Surul
Surul (Bengali: সুরুল) is a village in Bolpur subdivision of Birbhum district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
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[edit] Geography
Sriniketan now adjoins a part of Surul. It is 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Santiniketan.[1]
[edit] History
Surul is a village adjacent to Visva-Bharati Universiry, Santiniketan/Sriniketan, founded by Rabindranath Tagore. A major part of the university stands within Surul mouja.
Surul consists of a large population of Bagdis, Bauris, Haris and Doms, as well as weavers. The Sarkars who were zamindars of the village brought in Brahmins and other upper castes.[2]. The Sarkar family had contributed a vital role towards development of the overall area and establishment of Visva-Bharati.
The village was economically sound, being the centre of business and was the site of a commercial residency under John Cheap. After East India Company gave up its mercantile dealings in 1835, the residency was allowed to fall into decay. There is no trace of it now.[3]
[edit] Culture
The temples at Surul are well-protected and terra cotta carvings are distinct. The older temples were built in 1830, within a few years of John Cheap’s death. Most of the temples are dedicated to Shiva, one to Manasa and one pancharatna (five towered) temple to Lakshmi-Janardan. Most of the carvings are traditional depictions such as the Ramayana war but the depictions of Europeans need special mention.[2](See the picture alongside). During late 1940s Indian artist Mukul Dey extensively photo-documented the terracotta temples of Surul, which were subsequently published in an album titled Birbhum Terracottas, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, 1959.
[edit] References
- ^ "Santiniketan-Bolpur". http://birbhum.gov.in/birtour4.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
- ^ a b Ghosh, Binoy, Paschim Banger Sanskriti, (in Bengali), part I, 1976 edition, pp. 304-308, Prakash Bhaban
- ^ O’Malley, L.S.S., ICS, Birbhum, Bengal District Gazetteers, p. 145, first published 1910, 1996 reprint, Government of West Bengal
[edit] External links
- Little help matters. Intention counts. Attitude counts.
- Surul travel guide from Wikitravel
- Mukul Dey's Terracotta Documentation: A Short Note by Satyasri Ukil
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