Bhowanipore
Encyclopedia
Bhowanipore or Bhabanipur is the oldest locality of South Kolkata
. It is located just south of the Lower Circular Road (now A.J.C. Bose Road). It is the second largest locality in South Kolkata
after Ballygunge
. The locality has its boundary touching the AJC Bose Road, Maidan
, Victoria Memorial
and consists of well-known and posh localities like Elgin Road, Gokhale Road, Woodburn Park, Bakulbagan Road, Harish Mukherjee Road, Beltala Road, Townshend Road and parts of Chakraberia and Lansdowne. The locality has an illustrious past and abounds with stories of great men and women who lived here, although in the recent years it has lost much of its glory to Ballygunge, which has gone ahead in terms of good roads, posh locales, and modern day developments.
. In the early 19th century, it was just a small village
on the southern outskirts of the city of Calcutta. Soon it developed into a favourable home to many immigrants into the city from the countryside of West
and East Bengal
. These immigrants were very literate and prosperous and just wanted to settle outside the more famous localities of northern Kolkata.
The Lower Circular Road (present A.J.C. Bose Road) had just been constructed and the area just south of the road became home to many Indians who wanted to live in proximity to the city and yet away from it.
Many Britishers also took fancy to the area and they also began settling in the area, but were far outnumbered by the local populace.
Initially the locality was bounded by Lansdowne Road (presently Sarat Bose Road) to the east, Russa Road (presently A.T. Mukherjee Road and S.P. Mukherjee Road) to the west and the Hazra Road to the south. But it expanded much more to the west, far beyond Harish Mukherjee Road to the Tolly Nullah.
The Jadu Babu's Bazaar on Russa Road was the heart of south Kolkata before Gariahat even developed. It is still the major market for the locality.
Many young people from the locality became notable individuals like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee
and his son Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das
, Uttam Kumar
and lately Satyajit Ray
, who made the area his home, among others.
Bhowanipore was also known as the cinema hall area of the city. Number of cinema halls like Purna, Indira, Bijoli, etc. screened Bengali and Hindi movies. Many of the halls are now closing down due to lack of patronage.
Since the start of the 20th century, the area became home to a large number of immigrants from other parts of India. Sikhs, Rajasthanis, Gujaratis and Tamils now form a major population of the locality.
Bhowanipore has also has its share of 21st century commercialization sweeping Kolkata. It is home to Kolkata's first mall-cum-multiplex - The Forum mall on Elgin Road with its Inox multiplex.
Many big companies have their head office in Bhowanipore, like Exide Industries Limited, Tata Tea Limited and Phillips India Limited to name a few. The head office of Automobile Association Of Eastern India is also located in this area.
A club in the name of " Bhowanipore Club" founded by one Nani Mitra stands at the entrance of the Maidan near the Rani Rashmani Statue and presently managed by the " Sangbad Pratidin" group.
The Kolkata Metro
serves the area with the Rabindra Sadan
, Netaji Bhawan and Jatin Das Park stations.
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
. It is located just south of the Lower Circular Road (now A.J.C. Bose Road). It is the second largest locality in South Kolkata
South Kolkata
South Kolkata refers to the southern areas of the city of Kolkata, India. It includes the localities of Bhawanipore, Lansdowne, Park Circus, Ballygunge, Alipore, New Alipore, Tollygunge, Dhakuria, Jodhpur Park, Lake Gardens, Golf Green, Jadavpur, Santoshpur, Garia, Chak Garia, Taratala,...
after Ballygunge
Ballygunge
Ballygunge is an upmarket and elite locality in South Kolkata, India. It is flanked by Park Circus in the north, Kasba and the Eastern Railway south suburban line in the east, Dhakuria and the Lakes in the south, and the localities of Bhowanipore and Lansdowne in the west...
. The locality has its boundary touching the AJC Bose Road, Maidan
Maidan (Kolkata)
The Maidan is the largest urban park in Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a vast stretch of field and home to numerous play grounds, including the famous cricketing venue Eden Gardens, several football stadia, and Kolkata Race Course. Maidan is dotted with several statues and...
, Victoria Memorial
Victoria Memorial (India)
The Victoria Memorial, officially the Victoria Memorial Hall, is a memorial building dedicated to Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India, which is located in Kolkata, India – the capital of West Bengal and a former capital of British India. It currently serves as a museum and a...
and consists of well-known and posh localities like Elgin Road, Gokhale Road, Woodburn Park, Bakulbagan Road, Harish Mukherjee Road, Beltala Road, Townshend Road and parts of Chakraberia and Lansdowne. The locality has an illustrious past and abounds with stories of great men and women who lived here, although in the recent years it has lost much of its glory to Ballygunge, which has gone ahead in terms of good roads, posh locales, and modern day developments.
History
Bhowanipore is perhaps the first 'posh' south Kolkata neighbourhoodNeighbourhood
A neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
. In the early 19th century, it was just a small village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
on the southern outskirts of the city of Calcutta. Soon it developed into a favourable home to many immigrants into the city from the countryside of West
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
and East Bengal
East Bengal
East Bengal was the name used during two periods in the 20th century for a territory that roughly corresponded to the modern state of Bangladesh. Both instances involved a violent partition of Bengal....
