Native name	Asansol
Type	City
Skyline	Asanso 1.jpg
Skyline caption	Asansol Railway Station built in 1885
Locator position	right
State name	West Bengal
District	Burdwan
parliament const	Asansol (MP - Bangsha Gopal Chaudhuri - CPI(M))
assembly const	Asansol Uttar (MLA - Malay Ghatak - AITC), Asansol Dakshin (MLA - Tapas Banerjee - AITC)
Leader title 3	Mayor
Leader name 3	Tapas Banerjee - AITC (Asansol Municipal Corporation)
Altitude	97
Population as of	2001
Population total	486,304
Population density	3803
Population metro	1,067,369 (29th in India)
Area magnitude	9
Area total	127.3 |
Area telephone	0341
Postal code	713 301–713 305, 713 325, 713 339–713 341(city); 713 321–713 324, 713 326–713 338, 713 342–713 3xx (suburbs)
Vehicle code range	WB 37 / WB 38 / WB 44
Sex ratio	1000/896
Leader title 1	Literacy Rate
Leader name 1	72.57%
Website	asansolmunicipalcorporation.org/
Footnotes	}}

Asansol () is a coal mining & industrial metropolis and one of the busiest commercial centres in India. It is the second largest city in West Bengal after Kolkata. Asansol is located in the western part of West Bengal. It has a large workforce, moderately high per capita income, educational establishments, good transport connections, several housing complexes, and land suitable for industry, institutions, transport and commerce. Its hinterland is Bankura and Purulia districts and North Bengal, linked to parts of Orissa and Jharkhand states. According to a report released by International Institute for Environment and Development, a UK-based policy research non-governmental body, Asansol is among the 11 Indian cities in the list of 100 fastest growing cities in the world with a rank of 42. The name Asansol is derived from two different names, Asan tree (a species of tree found on the banks of river Damodar) and Sol-Bhumi/Sol-land (the land rich in minerals).

Overview

The stretch from Andal to Barakar covering Raniganj, Jamuria, Asansol, Burnpur, Neamatpur, Kulti and Barakar, composed of about 40 kilometres along Grand Trunk Road forms one urban agglomeration, all of which falls within Asansol subdivision area. The gaps between the contiguous urban centres are filled with collieries and small settlements. It should properly be considered as one city. The Chittaranjan – Rupnarayanpur urban centre are also closely linked. For the purposes of planning the entire stretch from Panagarh to Barakar is overseen by the Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA).

Being the central city of the coal belt, Asansol is heavily industrialised though many of the industries have fallen on hard times in the recent years, leading to its transformation into a trading town that utilises its position as the transport centre. The largest employers in the area are Eastern Coalfields (a subsidiary of Coal India Limited) and IISCO Steel Plant of Steel Authority of India Limited. Other major industries are Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Hindustan Cables Ltd., Disergarh Power Supply, Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), Burn Standard, Reckitt and Coleman, couple of cement plants such as Burnpur Cement, Asansol Cement,Lafarge Cement India Pvt. Ltd., iCore Cement and refractory units such as Kabita Refractories.

Geography

Asansol is located in the Burdwan District of West Bengal. While most of Bengal is flat alluvial plain Asansol subdivision lies on exposed Gondwana rocks and consists mostly of undulating laterite soil. It forms the lower edge of the Chota Nagpur plateau, which occupies most of Jharkhand.It is located between two mighty rivers, Damodar and Ajay. Another mighty river, Barakar, joins the Damodar near Dishergarh. A small rivulet, Nunia, flows past Asansol. While Dhanbad district lies on the western side, Durgapur sub division of Bardhman district lies on the eastern side. To the south, across the Damodar river are the Purulia and Bankura districts. To the north are Dumka and Birbhum districts. Dhanbad district across the Barakar river in Jharkhand is also a major mining area and has close links with Asansol. Both lie in the Damodar valley.

History

Initially people of Dravidian and Austroloid stock inhabited this region. Around two thousand five hundred years ago, it became an area of significant Jain activity. According to some, the last Tirthankar of Jain religion, Mahavira Vardhamana, used to live and work in the area. The district and headquarters town thus came to be known as Bardhaman. Some identify the spread of Jainism in West Bengal with the Aryanisation of the region. Evidence of major Jain activity exists in the Jain temples on Pareshnath Hill in neighbouring Jharkhand. There is an old Jain temple at Begunia on the bank of the Barakar river and temples in neighbouring Bankura district also bear evidence of major Jain activity in the region. There is a Jain Temple in Asansol devoted to Vasupujya,12th Tirthankara in Mehta Road in Durga mandir and a Jain Bhawan.

Later, the area was possibly part of the Vishnupur kingdom, where the Malla dynasty ruled for around a thousand years till the advent of the British. There is a Vishnupur style temple in Chhotodighari village providing a clue to its links with Vishnupur. The local dialect and culture of the region has closer affinities with those of Bankura and Vishnupur than the other neighbouring areas.

Coal and railways

In 1774, Suetonius Grant Heatly and John Summer of the East India Company discovered coal in the area, and mining started. The early exploration and mining operations were carried out in a haphazard manner and demand was limited. Regular mining operations started in 1820, led by an agency house, Alexander & Co. In 1835, Prince Dwarkanath Tagore bought over the collieries and Carr and Tagore Co. led the field. For the entire 19th century and a major part of the 20th century, Ranigunj coalfields in the Asansol region was the major producer of coal in the country.

At the behest of William Princep, Carr and Tagore Co. joined hands with Gilmore Hombray and Co. in 1843 to form Bengal Coal Co., which opened up the coal mining activities. Their headquarters was at Sanctoria. Other mining companies included Birbhum Coal Co., Equitable Coal Co., Madhu Roy and Prasanna Dutta Co., Bird and Co., South Barakar Coal Co., Andrew Yule and Company Ltd. and Balmer Lawrie.

