Howrah
—  city  —
Howrah Bridge
Howrah
Coordinates: 22°35′N 88°19′E / 22.59°N 88.31°E / 22.59; 88.31Coordinates: 22°35′N 88°19′E / 22.59°N 88.31°E / 22.59; 88.31
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Howrah district
Government
• Mayor	Mamta Jaiswal
Area
• Total	1,467 km2 (566 sq mi)
Elevation	12 m (39 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
• Total	4,841,638
• Density	3,300/km2 (9,000/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	711
Telephone code	91 (33)
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 (Bengali: হাওড়া) is an industrial city, a municipal corporation in the Howrah district, West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the district, and also the headquarters of Howrah Sadar subdivision of the district. Located on the west bank of the Hoogli River, it is a twin city of Kolkata. Howrah is the second small district after Kolkata. The two cities are connected by the four bridges on river Ganges, named Howrah Bridge (also known as Rabindra Setu), the Vidyasagar Setu (also known as the second Hooghly Bridge), the Vivekananda Setu (also known as Bally Bridge), the Nivedita Setu (also known as Second Vivekananda Setu and ferry services between various jetties in the two cities.

Howrah Station serves as a terminal for two railway zones of India: the Eastern Railway and the South Eastern Railway. There are six other railway stations with the city, including the railway junction at Santragachhi and the terminal at Shalimar Station—all the six are part of the South Eastern Railway network. Two national highways—NH 2 and NH 6—are connected to Vidyasagar Setu via Kona Expressway. One endpoint of the Grand Trunk Road is at the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden^[2] here, where the Great Banyan tree stands. Bengal Engineering & Science University, over 150 years old, is the prestigious engineering university located in the city.

Etymology[link]

The name came from the word Haor—Bengali word for a wetland, which is typically a depression where water and mud accumulates. The word itself was rather used in eastern part of Bengal (now Bangladesh), as compared to the western part (now West Bengal).^[3]

History[link]

History of Howrah City dates back to 500 years. But, the district has thousands of years of rich heritage in the form of the great Bengali kingdom of Bhurshut. Venetian explorer Ceasare de Federici, who travelled India during 1565–79, mentioned a place called Buttor in his journal circa 1578.^[4] As per his description, this was the place up to which large ships could travel (in the Hoogli River) and so, it was the dock for loading and unloading goods for those ships.^[4] This place is identifiable with the modern day neighbourhood Bator of Howrah.^[4] Bator was also mentioned in the Bengali poetry Manasamangal written by Bipradas Pipilai in 1495.^[5]

In 1713, the Bengal Council of British East India Company, on the accession of the Emperor Farrukhsiyar, grand son 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.^[6] 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.^[7] The deputation was successful except for these five villages.^[7] By 1728, most of the present day Howrah district was part of either of the two zamindaris: Burdwan or Muhammand Aminpur.^[7] 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.^[8] In 1787, the Hooghly district was formed, and till 1819, the whole of the present day Howrah district was added to it.^[9] The Howrah district was separated from the Hooghly district in 1843.^[10]

With the establishment of the Howrah Railway Terminus in 1854 started the most important phase of its industrial development. Flour mills were established in 1855, followed by Jute mills and around 1870s, there were five mills near Howrah station.^[11] The Howrah–Shalimar Railway Section and the Shalimar Terminus were constructed in 1883.

By 1914 almost every major city in India was served by the Railways and the increased demand for its rolling stocks and repair works resulted in the establishment of railway workshop in Howrah. The light engineering industry grew up after 1914.^[12] This industrial boom continued throughout the second world war and brought with it rapid urbanisation phase in unplanned manner creating slums near the industrial establishments.

Today, Howrah is famous for Howrah Station and Howrah Bridge.

Geography[link]

Howrah is located at 22°35′N 88°19′E / 22.59°N 88.31°E / 22.59; 88.31.^[13] It has an average elevation of 12 metres (39 feet).

Climate[link]

Demographics[link]

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[14] Howrah had a population of 1,008,704. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Howrah has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 73%. In Howrah, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

As of 1896 census of British India, Howrah had a population of 84,069, which grew up to 157,594 in 1901 census.^[15] 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%.^[15]

Industry[link]

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.^[16] In 1823, Bishop Reginald Heber described Howrah as the place "chiefly inhabited by shipbuilders".^[17] 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.^[18]

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, Howrah is known today as a engineering hub, mainly in the area of light engineering industry. There are small engineering firms all over Howrah, particularly around Belilios Road area near Howrah station.^[19]

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 labor force from the rest of the state's rural areas and neighboring 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[link]

Howrah Municipality was established in 1862.^[20] From 1896, it started supplying filter water across the city.^[21] During 1882-83, Bally Municipality was formed separating it out from Howrah.^[15] As per the Howrah Municipal Corporation Act of 1980, Howrah became a municipal corporation,^[22] in 1984.^[23] The corporation area is divided into fifty wards, each of which elects a councillor.^[23] The Mayor-in-council, which is led by Mayor and supported by Commissioner and officers, is responsible for administration of the corporation area.^[23] Currently,the CPI(M)-led Left Front is controlling the municipal board. The Howrah Police Commissionerate is responsible for law enforcement in the city.

