MANBHUM CULTURE PAGE
Manbazar Durgapuja
KALIPUJA :
- Patharmohra Sarvajanin Kalipuja
- Manbazar Roy Kalipuja
- Manbazar Namopara Sarvajanin Kalipuja
- Manbazar Thana Sarvajanin Kalipuja
- Manbazar Kalimela Kalipuja
Manbazar Manasapuja
EID-UL- AZHA MANBAZAR
Manbazar Sarvajanin Ras Utsab
ALBUM
- Smriti-Falak Patharmohra Primary School
- Rachit Kabita_রচিত কবিতা ও বিভাবরী_Bibhabori
- Boi O Manbhummela
Heritage of Purulia old City
Location and extent :-Manbazar local location point is N 23.05918, E
86.66371 and geographically Purulia district is situated between 22º42'35"
and 23º42'0" north latitude and 85º49'25” and 86º54'37” east longitude.
Midnapore, Bankura and Burdwan district of West Bengal and Dhanbad, Bokaro,
Hazaribagh, Ranchi, West Singbhum, East Singbhum district of Jharkhand State
bound this district.
“In 1589 or1590 duringthe reign of Akbar Raja
Man Singh marched histroops from Bhagalpur through the western hills to
Burdwanen rolutetoreconquerOrissa ; and again a couple of years later he sent
his troopsthrough Jharkhand to Midnapur . On both these occasions he
musthavepassed through portions of this district . 
The repairs to the oldtemples
atPara and Telkupi which are traditionally ascribed to Raja Man Singh musthave
been thus effected at the end of the sixteenth century to which periodalso is
ascribed the building of the Panchet fort .
Purulia District
In spite of Raja ManSingh’s
visits to Manbhum , however, so little was known about the countrythat in 1659
Prince Mohammad, son of Aurangzeb and Mir Jumla hadsome difficulty in getting
information about the alternative route from Patna
to Bengal passing through
Jharkhand.
Kashipur Kingdom
“Panchet Estate:In 1632
or 1633 we get the first specific reference to Panchetin the Padi-Shah-Nama
where Bir Narain, zamindar of Panchet, isdescribed as a commander of 300
horses. In 1658 for the first time Panchetis shown as liable to a Peshkush or
fixed tribute. In later records , referencesto Panchet are more numerous. 
The Peshkushwas gradually
increased,implying a greater degree of control from Murshidabad and it is
possible that the abandonment of the Panchet fort about 1700 A.D. was a mere
withdrawal of the zamindarto a less easily accessible portion
of his zamindar to avoid pressure from theNawab. The increase in the
Peshkushwas affected in the following manneras related by Sheristadar
Mr.J.Grant.
“From the
year 1135 to 1150 of the Bengal era (1728-43 A.D.) Raja
Pancharatna
Temple
GarurNarayan was subject to an
annual tribute of Rs18,203 for the fiscaldivision of Panchet and the Kismat of
Shergarh . In 1743 an additionalcharge of Rs.3,323 was levied from the estate
in the form of the abwab,chaut ,marhatta imposed by Ali Vardi Khan . In
Shib
temple Patharmohra
1170 (1763) the sarfsikka or
importimposed by Kasim Ali to cover losses on the exchange of coins,swelled
thenet assessment to Rs. 23,544. Muhammad Reza Khan in 1766 raised thedemand to
Rs.30,000, but only Rs . 5,969 was in fact collected during thatyear. 
In 1771 azor talabor compulsory exaction
of Rs. 1,44,954 including a saranjami or deduction forcollection charge of
Rs.17,302 was established,and the demand enforced by military authority.“During
the Muhammandan period, it appears that Barahabhum
Haripada
Sahitya Mandir-Purulia
andManbhum were separate
principalities constantly at war with Panchet butthere is no mention of any of
the other estates in the district or theirrelationship with Panchet . 
There is no evidence to show that any of
these estates, except perhaps Pandra, paid any regular revenue to the
Muhammadan rulers. The Muhammadan connection with Manbhum was thus of the very
slightest .
“Early British Administration:-The territory comprised in
the district ofManbhum was jacquired by the British with the grant of the
Dewani of Bengal , Bihar, and Orissa in 1765. Even as late as this , however,
our knowledge of the district hardly extends beyond Panchet a few years later
Jhalda is described as
Pakbidra-Jain Tirthankar
a recent annexation of Panchet .