The discovery of coal brought in the railways. In India, the first operational railway track was between Mumbai and Thane in 1853. In the eastern sector, the first train ran from Howrah to Hughli in 1854. It was officially opened in 1855 up to Ranigunj (194 km). It was extended through the Sahibganj loop up to Varanasi in 1862 and to Delhi in 1866. The line to Mumbai via Allahabad was opened in 1870. The present main line via Patna was opened in 1871. The Grand Chord via Gaya came in 1906. The Howrah-Bardhaman chord was opened in 1917.

Asansol became an important centre of railway activity, and the railway settlements grew with the growth of the locomotive shops. It also brought in the European and Anglo-Indian communities, who were to play a pivotal role in the life of Asansol. Durand Institute (now renamed Swami Vivekananda Institute), reputed to be the oldest railway institute in Asia, was a major centre of European and Anglo-Indian activity. There is an imposing structure of tall column (memorial tower)in front of Durand Institute commemorating the memories of the supreme sacrifice of those European soldiers and commanders who laid down their lives in the First World War (1914–1918).It is as good as a landmark of Asansol, reminder of the European legacy of the place and it is so high that it is easily visible from the railway station. The old churches of Asansol and the leading schools were built to cater primarily to these communities. It was much later that Indians were allowed into the schools. There were a handful of Armenian businessmen. Old timers still recall the shops of Gregory at Asansol and Johannes at Burnpur. While Asansol emerged as an important centre of East Indian Railway, ultimately becoming the divisional headquarters in 1925, Adra emerged as a major centre of Bengal Nagpur Railway. It is now the headquarter of Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Asansol, the post previously designated as Divisional Superintendent (DS).

Development of industries

The extensive growth of railways in the country led to the development of the iron and steel industry. In 1870, James Erskine set up the Bengal Iron Works, also known as Barakar Iron Works. Some sources attribute the development to Hoare Miller and Co. of Kolkata. It is possible that James Erskine was an employee of that company. The first blast furnace using coal instead of charcoal went into production at Kulti in 1875. In those days, the place was more easily identified as Kendwa. Kulti was a smaller village than Kendwa. It utilised low-grade iron ore available locally.

In 1901 the country’s first iron ore mine was developed at Pansiraburu in Singhbhum district (then in Bengal, now in Jharkhand), as part of Manoharpur Ore Mines and linked to Kulti. In 1904, Kulti is credited with having produced steel from open hearth furnaces. However, with stiff competition from imported material, the steelmaking facilities were closed down. The ownership of the pioneering plant changed hands many times. The farsighted control of the plant by Sir Rajendranath Mookerjee, who had founded Martin and Co. with Sir Acquin Martin, kept it going.

Burn and Co promoted The Indian Iron and Steel Co. Ltd. in 1918. G.H. Fairhurst is credited with having founded the plant at Burnpur (then better known as Hirapur). Sir Rajendranath Mookerjee and T. Leslie Martin were also associated with it. Sir Biren Mookerjee joined a little later and played a major role in the development of the plant. Iron production started at Burnpur in 1922. Kulti Works of Bengal Iron was merged with IISCO in 1936. Steel Corporation of Bengal (SCOB) set up the steelmaking facilities at Burnpur in 1939. SCOB was merged with IISCO in 1952 and Martin Burn was then the managing agent of the company. Indian Standard Wagon (ISW) (later renamed Burn Standard) set up its wagon factory at Burnpur.

Another major development of the colonial culture was the establishment of clubs. The British are credited with the formation of such clubs as Asansol Club, Burnpur Club, Kulti Club and Dishergarh Club. In the early days, these clubs did not admit Indians, who had their own organisations such as Hirapur Indian Association (later renamed Bharati Bhaban). Subsequently, Indians gained admission into the British clubs.

The growth and development of trade unions was a corollary of industrial development. Labour wages were low but the conditions of the rural areas were so pitiable that the area witnessed considerable influx of population not only from the neighbouring districts but also from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (then the United Provinces). The countryside was weighed down by excessive land revenue and lack of development. Famines were a regular feature.Coal theft is common practice in this region.

Independence and industrialisation

The independence of the country in 1947 ushered in the next major economic change. Damodar Valley Corporation, the first multipurpose river valley project in the country, had a major presence at the edge of the area with dams at Maithon and Panchet (at both places the river forms the border with Jharkhand). The artificial lakes behind the dams have added considerably to the natural beauty of the area and are centres of picnicking.

With the nationalisation of the railways East Indian Railway became Eastern Railway and Bengal Nagpur Railway became South Eastern Railway. Asansol became divisional head quarters of Eastern Railway. Andal has the largest marshalling yard in Asia. The diesel locomotiveo shed at Andal can accommodate 101 locomotives and the electric locomotive shed at Asansol can accommodate 118 locomotives.

Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) was the first locomotive workshop in India, named after the freedom fighter, leader and statesman Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das. It initially produced steam locomotives. The production activity started on 26 January 1950 the day when India became a Republic. The first steam locomotive ''Deshbandhu'' was dedicated to the nation by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India. With the roll out of first CLW built WAG-9 electric locomotive ''Navyug'' on 14 November 1998, India joined the five countries which can manufacture electric locomotives with 3-phase technology. In 2006, CLW produced ''Dr Silver'', a three-phase locomotive with remote diagnostic system. Until 31 March 2006 CLW has produced 3380 electric locomotives.

