Bolpur

Bolpur is a city and a municipality in Birbhum district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Bolpur subdivision. Bolpur municipal area includes Shantiniketan. It is 150 km north of Kolkata and is best known for Visva Bharati, the university set up by the Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore.

Bolpur
City
Bolpur-Santiniketan Road
Bolpur
Location in West Bengal, India
Bolpur
Bolpur (India)
Coordinates: 23.67°N 87.72°E / 23.67; 87.72
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictBirbhum
SubdivisionBolpur
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • BodyBolpur Municipality
Area
 • Total13.13 km2 (5.07 sq mi)
Elevation
58 m (190 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total80,210
 • Density6,100/km2 (16,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Bolpurbashi, Santiniketanbashi
Languages
 • OfficialBengali, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
731204 (Bolpur)
731235 (Santiniketan)
731236 (Sriniketan)
Telephone/STD code+91 03463
ISO 3166 codeIN-WB
Vehicle registrationWB-47 (commercial vehicles), WB-48 (private vehicles)
Station codeBHP
Lok Sabha constituencyBolpur
Vidhan Sabha constituencyBolpur, Nanoor
Websitebolpur-santiniketan.com santiniketan.com

Etymology

There is a mythical story that says that Supur was the capital of Raja Surath. He lost his kingdom when he had gone out for conquests, but regained the same with the blessings of goddess Bhavani. In his gratitudinal worship, Raja Surath organised the sacrificial slaughtering of one lakh goats. As a result, the name of place where the sacrificial offerings were made became ‘Bolipur’ – with time it became Bolpur.[1]

History

About 150 years ago, Bolpur was a small village under supur porgana. Kalikapur a known place of Bolpur was the origin of the typical village in past. There were no rail lines, no developed roads. Paddy land were seen around the village. "Lalmati" (red soil) was found everywhere. Many villages named Sian, Dihipara, Khosakdampur, Paruldanga, Goalpara, Ballavpur, Bandhgara, Surul, Supur, Raipur were the boundary line around Bolpur.

East India company established the first railway line in 1859, when the Sahebganj loopline was extended beyond the river Ajay. Bolpur railway station was established in 1860. Along with this, court, police station, sub registry office, etc., were established in old Bolpur. Then people started residing here. Christian missionaries came; they founded a church that was known as Mission compound. Paddy storage house, stationary shops, grocery shops, garment shops etc. were on the east side near Bolpur railway station. About 19 husking machines were here at that time.

Maharshi Debendranath Tagore established a centre of religious mediation in Bolpur.Rabindranath Tagore established Visva Bharati Viswavidyalaya in 1921. These were the main reasons for the huge extension, development and popularity of Bolpur.

Provincial names proved the upcoming gradual development of Bolpur. Kachharipatti is just beside court house, Trishulapatti is the commercial paddy trading centre. Kalibaroarytala was the service place for Bolpur set up by some initiative people. Netaji made a conference. Here Harisava stood against "Bramhopasana". Every week these two conferences were held in Bolpur. Bijaykrishna Ghoswami, Shivnath Shastri, Shasibhusan Basu like many wisemen gave religious advice. Beside this, prayer committee was set up.

Geography
Cities and towns in Bolpur subdivision of Birbhum district
M: municipal city/ town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, U: University.
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

Bolpur is located at 23.67°N 87.72°E / 23.67; 87.72.

As per the District Census Handbook 2011, Bolpur covered an area of 13.13km2.[2]

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the area. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

In the map of Bolpur-Sriniketan CD block on page 718 of District Census Handbook Birbhum (Part A), while the area covered by Shantiniketan is shown as a part of Bolpur, Sriniketan is shown as a part of Surul, a census town.

Police station

Bolpur police station has jurisdiction over Bolpur Sriniketan community development block.[3][4]

Demography
Population of Bolpur 
CensusPopulation %±
194113,856
—
195114,8026.8%
196123,35557.8%
197129,69627.2%
198138,43629.4%
199152,76037.3%
200165,69324.5%
201180,21022.1%
Source: District Census Handbook Birbhum,
Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A

As per the 2011 Census of India, Bolpur had a total population of 80,210, of which 40,468 (50%) were males and 39,742 (50%) were females. Population in the age range of 0-6 years was 6,852. The total number of literates in Bolpur was 63,656 (86.77% of the population 7 years and over).[5]

Civic administration

Bolpur municipality is divided into 20 wards. Until 2010, the Indian National Congress was in power in it. In the 2010 municipal elections, the municipality faced a hung verdict. Later, the Trinamool Congress with nine councillors, formed the board by taking the support of eight Congress councillors. Sushanta Bhakat is the Chairman of the municipal board.

Transport

Bolpur Shantiniketan railway station is well connected with Sealdah Railway Station, Howrah Station, Kolkata Railway Station, Malda Town, New Jalpaiguri etc of West Bengal & Guwahati Railway Station of Assam.

There is direct AC Volvo bus service of WBTC from Kolkata to Bolpur (Kolkata-Bolpur-Suri & Suri-Bolpur-Kolkata).

Bus and private cars are available from Kolkata (outstation cab service of Ola, Uber from Kolkata), Durgapur City Centre Bus Stop,Katwa,Berhampore and soon from Santragachi Railway Station in Howrah.

Education

Universities and Colleges

Universities

General colleges

Technical Institutions

Schools

Schools by Visva Bharati

State Government affiliated Schools
  • Bolpur High School
  • Bolpur NNB High School
  • Bolpur Girls High School
  • Bolpur Sailabala Girls High School
  • Bolpur Tarasankar Vidyapith
  • Bolpur Vivekananda Vidyapith

English Medium schools

Residential schools
  • Ekalavya Model Residential School (EMRS)

Healthcare

Bolpur Subdivisional Hospital has 125 beds.[6]Bolpur Block Primary Health Centre at Bolpur, serving Bolpur Sriniketan community development block, has 60 beds.[7]

Wildlife sanctuary

• Ballabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary & Deer Park(Santiniketan)

References
  1. Ghosh, Binoy, Paschim Banger Sanskriti, (in Bengali), part I, 1976 edition, page 298, Prakash Bhaban, Kolkata
  2. "District Census Handbook Birbhum, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Section II Town Directory, Pages 1025- 1033. Directorate of Census Operations V, West Bengal. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  3. "District Statistical Handbook 2008, Birbhum" (PDF). Table 2.1. Bureau of Applied Economics and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  4. "Birbhum Police". Police Stations. West Bengal Police. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  5. "2011 Census – Primary Census Abstract Data Tables". West Bengal – District-wise. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  6. "Health & Family Welfare Department" (PDF). Health Statistics - Hospitals. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  7. "Health & Family Welfare Department" (PDF). Health Statistics – Block Primary Health Centres. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
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