Gonpur (also spelled Ganpur) is an old village in Mohammad Bazar CD Block in Suri Sadar subdivision of Birbhum district, West Bengal, India.

Gonpur
Ganpur
Village
Rameswar Shiva temple complex - terracota carving
Rameswar Shiva temple complex - terracota carving
Gonpur is located in West Bengal
Gonpur
Gonpur
Location in West Bengal, India
Gonpur is located in India
Gonpur
Gonpur
Gonpur (India)
Coordinates: 24°04′03″N 87°40′27″E / 24.0676°N 87.6742°E / 24.0676; 87.6742
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictBirbhum
Population
 (2011)
 • Total2,706
Official Languages
 • LanguagesBengali, English, Santali
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
731216
Lok Sabha constituencyBirbhum
Vidhan Sabha constituencyRampurhat
Websitebirbhum.nic.in

Geography

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It is situated beside NH 14 (old numbering NH 60). This village is surrounded on four sides with "Ganpur reserved forests".[1] A narrow canal passes through south of the village.

Ganpur is mainly covered with moram soil, and this sal forest is on moram soil. The villagers, living in villages (Ulpahari, Ghaga, Choubata, Shabla etc.) located inside the forest, have realised that they can make a living by selling plates (thalis/"tharis") made of sal leaves.[2]

Demographics

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As per the 2011 Census of India, Ganpur had a total population of 2,706 of which 1,347 (50%) were males and 1,359 (50%) were females. Population below 6 years was 257. The total number of literates in Ganpur was 2,059 (84.08% of the population over 6 years).[3]

Education

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Basantika Institute of Engineering and Technology (Polytechnic) at Gonpur offers diploma courses in engineering. [4]

There are two primary schools and a high school(H.S) in the village. This schools are well maintained and well equipped with modern facilities. There are about 800 students in the high school offering two streams, arts and science in higher secondary level.

Culture

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Rameswar Shiva temple complex

David J. McCutchion mentions the many small char chala temples of the 18th and 19th centuries built of brick with facades richly carved, at Ganpur. He also mentions a Visnu temple of the Mondal family, built around 1769. It is an at chala temple built of brick with phulpathar facades richly carved.[5]

Ganpur Sabuj Sansad Gramin Pathagar, a government-sponsored library, was established in 1980. It has its own pucca building.[6]

References

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  1. ^ http://wikimapia.org/22953593/Ganpur-forest [user-generated source]
  2. ^ Ghosh, Kanailal, Birbhumer Bon Udbhidjo O Banyapran, Paschim Banga, Birbhum Special Issue, February 2006, (in Bengali),
  3. ^ "2011 Census – Primary Census Abstract Data Tables". West Bengal – District-wise. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Basantika Institute of Engineering and Technology (Polytechnic)". BIETP. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  5. ^ McCutchion, David J., Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal, first published 1972, reprinted 2017, page 31. The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, ISBN 978-93-81574-65-2
  6. ^ "List of Govt. Sponsored Libraries in the district of BIRBHUM" (PDF). Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.