The zamindaries of Barahabhum and Manbhum were still independent kingdoms
nominally attached to Midnapore, while Patkum and Baghmundi were included in
Ramgarh , as also probably all the estates north the Damodar, with thepossible
exception of Pandra.
“The history of the district
during the earlier years of British rule seems tohave consisted of a series of
small military expeditions intended to bring the chuars and minor zamindars
under control. The storm centre was at Barahabhum in the country of the Bhumij
with the Raja of Manbazar or
Manbazar
Jama Maszid
Manbhum and the robber chiefs of
Koilapal occasionally taking part with the chuars.In 1767 Lieutenant Fergusson led an expedition against Manbhum and Barahabhum along withDhalbhum as a result of which the Manbhum and Barahabhum Rajas eventually
agreed to pay Rs. 316-2-0 and Rs. 441-5-9 as revenue or tribute.
In spite of this there was a succession of
outbreaks up to1773 when finally a detachment of sepoys was permanently stationed at
Barahabhum to
prevent a recurrence of these outbreaks.
In Short description:- Jaina Bhagavati-Sutra of
circa 5th century A.D. mentions that Purulia was one of the 16 Mahajanapadas
and was a part of the country known as Vajra-bhumi in ancient times. However,
little is known about Purulia before the East-India Company obtained the
'Diwani' of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa in 1765. By Regulation XVIIII of 1805, a
Jungle 
Mahals district composed of 23 parganas
and mahals including the present Purulia (known as 'Purulia' those days) was
formed. By Regulation XIII of 1833 the Jungle Mahals district was broken up and
a new district called Manbhum was constituted with headquarters at Manbazar.
The district was very large in size
and included parts of Bankura, Burdwan of present West Bengal and Dhanbad,
Dhalbhum, Saraikela and Kharswan of present states of
Telkupi
Old Structure
Jharkhand and Orissa. In 1838
the district headquarters was transferred to Purulia of today. Since the
formation of the district it was withdrawn from regular administration and
placed under an officer called Principal Assistant to the agent to the
Governor-General for South-Western Frontier. The title of the officer Principal
Agent was later changed to Deputy Commissioner by Act XX of 1854. 
Finally in 1956 Manbhum district was
partitioned between Bihar and West Bengal under the States Reorganization Act
and the Bihar and West Bengal (Transfer of Territories) Act 1956 and the
present district Purulia was born on 1st November, 1956.
“The early days of British rule were marked by a constant strugglebetween the authorities and the
zamindar who was persistent in neglecting to pay the revenue demanded, and from
time portions of the estate
Rakhal
Ch Chakraborty
were madeover, generally
unsuccessfully, to farmers. Eventually the 
Decennial
settlement was concluded in 1791 with the proprietor , and 18 months later,in
March 1793, was made
Pairachali
Kansai Bridge
permanent and the revenue fixed
at Rs. 55,794,this amount being arrived at by detailed assessment of every
village within the zamindari, with the exception of the numerous rentfree
grants, of which a list had been furnished by the zamindar as early as 1771.
According
to this list and the later one of rent-paying villages returned at the time of
the Decennial Settlement, the whole estate consisted of 1,280 village, of which
404 only were mal of rent-paying, and 49 khas khamar or retained in the
zamindar’s hands . The zamindar included 388 brahmothers,68
Ambika
Statue-Gajpur
debotars,2 bhatjotars,2
mahatrans and 180 Jagirs held on quit rents and variously described as moghuli,
talabi or
panchaki,
Residuals of Panchakot
57¾ villages were set aside as
Digwari and over 200 villages were entirely rent-free ; these latter form
respectively the Digwari and revenue-free properties now borne on the district
roll . The extent of these deductions from the area of the estate capable of
paying a full rental no doubt accounts very largely for the lowincidence of the
revenue fixed, which works out at almost exactly half-an-anna to the acre on
the total area of the estate . 
The revenue
then assessed was made permanent in 1793 the estate being, at the same time
made liable to a contribution or Rs. 1,754 annum towards the upkeep of the
police ademand which continues to the present day.”
Manbhum Maha Vidyalaya
“Regulation XVIII of 1805-By Regulation
XVIII of 1805 the
Jungle Mahals District was constituted into separate magisterial charge with headquarters
at Bankura. This Regulation made provision for police system under which,
except in Panchet the zamindars themselves were made the police darogasand they
provided and were responsible for tdhe subordinate police.
