Barrackpore

Barrackpore
Neighborhood in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Barrackpore Railway Station
Barrackpore
Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates: 22°46′N 88°22′E / 22.76°N 88.37°E / 22.76; 88.37Coordinates: 22°46′N 88°22′E / 22.76°N 88.37°E / 22.76; 88.37
Country  India
State West Bengal
District North 24 Parganas
City Kolkata
Government
 • Municipality Chairman Uttam Das[1]
Area
 • Total 10.61 km2 (4.10 sq mi)
Elevation 15 m (49 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 152,783
 • Density 14,000/km2 (37,000/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Bengali, English,
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 700120,700121,700122,700123
Telephone code 9133
Lok Sabha constituency Barrackpore
Vidhan Sabha constituency Barrackpore
Website www.barrackpore.gov.in

Barrackpore, or Barrackpur, is the headquarters of the Barrackpore subdivision of North 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of Kolkata Urban Agglomeration.

Etymology

The name Barrackpore may have originated from the English word barracks, as it was the site of the first cantonment of the British East India Company. Alternatively, the Ain-i-Akbari suggests that the name comes from "Barbakpur". Manasa Vijay, written by Bipradas Pipilai, refers to Barrackpore as "Chanak".

History

The earliest references to the Barrackpore region are found in the writings of the Greek navigators, geographers, chronicles and historians of the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD. These authors generally referred to the country of a people variously called the Gangaridae, Gangaridai, Gandaritai etc. By the 15th and 16th centuries, Chanak and the other towns in the region had become populous river towns.[2] The Statistical Account of Bengal by W.W.Hunter mentions the towns and villages of this subdivision on the banks of the Hooghly river as chief trading and marketing centres: "On The Hugli- Calcutta, the chief seat of commerce in India. Baranagar, Dakhineswar, Agarpara, Panihati, Sukchar- Khardah, Barrackpur, Nawabganj, Ichapore, Shyam Nagar, Naihati and Halisahar contain large bazaars for sale of miscellaneous goods."[3]

Under the Mughal Empire, Bengal was divided into Circars, or administrative subunits, each of which was ruled over by a Mahal. The name "Barbuckpur", another name for Barrackpore, is associated with a Mahal in the Ain-e-Akbari. From the 17th century, the area was ruled over by a line of Zamindars based in Nona Chandanpukur, Barrackpore.

The first British barrack or cantonment in India was built in the town in 1772. After the British crown assumed direct control of India, the sprawling Government House and the Government Estate were built in Barrackpore to provide the viceroy with a suburban residence 15 miles (24 km) outside of Calcutta.

Two rebellions against British authority took place in Barrackpore in the 19th century. The first of these was Barrackpore Mutiny of 1824, led by Sepoy Bindee Tiwary.[4] In this rebellion, 47th Bengal Native Infantry refused to board boats to cross the sea for various reason including social taboo "Kala pani (taboo)" to Burma in the First Anglo-Burmese War. Consequently, British-manned artillery fired upon and "erased" them.[5] In 1857, Barrackpore was the scene of an incident that some credit with starting the Indian rebellion of 1857: an Indian soldier, Mangal Pandey, attacked his British commander, and was subsequently court-martialed. His regiment was disbanded, an action which offended a number of sepoys and is considered to have contributed to the anger that fueled the rebellion. In order to commemorate his sacrifice, a park named 'Sahid Mangal Pandey Udyan' was opened in the serenity of river Hoogly. The Army cantonment of Barrackpore also houses another significant historical landscape called the RCTC area, now populated by the defence quarters.[6]

Geography

Cities and towns in the northern portion of Barrackpore subdivision in North 24 Parganas district
M: municipal city/ town, CT: census town,
N: neighbourhood, OG: outgrowth
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
Cities and towns in the southern portion of Barrackpore subdivision in North 24 Parganas district
M: municipal city/ town, CT: census town,
N: neighbourhood/ administrative location
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Background

Historically, the town was a military and administrative center under British rule, and was the scene of several acts of rebellion against Britain during the 19th century. The oldest cantonment in India and the Police Training Academy in West Bengal are both located in Barrackpore. Barrackpore is also the seat for the Sub-Divisional Court of Northern 24 Parganas District.

