block had a total population of 213,262, out of which 109,544 were males and 103,718 were females. Manteswar block registered a population growth of 15.59 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for Bardhaman district was 14.36 per cent. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent. Scheduled castes at 51,705 formed around one-fourth the population. Scheduled tribes numbered 8,092. Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Manteswar CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Monteswar (9,331), Baghasan (4,974), Bamunpara (4,314), Putsuri (6,806), Denur (4,082), Kusumgram (11,707), Kulut (7,104), Raigram (7,185) and Bhagra (4,086). Other villages in Manteswar CD Block include (2011 census figures in brackets): Piplan (3,708), Mulgram (3,652), Shushuna (3,722), Mamudpur (3,129), Jamna (1,173), Majhergram (3,187), Routhgram (3,506) and Kaigram (1,719). Literacy As per the 2011 census the total number of literates in Manteswar CD Block was 153,892 (73.08% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 83,748 (78.04% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 70,144 (67.92% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 10.12%. As per the 2001 census, Manteswar block had a total literacy of 65.94 per cent for the 6+ age group. While male literacy was 73.70 per cent female literacy was 57.63 per cent. Bardhaman district had a total literacy of 70.18 per cent, male literacy being 78.63 per cent and female literacy being 60.95 per cent. See also – List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate Languages and religion As per census definition, mother-tongue is the language spoken in childhood by the person's mother to the person. As a mother-tongue, Bengali has decreased its share from 82.3% of the population of Bardhaman district in 1961 to 79.9% in 2001, Hindi has increased its share from 8.5% in 1961 to 10.9% in 2001 Santali has remained steady at around 4.9% during the period, and Urdu has increased its share from 2.4% in 1961 to 2.6% in 2001. Other mother-tongues spoken in 2001 were: Odiya (0.3%), Punjabi (0.2%), Koda/Kora (0.2%), Telugu (0.1%), Bhojpuri (0.1%), Nepali (0.1%) and Kurukh/ Oraon (0.1%). In the 2011 census Hindus numbered 136,963 and formed 57.69% of the population in Manteswar CD Block. Muslims numbered 99,161 and formed 41.77% of the population. Christians numbered 492 and formed 0.21% of the population. Others numbered 782 and formed 0.33% of