Kandi is a sub-divisional city and municipality in Murshidabad district in West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Kandi subdivision and is located on the east bank of Kana Mayurakshi River. The town is known for being one of the oldest municipal bodies in India, having acquired municipality status in 1869.[citation needed] The area is also known as the 'rice store' of Murshidabad district, owing to its large production of rice.[citation needed]
Geography
8km 5miles
Tomb of Mir Madan
H
Jalangi River
Dwaraka River
Mayurakshi River
Bhagirathi River
Panchthupi
R
Nagar
R
Khargram
R
Gram Salkia
R
Gokarna
R
Burwan
R
Bharatpur
R
Surangapur
R
Shaktipur
R
Sarulia
R
Rejinagar
R
Naoda
R
Hariharpara
R
Daulatabad
R
Amtala
R
Karnasuvarna
H
Kandi
M
Beldanga
M
Berhampore
M
Salar
CT
Sibdanga Badarpur
CT
Haridasmati
CT
Gora Bazar
CT
Gopjan
CT
Goaljan
CT
Cossimbazar
CT
Chaltia
CT
Barua
CT
Banjetia
CT
Ajodhya Nagar
CT
Cities, towns and locations in the Berhampore and Kandi subdivisions, Murshidabad district M: municipal town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical centres Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
Location
The above map covers the Kandi and Berhampore subdivisions, which are spread across both the natural physiographic regions of the district: Rarh and Bagri.[4][5] Kandi is 30 km (19 mi) away from Berhampore, the district headquarters of Murshidabad, and approximately 195 km (121 mi) from Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. It is near two other districts: Burdwan (32 km) and Birbhum (21 km). According to the District Census Handbook, Murshidabad (2011), Kandi covers an area of 12.97 km2.[3]
The ruins of Karnasubarna, the capital of Shashanka, the first important king of ancient Bengal who ruled in the 7th century, is located 9.6 kilometres (6.0 mi) south-west of Berhampore.[6][7][8] The entire area is overwhelmingly rural, with over 80% of the population living in the rural areas.[9]
Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivisions. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.
Geography
Kandi is located in the Mayurakshi River basin. The area is drained by three main river systems: the Mayurakshi–Bele, the Brahmani–Dwarka, and the Bakreshwar–Kopai–Kuye. All the three systems combine into one and finally flow into the Bhagirathi River through the Babla–Uttarasan system. These river systems carry huge discharges during monsoon season, causing wide-spread flooding and drainage congestion in Kandi and adjoining areas, as most of the decades-old embankments are in dilapidated conditions. During floods, the area can be totally cut off from other parts of the district for days, making the transport of relief materials and rapid evacuation challenging. In 2015, the average annual damage caused by these problems is ₹97.55 crore (equivalent to ₹147 crore or US$17 million in 2023).[10]
Demographics
According to the 2011 census of India, Kandi had a total population of 55,632, of which 28,442 (51%) were males and 27,190 (49%) were females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 5,889. The total number of literate persons in Kandi was 40,816 (82.05% of the population over 6 years).[11]
As of the 2001 census of India, Kandi had a population of 50,345. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Kandi has an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 70%, and female literacy is 60%. In Kandi, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.[12]
Economically, the area produces handloom textiles, tobacco, bell metal products.[3] It has branch offices of 4 nationalised banks, 1 private commercial bank, 1 cooperative bank, 2 agricultural credit societies, and 45 non-agricultural credit societies.[3] Among medical facilities, it has 2 hospitals with 200 beds (the governmental Kandi Subdivision Hospital is in the center of the town), one tuberculosis clinic, one non-government nursing home, and one veterinary hospital.[3]
Banking and financial services
State Bank of India, Main Branch
State Bank of India, Bus Stand Branch
State Bank of India, C.C. Rasorah
Punjab National Bank
INDIAN Bank, Main Road - Beside of LICI Building
Bank of Baroda, Khorsa-High Road
Bank of India, Petrol Pump-High Road
Bangiya Gramin Vikash Bank, Zemo Branch -School Road
Oriental Bank of Commerce, Hospital Road
IDBI Bank, Hospital Road
HDFC BANK LTD, Hospital Road
ICICI BANK LTD, BUS STAND
Canara Bank, School Road
Kandi Co-Operative Credit Society, Girls School More
Life Insurance Corporation Of India, Main Road Branch
Axis Bank, Girls School More
Bandhan Bank Near Police Station
The New India Assurance Company Limited, Petrol Pump-High Road
Kandi Town is the gateway of Murshidabad district, as 10 districts of South Bengal are directly connected to it. Kandi is well connected by road to places like Berhampur, Suri, Bolpur, Tarapith, Rampurhat, Burdwan, Katwa, and Asansol. The SH-11 passes through Kandi.
Among educational facilities, the Kandi area has 30 primary schools, 1 middle school, 4 secondary schools, 4 senior secondary schools, and 2 general degree colleges. It has 19 non-formal education centre (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan) and one specialised school for the disabled.[3]
Colleges
Kandi Raj College was established in 1950 by the Kandi Raj family of Kandi. Affiliated to the University of Kalyani, it has the following departments: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, Bengali, English, Sanskrit, History, Geography, Political science, Philosophy and Economics.[13][14]
Raja Birendra Chandra College was established in 1965 at Kandi. It was earlier known as Kandi Raj College of Commerce. Affiliated to the University of Kalyani, it offers honours courses in Bengali, English, Sanskrit, history, geography and BCom.[15]
Saraswati Devi Public High School (affiliated to C.B.S.E.)
Jagriti Public School (affiliated to C.B.S.E)
Regional development in education began when Kandi Raj High School was established by converting a theatre owned by the Zamindars of the Kandi Raj family.[when?] This was done on an appeal by Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, the eminent educationist and social reformer during the renaissance in Bengal. The Zamindar family, commonly referred to as Rajas, have contributed to the spread of education; in particular, they have taken initiative and built momentum for female education in and around the Kandi subdivision.
There are many educational libraries and sporting clubs in neighbouring villages.
Arts and culture
The region has a local sweet confectionery called monohara.
Kandi is one of the major cultural centres of Murshidabad. Renowned groups from the town hold theatre festivals throughout the year, mostly during the winter. On Republic Day (January 26), major sports events, programs, and parades are held in the town. Kandi is also commonly known for the famous Kali Puja of the Roychowdhury royal family, the erstwhile rulers of Kandi and the surrounding areas.
^ abcdef"District Census Handbook Murshidabad, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A"(PDF). Section II Town Directory, Pages 981-987: Statement I: Growth History, Pages 990-993: Statement III: Civic & Other Amenities, Pages 993-995: Statement IV: Medical Facilities 2009, Pages 995-1001 Section V: Educational, Recreational and Cultural Facilities; Pages 1 001- 1002: Statement VI: Industry & Banking. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
