IDEAS FOR BUSINESS-MURSHIDABAD

INTRODUCTION:

 

Murshidabad was once a very prosperous city. It is situated in the Indian state of West Bengal. During the colonial era, many European companies conducted business successfully in this city. Many dynasties ruled this city including the Mughals and the British. It was a centre of art and culture which included the Murshidabad style of Mughal painting, Hindustani classical music and ivory sculptors. It was a city of nawabs before the British invaded India. The city was named after the nawab Murshid Quli Khan.

 

Silk was the major product of Murshidabad. Nowadays the city is depending on agriculture, handicrafts and sericulture. Murshidabad silk is famous for making sarees and scarves which are very renowned and demanding and are produced on a large scale.  Murshidabad is a good place for an industrial visit. It consists of major industries like sarees, sponge-wood, bell-metal and brass utensils, ivory and woodcraft and beedi industry. The central power plant at Farakka is the major heavy industrial set up in Murshidabad generating 1600MW power. The soil, weather and climate of this district provide multiple cultivations and because of this special feature, Murshidabad got a distinctive position in the agricultural map of the state of West Bengal.

 

HERE ARE SOME BUSINESS IDEAS-MURSHIDABAD

 

1. Agriculture

Agriculture is the backbone of Murshidabad. Almost 70% of the population of the district depends on agriculture. Paddy is the major crop grown here which provides the maximum of the gross cropped area. After paddy, there are also other crops grown here which includes jute, wheat, pulses, vegetables, oilseeds, etc.

 

2. Textile industry

There is a village in Murshidabad named “Baluchari”. It is named after a saree which is very famous in Murshidabad and comes in a variety of colours with silk designs on the palla and the border. The most common colors used are scarlet, green, yellow, blue and red.

 

Jamdani is another fine muslin cloth that is very well known in Murshidabad. It is considered as the queen of the delicate muslin. It is usually made in the length of six yards, translucent fabric and is very light. The speciality of Jamdani work belongs in its unique geometric design and its Persian origin.

 

3. Beedi industry

Beedi making is especially an agro-forest based cottage industry mainly dependent on tendu leaves and tobacco. Tendu leaves are plucked, collected, stored and distributed amongst the beedi manufacturers which is being handled by the state department of forests. Murshidabad is well known for beedi manufacturing. Jangipur of Murshidabad district has got the major concentration of beedi industry and also the beedi workers. This industry employs millions of workers who are completely dependent and earns their livelihood to feed their families.

 

4. Ivory and wood crafts

Arts and crafts is an integral part of the residents of Murshidabad. In this district of Bengal, the craftsmen are extremely skilled and practice different types of arts and crafts in this region. The first and foremost is ivory and wood crafting which is considered as the no. 1 industry in Murshidabad by employing a large number of residents. This famous craft is used even by the nawabs of Bengal who were used to sit in their courts which was beautifully decorated with ivory and wood items. This industry flourished in those times under the patronization of the nawabs and also the noblemen of the court.

 

5. Sholapith

Sholapith is another excellent craft item existing in Murshidabad and one can get some finest pieces of art on the items made from shola. Its nature is mainly soft and delicate. It is basically sponge wood and its colour is milky white. With this wood beautiful items can be made with a length of 1.5 inches long and this wood grows in the marsh lands of Murshidabad. Sholapith is spongy, light and very malleable. One can enhance his/her home decorations made from this lovely handicraft item which is perfect for its brilliant lustre and texture.

 

6.  Metalworks 

Bell metal works or Kansa is very popular among the Bengalis and is another popular craft practised by the very skilled craftsmen of Murshidabad. Utensils are basically used to make from this traditional craft and are manufactured in large quantities in different parts of Murshidabad. Some superlative quality items like iron chests, betelnut cutters and locks are also manufactured in these areas. During weddings, brides are given bell metal utensils as gifts and are considered to be a very old tradition. It is considered to be auspicious and elegant.

 

7. Tangail

This is another famous type of Jamdani saree which is very popular in Murshidabad and worn by almost all women of this place. The whole body of the saree is plain, striped and scattered with small booties all over it. The pars of this saree is plain and is crafted with beautiful nakshas or ornaments which are created with extreme care and caution. The colours used in these sarees is rich warm which is both vibrant and muted.

