Howrah

Howrah
Haora
City
Nickname(s): Sheffield of India[1]/ Glasgow of India[2]
Howrah
Howrah
Howrah
Coordinates: 22°35′04″N 88°15′59″E / 22.58444°N 88.26639°E / 22.58444; 88.26639
Country  India
State West Bengal
District Howrah district
Government
 • Type Municipal Corporation
 • Body Howrah Municipal Corporation
 • Mayor Rathin Chakraborty
 • Police commissioner Shri Devendra Prakash Singh
Area
 • Total 95 km2 (37 sq mi)
Elevation 12 m (39 ft)
Population (2011)[3]
 • Total 1,077,075
Languages
 • Official Bengali and English
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 711XXX
Telephone code 91 (33)
ISO 3166 code IN-WB
Sex ratio 904 ♂/♀
Lok Sabha constituency Howrah
Vidhan Sabha constituency Howrah Uttar, Howrah Madhya, Howrah Dakshin, Shibpur
Website www.howrah.gov.in


Howrah, or Haora, is the third largest city in West Bengal, India after Kolkata and Asansol. It is also an important transportation hub of West Bengal and a major gateway for Kolkata. It is the headquarter of Howrah district and the Howrah Sadar subdivision. Howrah is located on the western bank of the Hooghly River.

Etymology

The name came from the word Haor—Bengali word for a fluvial swampy lake, which is sedimentologically a depression where water, mud and organic debris accumulate. The word itself was rather used in eastern part of Bengal (now Bangladesh), as compared to the western part (now West Bengal).[4]

History

The history of the city of Howrah dates back over 500 years, but the district is situated in an area historically occupied by the ancient Bengali kingdom of Bhurshut. Venetian explorer Cesare Federici, who travelled in India during 1565–79, mentioned a place called Buttor in his journal circa 1578.[5] As per his description, this was a location into which large ships could travel (presumably the Hoogli River) and perhaps a commercial port.[5] This place is identifiable with the modern day neighbourhood of Bator.[5] Bator was also mentioned in the Bengali poetry Manasamangal written by Bipradas Pipilai in 1495.[6]

In 1713, the Bengal Council of the British East India Company, on the accession of the Emperor Farrukhsiyar, grandson of Aurangzeb, to the throne of Delhi, sent a deputation to him with a petition for a settlement of five villages on west bank of Hooghly river along with thirty-three villages on the east bank.[7] The list of villages appeared in the Consultation Book of the Council dated 4 May 1714. The five villages on the west bank on Hooghly river were: 'Salica' (Salkia), 'Harirah' (Howrah), 'Cassundeah' (Kasundia), 'Ramkrishnopoor' (Ramkrishnapur), and 'Battar' (Bator): all identifiable with localities of modern-day Howrah city.[8] The deputation was successful except for these five villages.[8] By 1728, most of the present-day Howrah district was part of either of the two zamindaris: Burdwan or Muhammand Aminpur.[8] After Battle of Plassey, as per the treaty signed with the Nawab of Bengal, Mir Qasim, on 11 October 1760, Howrah district (then part of Burdwan) came under control of East India Company.[9] In 1787, the Hooghly district was formed, and till 1819, the whole of the present day Howrah district was added to it.[10] The Howrah district was separated from the Hooghly district in 1843.[11]

Demographics

As of 2011 Indian census, Howrah had a population of 1,077,075 with 244,135 households.[3] [note 1]

In the 1896 census of British India, Howrah had a population of 84,069, which grew up to 157,594 in the 1901 census.[12][13] This rapid growth was due to abundance of job opportunities, which effected in a 100% increase in male population during this period, whereas the female population grew up only by 60%.[12]