Sen Raleigh Industries started production in their cycle factory at Kanyapur, near Asansol, in 1949. Pilkington set up a glass factory in Asansol. The Jaykay group established an aluminium plant at Jaykaynagar, near Asansol. The Dhakeswari textile mill was set up at Suryanagar on the banks of the Damodar. Bengal Paper Mill was established at Ballabhpur, Ranigunj. Hindustan Cables Ltd. set up their plant at Rupnarayanpur.

The Sen-Raleigh cycle factory was located in the outskirts called Kanyapur. Later the company was taken over by government and renamed to CCIL. Models from the factory included Raleigh, Humber, Balaka, Rudge, Arjun and Swathi. Another major industry was Hindustan Pilkington Glass with a factory located in a prime area of the city.

A steel plant was set up in neighbouring Durgapur and the plant at Burnpur was expanded. There also was considerable expansion of townships and other facilities. Nehru Park (formerly Lahmeyer Park) was built utilising the natural contour of the terrain on the banks of the Damodar. The airstrip at Burnpur can handle small aircraft. Along with the expansion of the steel plant at Burnpur the outdated open top blast furnaces of Kulti were closed and the Kulti Works emerged as the pioneer and later as the largest producer of spun pipes in the country. It also produced foundry products.

Economy

The city's economy is based on the coal and steel industries. Situated in the Damodar River valley, the city has evolved and expanded over time to a population of one million, ranking it 23rd in India. It is located about 200 km from Kolkata.Asansol is the 42nd Fastest growing city in the world and 10th in the India.

Industrial decline and revival

Technological obsolescence proved to be a bane for the Asansol industrial belt. As the British industrialists left, the Indian trading community, which took over the British-owned industries and mines, failed to handle the situation properly, leading to labour trouble and industrial decline. The government the IISCO Steel Plant of SAIL, the area is looking up again.

Coal country

Asansol is in the heart of the coal country. Ranigunj coalfields cover an area of 1530 km². Although it is spread over four districts of West Bengal – Bardhaman, Birbhum, Bankura and Purulia – and a part of Dhanbad district (Jharia coalfields are also in that district) of Jharkhand, the heart of Ranigunj Coalfields lies in the Asansol region. Pandaveswar, Kajora, Jhanjra Bankola, Kenda, Sonepur, Kunustoria, Satgram,''Ningha'', Sripur, Sodepur and Salanpur are the major coal areas around Asansol. Kasta Coalfields, north of the Ajay river in Birbhum district, Mejia and Parbelia, across the Damodar in Bankura and Purulia district respectively, and Mugma, across the Barakar river in Dhanbad district, are adjacent to Asansol. Only small patches intrude into Durgapur subdivision. Coal in India was first mined in Narayankuri near Ranigunj. Sitarampur boasts of the first Mines Rescue Station, Directorate of Mines Safety and explosive manufacturing unit now defunct but the former two still in operation.

The region sits on seams of coal. Reserves of coal in West Bengal (mostly in Asansol) are estimated to be 22.62 billion tonnes. ECL has 107 operating mines, a majority of them in Asansol. Superior quality non-coking coal is mined in the region. With around two centuries of coal mining in the region, most of the coal in the upper seams have been exhausted and underground mining has been extending to deeper seams. However, substantial volumes of coal are available in the pillars and walls of coal left behind to support the roofs of underground mines. Coal remaining in the surface seams can be mined by open cast methods.

The use of heavy duty earth-moving equipment has led to the development of large open cast mines. ECL’s total coal production of 27.25 million tonnes in 2004–05, is expected to rise to 46 million tonnes by 2011–12. Out of this 32.84 million tonnes is expected to be from the open cast mines. The annual production of Sonepur Bazari open cast project, a major project in the area, is proposed to be raised from the level of 3 million tonnes in 2004–05 to 8 million tonnes by 2011–12.

Underground coal mining brings with it the problem of subsidence. By law, when coal is taken out from an underground mine it is to be filled in with sand. However, the laws were not there in earlier days and even when it was there, private mine owners had violated this for decades and left behind big gaps beneath the surface. At places, the surface is subsiding and creating havoc in the area.

In 1952, 12 people were killed in a roof collapse in Dhemo Main colliery. In 1954, 63 people were killed in Newton Chikli, near Ranigunj, as a result of inundation. In 1956, 28 people were killed in Baro Dhemo colliery because of inundation. In 1958, 175 people were killed at Chinakuri because of explosion of fire damp. In 1994, 55 people were killed in New Kenda, near Jamuria, as a result of fire/suffocation by gases.

The Baro Dhemo colliery accident, where a large number of people were rescued the mine was inundated with water, provided the inspiration for a theatrical production in Bengali, ''Angar'' (1959), directed by Utpal Dutta. The lighting effects by Tapash Sen, which recreated the flooding of a mine on the stage at Kolkata, were notable.

The Head Quarters of the Eastern Coalfields Limited (a subsidiary of Coal India Limited) is situated at Sanctoria which is just 20 kilometres from Asansol.

Administration

Bardhaman became a major administrative centre for the Muslim rulers and the subdivision was a part of the Muslim kingdoms in the region. It later became a part of the Bardhaman Raj functioning under the Mughals. When Mir Kassem, then Nawab of Sube Bangala, ceded Bardhaman along with Medinipur and Chittagong to East India Company in 1760 (three years after the Battle of Plassey), it was the beginning of an eventful chapter for the region. Till that time the area was a wilderness of forest and jungle, dotted at long intervals with tiny settlements. The countryside was ravaged and plundered by outlaws.

Administrative changes started taking place with the advent of the British. While Badhaman Raj continued to function under British tutelage, changes were made to suit the requirements of British administration. One major change was that of parganas (administrative division) to thana (police station).

