Howrah Explained

Howrah
Settlement Type:Metropolis
Pushpin Map:India Kolkata#India West Bengal#India
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Kolkata##Location in West Bengal##Location in India
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Nickname:Sheffield of India[1] [2]
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:Division
Subdivision Type3:District
Subdivision Type4:Region
Subdivision Name1: West Bengal
Subdivision Name2:Presidency
Subdivision Name3:Howrah
Subdivision Name4:South Bengal
Government Type:Municipal Corporation
Governing Body:Howrah Municipal Corporation
Leader Party:TMC
Leader Title1:Police commissioner
Leader Name1:C Sudhakar, IPS[3]
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Footnotes:[4] [5] [6]
Area Total Km2:63.55
Area Metro Km2:450.65
Elevation M:12
Population Total:1077075
Population Metro:2811344
Population As Of:2011
Population Footnotes:[7]
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Demographics1 Info1:Bengali[8] [9]
Demographics1 Title2:Additional official
Demographics1 Info2:English
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Postal Code Type:PIN
Postal Code:711101 to 711114, 711201 to 711204 and 711302 and 711409
Area Code:+91 33
Area Code Type:Telephone code
Registration Plate:WB-11 to WB-14
Blank1 Name Sec1:Lok Sabha constituency
Blank1 Info Sec1:Howrah
Blank2 Name Sec1:Vidhan Sabha constituency
Blank2 Info Sec1:Howrah Uttar, Bally, Howrah Madhya, Howrah Dakshin, Shibpur

Howrah (in Bengali ˈɦao̯ɽa/, alternatively pronounced as Haora) is a city in the Indian state of West Bengal. Howrah is located on the western bank of the Hooghly River, opposite its twin city of Kolkata. Administratively Howrah lies within Howrah district, and is the headquarters of the Howrah Sadar subdivision. Howrah is an important industrial and transportation hub, and is also a gateway to Kolkata (and the rest of West Bengal) via Howrah railway station and Howrah Bridge.

Etymology

The name came from the word HaorBengali word for a fluvial swampy lake, which is sedimentologically a depression where water, mud and organic debris accumulate. The word itself was rather used in eastern part of Bengal (now Bangladesh), as compared to the western part (now West Bengal).

History

The history of the city of Howrah dates back over 500 years, but the district is situated in an area historically occupied by the ancient Bengali kingdom of Bhurshut. Venetian explorer Cesare Federici, who travelled in India during 1565–79, mentioned a place called Buttor in his journal circa 1578. As per his description, this was a location into which large ships could travel (presumably the Hoogli river) and perhaps a commercial port. This place is identifiable with the modern day neighbourhood of Bator. Bator was also mentioned in the Bengali poetry Manasamangal written by Bipradas Pipilai in 1495.

In 1713, the Bengal Council of the British East India Company, on the accession of the Emperor Farrukhsiyar, grandson 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. 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. The deputation was successful except for these five villages. By 1728, most of the present-day Howrah district was part of either of the two zamindaris: Burdwan or Muhammand Aminpur.

On 11 October 1760, as a result of the Battle of Plassey, the East India Company signed a treaty with Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal, to take over the control of Howrah district. In 1787 the Hooghly district was formed and in 1819 the whole of the present day Howrah district was added to it. The Howrah district was separated from the Hooghly district in 1843.

Demographics

Howrah is 2nd most populated city in West Bengal (behind Kolkata).[10] [11] Indian census, Howrah had a population of with households.[12] [13]

In the 1896 census of British India, Howrah had a population of, which grew to in the 1901 census. This rapid growth was due to abundance of job opportunities, which resulted in a 100% increase in male population during this period, whereas the female population grew only by 60%.

Howrah town population by year[14]
Year Population % increase Males Females
1896
1901 99,904 57,690
1911 13.59 114,566 64,440
1921 9.10 128,472 66,829
1931 15.14 145,120 79,753
1941 68.67 246,959 132,333
1951 14.33 268,412 165,218
1961 22.84 325,493 207,199
1971 38.52 439,457 298,420
1981 0.89 421,636 322,793
1991 27.67 528,396 422,039
2001 6.01 547,068 460,464
2011 6.90

At the time of the 2011 census, 79.48% of the population spoke Bengali, 8.52% Hindi and 9.24% Urdu as their first language.[15]

Geography

Climate

Howrah has a Tropical wet-and-dry climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). The summers here have a good deal of rainfall, while the winters have very little. The temperature averages 26.3 °C. Precipitation averages 1744 mm.[16]

Civic administration

Howrah Municipal Corporation is responsible for the administration of Howrah. The tenure of the last board of HMC had ended back on 10 December 2018. From then onwards the corporation has been run by unelected board of administrators selected by the West Bengal government.[17] The Howrah City Police is responsible for law enforcement in the city.