Howrah town population by year[13][note 2]
YearPopulation% increaseMalesFemales
189684,069
1901157,59499,90457,690
1911179,00613.59114,56664,440
1921195,3019.10128,47266,829
1931224,87315.14145,12079,753
1941379,29268.67246,959132,333
1951433,63014.33268,412165,218
1961532,69222.84325,493207,199
1971737,87738.52439,457298,420
1981744,4290.89421,636322,793
1991950,43527.67528,396422,039
20011,007,5326.01547,068460,464
2011[3]1,077,075561,220515,855

Industry

Burn Standard Company (BSCL, established in 1781), a major company in heavy engineering industry, which is now part of Bharat Bhari Udyog Nigam Limited (BBUNL), has its oldest manufacturing unit located in Howrah.[14] In 1823, Bishop Reginald Heber described Howrah as the place "chiefly inhabited by shipbuilders".[15] The Howrah plant of Shalimar Paints (established in 1902) was the first large-scale paint manufacturing plant to be set up not only in India but in entire South East Asia.[16]

Jute industry suffered during the Partition of Bengal (1947), when the larger jute production area became part of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The foundry industry saw a decline in demand due to growth in steel industry.

Often termed as Sheffield of the East or Glasgrow of India'[1], Howrah is known as an engineering hub, mainly in the area of light engineering industry.[1] There are small engineering firms all over Howrah, particularly around Belilios Road area near Howrah station.[17] However these businesses are declining in the 21st century.[1]

Even though it is the second largest city in the state, it did not undertake appropriate infrastructure development in the last century. As a result, Howrah is continuing to face its perennial problems like traffic congestion, population explosion and pollution. The ratio of roadspace to the population is too low in this city, even comparatively smaller towns like Baharampur enjoy a better ratio. The emigrant labour force from the rest of the state's rural areas and neighbouring states take refuge in the cheaper quarters in Howrah, bringing the already poor infrastructure to the brink of collapse. Many times such migrations reduce a locality to a poor-infrastructure slum. The name of the novel City of Joy, which has been often the name the Kolkata metropolis been called, is actually based on one such slum of Howrah.

However, recently, work has been done on broadening the national highways and several towns roads. These activities are expected to help in improvement of traffic conditions. Of late, Howrah has seen a lot of new industrial proposals like the Kona Truck Terminus, Kolkata West International City and relocation of the old smoky foundry plants.

Civic administration

Howrah Municipality was established in 1862.[18] From 1896, it started supplying filter water across the city.[19] During 1882–83, Bally Municipality was formed separating it out from Howrah.[12] As per the Howrah Municipal Corporation Act of 1980, Howrah became a municipal corporation,[20] in 1984. The corporation area is divided into fifty wards, each of which elects a councillor.[21] The Mayor-in-council, which is led by Mayor and supported by Commissioner and officers, is responsible for administration of the corporation area.[21] As of August 2015, the Trinamool Congress is controlling the municipal board. The Howrah Police Commissionerate is responsible for law enforcement in the city.

Transport

Howrah can be accessed from its many rail links, as well as its transport connections to Kolkata. Apart from the bridges connecting the cities, there are also ferry services between various jetties.

Rail

Howrah Station

Howrah station is a major railway station serving Howrah, Kolkata and the neighbouring districts. It was established in 1854 when railway line was constructed here, connecting it to the coalfields of the Bardhaman. Howrah Station serves as a terminal for two railway zones of India: the Eastern Railway and the South Eastern Railway, and it is connected to most of the major cities of India.

It is the only station in Eastern India connecting the entire Eastern India with the rest of India. From Howrah both Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway operates connecting various stations of the districts of Howrah, Hooghly, Bardhaman, East Midnapore and West Midnapore. Within Howrah city, there are six other stations: Tikiapara, Dasnagar, Ramrajatala, Santragachhi, Padmapukur and Shalimar Station, all serving the South Eastern Railway.[22]

The first station after Howrah terminus that serves the Eastern Railway is Liluah, which is located in the municipal area of Howrah.[22] Tikiapara, Dasnagar, Ramrajatala and Padmapukur are smaller stations of suburban railway. Santragachhi is a railway junction. Shalimar Station served as a terminus for goods trains and hosted a rail yard since its inception in 1883. In recent years, it has been brought into the network of passenger train stations to reduce pressure on Howrah station. Apart from suburban trains, few long-distance trains have been introduced or moved over here (from Howrah station).