In 1837 when Bankura district was formed, the Asansol-Ranigunj area was part of Bankura district. In 1847, Ranigunj subdivision was formed with three police stations –Ranigunj, Kanksa and Neamatpur and it was made a part of Bardhaman district. In 1906 the subdivisional headquarters was shifted to Asansol and the subdivision renamed accordingly. In 1910, the police stations in Asansol subdivision were Asansol, Ranigunj, Kanksa, Faridpur and Barakar. In 2006, Asansol subdivision has the following police stations: Chittaranjan, Salanpur, Barabani, Asansol (North), Asansol (South), Ranigunj, Jamuria, Hirapur and Kulti. In 1968, Durgapur subdivision was carved out of Asansol subdivision.

Additional Superintendent of Police is in overall charge of Police administration of Asansol being assisted by Dy. S.P (Hqrs), Dy.S.P (SR) and Dy.S.P, DEB Asansol. Asansol Police Lines which is located at the heart of the city is the head quarters of Asansol Police though the Police Office is located at Evelyn Lodge. Armed Police Inspector (API) Asansol is in charge of District Armed Police who are deployed at Asansol. Reserve Office looks after disposition, leave, transfer/promotional matters of police personnel. Apart from that District Intelligence Officer-II is entrusted with intelligence related matters.

Recently, the State Government of West Bengal is working on developing a Police Commissionerate in Asansol including 15 Police Stations of both Asansol and Durgapur Subdivisions. This will have 3 working divisions: West, Central and East, headed by a DCP each. Besides, there will be four more DCPs as DC (Traffic), DC (DD), DC (Hq) and DC (IB). The structure of the commissionerate is on the lines of Delhi Police, sources said. An official of IG rank will be posted in the commissionerate as the commissioner and the commissionerate will be an independent organisation which will report to the Director General of Police.

Asansol subdivisional police has done pioneering work by introducing registered organisations like Disha Janakalyan Kendra, Lachhipur and Faiz-e-Aam Committee, Railpar, and Udichi Co-operative, and Gunjan Ecological Park, Nigha. Shri Soumen Mitra IPS, the then Addl.s.p, Asansol introduced this concept.

Asansol is a corporation administered by the Asansol Municipal Corporation. In 1850, a union committee was formed to look after the civic needs of Asansol. The municipality was approved in 1885 but started functioning effectively in 1896. It has been upgraded to the status of a corporation in 1996.

Shristinagar - The New Asansol

Shristinagar - The New Asansol, is an integrated green township spread over 90 acres with a total development of around . housing 5,000 families approximately. It comprises of premium residential apartments, group housing structures, plotted housing units, bungalows and row houses, commercial & retail area, IT Park and resort cum club, with infrastructure which will enable comfortable and luxurious living. The Master Planning of the township has been done by Sembcorp Architects of Singapore and other renowned architects such as SAA Architects of Singapore, Edifice and OS2 Architects are doing the detailing.

The residents of the township will enjoy an atmosphere of serenity with sublime landscaping and modern amenities, which satiate the standards of modern lifestyle living. The project will have tree-lined pathways, modern jogging tracks, decorated divider, modern street lights, substantial power back-up, cable connection, broadband internet, wireless telephone lines, round the clock security system, sewerage treatment plant, water treatment plant, gas bank etc. and other facilities which will make it an attractive destination.

The project, located along the erstwhile Kanyapur Link Road( now Vivekananda Sarani) would also ensure superb connectivity for its residents to the rest of the city.

Transport

The Grand Trunk Road (NH 2) runs across the subdivision. The highway has been broadened as part of the Golden Quadrilateral project and now allows two lane traffic each way. A bypass enables highway traffic to avoid the congested areas of Asansol, Neamatpur, Kulti and Barakar. Asansol is connected to Kolkata by road with daily Volvo buses as well as non-ac government buses run by the South Bengal State Transport Corporation which ply at half-an-hour interval duration and this 224 km distance is taking 4 to 4.5 hours approximately. The South Bengal State Transport Corporation also plies buses in various other routes such as Malda, Siliguri, Midnapur, Bankura, Burdwan, Kalna,Habra,Barackpore,Digha,Berhampore etc. Also there are many Private Operators which ply express and Super Fast as well as Deluxe Buses to various other towns of the State as well as Outside the State to places such as Dhanbad , Bokaro Steel City , Jamshedpur , Ranchi , Giridih , Hazaribag etc. Government Bus Service operators also includes the North Bengal State Transport Corporation which plies buses to towns of North Bengal such as Malda , Raiganj , Siliguri , Coochbihar etc. NH-60 connects Asansol with Orissa via. Raniganj- Mejia-Gangajalghati-Bankura-Bishnupur-Salboni-Kharagpur-Belda-Dantan-Jaleswar.

The railway track from Kolkata to Delhi passes through the subdivision and bifurcates into the main line and the grand chord line, at Sitarampur railway junction, a little to the west of Asansol. Another railway track links Asansol with Adra and then to Jamshedpur via Purulia and Kharagpur via Bankura. A branch line connects Andal with Sainthia on the Sahibgunj loop. Almost all of the trains linking Kolkata with north India connect Asansol with Kolkata as well as with north India. The Howrah – Indore Shipra Express and the Howrah-Gwalior-Agra Cant. Chambal Express are the trains that connects the city to Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jhansi and other central Indian cities. Other trains like Asansol-Mumbai express, Asansol-Ahmedabad Express, connects Asansol with couple of other major cities of India. Asansol-Tata Express, Asansol-Gorakhpur Express and Asansol-Gonda Express are the three new trains introduced in 2011 Rail Budget.

