Suri, Birbhum

Suri সিউড়ি Siuri
—  Town  —
Suri Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates: 23.9167°N 87.5333°E / 23.9167; 87.5333
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Birbhum
Elevation	56 m (184 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	79,818
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	731101
Telephone code	91 3462
Vehicle registration	WB 54
Lok Sabha constituency	Birbhum
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Suri
Website	birbhum.nic.in

Suri, (Pron:ˈsʊərɪ) (also spelt as Siuri), is the headquarters of Birbhum district in the Indian state of West Bengal, India.

Suri is located at 23.9167°N 87.5333°E / 23.9167; 87.5333. It has an average elevation of 56 metres (187 feet). Tilpara barrage on Mayurakshi river is located 3 km north-east of Siuri.

Economics

The chief industries of Suri include rice milling, cotton and silk weaving, and furniture manufacture. Suri was constituted a municipality in 1876.

In March 2008, a private Kolkata-based firm, Ramsarup Group, unveiled a proposal for large-scale investment. A greenfield power plant and cement manufacturing plant worth Rs 2200 crores (US $550 million) was submitted to the Government of West Bengal. Bakreshwar Thermal Power Plant is around 12 kilometers away from Suri town.

Demographics

According to 1991 census Suri had a population of ~ 54,274 (Prelim). As of 2001 India census, Suri had a population of 79,818. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Suri has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 68%. In Suri, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Transport

Suri is 220 km from State capital Kolkata (Calcutta), 90 km from Durgapur, 34 km from Bolpur, Santiniketan, 55 km from Andal and 19 km from Sainthia on the Andal-Sainthia Branch Line of Eastern Railway. It is on Panagarh–Morgram Highway.(known as N.H 60).Suri connects to Ahmadpur station via Purandarpur, and Kondaipur Village.

Transport system mainly depends on Govt. Bus Service N.B.S.T.C & S.B.S.T.C & Private Bus service From Suri, one can go to several large towns of West Bengal, like - Kolkata, Durgapur, Asansol, Medinipur, Digha, Burdwan, Malda, Berhampur, Raigunj, Siliguri, Katwa,Mandarmoni etc. and others. Suri is a model Railway Station (E.R). From Suri Railway Station, there are many trains to go to Howrah (via Andal-Durgapur-Bandel), like the Hool Express, Mayurakshi Express, Suri-Howrah(via-Prantic), etc. There are also the Chennai-Guwahati Express for Assam, Bananchal Express, etc.

Language

Most people communicate with each other in Bengali and some people use Hindi, English and Urdu to communicate with each other.

Education

Colleges in Suri include the old and famous Suri Vidyasagar College, located in Collegepara, and the newer Birbhum Mahavidyalaya (It is a Government affiliated college. The location of the college is at Barui Para, Suri in the district of Birbhum, West Bengal. Only Arts streams especially English, Bengali, Philosophy, Geography, History, Political Science and Sanskrit are taught in this college.), both affiliated to the University of Burdwan ; Birbhum Institute of Engineering & Technology and Sri Ramkrishna Shilpa Vidyapith (with diploma courses in Mechanical, Electrical & Civil Engineering) also known as 'L. C. College'. Suri has one of the oldest schools in the district, Birbhum Zilla School, established in 1851 prior to 'Sipahi Bidroho'. The other schools are mostly new, except for Suri Benimadhab Institution established in 1902. R. T. Girls' High School i.e. Rabindranath Tagore Girls' High School (which was previously known as River Thompson Girls' High School and was established way back in 1884) and Banimandir High School are situated here too. Also, there are two very old schools in Suri, viz. Sree Sree Ramkrishna Vidyapith and Suri P. & C.M.M. High School. The newly established Bk.T.P.P Prabir Sengupta Vidyalaya in the Bk.T.P.P Township is well known for its excellence in laboratory standards as well as highly modernized infrastructure. The current President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, has graduated from the Suri Vidyasagar College. He has recently made a visit to the college on 19/12/2012. Selected students were provided special passes for being allowed to meet the President of India.

• SURI VIDYASAGAR COLLEGE
• 

  Suri Vidyasagar College main entrance

Also, there is the St. Andrew's High School in Collegepara. It's a W.B.B.S.E board English medium school and the oldest in the line. The Albatross Public School, follows Cambridge International and C.B.S.E combined curriculum. A new school, U.P Public School (C.B.S.E.Board), has been recently established too.

Birbhum Institute Of Engineering & Technology (BIET) was established at Suri in 1999. As per the regulations of the West Bengal University of Technology (WBUT) and AICTE norms an applicant can take admission to B.E. or B.Tech. degree courses here with requisite marks and ranks in WBJEE/AIEEE examinations to the following disciplines: 1. Mechanical Engineering, 2. Civil Engineering, 3. Electrical Engineering, 4. Electronics and Communication Engineering, 5. Computer Science and Engineering, 6. Information Technology

Suri has two important libraries. One is the District Library and the other Vivekananda Granthagar. These libraries has a collection of books and periodicals and rare references regarding the history and culture of Birbhum district.

Civil Administration

There is a Suri municipality. It is divided into 18 wards. Currently, it is controlled by the Indian National Congress-Trinamool Congress alliance. In the 2010 municipal elections, the municipality faced a hung verdict. Later, the Trinamool Congress with 8 councillors, formed the municipal board by taking the support of 6 Congress councillors.