. These immigrants were very literate and prosperous and just wanted to settle outside the more famous localities of northern Kolkata.
The Lower Circular Road (present A.J.C. Bose Road) had just been constructed and the area just south of the road became home to many Indians who wanted to live in proximity to the city and yet away from it.
Many Britishers also took fancy to the area and they also began settling in the area, but were far outnumbered by the local populace.
Initially the locality was bounded by Lansdowne Road (presently Sarat Bose Road) to the east, Russa Road (presently A.T. Mukherjee Road and S.P. Mukherjee Road) to the west and the Hazra Road to the south. But it expanded much more to the west, far beyond Harish Mukherjee Road to the Tolly Nullah.
The Jadu Babu's Bazaar on Russa Road was the heart of south Kolkata before Gariahat even developed. It is still the major market for the locality.
Many young people from the locality became notable individuals like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee
Ashutosh Mukherjee
Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, CIE was a prolific Bengali educator and the first Indian Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta from 1906 to 1924. Perhaps the most emphatic figure of Indian education, he was a man of great personality, high self-respect, courage and towering administrative ability...
and his son Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das
Chittaranjan Das
Chittaranjan Das was an eminent Bengali lawyer and a major figure in the Indian independence movement.-Personal life:...
, Uttam Kumar
Uttam Kumar
Uttam Kumar is one of the most famous names of Indian Bengali Cinema.Born Arun Kumar Chatterjee in 1926 at Ahiritola, North Calcutta he is widely known as Uttam Kumar and Mahanayak . He remains as much of a cultural icon as he had been in his lifetime...
and lately Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
, who made the area his home, among others.
Bhowanipore was also known as the cinema hall area of the city. Number of cinema halls like Purna, Indira, Bijoli, etc. screened Bengali and Hindi movies. Many of the halls are now closing down due to lack of patronage.
Since the start of the 20th century, the area became home to a large number of immigrants from other parts of India. Sikhs, Rajasthanis, Gujaratis and Tamils now form a major population of the locality.
Bhowanipore has also has its share of 21st century commercialization sweeping Kolkata. It is home to Kolkata's first mall-cum-multiplex - The Forum mall on Elgin Road with its Inox multiplex.
Many big companies have their head office in Bhowanipore, like Exide Industries Limited, Tata Tea Limited and Phillips India Limited to name a few. The head office of Automobile Association Of Eastern India is also located in this area.
A club in the name of " Bhowanipore Club" founded by one Nani Mitra stands at the entrance of the Maidan near the Rani Rashmani Statue and presently managed by the " Sangbad Pratidin" group.
Transport
Bhowanipore sits on some of the most important roads of Kolkata and till date the most accessible residential area of South Kolkata from its city-centre,and is excellently served by all buses plying through the southern part of the city.The Kolkata Metro
Kolkata Metro
The Kolkata Metro or Calcutta Metro is a mass rapid transit system serving the city of Kolkata and the districts of South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas in Indian state of West Bengal. The network consists of one operational line and five lines currently under construction...
serves the area with the Rabindra Sadan
Rabindra Sadan
Rabindra Sadan is a cultural centre and theatre in Calcutta, located near the Nandan cinema and cultural complex and the Academy of Fine Arts on AJC Bose Road in South Kolkata. Construction began on 5 August 1961 and ended October 1967...
, Netaji Bhawan and Jatin Das Park stations.
Medical facilities
- Chittaranjan National Cancer InstituteChittaranjan National Cancer InstituteChittaranjan National Cancer Institute is a cancer care hospital and one of the 25 Regional Cancer Centres in India. It is located in Culcutta. It was founded on January 2, 1950, as Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital, named after Chittaranjan Das, who donated land and property for the cause....
- Chittaranjan Sishu sadan
- Ramkrishna Mission Seva Pratishtan
- Ramrick Hospital
- SSKM Hospital
- Sambhunath Pandit Hospital
- Guru Tegh Bahadur M.S.C Hospital
Educational institutions
- Ashutosh College, S. P. Mukherjee Road
- Bhawanipur Education Society CollegeBhawanipur Education Society CollegeBhawanipur Education Society College is an undergraduate college affiliated with the University of Calcutta in Kolkata, India. It is a private, co-educational college, which offers multiple career choices...
, Elgin Road - Beltala Girl's School, Beltala Road
- Gokhale Memorial School, Harish Mukherjee Road
- Children's Hut, a Kindergarten school, Harish Mukherjee Road
- Balmandir, Raja Ram Mohan Roy Road
- J. J. Ajmera High School, Heysham Road
- South Suburban School (Main),Subarban School Rd.
- Julien Day SchoolJulien Day SchoolJulien Day School is a co-educational primary, secondary and senior secondary school in Kolkata, West Bengal, IndiaThe school is run by "The Julien Educational Trust", a private organisation of reputed people of the Anglo-Indian community, has successfully established and is running four branches...