Location

96% of the population of Barrackpore subdivision (presented in the maps alongside, all places marked in the maps are linked on the full screen maps) lives in urban areas. In 2011, it had a density of population of 10,967 per km2 The subdivision has 16 municipalities and 24 census towns.[7]

For most of the cities/ towns information regarding density of population is available in the Infobox. Population data is not available for neighbourhoods. It is available for the entire municipal area and thereafter ward-wise.

Barrackpore is bounded by North Barrackpur and Jafarpur on the north, Mohanpur, Chak Kanthalia, Ruiya and Patulia on the east, Titagarh on the south, and the Hooghly and Barrackpur Cantonment on the west.[8][9]

Police station

Barrackpore police station under Barrackpore Police Commissionerate has jurisdiction over Barrackpore municipal area.[10][11]

Post Offices

Barrackpore is the head office of the North Presidency Division of North 24 Parganas district in Calcutta region. It has a delivery post office, with PIN 700120. Other post offices with the same PIN are Monirampur, Nayapally, Orderly Bazar, Vivekananda Math, Barrackpore Bazar, Barrackpore Government Housing and Ghoshpara Road.[12]

Sewli Teilinipara has a delivery sub post office, with PIN 700121 in the North Presidency Division of North 24 Parganas district in Calcutta region. Other post offices with the same PIN are Nilganj Bazaar, Beraberia and Suryapur.[13]

Anandapuri has a non-delivery sub post office, with PIN 700122 in the North Presidency Division of North 24 Parganas district in Calcutta region. Other post offices having the same PIN are Nonachandanpukur and Jaffarpur.[14]

Barrackpore RS has a non-delivery sub post office, with PIN 700123 in the North Presidency Division of North 24 Parganas district in Calcutta region. Other post offices having the same PIN are Panpara and Talpukur.[15]

Demographics

Population

Population of Barrackpore 
CensusPop. %±
190119,307
—
191127,60543.0%
192122,460-18.6%
193114,413-35.8%
194121,77351.1%
195142,63995.8%
196163,77849.6%
197196,88951.9%
1981115,51619.2%
1991142,55723.4%
2001144,3911.3%
2011152,7835.8%
Sources:[16]

As per the 2011 Census of India, Barrckpore had a total population of 152,783, of which 78,349 (51%) were males and 74,434 (49%) were females. Population below 6 years was 11,786. The total number of literates in Barrackpore was 125,144 (88.76% of the population over 6 years).[17]

As of the 2001 India Census,[18] Barrackpore had a population of 144,331. Men constitute 53% of the population and women 47%. Barrackpore has an average literacy rate of 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. 8% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The majority of the population is Bengali and Hindu.

Kolkata Urban Agglomeration

The following Municipalities, Census Towns and other locations in Barrackpore subdivision were part of Kolkata Urban Agglomeration in the 2011 census: Kanchrapara (M), Jetia (CT), Halisahar (M), Balibhara (CT), Naihati (M), Bhatpara (M), Kaugachhi (CT), Garshyamnagar (CT), Garulia (M), Ichhapur Defence Estate (CT), North Barrackpur (M), Barrackpur Cantonment (CB), Barrackpore (M), Jafarpur (CT), Ruiya (CT), Titagarh (M), Khardaha (M), Bandipur (CT), Panihati (M), Muragachha (CT) New Barrackpore (M), Chandpur (CT), Talbandha (CT), Patulia (CT), Kamarhati (M), Baranagar (M), South Dumdum (M), North Dumdum (M), Dum Dum (M), Noapara (CT), Babanpur (CT), Teghari (CT), Nanna (OG), Chakla (OG), Srotribati (OG) and Panpur (OG).[19]

Infrastructure

As per the District Census Handbook 2011, Barrackpore municipal city covered an area of 10.61 km2. Amongst the civic amenities it had 172.63 km of roads and open drains. Amongst the medical facilities It had 40 medicine shops. Amongst the educational facilities It had 62 primary schools, 12 middle schools, 1 secondary school, 11 senior secondary schools and 3 non-formal education centres. Amongst the social, recreational and cultural facilities it had 1 old age home, 6 auditorium/ community halls, 2 public libraries and 6 reading rooms. Amongst the commodities manufactured were cottage industry and confectionery items. It had11 bank branches.[20]

See also Cities and towns in Barrackpore subdivision

Economy

Industry

The Army/Airforce cantonment is the biggest landscape of the town of Barrackpore, while agriculture is the main base of the subdivision's economy. Floriculture, pisciculture and horticulture have also flourished in the town. Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute has been established at Barrackpore to promote production of fishes mainly in ponds and rivers. A well-developed irrigation system has been constructed in the subdivision to promote agriculture. Low interest loans have also been used to encourage the expansion of farming and the development of agricultural infrastructure.

