Posta, Burrabazar
| Posta | |
|---|---|
| Neighbourhood in Kolkata (Calcutta) | |
 Part of Posta Rajbari | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 23°48′N 88°15′E / 23.8°N 88.25°ECoordinates: 23°48′N 88°15′E / 23.8°N 88.25°E | |
| Country |
 |
| State | West Bengal |
| City | Kolkata |
| District | Kolkata |
| Municipal Corporation | Kolkata Municipal Corporation |
| KMC wards | 22, 23 |
| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | For population see linked KMC ward pages |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 700007 |
| Area code(s) | +91 33 |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Kolkata Uttar |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Jorasanko |
Posta (also known as Posta Bazar) is a neighbourhood in central Kolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, in Kolkata district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Once a citadel of Bengali mercantile aristocracy, it is now an extension of the whole sale market in neighbouring Burrabazar, dominated by Marwaris. The wholesale market features a wide range of products such as edible oil, salt, cereals, spices, food grains, sugar, and vanaspati products.[1]
Etymology
Posta literally meaning 'Quay' or 'landing space for loading and unloading ships' or 'Jetty'. This place is mainly used by the zamindars of Jorasanko and businessmen of Burrabazar.
History
The neighbourhood acquired its name from Posta Ghat, a paved stairway in the Hooghly River. The area was earlier occupied by Bengali merchants and bankers, whose riches were legendary. One such merchant was Nuku Dhar, or Lakshmikanta Dhar, who came from Hooghly when it was in decline and settled in Sutanuti. He is believed to have lent the English rulers nine lakh rupees during their campaign against the Marathas. He used to lend money to Robert Clive regularly. It is said that when Nabakrishna Deb approached him for a job, he introduced him to the English and they took him in.[2]
Sukhamay Roy (? - 1811), grandson (daughter’s son) of Nuku Dhar, inherited his maternal grandfather’s wealth because his mother was the only child of Nuku Dhar and he was the only grand child. When the English wanted to bestow on Nuku Dhar the title of ‘Raja’, he requested them to honour his grandson with the title. The request was acceded to and Raja Sukhamay Roy was the founder of the Posta Raj family followed by Raja Rajkumar Roy, Raja Radhaprosad Roy, Rani Kosturi Monjuri Devi, one of the most influential women of her times, was known for maintaining close ties with Jnanadanandini Devi, wife of Satyendranath Tagore. Later descends were Kumar Bishnu Prosad Roy, Jitendra Nath Roy, Pronab Kumar Roy, Prodyut Kumar Roy, Dilip Kumar Roy, Amit Kumar Roy, Arnab Roy, Priyojit Roy, Abhishek Roy, Riddhiman Roy, Kuntal Roy. City development and road construction has eaten away some parts of his old palace. Now, three houses exist: Lalbari, Rajbari and Thakurbari.[2] The current titular head of house is Jitendranath Roy. As a mark of respect to the 26th Amendment Act the title Raja has been scaled down to Kumar, if used at all.