History

Howrah Municipality was established in 1862.[18] From 1896, it started supplying filter water across the city. During 1882–83, Bally Municipality was formed separating it out from Howrah. As per the Howrah Municipal Corporation Act of 1980, Howrah became a municipal corporation in 1984.[19] The corporation area was divided into fifty wards, each of which elects a councillor. The Mayor-in-council, which is led by Mayor and supported by Commissioner and officers, is responsible for administration of the corporation area. In 2015, the Bally Municipality was re-amalgamated into Howrah Municipal Corporation, through Corporation vide notification no. 428/MA/O/C-4/IM-36/2014 dated 26 June 2015, which increased the total number of wards to 66.[4] [20]

Other administrative offices

Howrah also hosts the temporary administrative office of the state of West Bengal. The office of the Chief Minister of state had been traditionally posted at the Writers' Building, however owing to renovation of the building, the administration has been occupying the Nabanna building.[21]

Development and growth

Even though it is one of the largest cities in the state, Howrah witnessed urbanization in an unplanned manner. As a result, Howrah is continuing to face its perennial problems like traffic congestion, population explosion and pollution.[22]

The city contains a few unlicensed and unregulated residential areas or slums. 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.[23]

However, recently, work has been done on broadening the National Highways and several local 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,[24] Kolkata West International City and relocation of the old smoky foundry plants.. The West Bengal Government has also planned a major renovation of the city to match the city's urban facilities with its neighboring city Kolkata.[25]

Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) is the statutory planning and development authority for Howrah, as the city lies within the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA).

Economy

Often termed as Sheffield of the East, Howrah is known as an engineering hub, mainly in the area of light engineering industry. In 1823, Bishop Reginald Heber described Howrah as the place "chiefly inhabited by shipbuilders". There are small engineering firms all over Howrah, particularly around Belilios Road area near Howrah station[26] However these businesses are declining in the 21st century. There are many foundries in Liluah area.

Burn Standard Company, a major company in heavy engineering industry, has its oldest manufacturing unit located in Howrah.[27] Ramkrishna Forgings one of the largest forging company in India has one of its plant located at Liluah in Howrah. 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.[28] The city houses one of the major manufacturing units of Tarsons Products.[29] The 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.

Transport

Howrah can be accessed from its many rail links, road links to National Highways, as well as its transport connections to Kolkata. Apart from the bridges connecting the cities, there are also ferry services between various jetties.

Rail

Howrah railway station (more commonly referred to as Howrah Station) is the major railway station serving Howrah, Kolkata and the neighbouring districts. It is the second busiest rail station in India, along with being the largest railway station in terms of number of platform. It was established in 1854 when a railway line was constructed connecting the city to the coalfields of Bardhaman. Howrah Station serves as a terminal for two railway zones of India: the Eastern Railway and the South Eastern Railway, and it is connected to most of the major cities of India. From Howrah both Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway operates connecting various stations of the districts of Howrah, Hooghly, Bardhaman, East Midnapore and West Midnapore. Within Howrah city itself, there are twelve more stations, the most prominents being Santragachi and Shalimar.

Metro rail

See also: Kolkata Metro Line 2. Howrah is planned to be served by the Kolkata Metro Line 2 with Salt Lake in Kolkata via a tunnel under River Hooghly. The Metro line will connect Howrah to Esplanade as well which will act as interchange where commuters can change sides to travel on the North-South line.On the Howrah side, the 2 Stations will be at Howrah Station and Howrah Maidan. As of 15th March 2024 these stations have been opened for public. The Metro currently connects Howrah Maidan Station on one side to Esplanade Station on the other. Howrah & Mahakaran stations lying in between.

Roads

The total road length in Howrah is approximately .[30] Howrah hosts a branch of the Grand Trunk Road – this was built, starting 1804, by the Public Works Department of the British administration. The road starts at the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden[31] and connects to the main road near Chandannagar. Howrah also connects the metropolitan region to the national highways – NH 16 and NH 19, which are connected to Vidyasagar Setu via the Kona Expressway.

Bridges

Howrah and Kolkata are separated by the Hooghly River/Ganges and connected by four bridges across the river. These are the:

The cantilever style Howrah Bridge and the cable-stayed Vidyasagar Setu are counted among the longest bridges in the world within their types.[32]

Other transport

There are ferry services available, between various jetties in Howrah and Kolkata, which was introduced in the 1970s.[33] The jetties on Howrah side are at Howrah Station, Ramkrishnapur, Shibpur, Shalimar, Bandhaghat, Belur Math, Bally and Nazirganj. Howrah is also served by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, located in Dumdum, Kolkata. The Airport will soon be connected to Howrah via Metro service which is presently under-construction.