The primary industry in Barrackpore is jute processing, centered in a number of jute mills on the side of the river. Rifle Factory Ishapore is one of the most important arms factories of India, . Mulazore Thermal Power Plant at Shyamnagar was one of the oldest power plants in India, but was shut down in 2004. Dry cells produced by Exide, and cables produced by Nicco are other industrial products.

KMDA

Barrackpore municipality is included in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area for which the KMDA is the statutory planning and development authority.[21][22]

Transport

Kolkata-proposed metro route (Baranagar - Barrackpore)

Barrackpore Air Force Station is an Indian Air Force base located at Barrackpore. It is one of the oldest stations in the IAF, operating transport units. One of the Mi-17 squadrons is based here.

The Barrackpore Trunk Road (B.T. Road) connects Barrackpore to Kolkata. The Ghoshpara Road connects Barrackpore with Kanchrapara, and goes on to link Barrackpore with the adjacent district of Nadia. Several bus routes originate from Barrackpore such as 78 and 85. Route number 78, MM 5, 81, 78/C/1, K9 and other state owned bus routes (C29, S32) connect Barrackpore with Kolkata. Route number 85 connects Barrackpore with Kanchrapara directly and JM8 up to Naihati. Barrackpore serves as the gateway to Kolkata and its suburbs. Former Rail Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the extension of metro-rail project to Barrackpore which was later shelved infinitely.

The Barrackpore Chiriamore is the crossing of the Barrackpore Trunk road and the Surendranath Banerjee Road.

Barrackpore has been serviced by rail since 1862. It takes about 35–40 minutes by suburban train to reach Barrackpore from Sealdah Station. The Sealdah-Ranaghat Line runs through this city and connects to Howrah, Bandel, Burdwan, Kalyani and Ranaghat. It is part of the Kolkata Suburban Railway system.

There are three ferry ghats in Barrackpore. Barrackpore Ferry Ghat links to Jugal Adhya Ferry Ghat across the Hooghly in Serampore. Babaji Ghat at Monirampore links to Char Poisar Ghat at Sheoraphuli and Dui Poisar Ghat links to Sheoraphuli Ghat.[23]

Heritage and culture

Barrackpore was home to a number of significant members of the Indian independence movement, many of whom have memorials in the subdivision. Surendranath Banerjee, who was called the father of Indian Nationalist Movement, lived in Barrackpore. The house of Surendranath at Monirampur of Barrackpore has been converted into the Mahadevananda Mahavidyalaya and Netaji Subhas Open University. Bengali author Bharat Chandra Ray Gunakar, known for writing Annada Mangal in the medieval period, lived at Mulajore. Ramprasad Sen, who authored many religious songs, was born at Halisahar in this subdivision. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya, the author of India's national song "Vande Mataram", was born at Naihati, in Barrackpore subdivision. Gallantry Award winner Army Captain Shekhar Ghosh is also from Barrackpore.

The towns of Panihati and Khardaha are known for having been visited by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu some 500 years ago. Annual festivals and melas are held at these places and draw large numbers of devotees. Later visitors included Sri Ram Krishna Paramahansa, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, and Mahatma Gandhi. The Gandhi Ghat is located on the east bank of the Hooghly; a Gandhi museum nearby has a rare collection of books and articles used by Gandhi.

The Sukanta Sadan theatre hall (named after the revolutionary poet Sukanta Bhattacharya) is located in the main town. There are many cinema halls in Barrackpore and its adjacent localities. The Sahid Mangal Pandey Uddan (Nishan Ghat) park facing the Ganges at Barrackpore is a crowdpuller.

Bengali festivals such as Durga Puja, and Kali puja are celebrated every year. There is a month-long fair each December–January (Bengali month of Pushya) at the temple of the goddess Kali at Shyamnagar on the bank of the Ganges.