An aerodrome is located at Burnpur in Asansol. The state government has asked the Airports Authority of India to assess the possibility of setting up an airport at nigha in Asansol. Another airport will be constructed at Andal, (27 km from Asansol) within the next few years.

For movement within the city, there are various options available. One can easily find a Mini-bus or a Local town service bus from Asansol Railway Station via the City Bus Stand to various parts of the town. Auto-Rickshaws are also easily available. Nowadays there is an easy availability of the CNG auto-rickshaw services in Asansol which is the first of its kind in Eastern India.

Media

Bengali language newspapers like Anandabazar Patrika, Bartaman, Sangbad Pratidin, Aajkaal, and Ganashakti are widely circulated in Asansol. Popular English language newspapers available in Asansol include ''The Times of India'', ''Hindustan Times'', ''The Indian Express'', ''The Statesman'', ''The Telegraph'' and ''Asian Age'', the most popular ones being ''The Times of India'' and ''The Telegraph''. Some major periodicals are ''Desh'', ''Sananda'', ''Unish Kuri'', ''Anandalok'' and ''Anandamela''.

In addition to All India Radio, Asansol also has two private FM radio stations: Big FM 92.7 and Red FM 93.5.

Asansol receives almost all the television channels that are received by the rest of the country. Apart from the state-owned terrestrial network Doordarshan, cable television also serves most of the homes in and around the city . Local news broadcasts, sporting events, and concerts are broadcasted live or delayed via cable to many households. DTH services both by Government and private companies are also available like Tata Sky, Dish TV, Digital TV – Airtel, Digital TV – Reliance.

The city is serviced by cell phone companies such as Vodafone, Airtel, Aircel, BSNL, Reliance Communications, Tata Indicom, MTS and Virgin Mobile. Recently Idea, Uninor and Tata Docomo have also started providing cellular services in the city . Cellular coverage is extensive with both GSM and CDMA services being available. The major number of subscribers of mobile service are that of BSNL and Smart – Reliance GSM Service. With the improved service of quality Airtel, Vodafone, Aircel and Idea also have a huge market and is being used by many people. The newly introduced BSNL 3G mobile services are also available in Asansol.

Internet is available in the city and adjoining areas and served through broadband services. The DataOne broadband services are provided mainly by BSNL. Besides the broadband services provided by BSNL, some people also use internet services by dial-up connections provided by BSNL and also by the private operators such as Airtel, Reliance, Tata Indicom, Idea, MTS and other private mobile operators providing mobile services in the city.

Demographics of Asansol Municipal Area (Census 2001)

Total Population: 4,86,304.

Male: 2,56,551

Female: 2,29,753

Sex Ratio: 896

Population Density: 3803/sq. km.

Literacy Rate: 81.10%

Male Literacy Rate: 87.43%

Female Literacy Rate: 73.96%

Child Sex Ratio (0-6): 933

Child Population: 10.51%

Language

Although Asansol is predominantly a Bengali speaking city today, Asansol has mixed population of Bengali, Hindi and Urdu speaking people, English is the language of business communication and once widely spoken. After the railway works came, there was a substantial British and Anglo-Indian population. English medium schools started to impart education in English from as early as 1877. The first Christian Brother School in India St. Patrick's School was started in 1891. The students from this and other English medium schools provided the elite work force that was needed to operate the British Indian Railways, the British Indian Army,the Indian Civil Services and the coal mines.

Post independence, most of the Anglo-Indian community migrated to Canada and Australia. The community living in Asansol now is multicultural as there are a large number of Biharis,Punjabis, Marwaris, Gujaratis, Muslims and other non Bengalis.There is no Indian festival that is not celebrated in Asansol and the people of all communities take part in them with equal fervour.

Culture

People from various parts of India have added to the diverse cultures and traditions at all levels. Both Burnpur United Club and Burnpur Cricket Club flourished. There were clubs such as Barret Club and Kulti Sammelani, which prospered. Golf was played at Kulti and Yachting was popular at Maithon. In 1951, Asansol Rifle Club was set up at Chandmari. The two cultural hubs are Rabindra Bhavan in Asansol and Bharati Bhawan at Burnpur. Another cultural center of Asansol City is Sarat Mancha, located at Asansol Police Lines.

Notable bands are Muzik Street and Desh.

Education

Asansol is an educational hub, acting as the educational centre for the coal belt from Dhanbad to Ranigunj. Some of the schools are Asansol Ramakrishna Mission, Dhadka NCL Vidyamandir, Asansol Arunoday High School, Domohani Kelejora High School, Umarani Gorai Mahilakalyan, Manimala Girls, Eastern Railways High School, St. Joseph's High School, St. Mary Goretti Girls' High School, Dyanand Anglo Vedic Higher Secondary School, St. Patrick's Higher Secondary School, St. Vincent's High and Technical School, Dayanand Anglo Vedic High School, Loreto Convent, Assembly of God Church School, Chelidanga High School,Kendriya Vidyalaya, Asansol Subhaspalli Bidyaniketan and Burnpur Riverside School, Asansol Collegiate School, Mahisila Govt.Colony High School, Rahmania high secondary school ,Haji-Qadam-Rasul-High-School, India International School and Jaharmal Jalan Institution, Belrui Nikunjamoyee Gadadhar Institution (H.S). There are a few schools run by IISCo authority. Some of these are Burnpur Boys' High School ,Burnpur Girls' School, Burnpur Riverside School, and Chhotodighari Vidyapith. An upcoming nonprofit online directory called the Asansol Schools Network will enable those with connections to Asansol to find each other – http://asansolschools.org/. There are three general degree colleges viz. Bidhan Chandra College, Banwarilal Bhalotia College, Asansol Girls' College. There is an engineering college (Asansol Engineering College), one pharmacy college (Gupta College of Technological Sciences), two polytechnics and one Homoeopathy Medical College. To cater to these educational instituitions there are a lot of book shops in the region, some of them are Student's Stores (ESTB 1932), Roy Book Stall, some book stalls in Raha Lane, Asansol-1, Anand Book Stall, etc.

