Ausgram I

Ausgram I is a community development block that forms an administrative division in Bardhaman Sadar North subdivision of Purba Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

History

Medieval history

The area between the Damodar and Ajay was known as Gopbhum, where the Sadgope kings ruled for many centuries, prior to the advent of the Muslims. The Sura kings also occupy a somewhat mythical position in the region. Adi Sura of this dynasty is credited with having brought the five Brahmins and Kayasthas (two important upper castes in Bengal) from Kannauj in what is now Uttar Pradesh.

In the 18th century the area faced massive attacks of the Bargi warriors.

Movements

This being a canal-irrigated area it had faced agitations against the imposition of taxes for canal water.

Damage to embankments of the Ajay and consequent flooding was a regular problem in the Ausgram and Mangalkot area. The devastating flood of 1943 caused immense suffering and lead to a mass movement for restoration/ repair of the embankments. A massive meeting was organised at Guskara in 1944, with Uday Chand Mahtab, Maharaja of Bardhaman. However, the government did not take any action,. Ultimately, the Communist Party, which had been at the forefront of agitations for some years, provided a huge work force for the purpose and completed the repair work. It laid the foundation for the party's popularity in the area.

Geography

Location

Ausgram is located at .

Ausgram I CD Block is part of the Kanksa Ketugram plain, which lies along the Ajay. The river forms a boundary with Birbhum district on the north for a long stretch and then flows through district. The uneven laterite territory found in the western part of Bardhaman district extends up to Ausgram and then the alluvial flood plains commence. The entire Durgapur- Kanksa- Faridpur-Ausgram area was densely forested even in more recent times. The influx of refugees from East Pakistan and their rehabilitation in the area, and irrigation facilities extended by Damodar Valley Corporation led to destruction of much of the forests in the area, but some still remain.

Ausgram I CD Block is bounded by Ausgram II on the north and the west, Mangolkote and Bhatar CD Blocks on the east and Galsi II CD Block on the south.

Ausgram I CD Block has an area of 222.34 km². It has 1 panchayat samity, 7 gram panchayats, 92 gram sansads (village councils), 61 mouzas and 58 inhabited villages. Ausgram police station serves this block. Headquarters of this CD Block is at Guskara.

Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1981 and covering an area of 0.14 km² forms a part of Ausgram I block.

Gram panchayats of Ausgram I block/panchayat samiti are: Ausgram, Berenda, Billagram, Dignagar I, Dignagar II, Guskara II and Ukta.

Demographics

Population

As per the 2011 Census of India Ausgram I CD Block had a total population of 119,363, all of which were rural. There were 60,521 (51%) males and 58,842 (49%) females. Population below 6 years was 13,581. Scheduled Castes numbered 42,659 (35.74%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 15,577 (13.05%).

As per 2001 census, Ausgram I block had a total population of 106,813, out of which 54,623 were males and 52,190 were females. Ausgram I block registered a population growth of 13.75 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for Bardhaman district was 14.36 per cent. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent. Scheduled castes at 39,576 formed around one-third the population. Scheduled tribes numbered 14,191.

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Ausgram I CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Ban Nabagram (4,917), Karatia (4,021), Ausgram (5,533), Shibada (4,484), Belgram (4,345), Dignagar (8,313) and Bhota (4,022),

Other villages in Ausgram I CD Block included (2011 census figures in brackets): Beranda (2,214), Ukta (2,969), Dwariapur (3,579), Alefnagar, Aligram, Alutia (P), Asinda, Ausgram Chak, Baburbandh, Bahamanpur, Bara Chatra, Batagram, Belari, Beluti, Beranda, Bhada, Bhatgonna, Brajapur, Chonari, Deasa, Digha, Gangarampur, Gopinathbati, Gobindapur Purbba, Gonna, Jadabganj, Jaykrishnapur, Kalyanpur, Karanji, Karatia, Kayrapur, Kumarganj, Kunjanagar, Kurumba, Lakshmiganj, Majhergram, Mallikpur, Nabagram, Naoda, Nripatigram, Parasurampur, Pichkuri, Purbba Tati, Ramchandrapur, Sahapur, Shibbati, Shitalgram, Silut, Soara, Somaipur, Srikrishnapur, Srinagar, Sundalpur, Takipur, Telota and Warishpur.

Literacy

As per the 2011 census the total number of literates in Ausgram I CD Block was 73,406 (69.39% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 40,948 (76.32% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 32,458 (62.26% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 14.06%.

As per 2001 census, Ausgram I block had a total literacy of 62.53 per cent for the 6+ age group. While male literacy was 71.85 per cent female literacy was 52.77 per cent. Bardhaman district had a total literacy of 70.18 per cent, male literacy being 78.63 per cent and female literacy being 60.95 per cent.

See also – List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate

Languages and religion

As per census definition, mother-tongue is the language spoken in childhood by the person's mother to the person. As a mother-tongue, Bengali has decreased its share from 82.3% of the population of Bardhaman district in 1961 to 79.9% in 2001, Hindi has increased its share from 8.5% in 1961 to 10.9% in 2001 Santali has remained steady at around 4.9% during the period, and Urdu

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