Transport[link]

Howrah Bridge linking Howrah and Kolkata

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. This station is now part of two zones of Indian Railway: the Eastern Railway and the South Eastern Railway and it is connected to most of the major cities of India. It is also part of the Kolkata Suburban Railway and suburban trains 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.^[24] The first station after Howrah terminus that serves the Eastern Railway is Liluah, which is located in the municipal area of Bally.^[24] 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).

Hooghli River flows between the twin cities of Howrah and Kolkata. Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu), a cantilever bridge with one endpoint next to Howrah station, and Vidyasagar Setu, a cable-stayed bridge with one endpoint near Shalimar station, connect the two cities. Both the bridges are counted among the longest ones in the world within their types.^[25] Also, between various jetties in Howrah and Kolkata, there are ferry services available, which was introduced in 1970s.^[24] The jetties on Howrah side are at Howrah Station, Ramkrishnapur, Shibpur, Shalimar and Nazirganj.

Total road length in Howrah is approximately 300 km.^[26] One of the most important road is the Grand Trunk Road which starts from Indian Botanical Gardens in Howrah. This road was built by the Public Works Department of the British administration.^[27] Work started on it in 1804 to add this connector to the main branch of the road near Chandannagar.^[27] Operational from 1990s, the roads connecting to Vidyasagar Setu from various locations have added up to the roadspace of Howrah. The most important one is 8 km long Kona Expressway, which was built by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA).^[28] This road serves as a connector of Kolkata (via Vidyasagar Setu) to National Highway 2 (India) (NH 2) and hence is part of Golden Quadrilateral project.^[29] At Nibra town of the Howrah district, Kona Expressway joins with National Highway 6 (India) (NH 6) as well.^[28] Along with Diamond Harbour Road, this erstwhile State Highway forms the 133 km long National Highway 117 (India) (NH 117), connecting NH 6 to the coastal town of Bakkhali.^[30] The Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways accorded National Highway status to these two roads, which formed NH-117 together. However, due to land acquisition issues, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has declared their plan to return these two roads to state government, also pointing out to the heavy traffic on Diamond Harbour Road and to the existence of multitude of underground utilities there.^[31]

Neighbourhoods and places of interest[link]

The Great Banyan Tree

Sunset at Gadiara

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 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 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 every year on the last day of worship.

Located near Santragachi Railway Station, the Santragachhi Jheel is a large lake that attracts migratory birds during winter. Lesser Whistling Duck is the most dominant species visible here.^[32] Forest Ministry of the State Government of West Bengal intends to convert the lake to a 'wildlife conservation centre'.^[33]

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, Belur, West Bengal, India and is one of the significant institutions in Calcutta.

Gadiara is a village in Howrah District. This place is the point of convergence of the Damodar, the Rupnarayan and the Hoogli rivers.Gadiara is a popular picnic and daytrip spot for locals and tourists alike.

Avani Riverside Mall is the best example of Howrah’s changing skyline. Visible from across the river Hooghly, it is now the only destination for all who are looking to experience the joy of shopping, eating out and entertainment in Howrah.

Spread over a massive 600,000 square feet area, Avani Riverside also hosts multiplex, PVR Cinemas has four Screens with 1186 seats and provides an exceptional digital movie experience to the cine-goers of the city.

Education[link]

Howrah's schools are either run by 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, the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU) (established in 1856) is the second oldest engineering institution in India. It is a prestigious university in West Bengal. The university was ranked 10th among all engineering institutes in India by the magazine "India Today" in 2005. BESU is set to upgrade to be India's first Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology(IIEST).

Bijoy Krishna Girls’ College or Howrah Girl's College and Narasinha Dutt College are the important educational institutes for men and women. MCKV Institute of Engineering, Seacom Engineering College etc. are private engineering colleges affiliated to the West Bengal University of Technology.

'HOwrah Vivekananda Institution'is only a notable higher secondary school. The St. Thomas' Church School, Howrah is one of the oldest schools in the city.