In Panchet where the area was too big for
the zamindar to exercise personal supervision, the system was supplemented by a
thana system of which the zamindar provided the cost. The next 25 years that
followed were uneventful and saw the area brought under closer control . So far
as the revenues administration was concerned things seem to have settled down
to a certain extent though the Panchet zamindar taking advantage of his
successful opposition in 1798 was almost constantly in arrears. On the whole,
however, the period from 1805-1832 was one of peace and orderly progress.
Crossjuri
Temple
“Ganga Narain’s Rebellion–Following
immediately after the Kol rising in Singhbhum , Ranchi and Palamau, very
serious disturbances broke out in 1832, arising out of a disputed succession in
Barahabhum . 
The disturbances were confined more or
less to the three southern parganas,Barahabhum , Manbhum and Koilapal and did
no seriously affect the area included within the present operations .A full
account of the outbreak together with a summary of its causes and results
appears in the Gazetteer. The
An
innerpart of Panchakot
disturbances finally came to an
end in 1833 the death of Ganga Narain , after which peace and order were again
quickly restored .
POLICE ORGANISATION.
Some of the police thanas at
that time were run by the zamindars and some by the Government , The zamindari
police and Darogas were under a certain amount of control of the District
Magistrate and the Police Chief who used to supervise their work and inspect
their registers . An old document lays down certain rules relation to the
conduct of cases and for commitments for
Manbazar R.M.I
the guidance of all zamindari
police in the Chotanagpur division which is available in the Old Correspondence
Volumes for 1858 . 
The Darogas of zamindari police were
furnished with blank for a diary , the pages of which were to be signed and
number ed by the Magistrate of his Assistant before it leaves the office .
Daily occurrences were brought to the notice of the police officers and all
orders issued and steps taken were to be recorded in this book . It appears
that the Daroga used to record the statement of the prosecutor information on
oath or a solemn affirmation and them the original was to be dispatched to the
Magistrate . It was further mentioned that the officer in charge of the
district wo
uld take every opportunity of
carefully examining the original diary . No deposition of witnesses examination
or confession of the prisoners were to be recorded at all by the police .
The
police might , however , act on admissions Voluntariy made and use them as clue
to evidence . If evidence as to admission was to be sent to prisoners
Bijoy Krishna Dutta
named witnesses on their behalf
, the Daroga thought that the accusation against the prisoner was not
substantiated, he would immediately
Rishi
Nibaran Chandra Dasgupta
admit the accused to bail and
submit a concise report to the Magistrate. If appears that the police was to
gradually withdraw police powers from landholders and invariably the powers
were withdrawn during the period when their estates were under attachment or whenever
the zamindars were found misconducting themselves.
The rual police of Manbhum could
be divided into Jagirdars (TabedarsP) , Ghatwals (Sardars, suddyals, Tabedars),
Digwars , Choukidars and Goraits , The Jagirdars originally rendered a double
service , one to the zamindar in guarding his castle and the other to the
public and Government , viz ., in preserving the peace and assisting the
regular police. Jagirdars were repaid by a grant of land with a small rent .
Slowly his services rendered to the zamindar
police . The tenures of the Jagirdars came into existence from before whom were
five hundred Tabedars in Manbhum . The relative number of Tabadari tenures were
usually hereditary and were mostly found in panchet.
The Ghatwals were originally the
guardians of ghats or hill passes and their duty was to protect travelers ,
keep the Jangles clear of dacoities and to trace offenders . The Ghatwals were
also expected to give aid to people . Under them were suddyals and Tabedars .
The suddyals were middlemen transmitting orders from the sardar Ghatwal to the
Tabedars collecting the rents of the Ghatwals lands.
The duties of the Digwars were
precisely similar to that the Ghatwalsexcept that they were not found in charge
of ghats.
_______________________________----
Source: gztr_3 Chapter
II(History)/Dhanbad
Profile of the district
Wikipaedia Purulia
In 1864 the number of sardar
Ghatwals and Digwars was 604, of suddyals and
Tabedars 2,076 , The land hald
by the sardar Ghatwals and Digwars varies in extent , some holding as much as
eleven mouzas while the average hold only one . At this time there were 2,772
choukidars in Manbhum. In a few instances they were paid by a small amount of
land but generally by a tax levied on the villages. The choukidars who have 
chakran land were succeeded by sons or
heirs . The choukidars rendered police work while the Goraits were more of the
zamindars over servants and merely rendered aid for the zamindars police works
in a general way. The system had not worked well and had thrown more
power to the zamindars.