    

8. Power Plant

There is a thermal power plant named as Sagardighi thermal power station which is situated at Manigram, Murshidabad. West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited operates this power plant. There is also a power plant at Farakka which is considered as the major heavy industrial set up in Murshidabad generating 1600MW power.

 

9. Mango Farming

Murshidabad is famous for its mangoes. Mangoes began to receive the honour of royal patronage during the time of Akbar. He was so attracted by this delicious fruit that he ordered all his men to grow mangoes all over India especially in Bengal, Khandesh, Deccan region, Malwa and Gujrat. Ranipasand comes first among the list of mangoes. It is very popular in Murshidabad and is a part of the district's heritage. It is named ranipasand because the nawab's wife liked it very much. Next comes Enaet Pasand. This mango is also popularised by the nawabs and is of delicious taste. A jagirdar or a local ruler of that time named Enaet Khan liked this variety of mango and patronize it. There are also other varieties of mangoes namely bimli, anaras, kalapahar, saranga, himsagar, molamjam, kohitoor, etc.

 

 

10. Tourism

Murshidabad has got good attractions for tourists. Peoples come to visit this place for its historical architectures, mosques and rich history. The magnificent Hazarduari palace is second to none. The incredible architecture spreads over a massive area on the kila nizamat campus and its grandeur and splendor is worth watching. Tourists from all over the world come to visit this elegant architecture every year to get a glimpse of the nawabi lifestyle. The next visiting place is nizmat imambara which was built in 1847 AD by nawab nazim mansoor ali khan feradun jah. Among other attractions includes footi mosque, wasif manzil, moti jheel, madina, khosh bagh, murshidabad district museum, etc.

 

11. Sweets Business

Murshidabad is also renowned for its delicious, mouth watering sweets. Many famous sweet shops are spread all over Murshidabad. Among these sweets, Chhanabora is legendary in murshidabad. It is made from chhana and syrup. It is like rosogolla and pantua sharing cottage cheese. Ananda sweets is one of the pioneer for making this sweet and created a record by making 12 kg chanabora for Mamata Banerjee, the CM of West Bengal. Beside this item is Roskodombo. Its main origin was in Malda but for some unknown reasons, it travelled to Murshidabad.

 

12. Silk Industry

Murshidabad carry’s a huge name for producing silk. It produces superlative silk of different varieties some of which can only be found in Murshidabad. It is the second-largest silk producing district in West Bengal. Kassimbazar was one of the major centres of silk purchase during the British Era. Mulberry silk is famous for making cordial sarees with flat deep red or maroon borders. These silks are also popular for hand printed designs and other materials.

 

13. Saree Industry

A saree is a garment from the Indian Subcontinent. It is the most traditional dress worn by women in entire India for centuries. Sarees are also worn in the countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. There are various types of sarees manufactured all over India. Among these saree manufacturing places, Murshidabad earns goodwill for the production of a variety of sarees. Baluchari saree is considered the best saree in Murshidabad. It is worn by most of the women in the entire Murshidabad and of the finest quality and proven to have been superior among other sarees. Along with this Santipuri saree and Garad saree also comes on the list. These two types of sarees are woven from mulberry or tussah silk in red colour with plain borders and the colour is white with undyed fields.

 

14. Availability of Resources

There are many high quality raw materials like grains, rice, potato, flour, dairy, fruits and vegetables. Along with this groundwater is the main resource of the city. It supports in agriculture and supplies a large quantity of total water requirement in all minor irrigation systems in Murshidabad.

 

Government has made an attempt to quantify the groundwater resource so that in the future the city continues to get the abundant supply of water.

 

15. Industrial Development

There is a good scope for industrial development in Murshidabad. Good telecom network is served all over the district having many telephone exchanges with a total capacity of both landline and mobile connections. Highways and National Highways connects to various roads and bridges and road infrastructure is also being developed. Rail communication is well connected to the neighboring districts of Murshidabad. A number of State Highways and NH-34 pass through the district. A good network of Banking system has already been served to almost all the blocks so that businessmen and entrepreneurs can avail the required financial assistance. Electric power is well established here and more than 85% of the total areas are electrified and power is available at a concessional rate.