Notable residents[link]

• Mahesh Chandra Nyayratna Bhattacharyya - Scholar
• Narayan Debnath comic writer
• Mani Shankar Mukherjee - writer
• Suniti Kumar Chatterji - educationalist
• Tulsi Chakrabarti - Actor
• Kanan Devi - Actress
• Sisir Bhaduri - Actor
• Rudranil Ghosh - Actor
• Purnendu Patri - Film-maker
• Mahendralal Sarkar - Doctor
• Sudip Chatterjee - footballer
• Pulokendra Prasad Biswas - footballer
• Alokendra Prasad Biswas - footballer
• Manoj Tiwary - cricketer
• Shyama Shaw - cricketer
• Shreevats Goswami - cricketer
• Laxmi Ratan Shukla - cricketer
• Sourasish Lahiri - cricketer
• Subrata Mondal - writer
• Kamal Basu,(of old 366, GT Road) - social activist,congress worker,government school teacher
• Krishna Basu,(of galpo holeo satty,atithi,sadhak kamalakanta,mahateertha kalighat) - actress
• Sanghamitra Bandyopadhyay - Recipient of the Santi Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Excellence in Science, 2010.
• Sarbajit Dhar - Interior designer and wild life Photographer
• Ram Ratan Chowdhary-Prominent Industrialist.

Citations[link]

References[link]

• Donald Frederick Lach (1977). Asia in the Making of Europe. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-46731-7. http://books.google.com/?id=wz23Oeg4ZdIC&pg=PA473&dq=betor+howrah. Retrieved 2008-12-28. 
• Samita Sen (1999). Women and Labour in Late Colonial India: The Bengal Jute Industry. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-45363-1. http://books.google.com/?id=-0KxZ0mji3QC&pg=PA23&dq=howrah+industry. Retrieved 2008-12-29. 
• Mark Holmström (1984). Industry and Inequality: The Social Anthropology of Indian Labour. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-26745-5. http://books.google.com/?id=w_Y8AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA137&dq=howrah+industry. Retrieved 2008-12-29. 
• O'Malley, L. S. S.; Chakravarti, Monmohan (1909). Bengal District Gazetteers: Howrah. Bengal Secretariat Book Depot. .

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Howrah

• History of Howrah from India Government Site
• Howrah Municipal Corporation Site
• Satellite View of Howrah
• A Complete and Useful Site for all Day to Day and other important Information in and around Howrah
• Charitable organisation working with street and slum children in Howrah (The Hope Foundation)

v t e Cities, towns and locations in Howrah District Cities and Towns Howrah Sadar subdivision Andul Ankurhati Argari Bally, Howrah Bally, Bally-Jagachha Bankra Banupur Beldubi Bhandardaha Bikihakola Bipra Noapara Chakapara Chamrail Dakshin Jhapardaha Dhuilya Domjur Eksara Gabberia Hatgachha Howrah Jagadishpur Jala Kendua Jhorhat Kalara Kantlia Kesabpur Khalia Khantora Mahiari Makardaha Manikpur Mansinhapur Nalpur Natibpur Nibra Panchla Panchpara Paniara Podara Raghudebbati Ramchandrapur Sahapur Salap Sankrail Sarenga Tentulkuli Uluberia subdivision Bagnan Balaram Pota Khalor Naupala Samta Santoshpur Uttar Pirpur Uluberia Locations other than cities and towns Belur Betor Gadiara Ghoshpara Bally Jagacha Liluah Munsirhat Ramrajatala Santragachhi Shibpur Related topics Howrah topics People from Howrah district Cities, towns and locations in other districts Bankura Bardhaman Birbhum Cooch Behar Dakshin Dinajpur Darjeeling Hooghly Jalpaiguri Malda Murshidabad Nadia North 24 Parganas Paschim Medinipur Purba Medinipur Purulia South 24 Parganas Uttar Dinajpur West Bengal portal

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Ashok Kumar
Born	Kumudlal Kunjilal Ganguly (1911-10-13)13 October 1911 Bhagalpur, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died	10 December 2001(2001-12-10) (aged 90) Mumbai, Maharastra, India
Cause of death	Heart Failure
Residence	Chembur, Mumbai, India
Other names	Sanjay Ashok Kumar
Occupation	Actor, painter
Years active	1936–1997
Spouse	Shobha Devi
Relatives	Anoop Kumar, Kishore Kumar(Brothers), Sati Devi (Sister)

Ashok Kumar ( Bengali অশোক কুমার গাঙ্গুলী, 13 October 1911 – 10 December 2001) also fondly called Dadamoni in Bengali, was an Indian film actor. Born Kumudlal Ganguly in Bhagalpur, Bengal Presidency he attained iconic status in Indian cinema. The Government of India honoured him with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and the Padma Bhushan in 1998 for his contributions to Indian cinema.

Family[link]

His father Kunjalal Ganguly was a lawyer and his mother Gouri Devi came from a wealthy Bengali Kulin Brahmin family. The "Ganguly family" was based in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. His brothers Anoop Kumar and Kishore Kumar also acted in films. The three brothers worked together in the comedies Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi and Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi. Ashok, though the eldest of the three by quite a margin, survived them both. In fact, he stopped celebrating his birthday after the youngest brother, Kishore, died on that day in 1987. His sister, Sati Devi, was married to Sashadhar Mukherjee of the Mukherjee-Samarth family.

