Acknowledgements

This is my optimum pleasure to express my gratitude and indebtedness to Dr. Dahlia Bhattacharya, Asst. Professor of History, University of North Bengal. Under her supervision my entire Ph.D dissertation has been carried out. Dr. Dahlia Bhattacharya really acted as – friend, philosopher and guide throughout my research work. She supported me with immense patience, acute guidance and valuable advice from time to time. So, I owe a lot to her for enriching me by valuable suggestions, corrections and improvement of the present dissertation. Finally, she provided sufficient support to me from her hectic schedule.

I would like to thank my honourable teacher Dr. Anandagopal Ghosh, former Professor of North Bengal University. The present work would not have proper shape without the active and continuous inspiration of Prof. Ghosh. He was not only instrumental in sorting out and resolving confusions in my research methodology but also in offering many valuable suggestions and accesses to several useful primary and secondary source materials without which the present work could not be materialized.

I am also grateful to all the teachers of the Dept. of History, North Bengal University, for their valuable suggestions and support. I specially express my grateful thanks to Dr. Bijoy Sarkar, Dr. Anita Bagchi, Dr. Ichhamuddin Sarkar, Dr. Sudesh Lama and Sri Varun Kr. Roy. In this context I tender my sincere thanks to the staff of the Central Library of the North Bengal University and of the Seminar Library of the Dept. of History for their active co–operation.

To complete my work at micro level of study I have taken many interviews of many people of the several Mufassal towns where they lived as socio–political workers, cultural activists, regional writer–researchers, players and different professionals. A complete list of them is not possible to mention here. In search of source materials in Jalpaiguri town I received a great deal of help from Sri Umesh Sharma, researcher–writer, Sri Bimalendu Majumder, noted activist of folk culture, Sri Debobrata kr. Das, Librarian, Jalpaiguri District Library, Sri Dipak Kr. Chakborty,

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District Rehabilitation Officer, Dr. Santi Chhetri, Principal, PD Women’s College, Dr. Md. Abdur Rezzak, Principal, Ananda Chandra College and many others.

In Alipurduar town I received a great deal of help from Sri Arnab Sen and Sri Sudhir Ranjan Ghosh, both are noted writer–cultural activist and former professor of Alipurduar College, Sri Promad Nath, noted researcher in folk–culture, Sri Nitish Das, writer and cultural activist, Sri Ajitesh Bhattacharya – noted dramatist, Smt. Sanchita Das, essayist and cultural activist.

In Dhupguri I am grateful to Sri Subodh Sen, cultural activist and former Headmaster – Salbari High School, Sri Pujan Chackraborty, former Headmaster – Bairatiguri High School, Sri Mrinal Kanti Sarkar, former Headmaster, Jateswar High School, Sri Monotosh Pramanik, Asst. Prof., Sukanta Mahavidyalaya, Sri Parimal Ch. Sen, former Principal – Sukanta Mahavidyalaya, Sri Sailen Roy, Sri Ganesh Ch. Dutta and Sri Indra Mohan Das both are famous Potato–grower of Dhupguri.

At Maynaguri I have received help from Sri Arun Kr. Ghose, founder President of Maynaguri College, Sri Tanay Mandal, Editor – ‘Maynagurir Atit O Bartoman’, and teacher – Helapakri High School, Dr. Debkumar Mukherjee, former Principal – Maynaguri College and now the Vice–Chancellor, Thakur Panchanan University, Sri Shibobrata Roy, Headmaster - Maynaguri High School, Sri Haridayal Roy, Headmaster – Subhas Nagar High School, Sri Dipak Chakraborty, Teacher–In charge – Shahidgar High School, Dr. Pali Das, Headmistress – Maynaguri Girls High and many others.

In Malbazar I am grateful to Sri Bidyut Sarkar, former footballer and cultural activist, Sri Sushanta Dutta, Headmaster – Adarsha Vidyabhaban, Smt. Karabi Das, Headmistress – Subhasini Girls’ High School, Sri Dilip Kr. Sarkar, Principal – Ceaser School, Smt. Nandita Sarkar, Lec–In-Charge, Parimal Mitra Smriti Mahavidyalaya, Parimal Mitra Smriti Mahavidyalaya, Sri Mohon Lal Oraon, MLA–Malbazer, Sri Devi Sankar Agarwal, Secretary, Merchant Association and Sri Swapan Saha, Chairman, Mal Municipility.

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In Falakata I wish to thank Sri Nirad Baran Roy, former Headmaster – Falakata High School, Sri Subhas Sengupta, former Headmaster – Falakata High School, Sri Haripada Mitra, former teacher, Kunjanagar Special Cader High School, Md. Altab Hussain, Head Teacher–Fulbari High School and Dr. Hirendra Nath Bhattarya, Principal – Falakata. About Domohini I also owe much to Dr. Gopal Chakraborty, senior citizen and regular medical practionar, Sri Makhan Biswas, teacher of Polhoyel High School, Sri Goutamendu Nandi, Headmaster of Polhoyel High School, Sri Subodh Ranjan Dey, retired Senior Loco–Inspector of Domohini Jn. and Sri Pradip Sensharma, senior citizen and former volley ball player.

I would like to express my special gratitude to Sri Ram Avtar Sharma, President – Tea Association of India (Dooars Branch). I am also particularly grateful to the staff of the several institutions for providing access to source materials viz, ITPA – Jalpaiguri, West Bengal State Archives, National Library – Kolkata, State Rehabilitation Office – Kolkata, Municipality of Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Malbazar and Dhupguri and various colleges, schools and other institutions of the Mufassal towns in the district.

I am also grateful to my colleagues Dr. Seshadri Prasad Bose, Dr. Chandan Khan and Teacher In–charge Smt. Nandita Sarkar, for their constant inspiration and multi–directional co-operations. Finally, I like to convey my life–long indebtedness and unalloyed gratitude to my friend Sri Ranjit Dutta, teacher of Mal Adarsha Vidya Bhaban who gave me constant moral support towards completion of this prestigious academic work. And also I convey my warmest gratitude to my family members who inspired and supported me from all angles to complete this mammoth job within the stipulated period.

Date: Place: North Bengal University Swapan Kumar Bhowmik

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