Developments

Development in Asansol is carried out by Asansol Durgapur Development Authority. ADDA promotes industrial estates, housing schemes, urban infrastructure development for industrialisation of this region, to provide solutions to industries and entrepreneurs. Its projects include roads, bridges, drainage, transport, water supply, irrigation. It develops schools, colleges and amusement parks.

Recent developments

Sugam Park is one of the biggest projects of Asansol, spread over an area of 30 acres. It will have more than 1100 flats in 27 apartment buildings (G+7) with modern features. In addition, plots inside the complex will also be available for bungalows – for those who like a separate space of their own. The site is at Kalyanpur Satellite Township Project (KSTP), the planned zone of Asansol, and it will itself be an urban zone with all the facilities that the residents will require. Total project cost is around 170 Crores.

Galaxy Mall

Srijan Developers along with Avani Group has built a shopping mall at Burnpur Road opposite Chitra Cinema in the heart of the city. The main brands are Big Bazaar, Eylex Multiplex (three screens; capacity 750 seats), Reebok, Turtle, Himalaya Opticals, Passport, Archies, Moustache, Success, Chique, Hoffman, Touristers, Spacs, John Players, Cantabil, Gini & Jony, Bata Shoes, Titas, Pepe Jeans, Titan, Woodlands, Thomas Scott, Levis, Pantaloon, Sriniketan, City Style, City Mart, BlackBerry, Nokia etc. The total area of Galaxy is three lakh square feet having six levels including basement, lower ground, ground, and the total investment in developing the property is close to Rs.80 crore. The Big Bazaar store opened on 8 December 2010.

Asansol Centrum – Developed by Shristi Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd and ADDA, Asansol Centrum is a 6.5 lakh sq ft retail destination proposed to come up in the Shristinagar township. The mall is bringing Big Bazaar as its major anchor covering almost space spread over G+2 floors. The mall has signed up Lifestyle Max and Westside Fashion Yatra as mini anchors. The mall has already signed up brands like Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Bata, Nokia, Hoffmen, Moustache, Jockey, Prapti P.C. Chandra, Gini & Jony, Zodiac, Heritage, VIP, Samsonite, Kanpur Leather House, Planet M, The Mobile Store, Titan, Turtle, Success, Linc Pen, Thomas scott, The Loot, GKB, Giani's and Pantaloon Factory Outlet, among others.As the entertainment anchor, INOX Leisure Pvt Ltd will operate the multiplex at Asansol Centrum. Spread over including the chargeable area, the multiplex will have four screens and 1000 seats.The mall will also have a sprawling area for food and catering services.

Shristinagar – Shristinagar, better known as New Asansol, is a green township spread over with a development of around housing 5000 families. It comprises premium residential apartments (Poorvi, Triveni and Taraang), group housing structures, plotted housing units, bungalows and row houses, commercial and retail area, IT park, resort cum club with infrastructure. The central business district will be at the heart of Shristinagar spread over encompassing activity centres like shopping mall with multiplex, IT park with an hotel, an amusement park along with a lifestyle club. Asansol Centrum will be the largest mall in West Bengal outside Kolkata consisting of a multiplex. Its website http://www.bengalshristi.com provides detailed information on Shristinagar.

Medica Synergie Hospital – Medica Synergie will be opening its new multi-speciality hospital on NH-2 by-pass. Coal India Limited (CIL) has planned also to develop a Medical Hospital in Asansol under Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL).

B.P Poddar Hospital – B.P Poddar Hospitals of Kolkata is planning to open a new hospital in Asansol.

Reliance Retail – Reliance Retail has been allotted of land at KSTP, Asansol for developing Reliance Town Centre.

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) – Reliance Industries Limited has been allotted (77.72 + 22.28) acres of land at Mouza Ganrui, JL No. 12, Asansol on NH-II, for setting up Reliance Distribution Centre.

Blue Chip Projects Pvt. Ltd. has been allotted 103.0 Katha of land on Sen-reliegh Road in KSTP, Asansol for developing a 3 star hotel suite. The work is in progress.

Blue Light Beverages Pvt. Ltd. has been allotted 98 Katha 10 Chhatak of land on NH-II, By-pass, near Jubilee Crossing for one shopping mall.

Steel Plant – In Salanpur, Bhushan Steel Ltd will invest Rs 8000-crore to construct an integrated steel plant which will have a private township for its employees.

CBM project in the area of Asansol – Great Eastern Energy Corporation Limited has started the exploration, production and marketing of coal Bed Methane (CBM) in the Burnpur riverside area. The company has successfully started supplying CBM gas to industry and opened a CNG refuelling station in association with IOCL in Asansol and Durgapur subdivisions.

GENEXX EXOTICA – Paharpur Pragnya Realty Pvt. Ltd. through a wholly owned subsidiary is coming up with another mini-township consisting of 749 apartments on 9.26 acres of land at Kumarpur by G.T. Road. GENEXX EXOTICA is located in a premium residential area on G.T. Road close to education institutions, markets, Railway Station, Bus terminus, etc.

Nearby places

Churulia – where the poet – Kazi Nazrul Islam was born. He is considered the national poet of Bangladesh. The village is about 17 km from Asansol, and contains a museum with his works and a memorial.

Searsol – this village is famous for Durga Puja and Ratha Yatra, which is more than 200 years old. It about 14 km from Asansol.

