Mihijam / মিহিজাম

MIHIJAM (মিহিজাম) is a small town and a notified area in Jamtara District in the Indian state of Jharkhand. Mihijam population speaks in Hindi, Bengali and Santali. This is about today’s Mihijam. But there is more to know about this place.

MIHIJAM was a small locality in the un-devided Bengal and its climate was like Madhupur, Shimultala well known places for changes. In old Mihijam area, still you may find sprawling Bangalows/ houses with tall eucalyptus trees. Owners of these houses / Bungalows and residents of this area were mostly Bengal because it was part of Greater Bengal.  Dr. Pareshnath Banerji, a renowned Homoeopath was one of them. He was known as Dr. P. Banerji  or simply Paresh Babu in the area. In this context, I should mention that he was directly related with Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. He was nephew of Vidyasagar and came from village Birsingha of Midnapore. He was inspired by Vidyasagar for treatment by Homeopathy medicines because Vidyasagar used to practice Homeopath medicines for himself and poor people and tribes during his stay at Karmatarn.

In 1918, Dr. Pareshnath Banerji established a Charitable Dispensary at Mihijam and he served millions of people through his Charitable Dispensary. The name of Dr. Pareshnath Banerji and Mihijam became known to all those days. Since then, Mihijam and Homoeopathy are considered to be the synonymous for each other. He was a popular Doctor and poor people used to consider him like God. The dispensary of “Paresh Babu” (popularly known) was the only means to get treatment those days. Dr. Paresh Banerji invented the medicine ‘Lexin’ for snake bite in his Laboratory at Mihijam and saved thousands of lives.

People from all walk of life, from far off places used to visit Mihijam Dispensary by train and villagers by Bullock cart. Mihijam, was then having a small Railway station of the same name. Due to increase of traffic, the station was upgraded to a major stop.

Later, in 1948, the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) was set up in West Bengal closed to Mihijam,.  The Railway Township was named as “Chittaranjan” after the name of Chittaranjan Das, a freedom fighter. The nearest Railway station to this Railway Township was “Mihijam” which was renamed as “Chittaranjan”. Due to Railway township and Railway workshop. It is a major important Railway station today.

Today Mihijam is also known for its Homeopathic Medical College & Hospital.

At last but not the least, Mihijam is also known for its weekly open market (সাপ্তাহিক হাট) which take place on every Saturday. This market is very old and most popular in the areas because of varieties of commodities are sold here.

হাড়ি, কলসী, ধামা, কুলো

Few pictures of Mihijam Haat  শনিবারের মিহিজামের হাট । All pictures are taken by me and Copyright © by me.