Shyampukur
Encyclopedia
Shyampukur is a neighbourhood in north Kolkata
, earlier known as Calcutta, in the India
n state
of West Bengal
. As a neighbourhood, it covers a small area but its importance is primarily because of the police station and the assembly constituency.
, is likely to have been named in honour of Shyam Rai (or Gobinda), the attendant of the goddess Kali
, the household deity of the Basaks, who with the Sett
s were amongst the first to have settled in Sutanuti
, after having cleared the jungles.
, in 1757, the British settled down to more organised administration in Kolkata. One of the developments was the police station, which also provided civic facilities. The Police Commissioner doubled as Municipal Chairman till 1888. Shyampukur was one of the twenty-five Police Section Houses in 1888. Shyampukur was overtaken in importance by Shyambazar and Baghbazar, the area being the citadel of Bengali aristocracy.
is spread over Shyambazar, Bagabazar and Kumortuli
and a part of Shovabazar. Bagbazar ghat, Promoda Sundari ghat, Kashi Mitra ghat, Kumortuli ghat and Shovabazar ghat on the Hooghly River are within the jurisdiction of Shyampukur police station.
from Phariapukur to Shyampukur as a result of the benevolence of the Maharaja of Shyampukur, Durga Charan Laha. Later, the club's ground was moved to Shyam Square.
When Jamshedji Framji Madan
entered the ‘bioscope
’ scene in 1902, he began to screen films in tents set up on the Maidan
and in Shyampukur.
The barowari
Durga Puja
organised at Shyampukur in 1911 was the second in Kolkata.
stayed at 55 Shyampukur Street, known as Shyampukur Bati, for several days after leaving Dakshineswar
for treatment of throat cancer. He stayed there before moving to Cossipore
Udyanbati. The house has now been converted into a museum displaying articles used by him during his stay there and some paintings. Among other objects on display are parts of the camera with which the first picture of Ramakrishna was taken.
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, earlier known as Calcutta, in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
. As a neighbourhood, it covers a small area but its importance is primarily because of the police station and the assembly constituency.
Etymology
Shyampukur, like its neighbour ShyambazarShyambazar
Shyambazar is a neighbourhood in north Kolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, in the Indian state of West Bengal. The area, under Shyampukur police station of Kolkata Police, has been, along with neighbouring Bagbazar, the citadel of the Bengali aristocracy, in a part of what was earlier known as...
, is likely to have been named in honour of Shyam Rai (or Gobinda), the attendant of the goddess Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
, the household deity of the Basaks, who with the Sett
Sett
A badger sett or set is a badger's den, usually consisting of a network of tunnels. The largest setts are spacious enough to accommodate 15 or more animals, with up to of tunnels and as many as 40 openings. It takes many years for the animals to dig these large setts...
s were amongst the first to have settled in Sutanuti
Sutanuti
Sutanuti was one of the three villages which were merged to form the city of Kolkata in India. The other two villages were Gobindapur and Kalikata. Job Charnock, an administrator with the British East India Company is traditionally credited with the honour of founding the city...
, after having cleared the jungles.
History
Shyampukur is in the heart of what was Sutanuti. It was one of police stations mentioned in the earliest list of police stations of Kolkata prepared in 1785. After the Battle of PlasseyBattle of Plassey
The Battle of Plassey , 23 June 1757, was a decisive British East India Company victory over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies, establishing Company rule in South Asia which expanded over much of the Indies for the next hundred years...
, in 1757, the British settled down to more organised administration in Kolkata. One of the developments was the police station, which also provided civic facilities. The Police Commissioner doubled as Municipal Chairman till 1888. Shyampukur was one of the twenty-five Police Section Houses in 1888. Shyampukur was overtaken in importance by Shyambazar and Baghbazar, the area being the citadel of Bengali aristocracy.
