Nabadwip is a community development block that forms an administrative division in Krishnanagar Sadar subdivision of Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
History
Nabadwip was the capital of Lakshman Sen from 1179 to 1203. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born here in 1486.
Ballal Dhipi in Bamanpukur, is an ancient site, which has been excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India that indicates the existence of a Buddhist vihara dating back to 10-12th century or earlier. Two separate sites are identified as Monuments of National Importance.
Geography
Maheshganj is located at .
Nabadwip CD Block is bounded by Krishnanagar II CD Block in the north, Krishnanagar I CD Block in the east, Santipur in the south and Purbasthali I CD Block in Bardhaman district in the west.
Nadia district is mostly alluvial plains lying to the east of Hooghly River, locally known as Bhagirathi. The alluvial plains are cut across by such distributaries as Jalangi, Churni and Ichhamati. With these rivers getting silted up, floods are a recurring feature.
Nabadwip CD Block has an area of 97.39 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 8 gram panchayats, 104 gram sansads (village councils), 25 mouzas and 21 inhabited villages. Nabadwip police station serves this block. Headquarters of this CD Block is at Nabadwip.
Gram panchayats of Nabadwip block/ panchayat samiti are: Bablari Dewanganj, Char Majdia Char Brahmanagar, Fakirdanga-Gholapara, Mahisura, Majdia-Pansila, Mayapur-Bamanpukur I, Mayapur-Bamanpukur II and Swarupganj.
Demographics
Population
As per the 2011 Census of India, Nabadwip CD Block had a total population of 135,314, of which 76,214 were rural and 59,073 were urban. There were 69,696 (52%) males and 65,618 (48%) females. The population below 6 years was 15,537. Scheduled Castes numbered 19,612 (14.49%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 1,642 (1.14%).
As per the 2001 census, Nabadwip block had a total population of 121,793, out of which 62,765 were males and 59,028 were females. Nabadwip block registered a population growth of 16.51 per cent during the 1991–2001 decade. Decadal growth for the district was 19.51 per cent. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.
There are several census towns in Nabadwip CD Block (2011 census figures in brackets): Bamanpukur (9,137), Tiorkhali (11,148), Bablari Dewanganj (6,806), Gadigachha (14,085), Majdia (7,831), Char Maijdia (5,013) and Char Brahmanagar (5,053).
Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Nabadwip CD Block were (2011 census figures in brackets): Charkashthasali (6,304), Ballaldighi (4,613), Pansila (8,200), Bankar Dhopadi (4,156), Gadkhali (5,057) and Mohisunra (15,910).
Literacy
As per the 2011 census, the total number of literates in Nabadwip CD Block was 81,116 (67.72% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 45,566 (73.80% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 35,550 (61.26% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 12.54%.
See also – List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate
Language and religion
In the 2011 census, Hindus numbered 83,069 and formed 61.39% of the population in Nabadwip CD Block. Muslims numbered 51,685 and formed 38.20% of the population. Christians numbered 44 and formed 0.03% of the population. Others numbered 516 and formed 0.38% of the population.
In the 2001 census, Hindus numbered 79,059 and formed 64.91% of the population of Nabadwip CD Block. Muslims numbered 42,636 and formed 35.00% of the population. In the 1991 census, Hindus numbered 69,549 and formed 66.53% of the population of Nabadwip CD Block. Muslims numbered 34,961 and formed 33.45% of the population.
Bengali is the predominant language, spoken by 99.06% of the population.
Rural poverty
The District Human Development Report for Nadia has provided a CD Block-wise data table for Modified Human Vulnerability Index of the district. Nabadwip CD Block registered 34.48 on the MHPI scale. The CD Block-wise mean MHVI was estimated at 33.92. A total of 8 out of the 17 CD Blocks in Nadia district were found to be severely deprived when measured against the CD Block mean MHVI - Karimpur I and Karimpur II (under Tehatta subdivision), Kaliganj, Nakashipara, Chapra, Krishnanagar I and Nabadwip (under Krishnanagar Sadar subdivision) and Santipur (under Ranaghat subdivision) appear to be backward.
As per the Human Development Report 2004 for West Bengal, the rural poverty ratio in Nadia district was 28.35%. The estimate was based on Central Sample data of NSS 55th round 1999–2000.