Jungle Mahals

British Raj areas in West Bengal From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jungle Mahalsmap

Jungle Mahals (lit. jungle estates)[3] was a district formed by British possessions and some independent chiefdoms lying between Birbhum, Burdwan, Midnapore[4] and the hilly country of Chota Nagpur in what is now the Indian state of West Bengal.[5] The district was located in the area known as the Jungle Terry.[6]

Quick Facts Capital, Area ...
Jungle Mahals
District of British India
1805–1833
Thumb
Flag
CapitalChhatna[citation needed]
Area 
 1822[1]
18,103 km2 (6,990 sq mi)
Population 
 1822[2]
1,304,740
History 
 Established
1805
 Bifurcation
1833
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Birbhum district
Burdwan district
Midnapore district
South-West Frontier Agency
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Background

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The Jungle Mahals area as depicted on a 1776 map by James Rennell.

The Chuar Rebellion was a series of uprisings by the tribal communities in the Jungle Mahals region against the oppressive policies of the British East India Company. The British referred to the rebels as "Chuars," meaning "barbaric," due to their resistance to land revenue collection. The rebellion spread across Midnapore, Bishnupur, and Manbhum district, peaking in 1798-1799. In response to the unrest, the British reorganized the region, establishing the Jungle Mahals district and implementing stricter administrative control. The legacy of the rebellion influenced the socio-political identity of the region.[7][8][9][10]

History

Summarize
Perspective

Established

The vagueness of the jurisdiction caused inconvenience. In 1805, the new district of Jungle Mahals was created by a regulation (Regulation XVIII of 1805), comprising areas from Birbhum (the 1787 British district incorporating Bishnupur), Burdwan, and Midnapore, and placed under the jurisdiction of a new Magistrate.[3]

According to L.S.S. O'Malley, the district that was formed consisted of 23 parganas and Mahals.[3]

More information Jungle Mahals District 1805–1833, District transferred from Birbhum ...
Jungle Mahals District[3][11]
1805–1833
District transferred

from Birbhum

District transferred

from Burdwan

District transferred

from Midnapore

Panchet Senpahari Chhatna
Bagmundy Shergarh Barabhum
Jhalda Bishnupur Manbhum
Jharia Balsye Supur
Patkum Ambikanagar
Unknown Simlapal
Unknown Bhalaidiha
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
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Jungle Mahal Uprising

In 1832–33, the Jungle Mahal Uprising, also known as the Ganga Narayan Hungama, was led by Ganga Narayan in the Manbhum and Jungle Mahal areas of the erstwhile Midnapore district, Bengal, by Bhumij tribals.[12][13]

Disestablished

By Regulation XIII of 1833, the district of Jungle Mahals was broken up, and a new administrative unit known as the South-West Frontier Agency was formed.[14][15] The estates of Senpahari, Shergarh and Bishnupur were transferred to Burdwan District and the remainder constituted the Manbhum District.[5]

More information South-West Frontier Agency ...
South-West Frontier Agency[15][10]
Estates transferred
from Jungle Mahals
Burdwan District Manbhum District
Senpahari Dhalbhum
Shergarh Chhatna
Bishnupur Barabhum
Manbhum
Supur
Ambikanagar
Simlapal
Bhalaidiha
Balsye
Panchet
Bagmundy
Jhalda
Jharia
Patkum
Other estates
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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.[16]

The West Bengal state BJP unit, however, distanced itself from the Junglemahal statehood demand.[17] A Trinamool Congress leader filed a complaint against Saumitra Khan for demanding statehood for Junglemahal.[18]

See also

References

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