Lalgola (Bengali: লালগোলা) is a small town situated near the Bangladesh border in the sub-division of Lalbagh in the district of Murshidabad, West Bengal. It is situated about 225 kilometres (140 mi) north of Kolkata, near the head of the Ganges delta. Lalgola is surrounded by a number of large and small lakes, small temples and mosques. It is the site of the Lalgola Open Air Correctional Home. History
Before Independence and the partition of India, the area was an important business hub. However, its importance declined after it became a border town. It remains a commercial center, with wheat, jute and legumes as the principal items traded there. Geography
Lalgola is located at 24.42°N 88.25°E. It is located near the Padma River, which is the principal distributary of the Ganges, and which forms the border between India and Bangladesh in this area; thus Bangladesh bounds the town on the north and east. The average elevation is about 23 metres (75 ft)
The climate is similar to the rest of Gangetic West Bengal. The maximum temperature during the summer is about 45 °C (113 °F); the minimum during the winter is between 8 and 10 °C (46 and 50 °F).
[edit]Commerce and health care
As a trading town and transit point for farm products, Lalgola is visited daily by hundreds of people from the surrounding villages. There is one hospital in the town, Krishnapur Primary Health Centre. A number of local and visiting doctors are also available for consultation. A local voluntary organisation, Lalgola Sanjeeban, works in health-related fields such as blood collection. Demographics
In the 2001 census, Lalgola community development bloc had a total population of 267,563 of which 136,853 were males and 130,710 were females. Decadal growth for the period 1991-2001 was 29.40% for Lalgola, against 23.70% in Murshidabad district. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84%. Lalgola Bloc had a total scheduled caste population of 28,222 and a scheduled tribe population of 2,365. Durga Puja Festivals
Almost all major and minor Hindu and Muslim festivals are celebrated here. A popular Bengali proverb is "baro mase tero parbon", translated as "thirteen festivals in twelve months". One of the main festivals is the Hindu Durga Puja, when pandals (ceremonial structures) are constructed throughout the town. The Muslim Eid ul-Fitr is also celebrated here. A number of local festivals are also held, including the local Flower Show and Exhibition, held every January since 1986. Education
Lalgola College was established in 2006 and began offering courses in the 2007–08 academic year, under the University of Kalyani. Mahesh Narayan Academy
The Lalgola Mahesh Narayan Academy provides education up to class XII. It was established in 1914 by Maharaja Jogendra Narayan Ray, the king of Lalgola, in honor of his father. The Lalgola Rahmatullah High Madrasah was established in 1919. It is recognized by the West Bengal Madrasah Board. Other schools include Sailaja Memorial Girls' High School and Laskarpur High School; Al Mahadus Salafi 10th standard Bengali Medium School, for Muslims and Padamprava Digamber Jain Vidyalaya English Medium School; and Chamapara Primary School. A public library, the Lalgola Mahesh Narayan Academy Town Library, was established in 1913. Open air jail
Probably, the most special thing about Lalgola is that, the first 'Open Air Jail', officially – 'Lalgola Open Air Correctional Home', was founded here in the year 1987. For this purpose Sri Birendra Narayan Roy, popularly known as Biren Roy, descendants of Lalgola Raj family and erstwhile king of Lalgola, gifted their residential palace to the Government. Royal residence made way first for female lunatic convicts and later, from 1987, the open-air correctional home. Open Air Correctional Home is a relatively new and revolutionary concept. Situated over 100 acres (0.40 km2) of land and mango garden containing about 1000 mango trees, this Open Air Jail is a correction home for the prisoners. Convicts sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 7 years or more and such of them as have already served 2/3 of their sentence and have maintained all along a good jail record are eligible for transfer to the open jail after thorough screening and personal interview by a board constituted for such selection. Surprisingly, inmates get freedom to go out during day time (06:00 hrs to 20:00 hrs). They have their own source of income in the forms of cultivation, goods shops (given by the Prison Authority), Private Tuition. They even get quarter for their families.