According to Money , Deputy Commissioner of Manbhnm the choukidars were usually
cognizant if not accessories of offences. Regulations for the control of the
rural police were taken up by the Deputy commissioner in right earnest . 
The Digwars, sardars and Ghatwals were
saddled with full responsibility with respect of crime that occurred within
their own districts. The general standard in the care of rural police was lower
than the regular police force . Hereditary considerations were the rule in
filling up vacancies in the rural police force was not always very good . The
incidence of crime had definitely gone up in 1866. poverty was one reason .
There was widespread distress and more want of food and rather than want of
money .
Money was vigilant about the
rural police . He toured extensively though the south–east of the district and
found that at places the police were working inefficiently and not helping the
starving people . He was particularly anxious that the growi ng crops should be
protected “ from the depredations committed by the starving people.” The letter
to Capt.Judge, Dsitrict Superintendent 
of police of Manbhum on the 17th October
1866, gave a series of instructions are promptly carried out , I hope the
safety of the crops will be ensured. As the Ghatwals are just sufferers from
famine and many of the lower grades are labourers and as badly off as they were
starving neighbours , it is to be feared that unless sharply looked I should
have sufficient constables in the pargana to go continuously round the ghats to
see that these Ghatwals are at their posts.” Money was in constant touch with
S.Hugg, Chairman of Bengal and Orissa Relief Committee.
R.C. Money on they 6th February,
1867 had recorded his observation on the disposition of police forces in
Manbhum district and held that the matter required very great revision .
He found the
arrsngement by which Govindpur was left to the care of an Inspector bad and the
result had been shown during the famine.
If the Assistant Commissioner
and the Assistant Superintendent were together at one station naturally there
would be unofficial intercommunication . There was no Assistant Superintendent
of police at Govindpur and the Inspector there had few ideas beyond obtaining
convictions.
Money found that neither the Inspector of
police nor the Assistant Commissioner, had much idea of the extent of the
famine in Govindpur Subdivision. The Digwars had not been properly controlled
and the dacoity cases had not been properly supervision the Digwars would not
have neglected their duty . Money wanted that Govindpur should have an
Assistant Superintendent at headquarters with two Inspectors. He further
recommended that without reading and writing Bengal no police men should rise
above a post of constable. Each outpost should be under a head constable. The
Inspector and the Sub-inspector and the Sub–Inspector under him would have to
visit every village in his subdivision every month and so keep a record having
done so .
JUDICIAL STAFF:
Inefficiency of Judicial staff
was noticed and adversely commented upon . The Deputy Commissioner wanted more
staff and thought the for too small staff led to inefficiency . The upper
Judicial and Executive staff was also not sufficient. The staff at sadar
subdivision of purulia consisted of (1) the Deputy Commissioner who was
Magistrate , Collector and Orincipal suddar Amin , (2) Assistant Commissioner
with full Magisterial and Collectorate power and principal sadar Amin , (3)
Assistant Commissioner who is Deputy Collector, (4) A Munsif with 1st Class
Magisterial power and a Munsif as well. One Munsif was posted at each of the
places Chatnah ,Raghunathpur and Manbazar .
Mr. Money compared the
volume of work in 1866 with the volume of work in the Inspection Report of
Rickett in 1854 and showed how the work has increased. He mentioned “I think it
will be seen at a glance that the increase of an establishment between 1854 and
1866 is not sufficient to provide for satisfactory performances of increase in
work .” Money gave his suggestion for increasing the staff.
Manbazar follow the tradition of
Manbhum Anchal Culture from the earlier time. There are different cast and categories
peoples in this district with their amusing culture. Culture Purulia is
very rich in its wealth as well as in cultural heritage. This is a place where
we can observe the culture of Bengal, Bihar (recent Jharkhand) and Orissa are
in harmony. Starting from archaeological evidences to local festivals, every
cultural event has got a nice tribal touch in it, which is the specialty of
Purulia. Living mostly in rural areas and keeping intact many of their
socio-cultural values more or less in pristine forms the rural people of
Purulia have their folks to speak about many of their tenets. 