The Posta Raj family had once constructed the road from Cuttack to Puri, in order that pilgrims could travel easily to the Jagannath temple. According to some, the road to Puri was built, with Sukahmoy Roy's financial support, from Uluberia. He contributed extensively to community development and social welfare activities. He was a director of the Bank of Bengal and was dewan of Sir Elijah Impey. He was subsequently honoured with the title of 'Maharaja'. At the time when Posta was developed by the Posta Raj family, people were afraid of settling beyond Jorasanko, on the banks of the Hooghly River. Even moving around in the area during day time was restricted because of the terror struck by Mugh pirates, thieves and dacoits. Posta Raj family dared to shift to the area because they had the strength and the manpower to withstand assaults.[2][3]
Geography
Police district
Posta police station is part of the Central division of Kolkata Police.[4]
Located at 67/50 Strand Road, Kolkata-700007, it has jurisdiction over the police district which is bordered on the north from the north-west corner of the junction of Kali Krishna Tagore Street and Strand Road, then crossing Strand Road, east-ward by the northern limits of Kali Krishna Tagore Street up to the north-west corner of the junction of Kali Krishna Tagore Street and Rabindra Sarani (old Upper Chitpur Road), then crossing Rabindra Sarani to the north-east corner of the junction.[4]
On the east, it is bordered from the north-east corner of the junction of Kali Krishna Tagore Street and Rabindra Sarani (old upper Chitpur Road), thence south-ward by the eastern limits of Rabindra Sarani up to the north-east corner of the junction of Madan Mohan Barman Street (old Mechua Bazar Street), Rabindra Sarani and Utkalmani Gopabandhu Avenue (old Cotton Street).[4]
On the south, it is bordered from north-east corner of the junction of Madan Mohan Barman Street (old Mechua Bazar Street), Utkalmani Gopabandhu Avenue (old Cotton Street), and Rabindra Sarani (old Lower Chitpur Road), after crossing Rabindra Sarani, west-ward, by the northern limits of Utkalmani Gopabandhu Avenue (old Cotton Street) up to Netaji Subhas Road, thence northward following the eastern limits of Netaji Subhas Road up to the north-east corner of the junction of Bartala Street and Maharshi Debendra Road, thence after crossing Maharshi Debendra Road west-ward, by the northern limits of Mirbahar Ghat Street up to the north-east corner of the junction of Mirbahar Ghat Street and Strand Road, thence after crossing Strand Road, by a shortest line west-ward to a point on the eastern boundary of the Mint Property on Strand Road.[4]
On the west, it is bordered from a point on the eastern boundary of Mint Property on Strand Road, opposite to the north-east corner of Mirbahar Ghat Street and Strand Road, thence north-ward by the western limits of Strand Road up to the north-west corner of the junction of Kali Krishna Tagore Street and Strand Road.[4]
Taltala Women police station covers all police districts under the jurisdiction of the Central division i.e. Bowbazar, Burrabazar, Girish Park, Hare Street, Jorasanko, Muchipara, New Market, Taltala and Posta.[4]
Economics
Wholesale market
The neighbourhood was earlier called Amposta as it was a wholesale market for mangoes. It is no more so. Parts of the neighbourhood are called Aluposta, wholesale market for potatoes, and Dalposta, wholesale market for lentils.[2]
West Bengal Government had earlier planned to shift the Posta-Burrabazar wholesale markets to Kona but majority of the traders resisted the move citing lack of infrastructure there. In the Vision 2025, the 20-year perspective for the overall development of Kolkata Metropolitan Area, the proposal is to shift the wholesale market to New Town, because it has adequate infrastructure.[5]
Culture
Sukumar Ray, Bengali humorous poet, has mentioned the neighbourhood in his collection of non-sense rhymes, Aboltabol, through which children in Bengal get acquainted with it. His lines are:
suntey pelam Posta giye,
tomar naki meyer biye…
Heard your daughter's getting married,
From Posta, the news I carried.[6]
Images
Gate of the "Kali Krishna Tagore House" on Darpanarayan Tagore Street
Transport line up for movement of goods
A busy road passing through the neighbourhood
Bust of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the neighbourhood
References
- ↑ "Posta Market". india9.com. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
- 1 2 3 4 Bandopadhyay, Debashis, Bonedi Kolkatar Gharbari, (in Bengali), Second impression 2002, pp. 49-51, Ananda Publishers, ISBN 81-7756-158-8
- ↑ Sengupta, Subodh Chandra and Bose, Anjali (editors), 1976/1998, Sansad Bangali Charitabhidhan (Biographical dictionary) Vol I, (in Bengali), p. 575, ISBN 81-85626-65-0
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Kolkata Police". Central Division. KP. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ↑ "Posta shift part of city growth vision". The Telegraph, 11 January 2006. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
- ↑ Ghosh, Ruchira. "The Suitable Groom". geocities.com. Archived from the original on 2009-10-23. Retrieved 2008-01-18.