, Elgin Road and Ramesh Mitra Road. - United Missionary Girls High School, Mukherjee Road.
- Mitra Institution, Harish Mukherjee Road
- St John Diocesan Girls School
- Hartley's High/Pvt. School, Sarat Bose Road
- Cathedral Mission High School, Elgin Road
- Chakraberia School
- South Calcutta Girl's School
- South Calcutta Girls College
- Khalsa High School
- IPGME&R and SSKM Hospital, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Road
- Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose College
- Adarsh Hindi High School Boy's & Girls, Rammoy Road. Bhowanipore
- Ramrick Institution
Places of interest
- Netaji Bhawan, Elgin Road
- Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee's house on Ashutosh Mukherjee Road
- South Club, Kolkata's premier Tennis club
- Satyajit Ray's rented house on Bishop Lefroy Road
- The Forum Mall, Elgin Road
- Puddapukur Swimming Centre, Lansdowne Road
- Uttam Kumar's house at Girish Mukherjee Road
- Ramkrishna Math- Gadhadhar Ashram on Harish Chatterjee Street
- Swami Narayan Mandir, Chakraberia Road South.
- Laxmi Narayan Mandir, Lansdown Road.
- Northern Park, a historic park where many Freedom Fighters addressed their meetings.
Famous people
- Sir Jogesh Chandra Mitra , eminent Bengali Justice of British India.
- Sir Ramesh Chandra Mitra , First Bengali Chief Justice of British India at Calcutta High Court.
- Indra Madhab Mullick , inventor of IckMic Cooker.
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, One of the frontline Freedom Fighters of British India, founder of Forward Bloc and the Indian National Army
- Satyajit RaySatyajit RaySatyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
, world renowned film-maker, composer and author - Debashis Chatterjee, Rationalist, Humanist and Magician.
- Deshbandhu Chittaranjan DasChittaranjan DasChittaranjan Das was an eminent Bengali lawyer and a major figure in the Indian independence movement.-Personal life:...
, renowned barrister and president of Swaraj Party - Brajendranath DeBrajendranath De-In Calcutta and Lucknow:He was born at his maternal grandfather's home at 123, Manicktala Street, Calcutta. His father's family, originally from Uttar Rarh in Bengal, belonged to the newly emerging middle class of Calcutta. He describes them as Kayastha bhadraloks in his unpublished memoir...
, commissioner of Burdwan - Uttam KumarUttam KumarUttam Kumar is one of the most famous names of Indian Bengali Cinema.Born Arun Kumar Chatterjee in 1926 at Ahiritola, North Calcutta he is widely known as Uttam Kumar and Mahanayak . He remains as much of a cultural icon as he had been in his lifetime...
, Matinee Idol, Immortal Hero of Bengali Movies - Tarun KumarTarun KumarTarun Kumar is an Indian film actor who primarily works in Telugu cinema and Tamil cinema. He frequently appears in Romantic comedy films.-Career:...
, Versatile Actor, Brother of Uttam Kumar - Ashutosh MookerjeeAshutosh MukherjeeSir Ashutosh Mukherjee, CIE was a prolific Bengali educator and the first Indian Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta from 1906 to 1924. Perhaps the most emphatic figure of Indian education, he was a man of great personality, high self-respect, courage and towering administrative ability...
, vice-chancellor of the University of CalcuttaUniversity of CalcuttaThe University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857... - Chittatosh Mookerjee, chief justice of Calcutta High Court
- Ramaprasad Mookerjee, judge of the Calcutta High Court
- Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, founder of Jan Sangh and first union industry minister of India
- Premendra MitraPremendra MitraPremendra Mitra was a renowned Bengali poet, novelist, short story writer and film director. He was also an author of Bangla science fiction and thrillers.-Life:...
, Author and Poet - Siddhartha Shankar RaySiddhartha Shankar RaySiddhartha Shankar Ray was an Indian politician belonging to the Indian National Congress. He was a prominent barrister, Punjab Governor and Education minister of India...
, former Chief Minister of West Bengal ( till date, Last non-Left CM of Bengal), Barrister - Mamata BanerjeeMamata BanerjeeMamata Banerjee is the 11th and current chief minister of the Indian state of West Bengal. She is the first woman to hold the office. Banerjee founded All India Trinamool Congress in 1997 and became chairperson, after separating from the Indian National Congress...
, Politician and founder of Trinamool Congress, Member of Parliament, Union Railway Minister of India(two times), Chief Minister of West Bengal. - Kabita Singha, author and poet
- Bijoy Mullick ,Founder of Mullick's Health Home. One of the pioneers of body building. Mr. India in Muscle Controls. He was also a well known Kirtaan Singer.
- Bijon Bhattacharya, eminent theater artist , director and famous bengali play writer, also husband of eminent international award winning social worker and writer Smt.Mahasweta Devi.
- Ranjit Mullick, Bengali film actor.
- Dinesh Trivedi ,politician from All India Trinamool Congress ,Member of Parliament of the 15th Lok Sabha & Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.
See also
Bhabanipur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)Bhabanipur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
Bhabanipur is an assembly constituency in Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Extent:...