About Paschim Medinipur
Formed on 1 January 2002 after the bifurcation of undivided Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur (West Medinipur) is one of the largest districts of West Bengal.
Geography
The district covers 9,296 km² across the western fringe of the Bengal plain. The Kansabati, Silabati and Subarnarekha rivers thread through it, and lateritic red-soil plateaus rise near Garhbeta and Gopiballavpur.
History
Medinipur was central to the Indian freedom movement — three British magistrates (Peddie, Douglas, Burge) were assassinated here between 1931 and 1933. Vidyasagar was born at Birsingha in this district.
Administration
Headquartered at Midnapore town, the district has 4 subdivisions (Midnapore Sadar, Kharagpur, Ghatal, Jhargram until 2017) and 21 community development blocks.
Demographics
Population of about 5.9 million (2011 census). Literacy rate 79%. Bengali is the dominant language; Santali and Kurmali are spoken in tribal-majority pockets.