Neighbourhoods

Howrah has many various neighbourhoods, the most notable being Shibpur, Santragachi, Belur, Salkia, Ramrajatala, Liluah, Howrah Maidan and Bally. Shibpur hosts the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, containing the Great Banyan tree, Avani Riverside Mall is also located here and the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur.[34] Santragachi has a large railway station as well as the Santragachhi Jheel, a large lake that attracts migratory birds during winter. Belur hosts Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Ramrajatala hosts a famous Rama Temple..

Near Howrah Station is the slum of Pilkhana which was the basis of the famous book and film "City of Joy". Liluah host some of India's oldest railway factories and is also the educational Hub of Howrah..

Education

See main article: Education in Howrah.

See also: List of high schools in Howrah.

The Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur is a public engineering and research institution. It is the fourth oldest engineering institution in India, and is an institute of national importance.[35]

Howrah's schools are either run by the 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 (WBBSE), West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE), the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Howrah Zilla School, established in 1845, is the only Governmental school in Howrah.Howrah's first vernacular Bengali medium school, established in 1857, was Santragachi Minor School. Currently the school is running as Santragachi Kedarnath Institution, Howrah.Netai Charan Chakravarty Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital and Mahesh Bhattacharya Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, homoeopathic medical colleges in Howrah.[36]

Sports

The Sailen Manna Stadium, also known as the Howrah Municipal Corporation Stadium, is a multi-use stadium that hosts sporting events for association football. Dumurjala Sports City is a multi-purpose sports complex at Dumurjala. Howrah Rifle Club is a sports shooting stadium located at Kadamtala.

Notable people

See main article: List of people from Howrah.