Roads

The total road length in Howrah is approximately 300 kilometres (190 mi).[23] Howrah hosts a branch of the Grand Trunk Road – this was built, starting 1804, by the Public Works Department of the British administration.[24] The road starts at the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden[25] and connects to the main road near Chandannagar.[24] Howrah also connects the metropolitan region to the national highways – NH 2 and NH 6 are connected to Vidyasagar Setu via the Kona Expressway.

Bridges

Howrah Bridge

Howrah and Kolkata are separated by the Hooghli River, and connected by four bridges on the river Ganges. These are the:

The cantilever style Howrah Bridge and the cable-stayed Vidyasagar Setu are counted among the longest bridges in the world within their types.[26]

Other transport

There are ferry services available, between various jetties in Howrah and Kolkata, which was introduced in the 1970s.[22] The jetties on Howrah side are at Howrah Station, Ramkrishnapur, Shibpur, Shalimar, Bandhaghat and Nazirganj. The Kolkata metropolitan region is also served by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.

Neighbourhoods

Shibpur is a neighbourhood in south Howrah, near Vidyasagar Setu. Through the centuries it has been synonymous with the Great Banyan tree. The Great Banyan tree boasts of having the largest canopy in the world. It continues to grow and covers many city blocks and looks like a forest all by itself. The British established the Indian Botanical Gardens, now known as Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Botanical Garden in 1786 between the Great Banyan tree and the Hoogly River. Here there is one end of the Grand Trunk Road. The Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur now an Indian Institute of Engineering Science & Technology (IIEST) is the second oldest engineering university in India.
There is a famous Rama Temple in Ramrajatala area, where Rama is worshiped for 4 months, starting from Rama Navami to the last Sunday of the month of Shravana. A big fair is held for four months every year.
Located near Santragachi Railway Station, the Santragachhi Jheel is a large lake that attracts migratory birds during winter. The lesser whistling duck is the most dominant species visible here.[27] Forest Ministry of the State Government of West Bengal intends to convert the lake to a 'wildlife conservation centre'.[28]
Belur Math is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda, a chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. It is located on the west bank of Hooghly River, in Belur, West Bengal, India and is one of the significant institutions in Calcutta.

Education

The Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur is a public engineering and research institution. It is the second oldest engineering institution in India, and is an Indian institute of national importance.

Howrah's schools are either run by the state government or by private institutions. The medium of instruction is Bengali, English or Hindi. Schools are affiliated to the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE), West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE), the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Howrah Zilla School, the oldest school in Howrah founded in 1845, is the only Governmental school in Howrah.

Howrah's first vernacular Bengali medium school was established in 1857 by Kedarnath Bhattacharya, first Indian chairman of Howrah Municipal Corporation. In 1870 it was named Santragachi Minor School. Currently it is named Santragachi Kedarnath Institution, Howrah.[29]

Weather and climate

Howrah
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
19
 
 
26
12
 
 
39
 
 
29
16
 
 
38
 
 
33
21
 
 
50
 
 
36
24
 
 
133
 
 
36
25
 
 
246
 
 
34
26
 
 
348
 
 
33
26
 
 
322
 
 
33
26
 
 
291
 
 
33
26
 
 
164
 
 
32
24
 
 
28
 
 
30
19
 
 
5.7
 
 
27
14
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: World Weather Online[30]

Notable people

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Census data of Howrah can be difficult to compare as the city is sometimes grouped together with the Kolkata and other settlements as the Kolkata metropolitan area. Further care needs to taken to distinguish Howrah town from Howrah district.
  2. ↑ Note that Howrah town census area was not stable until 1981