The
distinctiveness of those is well demonstrated with the sentiments and feelings
of the population and these are marked with splash of colours and often
entwined with pathos, romanticism, velour and social consciousness. Purulia got
a distinct folk culture of Jhumur, Tusu, Bhadu songs. It is also the birth
place of a martial dance of Bengal – ‘Chhau’. Among the neo classical dance and
dance dramas like Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali and a few
more, Chhau, the rare mask dances of eastern India are quite unique.
The three forms of Chhau are
named after the district or village where they are performed, i.e. 1.The
Purulia Chhau of Bengal, 2.The Seraikella Chhau of Bihar and 3.The Mayurbhanj
Chhau of Orissa. Surprisingly the earlier writers have exercised considerably
to understand the origin of the word Chhau and to ascertain its classical
origin as also they have tried to establish the origin of the word Chhau from
Sanskrit root word ''Chaya'', while others have tried to justify its martial
base and the derivation of the word by suggesting that the word Chhau is
derived from the local dialect meaning an army camp. However, they have
overlooked the outcries of the performers or the drummers during performance.
Particularly in Purulia, the singer drummer often rushes to 
the new characters "by shouting
"cho... cho...cho..." with excitement, before they enter into the
arena. By doing this he infuses the same enthusiasm in the dancer. During the
course of the performance also such excitement and outburst of joy are
expressed by the singers and other members of orchestra. 
Purulia
Chhau is a vigorous, manly form of dance, performed with very elaborate masks and
headgear. It requires the dancer to do leaps in the air, summersaults, and
twirls - again and again. The stamina and technique required to do this is
quiteamazing. Here too, the dancers are all male. The actors take on the
character of mythological heroes and heroines, like Durga, Ganesha, Shiva, and
Kartikeya and so on. There are many renowned ChouDancers in Purulia like late
Shri Gambhir Sing Mura who won Padmashree and manyinternational awards, Shri
Nepal Chandra Mahato who also won Padmashree award. There is also a
lesser-known folk form of martial dance at Purulia too. It is “Natua”. The
“Natua” dance involves vigorous physical exercises with logs of wood &
wheels of bullock carts. The Folk Tribal cultural Centre under 
the deptt of Information & Cultural
Affairs held a number of workshops of “Natua” dances to keep this folk form
alive. Apart from that typical Bengali culture like Rabindra sangeet, Nazrul
Geeti is prevalent in towns like Purulia, Adra, Santhadih, Raghunathpur,
Joypur, Jhalda etc. A few years back a number of dramas were regularly
organized at those places. The deptt of Information & Cultural Affairs held
a number of workshops at Purulia and Raghunathpur town to make people aware of
the mainstream culture. Eminent teachers from the Paschim Banga Rajya sangeet
Academy taught the students about the latest developments in different forms of
music. There is a notable tribal population at Purulia district. They observe
Karam or Panta Dance in Karam Puja, Kathi Dance on the day of Mahasthami , Very
ancient Dance or Danrsali Dance of the district. Tribals are mainly
concentrated at Bandoyan, Manbazar I & II and Jhalda blocks. Santhali
language and alchiki script was already introduced at a number of colleges of
the district. 
In 2006, 150th Year of
Santhal Rebelion & the Birth centenary of Santhali poet and philosopher
Pandit Raghunath Murmu was celebrated at Manbazar & Hura block
respectively. Sustained effort of different government agencies are going on to
help folk forms and artists.
Local Festivals :-Though Purulia
looks externally to be very rough, dry, hardy but the undercurrent of
liveliness flows like a river and gets expressed traditionally through number
of festivals spread over different seasons and different months of the year. Because
of their living in sylvan surroundings and their intimate relation with forests
and groves the tribal festivals and religion rest heavily on seasonal
manifestation of nature. In all these occasions singing, dancing and rejoicing
become the must. Some of those are: A) Bandhna Parab in Dewali, B)Makar Parab
in the month of Poush, C) Sohrai Parab of the santals, C) Festival of Basanta
Ustab - Baha Parab , D) Hunting festival during Buddha Purnima , E) Gajan Vagta
or Chaitra Parab , F) Karam or Jawa Parab, G)Chatta Parab of Chakaltore etc.
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