Konnagar


Konnagar is a city and a municipality of Hooghly district in the state of West Bengal in India. It is under Uttarpara police station in Serampore subdivision. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority.

History

It was a small town that grew to be a town in the 19th century. Shib Chandra Deb, the renowned Derozian and Brahmo leader, contributed substantially towards development of Konnagar. A pioneer in women's emancipation, he assisted in the development of schools in the area. The railway station was opened in 1856 and the post office in 1858.
In 1931, Tomas Bata, the Czech shoe tycoon, established his first Indian operation at Konnagar. By 1936, the Konnagar plan was phased out. In May 1931, Tomas sold his business interests to his brother Jan Antonin Bata who established Batanagar, Bata's first permanent shoe factory in India. The Bata brand was established on 24 August 1894 in Zlín, Czech Republic. The company first established itself in India in 1931 by renting a building to start an experimental shoe production plant in Konnagar, West Bengal with 75 Czech experts. Though it was under Jan Antonin Bata administration that designed, developed and built the industrial city called Batanagar in 1934. Jan Bata also build factories in Digha near Patna, and elsewhere in India, employing more than 7,000 people. Batanagar, under Jan Bata's ideals became one of the bigger sub-urban towns near Kolkata.
The Sens of Konnagar are also very famous for their contribution to the cultural growth in the place. They were the zamindars till late 19th century, but slowly with the British rule coming to an end, the zamindari rules also collapsed.
Konnagar has been the home of many notable personalities. It was the ancestral home of the great nationalist and religious leader Sri Aurobindo and noted physicist Sisir Kumar Mitra. Shafiur Rahman one of the martyrs of the language movement in East Pakistan was born in Konnagar.
The town had been visited by the greats of Tagore, Mahasweta Devi and many others. Tagore was believed to be just a child when he and his family came to this town to escape the onslaught of Dengue which hit Kolkata. He revisited the town again when he was 19. He came to visit the Brahmasomaj Ghat along with his father Maharshi Debendranath. Shibram Chakraborty used to live here for a brief period of time in his childhood near G.T.Road beside Konnagar High School.Sri Aurobindo's father and famous Indian geographer Shashi Bhusan Chatterjee happened to be a pupil of Konnagar High School established in the 19th century. And the town though got recognition chiefly due to the initiatives of Sib Chandra Deb, its antiquity can hardly be denied. Its reference is there even in the 500-year-old Mangal-Kāvya.
Konnagar is well known for its Shakuntala Kali Temple. This temple is considered to be very sacred and people from various parts of West Bengal pay a visit. This is a Puja that was started by the Chakraborty Bari Zamindars and today it has become an important event in Konnagar's calendar. The annual Puja is held in the Bengali calendar month of Boisakh. A very interesting fact about this Puja is that the idol is completed on the day of Puja itself. There are grand Fairs organised on the grounds adjacent to the temple.
Apart from this Puja, there is another important puja in this small city. Rajrajeshwari Puja has been organised in Konnagar for over 300 years now. It is held on the eve of Maghi Purnima.
The town is known for quality sweets, musical excellence and dense population.

Geography

Konnagar is located at. It has an average elevation of 14 metres. Konnagar is positioned between Rishra and Hind Motor on the Howrah-Bardhaman main line and Grand Trunk Road. It is located on the west bank of the River Hooghly. Its approximate area is 4.32 km2.
West side of the Konnagar railway station is called Nabagram and Kanaipur. Most of the population in Nabagram is migrated from East Bengal. Being situated only 13.5 km from the heart of Kolkata, the area enjoys semi urban status. Konnagar has an extensive fruit and vegetable market which is visited by people from the nearby areas. The market is famous for its affordable prices. Konnagar is filled with many cultural clubs which makes it a culturally rich town.
Konnagar is also known for its famous Shakuntala Kalitala Mandir, Baro Mandir, Rajrajeswari Mandir, Shankaracharya Temple, Bungalow of Abanindranath Tagore, Paternal house of Rishi Aurobindo Ghosh, Bramhosomaj Ghat and house made by Raja Rammohan Roy.
The first ever workshop of Bata Shoe Company Ltd. in India was initially set up in Konnagar in 1932. Baro Mandir was built in 1821 in the bank of Ganges river. The Bungalow of Abanindranath Tagore is a heritage place of the city.

Demographics

As per 2011 Census of India Konnagar had a total population of 76,172 of which 38,653 were males and 37,519 were females. Population below 6 years was 5,815. The total number of literates in Konnagar was 63,911.
The following Municipalities and Census Towns in Hooghly district were part of Kolkata Urban Agglomeration in 2011 census: Bansberia, Hugli-Chinsurah, Bara Khejuria, Shankhanagar, Amodghata, Chak Bansberia, Naldanga, Kodalia, Kulihanda, Simla, Dharmapur, Bhadreswar, Champdani, Chandannagar, Baidyabati, Serampore, Rishra, Rishra, Bamunari, Dakshin Rajyadharpur, Nabagram Colony, Konnagar, Uttarpara Kotrung, Raghunathpur , Kanaipur and Keota.

Education

Konnagar High School, a higher secondary boys school, was established in 1854, at Konnagar main town. Also, Hindu Balika Bidyalaya, a higher secondary girls school was established in 1858 next to Konnagar High School. Both the schools were established by same person, Shib Chandra Deb, the creator of modern Konnagar.
There are few more Government Schools in Konnagar. Nabagram Vidyapith, Nabagram Hiralal Paul Balika Vidyalaya, Nabagram Shishu Bharati High School, Kanaipur High School, Rajendra Smriti Vidyala, Sri Aurobindo Vidyapith. Some primary schools are also there. Konnagar Public Library and Free Reading Room was established in 1858.
Konnagar Hindu Girls and Ashalata Balika Vidylaya are only for girl students.
Nabagram Hiralal Paul College, a general degree college, was established in 1957, at Nabagram, Konnagar. Prof. Sudhangshu Sekhar Bhattacharya, from the Bhattacharya family of Nabagram was one of the early member of this college and a big contributor to the build-up of the college.
The literacy percentage in Konnagar is 90.8%
Every year there is a alumni meet on first Sun day of the year.

Culture

To accommodate the cultural events in Konnagar, the Municipality erected an auditorium "Rabindra Bhawan". This auditorium was built under supervision of the then Chairman of Konnagar Municipality, Samir Bandyopadhyay and his group of advisers such as Bireswar Bandyopadhay, Bishnupada Dutta and other renowned cultural personalities from Konnagar. Rabindra Bhavan is now rented for conducting school programs, other cultural activities. Recently a bust of Shibchandra Deb, the founder of modern Konnagar, has been unveiled.
A Book fair and Industrial Fair is also held every year by the Municipality at the Shakuntala Field in January/February.
In Nabagram Vidyaprrth play ground every year book fair is organized in the month of January, and a food festival is also organized in Jagritri Sangha Math for 3 days in January every year.

Transport

Konnagar is well connected with Howrah through trains. Konnagar lies on the Howrah-Bardhaman main line. Konnagar railway station has three platforms. Konnagar is also connected to Kolkata through roadways by State Highway 6/ Grand Trunk Road.

Private Bus

There are regular auto services available also. Apart from this, there are Ferry Services to Greater Kolkata on the other end of Ganges banks. Now ferry service becomes more frequent.

People