Education

Kendriya Vidyalaya Barrackpore Army HQ

Barrackpore is home to numerous schools, colleges and Madrasahs. In fact, Barrakpore can be called as the school hub for the surrounding towns having dozens of high-schools in a small area. The Ramakrishna Vivekananda Mission School at 7, River side Road is one of the good educational institutions at Barrackpore. Among the colleges located in Barrackpore are Barrackpore Rastraguru Surendranath College and Mahadevananda Mahavidyalaya. The area also has two engineering colleges, one namely St. Mary's Technical Campus Kolkata affiliated to AICTE, several polytechnic institutes and an international boarding school, Adamas International School.

Moreover, Barrackpore is the home to many Primary and Play Schools like Swami Vivekananda Centre for Learning Barrackpore, kidzee, Path Bhaban, Little laureates as well as secondary schools such as Modern School(established in 1857),Assembly of Christ School, Douglas Memorial Higher Secondary School, Army Public School Barrackpore, Kendriya Vidyalaya,Titagarh Krishnanath Municipal High School E. T. C.Barrackpore Government High School is one of the oldest school in West Bengal & the oldest school of Barrackpore. It was established by Lord George Eden ( then Governor of India) in 1837.

See also – List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate

Healthcare

Medical facilities available in Barrackpore are B.N.Bose Subdivisional Hospital (with 200 beds), Barrackpore Cantonment Hospital (with 48 beds), Barrackpore Police Case Hospital (with 6 beds) and Police Brigade Hospital (with120 beds).[24] Amongst the private medical facilities are Sarada Seva Sadan, Disha Eye Hospital and Disha Cataract and Refractive Surgi Centre.[25]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Official District Administration site Archived January 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ De, Barun. W.B. District Gazetteer, 24 Parganas ed. 1994.
  3. ↑ Hunter W.W. A Statistical Account of Bengal, London, Trübner & Co.1875-1879
  4. ↑ Jaideep Mazumder, The First Martyr, OUTLOOK, 25 Aug 2008, P.20
  5. ↑ Wolpert, Stanley (2009). A New History of India (8th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford UP. p. 224. ISBN 978-0-19-533756-3.
  6. ↑ http://www.rctconline.com/booktext/book7.html Archived July 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ "District Statistical Handbook". North 24 Parganas 2013, Tables 2.1, 2.2, 2.4b. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  8. ↑ "District Census Handbook North Twenty Four Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Map of Barrackpore I CD Block on Page 365. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  9. ↑ "District Census Handbook North Twenty Four Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Map of Barrackpore II CD Block on Page 379. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "District Statistical Handbook". North 24 Parganas 2013, Table 2.1. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  11. ↑ "Barrackpore Police Commissionerate". List of Police Stations with telephone numbers. West Bengal Police. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  12. ↑ "Barrackpore PIN Code". pincodezip.in. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  13. ↑ "Sewli Telenipara PIN Code". pincodezip.in. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  14. ↑ "Anandapuri PIN Code". pincodezip.in. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  15. ↑ "Barrackpore RS PIN Code". pincodezip.in. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  16. ↑ "District Census Handbook North Twenty Four Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Section II Town Directory, Pages 781-783 Statement I: Growth History, Pages 799-803. Directorate of Census Operations V, West Bengal. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  17. ↑ "2011 Census – Primary Census Abstract Data Tables". West Bengal – District-wise. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  18. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  19. ↑ "Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011" (PDF). Constituents of Urban Agglomeration Having Population Above 1 Lakh. Census of India 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  20. ↑ "District Census Handbook North Twenty Four Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Section II Town Directory, Pages 781-783 Statement I: Growth History, Pages 799-803; Statement II: Physical Aspects and Location of Towns, Pages 791-794; Statement III: Civic and other Amenities, Pages 795-796; Statement IV: Medical Facilities 2009, Pages 803-805 Section: Educational, Recreational and Cultural Facilities. Directorate of Census Operations V, West Bengal. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  21. ↑ "Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authoity, Annual Report 2010-11". 1/1 Kolkata Metropolitan Area Map. KMDA. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  22. ↑ "Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority, Annual Report 2010-11". 1 / 2 Role of KMDA. KMDA. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  23. ↑ Google maps
  24. ↑ "Health & Family Welfare Department". Health Statistics. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  25. ↑ "Hospitals in Barrackpre, Kolkata". Sehat. Retrieved 12 July 2018.

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