Jungle Mahals

Jungle Mahals (lit. jungle estates)^[1] was a district formed by British possessions and some independent chiefdoms lying between Birbhum, Bankura, Midnapore^[2] and the hilly country of Chota Nagpur in what is now the Indian state of West Bengal.^[3] The district was located in the area known as the Jungle Terry.^[4]

Jungle Mahals
District of British India
1805–1833
Flag
History
• Establishment of the district	1805
• District broken up	1833
Preceded by Succeeded by Burdwan district Birbhum district Bankura district Midnapore district Burdwan district Manbhum District

History

The vagueness of the jurisdiction caused inconvenience. In 1805, Regulation XVIII was passed whereby the areas known as Jungle Mahals were separated from the jurisdiction of the Magistrates of the districts of Burdwan, Birbhum, Bankura and Midnapore and placed under a Magistrate of Jungle Mahals. The district thus formed was composed of 23 parganas and mahals.

By Regulation XIII of 1833, the district of Jungle Mahals was broken up. The estates of Senpahari, Shergarh and Bishnupur were transferred to Burdwan District and the remainder constituted the Manbhum District.^[3]

The area of Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore and Jhargram districts of West Bengal is still colloquially referred to as "Jungle Mahal".

Statehood Demand

In 2021, Saumitra Khan, Lok Sabha BJP MP demanded the creation of Junglemahal state consisting of Purulia, Jhargram, Bankura, parts of Birbhum, Purbo Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur and along with some other areas. He claimed that the Junglemahal area is least developed and the demands of employment and development for locals could be met only if it gets statehood. ^[5]

The West Bengal state BJP unit, however, distanced itself from the Junglemahal statehood demand.^[6] A Trinamool Congress leader filed a complaint against Saumitra Khan for demanding statehood for Junglemahal.^[7]

See also

• Chhota Nagpur Division
• Jungle Terry

References

1. "Forest Tenures in the Jungle Mahals of South West Bengal" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
2. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Midnapore" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 419.
3. O’Malley, L.S.S., ICS, Bankura, Bengal District Gazetteers, pp. 21-41, 1995 reprint, Government of West Bengal
4. Browne, James (1788). India tracts: containing a description of the Jungle Terry districts, their revenues, trade, and government: with a plan for the improvement of them. Also an history of the origin and progress of the Sicks
5. "Bengal BJP MP seeks separate Junglemahal state, party distances itself from demand". NewIndianExpress. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
6. "BJP MP seeks separate Junglemahal state, party distances itself from demand". Retrieved 3 July 2021.
7. "Trinamool Leader Lodges Complaint Against BJP MPs For Demanding Separate Statehood". NDTV. Retrieved 3 July 2021.

Bibliography

• Das, Binod S. (1973). Civil Rebellion In The Frontier Bengal (1760-1805). Punthi Pustak. OCLC 1105009.

External links

• The Jungle and the Aroma of Meats: An Ecological Theme in Hindu Medicine

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