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Bengal (India) . West . West Bengal District Gazetteers: Calcutta and Howrah . 1972 . State editor, West Bengal District Gazetteers . 202 . en . 19 February 2021 . 10 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221010040559/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/West_Bengal_District_Gazetteers_Calcutta/z8FFAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=howrah+sheffield+w+of+india&dq=howrah+sheffield+w+of+india&printsec=frontcover . live .
  2. News: Shaw . Shri Ram . Sheffield of India dying an untimely death . 19 February 2021 . The Times of India . 20 September 2001 . en . 11 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181011172707/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Sheffield-of-India-dying-an-untimely-death/articleshow/336158732.cms . live .
  3. News: Kolkata, Howrah, Salt Lake get new police commissioners ahead of assembly polls . 1 March 2021 . Hindustan Times . 6 February 2021 . en . 8 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210208084443/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kolkata-howrah-salt-lake-get-new-police-commissioners-ahead-of-assembly-polls-101612628287021.html . live .
  4. Web site: Howrah Corporation . 3 June 2020 . 10 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210110150339/https://www.myhmc.in/about-hmc/ . live .
  5. News: HMC .
  6. News: Bally Municipality . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114655/http://www.ballymunicipality.org/1.php?page_id=2 . 2 April 2015.
  7. Web site: Bally 2011 census . 14 August 2020 . 26 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210226125913/https://www.britannica.com/place/Bally . live .
  8. Web site: 52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India . Nclm.nic.in . . 28 August 2019 . 85 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf . 25 May 2017.
  9. Web site: Fact and Figures . Wb.gov.in . 28 August 2019 . 14 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200614062657/https://wb.gov.in/404-page.aspx?aspxerrorpath=%2Fportal%2Fweb%2Fguest%2F404-page.aspx . live .
  10. Web site: Haora City Population 2024 Literacy and Hindu Muslim Population . www.census2011.co.in . 12 June 2024.
  11. Web site: Asansol City Population 2024 Literacy and Hindu Muslim Population . www.census2011.co.in . 12 June 2024.
  12. Census data of Howrah can be difficult to compare as the city is sometimes grouped together with the Kolkata and other settlements as the Kolkata metropolitan area. Further care needs to be taken to distinguish Howrah town from Howrah district. It is also worth noting that Bally Municipality was re-incorporated into Howrah in 2015
  13. Web site: Bally | India City, Shopping Hub, Tourist Spot | Britannica . https://web.archive.org/web/20190814065726/https://www.britannica.com/place/Bally . 14 August 2019 . live .
  14. Note that Howrah town census area was not stable until 1981
  15. Web site: Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: West Bengal . www.censusindia.gov.in . Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  16. Web site: Howrah climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Howrah weather averages - Climate-Data.org . 15 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181015114554/https://en.climate-data.org/location/969448/ . 15 October 2018 . live.
  17. News: Calcutta High Court orders Bengal government to immediately hold Howrah Municipal polls . 6 September 2021 . The Statesman . 29 January 2021 . en . 5 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210905215825/https://www.thestatesman.com/india/calcutta-high-court-orders-bengal-government-to-immediately-hold-howrah-municipal-polls-1502949334.html . live .
  18. Web site: Howrah Municipal Corporation . Official website of Department of Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal . 29 December 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120317203441/http://www.wbdma.gov.in/HTM/DIS/MUNI_COR_Howrah.htm . 17 March 2012.
  19. Web site: Other Municipal Corporation Acts . Official website of Department of Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal . 29 December 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090810200753/http://wbdma.gov.in/htm/MUNI_Legislation_OtherMunicipalCorporationActs.htm . 10 August 2009.
  20. News: HMC sets up 'Mayor's Cop' to monitor civic amenities . Millennium Post . Pritesh . Basu . 4 January 2016 . 26 June 2019 . 15 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210115092225/http://www.millenniumpost.in/hmc-sets-up-mayors-cop-to-monitor-civic-amenities-118977 . live .
  21. News: Kolkata's iconic Writer's Building gets ready for a facelift . The Weekend Leader . 4 October 2014 . 19 August 2019 . 19 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190819163201/http://www.theweekendleader.com/Culture/2014/london-dreams.html . live .
  22. Book: Mukherjee, Alok Kumar . Howrah, a Study in Urbanization . 1992 . Chatterjee Publishers . 9788185089089 . en . 2 June 2020 . 10 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221010040539/https://books.google.com/books?id=cGZPAAAAMAAJ . live .
  23. Web site: Review of the book 'City of Joy', authored by Dominique Lapierre . 22 September 2019 . . 5 December 1998 . 22 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190922110513/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/a-city-of-joy-an-ocean-of-human-misery-1189306.html . live .
  24. Web site: KONA TRUCK TERMINAL IN LIMBO . www.telegraphindia.com . en . 8 November 2019 . 8 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191108164748/https://www.telegraphindia.com/business/kona-truck-terminal-in-limbo/cid/938760 . live .
  25. News: Howrah to become a mega city . The Times of India . 12 July 2014 . en . 8 November 2020 . 7 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210907073316/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/howrah-to-become-a-mega-city/articleshow/38260786.cms . live .
  26. Mark Holmström, p.137
  27. Web site: Group Companies: Burn Standard Co. Ltd. . Bharat Bhari Udyog Nigam Limited . 29 December 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081225160816/http://www.bbunl.com/co_burn.html . 25 December 2008 . dmy-all.
  28. Web site: Shalimar Paints:About us – Manufacturing Facilities . 29 December 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090115152538/http://www.shalimarpaints.com/about_fac.html . 15 January 2009 . dmy-all.
  29. Web site: Tarsons Products: Diversified portfolio & strong distribution network to facilitate its growth across geographies . 2023-06-20 . Mintgenie . en.
  30. Web site: Engineering Department . Official website of the Howrah Municipality . 31 December 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081006123707/http://www.hmc.org.in/home/engineering.php . 6 October 2008 . dmy-all.
  31. Web site: ENVIS Newsletter . 20 January 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120319212040/http://www.bsienvis.nic.in/PDF/Newsletter%2015(1).pdf . 19 March 2012 . dead.
  32. Web site: National Steel Bridge Alliance: World's Longest Bridge Spans . https://web.archive.org/web/20020601114245/http://www.aisc.org/Content/ContentGroups/Documents/NSBA5/20_NSBA_LongestSpans.PDF . dead . 1 June 2002 . Durkee . Jackson . American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc . 24 May 1999 . 4 January 2009.
  33. Web site: East-West Kolkata Metro Corridor: EIA and SIA (Chapter 2) . Government of West Bengal . 21 March 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606041100/http://www.wbgov.com/e-gov/admin/newgovtpublications/upload/Chap-Chapt2.pdf . 6 June 2011 . live . dmy-all.
  34. Web site: IIEST official website. 21 September 2019 .
  35. Web site: E-Gazette published by the Ministry of Law and Justice of the Government of India regarding the National Institutes of Technology, science education and research amendment of 2014 . 22 September 2019 . 2 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210102230458/http://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2014/158429.pdf . live .
  36. Book: Alok Kumar Mukherjee . Howrah, a Study in Urbanization . 1991 . 99 . Chatterjee Publishers . 9788185089089 . 2 June 2020 . 10 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221010040539/https://books.google.com/books?id=cGZPAAAAMAAJ . live .