Akananda and Bakananda were either Poundra Kshatriyas or Byagra Kshatriyas by caste.[5]
History
[edit]
The Bidyadhari River, which flows through the area, has been part of local life since time immemorial. The river was a major navigation route for early civilisations. In the 3rd century BCE, the nearby river port of Chandraketugarh was on the banks of this river. There are still signs of that era, and efforts are on near Berachampa to find more evidence of a lost civilization, possibly Mauryan. The source of the river is near Haringhata in Nadia. Later it meets the Raimangal at the confluence of Sundarbans.[6][7]
Near Berachampa, there is the archeological site of Chandraketugarh, thought to be a part of the ancient kingdom Gangaridai that was first described by Ptolemy. The history of Chandraketugarh dates back to almost the 3rd century BCE, during the pre-Mauryan era. Artefacts suggest that the site was continuously inhabited and flourished through the Shunga-Kushana period, onwards through the Gupta period and finally into the Pala-Sena period. Archaeological studies suggest that Chandraketugarh was an important town and a port city. It had a high encircling wall complete with a rampart and moat. The residents were involved in various crafts and mercantile activities. Although the religious inclinations of the people are unclear, hints of the beginning of some future cults can be seen in the artefacts. Some of the potteries carry inscriptions in Kharoshthi and Brahmi scripts.[8]
| Period | Dynasty | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Period I | Maurya | 300–200 BCE |
| Period III | Shunga | 200 BCE – 50 CE |
| Period IV | Kushan | 50–300 CE |
| Period V | Gupta | 300–500 CE |
| Period VI | Post-Gupta | 500–750 CE |
| Period VII | Pala-Chandra-Sena | 750–1250 CE |
After these periods, there was no such example of any other civilization on the ruin of Chandraketugarh. Anyway, the history of Berachampa was same as the History of Bengal. The Deva dynasty, Ilyas Shahi dynasty, Ganesha dynasty and Hussain Shahi dynasty ruled this region finally before Mughal period started. After these periods, there was no such example of any other civilization on the ruin of Chandraketugarh. Anyway, the history of Berachampa was same as the History of Bengal. The Deva dynasty, Ilyas Shahi dynasty, Ganesha dynasty and Hussain Shahi dynasty ruled this region finally before Mughal period started.[9]
After the Battle of Plassey, the region came under British control and was a part of British India Bengal Presidency until India got its independence in 1947. The area was heavily used in the initial days of British occupancy for Indigo farming as the area is known to be full of highly fertile farming lands.[10]
This region witnessed migrations of Hindus and Muslims due to 1947 partition struggle and during 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Geography
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