Clubs

There are some reputed clubs in Suri and they organize many humanitarian and cultural activities. Some important and famous clubs are:

• Jonaki
• Moumachi
• Tran Samity
• Prantik Sangha
• Red Rose
• Chowringhee Club
• Anandapur Sarbajanin Durgapuja Samity
• Sajano Pally Sarbojonin (SPS Club)
• Milani sangha (Hatzanbazar)

Local Specialities

Suri is famous for a special sweetmeat called Murabba & Achar (fruits/vegetables preserved in sugar syrup) comes in a wide number of varieties, which includes Murabba of Satamooli. Sweetshops adjacent to the bus terminus are famous for Murabba & Achar"

Places of Worship

Some famous temples are situated in Suri. Moumachhi Club has established a Kali temple in Suri, which is unique and grand in this town. Other famous temples are Bamni Kalibari, Bhabatarini Kalibari, Dangalpara Anandpur Sarbajanin Matrimandir, Radha Ballav Mandir, Shani Mandir, Damodar Mandir, Rabindrapalli Kalibari, Rakshakali Temple, Kendua Dakshin Para Kali Mandir, etc.

Suri is also close to Tarapith (30-45 mins by bus) and Kankalitala (45mins - 1hr by bus) which are two of the 51 Shakti peethas. Pathar chapuri (10km.by bus).

There are a few mosques in Suri and among them, the Masjid at Masjid More and the one at Madrasa Road deserve special mention. The only church in this town is situated near the Circuit House and Suri Sadar Hospital.

Festivals

Every year in Suri there is a very famous fair held, called the 'Barobagan Mela'. This historic fair was inaugurated by the then Governor of Bengal Lord Brabourne. In 1940, this fair was blessed by none other than 'Kabiguru' Rabindranath Tagore. Religious festivals like Durga puja, Laxmi puja, Kali puja, Jagatdhatri puja, Hanuman puja, Eid, Muharram,Kurbani,sobabarat,nabidibas, Christmas etc. are celebrated in Suri. During the Durga puja, many people visit the Chattoraj's Durga Temple to experience the traditional Durga Puja of about 200 years of existence. There is a lot of history behind this puja. Animal sacrifice is still in vogue. On the day of Dashami, footprints of the goddess are found on the plates full of 'sindur'. This puja was started by Bhairab Chandra Chattoraj, an ancestor of the family. Chowrangee club, Agrani club, Jonaki club, Dangal para, Anandapur, Barabagan 1'er Palli, Tilpara, Meghdut etc. celebrate Durga puja with pomp and grandeur.

Park

A new park name 'Shahid Bhagat Singh Park' is situated in Suri near the Circuit House. Recently the park has been opened for commoners. Former District Magistrate of Birbhum Mr Khalil Ahmed had proposed the idea of building this park for the children of Suri. The work for the park started in 2004 and the park was complete in 2009. Also there are another parks in Suri one for children and other for senior citizen known as Lees Club Park,near the Chaitali Cinema hall and District Library.

Architecture

Tilpara Barrage over Mayurakshi river & Bakreshwar Thermal Power Project.

Climate

The climate of the district is generally dry, mild and healthy. The hot weather usually last from the middle of March to the middle of the June, the rainy season from the middle of June to the middle of October, and the cold weather from middle of October to the middle of March. They do not always correspond to these limit. The wind is from the south-east in the summer and from the north-west in the winter.

River System

The district is well drained by a number of rivers and rivulets running in nearly every case from west to east with a slight southerly inclination. Only two are rivers of any magnitude, viz., the Mor and the Ajay, the latter of which marks the southern boundary, while the Mor runs through Birbhum from West to East. Both rivers are of considerable size when they enter the district, their width varying according to the configuration of the country, from two hundred yards to half a mile. The Ajay first touches the district at its south-west corner, and follows a winding course in an easterly direction, till it enters Burdwan at the extreme south-eastern angle of Birbhum, eventually falling into Bhagirathi near Katwa. The Mor enters Birbhum from the Santhal Paraganas near the village of Haripur and flows through the centre of the district from west to east, passing two miles north of Suri and forming the southern boundary of the Rampurhat Sub-division. It leaves the district a little east of Gunutia and joins Dwarka which itself is a tributary of the Bhagirathi. The Mor is also widely known as Mayurakshi meaning "the peacock eyed", i.e. having water as lustrous as the eye of the peacock. Between the Mor and Ajay there are a few large streams coming from beyond the western boundary, of which the Hinglo is the most important. It enters the District from the Santhal Paraganas some eight miles north of Ajay, flows through Dubrajpur thana, and gradually approaches that river, unites with it at Chapla, after a course in Birbhum of about 15 miles. Another river is the Bakreswar, which rises at hot spring of same name near Tantipara, some ten miles west of Suri, and after following a zigzag course eastward, and receiving one by one the waters of almost all the rivulets, joins the Mor a few miles beyond the eastern boundary of the district. Other important rivers of the district includes the Brahmani, the Bansloi, the Pagla, the Kopai or Sal.

External links

• The Albatross Public School
• Suri Vidyasagar College
• Britannica article
• Sree Ramkrishna Silpa Vidyapith (Govt.Polytechnic )