Destination India: Purulia District, West Bengal

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Purulia District, West Bengal

Netai is a Dhokra artist
Originally uploaded by arnabchat.

The District of Purulia in Bengal was once a great center of Jainism. The area of this district was the connecting link with Orissa and Bihar. Jainism as a religious creed had a great hold on Orissa and there is no wonder that there should be a considerable impact of Jainism on the adjoining Purulia District. Purulia was also the via media through which a close contact with Bihar was maintained.

1 Purulia District previously formed a part of Manbhum District in Chotanagpur Division of Bihar. According to the implementation of the recommendations of the States Reorganization Commission, a portion of Manbhum District was made over to Bengal and now forms Purulia District. The town of Purulia, which headquarters the district now, was also the headquarters of Manbhum District in Bihar.

About Me

India has always fascinated me for different reasons. The vastness of its culture, the diversity of people’s opinions and the limitations of its vision. Despite our diversity, we need to have a collective vision. India is not a country of four metropolis or a couple of high-tech cities. This nation of a billion people has 29 states and 6 union territories. We have 35 state and territorial capitals. How much do we know about each of these important cities?

Professionally I am a graphic designer from Bombay, India. In 1987, I co-authored a book on Corporate India, but my desire to throw a wider net and pick up much more information remains intact. I want my people from every city and every state to write and photograph details and information that would be interesting to the viewers around the world. We have so much to talk about and so much to share - this medium and this technology can help fulfill our collective dreams.