Ben: সাউথ/নার্থ 24 পরগনা nārtha/sāutha 24 paraganā
’24 Divisions’ – Districts, West Bengal
From Ben: paraganā, ‘administrative division’.
The District name is derived from the number of parganas granted by Nawab Mir Jafar to the East India Company following the Battle of Plassey. The term is Persian in origin.
The twenty-four pargans were: Amirpur, Akbarpur, Balia, Birati, Azimabad, Basandhari, Baridhati, Bagjola, Kalikata, Garh, Hatiagarh, Islampur, Dakshin Sagar, Kharijuri, Khaspur, Ikhtiarpur, Magura, Medanmalla, Maida, Manpur, Barasat, Madhyamgram, Muragachha, Pechakuli, Paikan, Rajarhat, Shahpur, Shahnagar, Satal, New Barrackpore, Aharampur and Uttar Pargana.
The district was split into two districts in 1980: North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas.
For related place names see Indian Place names and West Bengal place names.
24 Parganas North & South Districts, West Bengal Mouryan