Chandrachur Temple - Chandrachur Temple is a highly revered Shiva temple situated at Chandrachur on Asansol-Chittaranjan Road in Burdwan District of West Bengal. This beautiful shrine has a height of and draws a large number of devotees from far and near. According to a local myth, a farmer named Chandranath Bauri had a vision of Lord Shiva at this place. A grand fair is organized here on Chaitra Sankranti. Mahashivaratri is the main festival celebrated at this temple. Shravan Mela and Rath Yatra are the other festivals celebrated here with much pomp and show.

Ghagar Buri Chandi temple - This is a very famous and popular temple on the National Highway located near Asansol and it is approximately 3 km from Asansol Station. This place is very famous for its morning and evening 'Pujas' and attracts a large number of tourists.

Santiniketan – Visva-Bharati, founded by Rabindranath Tagore and now a central university and an institution of national importance, is located here. It is about 90 km from Asansol.

Durgapur – An industrial city 40 km to the east of Asansol and home to the Durgapur Steel Plant

Bishnupur – the terracotta temple town and home to major art and craft is about 100 km from Asansol. The Bankura horse, symbol of Indian handicrafts is produced at Panchmura, near Vishnupur. It is also the home of the Baluchari sari, initially woven with Ramayana and Mahabharata motifs but now modernised.

Kalyaneshwari temple – the temple of the Lady of Fulfilment, about 20 km from Asansol has been a place of pilgrimage, particularly for barren women, for about five centuries. It is in Maithon

Jaydev Kenduli – a village on the banks of the Ajay river, about 80 km from Asansol. It is dedicated to the Sanskrit poet Jayadeva, and on Makar Sankranti hosts a mela with Bauls (religious singers with a detached philosophy and spontaneity of their own).

Bakreshwar – hot spring and temple is about 70 km from Asansol.

Joychandi Pahar – picnic spot and centre for rock climbing training is about 30 km from Asansol.

Maithon Dam-A beautiful place some 26 km from Asansol. Maithon Dam and Maithon Hydro Electric Power Station are among the notable places to visit

Panchet Dam – 20 km

Gunjan Echological ParkNingha – A social welfare project of Asansol Police located on G.T. Road at Nigha under Jamuria P.S. It was earlier an abandoned O.C.P. of Eastern Coalfields Limited and was a den of criminals and illegally-mined-coal racketeers. Somen Mitra, IPS, the then Addl S P of Asansol took the initiative to get that area under control of the Asansol police. Nearly of land with waterbody is now an attraction for the citizens of Asansol, with a mini-zoo and a children's park. During winter, the lake supports hundreds of migratory birds. An anglers' club also exists at the Ecological Park. Asansol police is in a process to develop the area in association with ECL, SAIL-ISP and ADDA.

Asansol in News

29th August,2011 Fortis Healthcare to open four new hospitals by 2013 http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-08-29/news/29941364_1_fortis-healthcare-new-hospitals-bed-strength

26th August,2011 CID probing ATM robbery in Asansol http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-26/kolkata/29930796_1_atm-robbery-cid-sbi-atm

23rd August,2011 ATM money lootedfrom ATM, shoot security guards http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-23/kolkata/29918589_1_sbi-atm-security-guards-india-atm

22nd August,2011 Lakhs of fake ration card in Asansol http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-22/kolkata/29914615_1_ration-cards-fake-ration-food-department-officials

19th August,2011 Asansol Sentrum to be operational in Shristinagar in September 2011 http://www.indiaretailing.com/news.aspx?topic=1&Id;=6097

18th August.2011 Protest march supporting Social Activist Anna Hazare http://www.demotix.com/news/795361/protest-march-supporting-social-activist-anna-hazare

10th August,2011 Airtel 3G now in Asansol http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/Airtel-3G-now-in-Asansol-Burdawan-Chittaranjan-Raniganj-and-Kulti/5219066930

2nd August,2011 Bengal government's Asansol airport plan likely to hit BAPL's Andal project http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/bengal-governments-asansol-airport-plan-likely-to-hit-bapls-andal-project/444525/

2nd August,2011 Pollution in Big Cities http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=73681

30th July,2011 CM seeks smaller districts for effective administration http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-30/kolkata/29833102_1_separate-district-murshidabad-midnapore-west

29th July,2011: On radar: 5 airports http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110729/jsp/bengal/story_14304680.jsp

26th July,2011: Bengal to set up IT hubs in Durgapur, Asansol, Siliguri, Haldia http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/article2295842.ece

20th July,2011: Work on Asansol-Durgapur commissionerate begins http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Work-on-Asansol-Durgapur--commissionerate-begins/819869/

17th July,2011: Four medical colleges from Coal India soon http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/four-medical-collegescoal-india-soon/442949/

13th July,2011: Burnpur delay ire http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110714/jsp/business/story_14237898.jsp

11th July,2011: In industrial Asansol, mafias call the shots http://www.indianexpress.com/news/in-industrial-asansol-mafias-call-the-shots/815765/

10th July,2011: CISF DG to visit Asansol over illegal mining http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-10/kolkata/29757914_1_illegal-mining-nimcha-eastern-coalfields-limited

8th July,2011: Asansol looks for its lost soul http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-08/kolkata/29751589_1_asansol-durgapur-world-class-infrastructure-hotel-management

7th July,2011: CPM leader shot in Asansol http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-07/kolkata/29747148_1_cpm-leader-shot-asansol-south-hirapur

21st June,2011: Wall collapse traps 3, mob goes berserk http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Wall-collapse-traps-3-mob-goes-berserk/articleshow/8931477.cms

20th June,2011: Subsidence disrupts train services in Asansol http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Subsidence-disrupts-train-services-in-Asansol/articleshow/8918618.cms