Geography
Shyampukur police station of Kolkata PoliceKolkata Police
The Kolkata Police Force is one of the two police forces of the Indian state of West Bengal....
is spread over Shyambazar, Bagabazar and Kumortuli
Kumortuli
Kumortuli is a traditionally potters’ quarter in northern Kolkata , the capital of the east Indian state of West Bengal. By virtue of their artistic productions these potters have moved from obscurity to prominence...
and a part of Shovabazar. Bagbazar ghat, Promoda Sundari ghat, Kashi Mitra ghat, Kumortuli ghat and Shovabazar ghat on the Hooghly River are within the jurisdiction of Shyampukur police station.
Demographics
Shyampukur police station area spread over ward nos. 7 (Baghbazar), 8 (Bagabazar-Shovabazar), 9 (Shovabazar), 10 (part of Shyambazar), and 11 (partly under Shyapukur and partly under Bartola) had a total population of 110,420 in 2001. Out of this 66,359 were males and 54,061 were females. Certain pockets such as ward nos. 8,9, and 11 recorded negative decadal growth.Early landmarks
In 1891, Mohun Bagan shifted its groundMohun Bagan Ground
Mohun Bagan Ground is first ground of the Mohun Bagan Club was inside the famous marble palace, owned by Kirti Mitra of the Mitra family, known as Mohun Bagan Villa. It was situated at Fariapukur street of north Kolkata...
from Phariapukur to Shyampukur as a result of the benevolence of the Maharaja of Shyampukur, Durga Charan Laha. Later, the club's ground was moved to Shyam Square.
When Jamshedji Framji Madan
Jamshedji Framji Madan
Jamshedji Framji Madan , born in a Parsi family in Bombay, was one of the pioneers of the Indian film industry.-Early life:Madan's father suffered a huge monetary loss when Bombay Reclamation Bank, which was responsible for reclaiming land between the seven islands of Bombay, failed. JF Madan had...
entered the ‘bioscope
Bioscope show
A Bioscope show was a fairground attraction consisting of a travelling cinema. The heyday of the Bioscope was from the late 1890s until World War I....
’ scene in 1902, he began to screen films in tents set up on the Maidan
Maidan (Kolkata)
The Maidan is the largest urban park in Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a vast stretch of field and home to numerous play grounds, including the famous cricketing venue Eden Gardens, several football stadia, and Kolkata Race Course. Maidan is dotted with several statues and...
and in Shyampukur.
The barowari
Barowari
Barowari refers to the public organisation of a religious or other festival, mainly in West Bengal. This is extensively used for Durga Puja. The word "Barowari" came from the words "baro", which means 12, and "yari". Much earlier in 1790, 12 Brahmin friends in Guptipara, Hooghly, had decided to...
Durga Puja
Durga Puja
Durga puja ; দুর্গা পূজা,ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava ; , is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and...
organised at Shyampukur in 1911 was the second in Kolkata.
Ramakrishna connection
In 1885, Ramakrishna ParamhansaRamakrishna
Ramakrishna , born Gadadhar Chattopadhyay , was a famous mystic of 19th-century India. His religious school of thought led to the formation of the Ramakrishna Mission by his chief disciple Swami Vivekananda – both were influential figures in the Bengali Renaissance as well as the Hindu...
stayed at 55 Shyampukur Street, known as Shyampukur Bati, for several days after leaving Dakshineswar
Dakshineswar
Dakshineswar is a town in Barrackpore subdivision of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.-History:In 1847, Rani Rashmoni of Bengal began the construction of the famous Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Rani, who was a rich and pious widow of colonial Bengal had a divine revelation ordering her to...
for treatment of throat cancer. He stayed there before moving to Cossipore
Cossipore
Cossipore is a neighbourhood in north Kolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, in the Indian state of West Bengal. One of the old neighbourhoods of the metropolis, it has a police station and is an assembly constituency.-History:...
Udyanbati. The house has now been converted into a museum displaying articles used by him during his stay there and some paintings. Among other objects on display are parts of the camera with which the first picture of Ramakrishna was taken.