Dhuluri

Dhuluri is a small village located in the Santuri block of Purulia district, in the state of West Bengal. Though modest in size and population, the village holds considerable historical and archaeological significance due to the discovery of an early medieval rock inscription and other artefacts that provide insight into the region’s ancient cultural and religious history.

Location and Demographic Profile

Dhuluri lies within the Ramchandrapur Kotaldi Gram Panchayat of Santuri subdivision, approximately 14 kilometres from the Santuri block headquarters and around 58 kilometres from the district headquarters at Purulia. It occupies a geographical area of roughly 100 hectares, surrounded by low hillocks and agricultural land typical of the Purulia landscape.
According to census data, Dhuluri has a population of just over 200 inhabitants, living in fewer than 50 households. The village is predominantly rural and agrarian in nature. A large proportion of its population belongs to Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities, while Scheduled Castes (SC) form a very small minority. Literacy levels are moderate, with men exhibiting higher literacy rates than women, reflecting the broader rural pattern of the district.
The main occupation of residents is agriculture and daily labour, supplemented by small-scale work in nearby settlements. The socio-economic profile suggests a traditional and self-sustained rural community.

Archaeological and Historical Significance

Despite its small size, Dhuluri has drawn attention from archaeologists and historians for its early medieval rock inscription, which marks it as an important heritage site in western Bengal.

• The inscription, carved in Siddhamatrka script and dating to around the 7th–8th century CE, was discovered on a sandstone outcrop near the village. This makes it one of the earliest known inscriptions from the Purulia region.
• The style of the script and its calligraphic execution indicate the presence of early medieval religious or administrative activity in the area.
• The rock bears evidence of quarrying marks and unfinished carvings, suggesting that Dhuluri may have functioned both as a stone quarry and as a religious or monastic site during that period.
• Fragments of sculptures—including figures of deities resembling Jain or Hindu iconography—have also been found nearby. These remains point to the coexistence of tribal traditions and Brahmanical or Jain religious influences, a pattern common in ancient Purulia and adjoining regions of Jharkhand and Odisha.

The discovery of the Dhuluri inscription enriches our understanding of the cultural transition and local power networks that existed in early medieval eastern India.

Cultural and Educational Aspects

Dhuluri today retains its traditional rural culture, with festivals and community gatherings forming part of local life. The influence of tribal customs is evident in its folk practices, oral traditions, and reverence for nature.
A small primary school, Dhuluri Sishu Shiksha Kendra (SSK), was established in the early 2000s to improve access to education in the village. While infrastructure remains basic, efforts toward literacy and community development have improved in recent decades through local initiatives and government schemes.

Economic Life

Agriculture forms the economic backbone of Dhuluri. The main crops include paddy, maize, and pulses, cultivated largely through rain-fed farming methods. The undulating terrain and lateritic soil of the Purulia region limit agricultural productivity, but small-scale farming continues to sustain local households. Livestock rearing and seasonal labour in nearby areas provide supplementary income.
Historically, the nearby presence of stone deposits and traces of ancient quarrying activity suggest that stone craftsmanship may have once been an occupation of local artisans.

Heritage and Research Importance

For archaeologists and historians, Dhuluri represents a vital microcosm of early medieval cultural evolution in Bengal. The findings from this site help trace the spread of literacy, the influence of Jainism and Hinduism, and the development of local art traditions outside the major urban centres.
The rock inscription also offers evidence of the use of Siddhamatrka script—a transitional form between early Brahmi and later Devanagari scripts—thus contributing to the study of ancient Indian epigraphy. The artistic and cultural remnants at Dhuluri suggest that the region once served as a node of religious and artistic activity, linked to broader networks of communication and trade across the Deccan and eastern India.

Present-Day Scenario

Modern Dhuluri remains a small, quiet settlement, where traditional livelihoods and rural simplicity prevail. The village’s connection to an important archaeological discovery has brought it occasional attention from researchers, but it remains largely untouched by urbanisation.
Preserving its archaeological remains and inscriptions is essential for understanding the cultural history of the region. Further exploration and conservation efforts could help uncover more about the life and civilisation that once flourished there.