10th June,2011: Coal mafia leader arrested from Asansol http://www.indianexpress.com/news/coal-mafia-leader-arrested-from-asansol/801681/

4th June,2011: Asansol killings: Cops detain 8 http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/asansol-killings-cops-detain-8/799315/

2nd June,2011: Mafia slayings in Asansol, Bike gang guns down three http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110603/jsp/frontpage/story_14065594.jsp

References

''History of The Indian Iron and Steel Co. Ltd.'' by Dr. N.R.Srinivasan

''Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti'' (History and Folk-lore of Bardhaman District) in Bengali by Akkari Chattopadhyay

Images

Notes

External links

Official site of Bardhaman District

Category:Cities and towns in Bardhaman district Category:Coal mining in India Category:Asansol railway division Category:Divisions of Indian Railways Category:Eastern Railway (India) Zone Category:Asansol

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name	Rajiv Dixit(राजीव दीक्षित )
birth date	November 30, 1967
birth place	Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
death date	November 30, 2010
death place	Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India
nationality	Indian
spouse	Bachelor
office	Azadi Bachao Andolan and Rashtriya Sachiv of Bharat Swabhiman Andolan
education	Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical, Masters and Doctorate
profession	Social Activist
religion	Hindu
website	http://www.rajivdixit.com/ }}

Rajiv Dixit Hindi:राजीव दीक्षित was an Indian orator. He started social movements in order to spread awareness on topics of Indian national interest through the Swadeshi Movement, Azadi Bachao Andolan, and various other works. He served as the National Secretary of Bharat Swabhiman Andolan he is the founder of bharat swabhimaan andolan ] He was a strong believer and preacher of Bharatiyata. He had also worked for spreading awareness about Indian history, issues in the Indian constitution and Indian economic policies.

Life

Rajiv Dixit was born on 30 November 1967 in Naah village, Atrauli tehsil of Aligarh district, Uttar Pradesh . Under the tutelage of his father RadheShyam Dixit he was educated till the 12th grade in the village schooling system in Firozabad district. In 1994, he moved to Allahabad (Prayaag) for higher studies. He pursued his M.Tech degree in Satellite Telecommunications from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and pursued his doctorate in telecommunications in France. Subsequently, he worked at CSIR as a scientist. But his passion for his motherland made him give up a paid-position for the sake of Indian culture and Swadeshi movement, serving the cause of "Rashtra Dharma". His audio cassettes on Indian Nationalism and greatness of India's past did well in 1999. He had been recording them over months traveling across India spreading his message of great optimism about India and its enormous contributions to the human civilization. He was a ''Brahmachari'' and never married. He was influenced by the ideologies of Indian revolutionaries like Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh and Udham Singh. Later in life, he began to appreciate the early works of Mahatma Gandhi. His life was dedicated to not just ideas with high ideals, but also causes like stopping alcohol and "gutka" production, cow-butchering and social injustices. On the 9th of January 2009, he became one of the founders of "Bharat Swabhiman" movement. On 30 November 2010, while in Bhilai in Chattisgarh he died of a heart attack. In his memory, the under-construction Bharat Swabhiman building in Haridwar has been named "Rajiv Bhawan". He refused to take any modern medicine on his death bed, insisting instead on Ayurvedic medicine.

Work

Rajiv Dixit suggested that the Indian supreme court should declare money held by Indians in Swiss banks as national property so that foreign banks would have to legally hand over this money to India.

Initiated and supported movements

Dixit supported the movement of opening a chain of Swadeshi General Stores, where only Indian-made goods are sold.

He believed in swadeshi. He initiated movements like the Swadeshi Movement and Azadi Bachao Andolan and became their spokeperson. He addressed a rally of over 50,000 people under the leadership of Swadeshi Jagaran Manch in New Delhi. He also took leadership of the programme held at Calcutta which was supported and promoted by various organizations and prominent personalities and was celebrated all over India on the eve of the 150th Anniversary of the 1857 war of Indian independence.

He demanded decentralization of taxation system, saying that the current system is the core reason for the corruption in bureaucracy. He claimed that 80% of taxes is being used to pay the politicians and bureaucrats and just 20% for development purposes for the people. He compared the current budget system of the Indian government to the earlier British budget system in India, presenting statistics to show that they are the same. Recently he was working with swami Ramdev in Bharat Swabhiman Trust as national secretary.

He also doubted the terrorist attack on the United States Twin Towers, claiming that it was stage managed by U.S. Government itself, and supported the claims of the Lone Lantern Society of the U.S.

He also claimed that "liberalization, privatization and globalization, the three evil faces staring at us today, have pushed us towards a suicidal state."

He argued that modern thinkers have neglected agricultural sectors and farmers have been left to feed themselves and commit suicide. Expressing his views on the Indian judiciary and legal system, he said that India is still following the laws and acts enacted during the British era and had not taken the burden of changing them as per the requirement of Indian people.

Sudden death

Rajiv was in Bhilai to deliver lecture as a part of his Bharat Swabhiman Yatra, where he died on 30th November 2010. His death was unexpected. The cause of death is still unknown, though it was initially believed that he died of a cardiac arrest.

Silence of media

The mainstream & regional media did report his death but in a casual manner.

References

i think government has murdered rajiv dixit because he was a true indian.

External links

Media silent on the death of Rajiv Dixit

Rajiv Dixit and his Articles (New Website)

Rajiv Dixit and his Articles

mp3-of-rajiv-dixit-lectures

Complete Mp3 Lectures on History of Ancient & Modern India

Swabhiman Yatra Videos

Category:2010 deaths Category:Indian people Category:1967 births

hi: राजीव दीक्षित