Brief About Pakur District
Pakur, famous for stone and Beedi (Biri) making
industry, is one of the important revenue-earning districts of
newly created Jharkhand State. Its black stone chips have got
Asiatic fame in constructional qualities. Pakur got elevated from
sub-divisional Status to a district on 28th January 1994 vide
Govt. of Bihar's notification no 19 (Personnel) dated 28.01.1994.
Originally it was a Sub-division of Santhal Pargana District since
1868. When Santhal Pargana was divided into four districts i.e.
Dumka, Deoghar, Godda and Sahibganj, Pakur was tagged with Sahibganj.
It remained a Sub-division of Sahibganj till it was upgraded as
district in the year 1994. It is surrounded by Sahibganj district
in the north, Birbhoom District of West Bengal in the south, Murshidabad
& a part of Birbhoom district of West Bengal in the east and
Dumka & Godda Districts in the West. It exists between 230
to 400 & 250 to 180 - north
latitude and between 860 -280 and 870-570
east longitudes.
Topographically it is divided into three parts i.e. the hilly
area, the rolling area, and the alluvial area. The hilly area
includes the whole of Damini-i-koh form North corner of the district
up to the Southwest touching the border of Birbhoom district of
West Bengal. A narrow continuous strip of alluvial soil, lies
between the Ganga feeder canal and the loop line of Eastern Railway,
is very fertile. Rest of the part covers the rolling areas, which
is less conducive for agricultural operation.This district, once
known for its thick & extensive forests, is now bereft of
much of its jungle wealth. The medicinal plants such as Sarpgandha,
Raigami or Dhami, Kazwa, Chiryaita etc. are now almost extinct.
There has been large-scale destruction of forests in the past
few years. So the Subsistent agro based economy, which was earlier
supplemented by forest and forest produce, has been badly affected.
But the Paharia people of this districts carry on their livelihood
on the forest products like bamboo, sabai grass, tasser, silk
cocoon, lac, simal cotton & kendu leaves.
There are three main rivers in this district
namely Bansloi, Torai & Brahmini. Bansloi & Torai Rivers
flow in the middle and Brahmini flows in the southern part of
the District.
The climate of the major portion of the district has a hot dry
summer, a good rainy season and cool winter. However the climate
conditions of Pakur are like West Bengal with the characteristics
of damp heat. Summer begins from the middle of March here and
extends up to June. Maximum temperature in may and early June
is as high as 46.70 C. December & January are cool months.
The year is divided into three main
seasons. The winter season is from November to February, the summer
from March to May and the monsoon from June to September. October
is a month of transition from monsoon to winter.
Owing to natural drainage, the floods are not
possible in this area. However a considerable portion of district
lying between the Ganges feeder canal and loop line of eastern
Railway is liable to water logging when sudden rains swell the
rivers and its subsidiary branches. Although localised Floods
in the form of water logging are annual features but they make
the soil fertile.
Thus the damage is considerably compensated by higher yield.
Historical Background
The authentic history of this area is very little
known before the medieval period. Basically two petty estates
known as Pakur Raj and Maheshpur Raj existed in this area. These
two Zamindars linked with Mughal administration were responsible
for the care and nourishment of this Paharia domain. After the
battle of Plassey the victorious Britishers developed their
administrative network to control these areas through Birbhoom
district of West Bengal. Captain Boronie was the first British
officer who prepared a plan to win over the Paharias, the real
inhabitants of this area. Though this area has always a
separate identity but strategically it was controlled by
the Rajmahal hills during the British period
Pakur was not immune from patriotic fervour and
played very important role in country’s struggle for freedom.
The contribution of the Santhal heroes like Sidhu, Kanhu Chand
& Bhairav will be remembered forever. Their immortal remain
may be seen at different place in Santhal Pargana Division.