Ashok Kumar married Shobha. They had a troubled marriage due to his wife being an alcoholic.^[1] His daughter, Preeti Ganguly acted in numerous Hindi film, during 1970s,^[2] later she started the 'Ashok Kumar's Academy of Dramatic Arts', Mumbai in 1993.^[3] His other daughter, Rupa Ganguly and son Arun Ganguly never joined films,^[4] Rupa is married to actor Deven Verma^[5]

Early career[link]

Reverently called Dadamoni (affectionate term for elder brother), he was born in Bhagalpur and educated at Presidency College of the University of Calcutta, Kolkata). He started his career in Bombay (Mumbai), albeit accidentally, with the Bombay Talkies production Jeevan Naiya in 1936. The male lead, Najam-ul-Hussain, went absconding with the heroine Devika Rani, the director's wife who returned later on. The director and studio head, Himanshu Rai, in retaliation dismissed the hero and called upon his laboratory assistant Ashok Kumar to take the part and thus began a six-decade-long acting career. However, it was his subsequent venture with Devika Rani in Achhut Kanya in the same year that set him up for the big league. The movie itself stands out as one of the heralding social dramas of pre-independence Indian film. It was the story of a Brahmin boy falling in love with a girl from the so-called untouchables in Indian society. It was a big hit and started the trend of socially committed films.

Devika Rani and Ashok Kumar in Achhut Kanya, 1936

Devika Rani and Ashok Kumar did a string of films after this including Izzat (1937), Savitri (1937) and 'Nirmala' (1938). But she was the bigger star and Ashok Kumar was definitely in her shadow. He came into his own with three films opposite Leela Chitnis: Kangan (1939), Bandhan (1940), Jhoola (1941), singing his own songs as was the custom then. He came away with several hits including most famously Main Ban ka Panchhi.

He was one of the first anti-heroes of Indian Cinema with his role in Kismet in 1943. This movie went on to create a record for the highest grossing film in India at the time of its release.

He produced several films for Bombay Talkies during the final years of the company including the famous Mahal in 1949 in which he co-starred with Madhubala. In the 1950s, he played the suave cigarette-smoking criminal or police officer in several films of what was the Indian film-noir movement. In the late 1960s he switched to character roles playing the parent, grandparent, dirty old man and suave criminal, being careful never to be typecast. He paired up 20 times with the 'queen of tragedy' Meena Kumari, in films such as Parineeta, Bahu Begum, Pakeezah, Ek Hi Raasta, Bandish and Aarti and Chitralekha (1964).

Later career and death[link]

He acted in fewer films in the 1980s and 1990s and occasionally appeared on television, most famously anchoring the first Indian soap opera Hum Log and appearing as the title character in the unforgettable Bahadur Shah Zafar. His last film role was in Aankhon Mein Tum Ho in 1997. Besides acting, he was an avid painter and a practitioner of homeopathy.^{[citation needed]} Altogether, he starred in over 275 films. He has done more than 30 Bengali dramas in Dhakuria.

Ashok Kumar died at the age of 90 in Mumbai on 10 December 2001 of heart failure at his residence in Chembur. The then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee described him as "an inspiration... for many generations of aspiring actors."^[6]

Awards and recognition[link]

• 1959 - Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
• 1962 - Filmfare Best Actor Award, Rakhi
• 1963 - Bengal Film Journalists' Association - Best Actor Award (Hindi), Gumrah^[7]
• 1966 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award, Afsana
• 1969 - Filmfare Best Actor Award, Aashirwaad
• 1969 - National Film Awards for Best Actor, Aashirwaad
• 1969 - Bengal Film Journalists' Association - Best Actor Award (Hindi), Aashirwaad^[8]
• 1988 - Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award for cinematic excellence
• 1994 - Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award
• 1995 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
• 1998 - Padma Bhushan
• 2001 - Awadh Samman by the Government of Uttar Pradesh
• 2007 - "Special Award" by Star Screen Awards^[9]

Filmography[link]

Some of his most remembered films include:

• Achhut Kanya (1936)
• Kismet (1943)
• Parineeta (1953)
• Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)
• Chitralekha (1964)
• Hatey Bazarey (1967)
• Aashirwad (1968)
• Choti Si Baat (1975)
• Mili (1975)
• Khoobsurat (1980)
• Khatta Meetha (1981)
• Mr. India (1987)
• Sangram

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ashok Kumar at the Internet Movie Database
• A Good article by Anuradha Choudhary
• Complete list of Ashok Kumar Movies (over 250)