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Sheffield of India dying an untimely death - Times of India". The Times of India. The Times of India. 20 September 2001. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  2. ↑ https://www.lap-publishing.com/catalog/details//store/gb/book/978-3-659-14446-2/the-challenge-of-slum-development-melatala-dasnagar-slum-area-of-hmc
  3. 1 2 3 "Primary Census Abstract Data Tables – West Bengal – DDW_PCA1915_2011_MDDS with UI". Census of India. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  4. ↑ O'Malley & Chakravarti 1909, p. 169
  5. 1 2 3 Donald Frederick Lach, p.473
  6. ↑ O'Malley & Chakravarti 1909, p. 19
  7. ↑ O'Malley & Chakravarti 1909, p. 22
  8. 1 2 3 O'Malley & Chakravarti 1909, p. 23
  9. ↑ O'Malley & Chakravarti 1909, p. 25
  10. ↑ O'Malley & Chakravarti 1909, p. 26
  11. ↑ O'Malley & Chakravarti 1909, p. 27
  12. 1 2 3 O'Malley & Chakravarti 1909, p. 31
  13. 1 2 "A −4 : Towns and Urban Agglomerations Classified by Population Size Class in 2001 With Variation Since 1901". The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  14. ↑ "Group Companies: Burn Standard Co. Ltd". Bharat Bhari Udyog Nigam Limited. Archived from the original on 25 December 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  15. ↑ O'Malley & Chakravarti 1909, p. 165
  16. ↑ "Shalimar Paints:About us – Manufacturing Facilities". Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  17. ↑ Mark Holmström, p.137
  18. ↑ "Howrah Municipal Corporation". Official website of Department of Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  19. ↑ O'Malley & Chakravarti 1909, p. 28
  20. ↑ "Other Municipal Corporation Acts". Official website of Department of Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 10 August 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  21. 1 2 "About us page". Howrah Municipal Corporation. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  22. 1 2 3 "East-West Kolkata Metro Corridor: EIA and SIA (Chapter 2)" (PDF). Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
  23. ↑ "Engineering Department". Official website of the Howrah Municipality. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  24. 1 2 O'Malley & Chakravarti 1909, p. 119
  25. ↑ http://www.bsienvis.nic.in/PDF/Newsletter%2015(1).pdf
  26. ↑ Durkee, Jackson (24 May 1999). "National Steel Bridge Alliance: World's Longest Bridge Spans" (PDF). American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 June 2002. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  27. ↑ Suchetana Haldar (15 December 2006). "Birds of many feathers flock to Santragachi". Indian Express. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  28. ↑ "Protected Area Update: News and Information from protected areas in India and South Asia". Wildlife Institute of India. February 2005. Archived from the original (DOC) on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  29. ↑ Alok Kumar Mukherjee (1991). Howrah, a Study in Urbanization. p. 99.
  30. ↑ "Howrah Weather". World Weather Online. Retrieved 31 May 2012.

Bibliography

  • Bhattacherje, S. B. (2009). Encyclopaedia of Indian Events & Dates. Sterling Publishers Pvt. ISBN 978-81-207-4074-7.
  • Gunguly, C. K.; Battarcharya, S. K. (2000). Dayaratnam, P, ed. The Design Methodology and Construction Technique of 457 m Span Cable Stayed Bridge (Dead Load Composite) at Vidyasagar Setu. Cable stayed, supported, and suspension bridges. Universities Press (India). pp. 113–4. ISBN 978-81-7371-271-5.
  • Holmström, Mark (1984). Industry and Inequality: The Social Anthropology of Indian Labour. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-26745-5. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
  • Lach, Donald Frederick (1977). Asia in the Making of Europe. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-46731-7. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
  • O'Malley, L. S. S.; Chakravarti, Monmohan (1909). "Bengal District Gazetteers: Howrah". Bengal Secretariat Book Depot.
  • Sen, Samita (1999). Women and Labour in Late Colonial India: The Bengal Jute Industry. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-45363-1. Retrieved 29 December 2008.
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