Barasat

Barasat Barasat
Population  (2001)
• Total	237,783
Website	north24parganas.nic.in/

Barasat (Bengali: বারাসত Barashôt) is a city in the outskirts of Kolkata, West Bengal, India and is the district head quarter of the district North 24 parganas. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. The town is an important railway and roadway junction. Barasat is also the name of a sub-division centering the city.

As an urban setup in the vicinity of the Kolkata, the town is within the area of Greater Calcutta. Several significant roads like National Highway 34 (Krishnanagar Road leading towards North Bengal), Jessore road ( road leading to Jessore in Bangladesh via Bongaon) ; Road leading to Basirhat etc. cross through the town.

History

In the early nineteenth century, there was a college in Barasat for the cadets who arrived from Europe for the first time to India. From 1834 to 1861, Barasat was the seat of a joint-magistrate, known as "Barasat District". In 1861, the joint magistracy was abolished, and the Barasat District became a sub-division of the Twenty-four Parganas district.

The town has important historical contributions, including historical landmarks such as the first Nilkuthi (establishments of the initial English settlers who started the cultivation of indigo dye), the Bungalow of Lord Hastings, the Bungalows of Magistrates of 24 Parganas and the site of hanging of Maharaja Nandkumar. In 1831 under the leadership of Syed Ahmed and his disciples, Mear Niser Ali or Titumir, Barasat witnessed movements like the Ferazee disturbances against the British dominion in India before the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.

Geography

Barasat is located at 22.23°N 88.45°E / 22.23; 88.45. Barasat is located in the Ganges Brahmaputra delta region in the district of North 24 parganas, West Bengal state in the eastern India. The Bangladesh border - at Petrapole is situated about 70/ 80 km from the city.

The average altitude is 11 metres. No notable river flows by the city. The nearest one is Ganges itself — about 15 km to the west. The city is in the Gangetic plain lacking any hills.

Barasat is 22 km from Sealdah Station on the Sealdah–Bangaon branch line. It is at one end of the Barasat-Basirhat-Hasnabad branch line of Eastern Railway.

Climate

The climate is tropical — like the rest of the Gangetic West Bengal. The hallmark is the Monsoon — from early June to mid September. The weather remains dry during the winter (mid November to mid February) and humid during summer.

Temperature :41 °C in May(Max) and 10 °C in January(Min)

Relative Humidity: Between 50% in March & 96% in July

Economy

An important trade centre for rice, legumes, sugarcane, potatoes, and coconuts, cotton weaving is the major industry in Barasat.

There are a major textile mill and a rubber factory near the town. However one can find many small industries in and around the town. The business of the city is mainly retailing, though there are dealers who supply mainly to the rest of the district. Barasat Bazar is the main hub for retailer and wholesaler business man. Barasat Bazar is located between Barasat rail station and NH35.

The major occupation of the residents is service. The proximity to Kolkata helps residents commute daily to Kolkata.

Politics

The Lok Sabha constituency

Kakali Ghosh Dastidar (TMC) was elected MP from Barasat (Lok Sabha constituency) in 2009. Following is the data of 15th Loksabha election[1]:.She have defeated Sudin Chottopadhaya of AIFB by 1,21,000 votes(approximate).

Forward Bloc leader Chitta Basu (Born:1926 - Died:1997) elected to the Lok Sabha from Barasat constituency for several times. Chitta Basu, who joined the Forward Bloc formed by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939 after Bose resigned from the National Congress the same year, worked for the party since he joined it way back in 1945 as a promising student leader and rose to become its all-India General Secretary in 1977.

The Vidhan Sabha Constituency

Current MLA from Barasat assembly constituency is Dr. Bithika Mondal of AIFB, who won the seat in State elections of 2006. Previous MLAs from this include Ashokgopal Mukherjee who won as AITC candidate in 2001 and as INC candidate in 1996, and Saral Deb of FBL in 1991, 1987, 1982 and 1977.

As per orders of the Delimitation Commission, 119 Barasat assembly constituency covers Barasat municipality and Chhoto Jagulia gram panchayat of Barasat I community development block.

Barasat assembly constituency is part of Barasat (Lok Sabha constituency).

Transport

Road

"cycle-van" and other vehicles on a railway-crossing

From Calcutta,Take V.I.P Road (Najrul Islam Sarani) off Ultadanga (V.I.P.Crossing) to reach Airport Gate No. 1 and take right to Jessore Road (National Highway 34).Barasat is 8 kilometres straight drive from this crossing.

Barasat is a major roadway junction. The NH 34 (initially under the name Krishnanagar Road) goes towards north ultimately to the North Bengal and is the major link between Calcutta and the North-East India.

The Jessore Road (NH 35) leads to Bongaon and ultimately to the Bangladesh border at Petrapole.

The Taki Road leads to Basirhat, Hasnabad and Taki via Berachampa.

The Barrackpore Road links National Highway 35 at Barasat with Kalyani Expressway and Barrackpore.

Bus

Chanpadali Bus terminal or Titumir Central Bus Terminal is the main bus terminal in barasat. Buses will be servicing to this places:

Towards Kolkata: Dharmatala, Babughat, Kestopur, Ultadanga, SalkLake etc.

Towards South: Digha, Dimondharber, Sundarban etc.

Towards North: Maldha, Bardhawan, Durgapur, Siliguri

Towards East: Bongaon, Habra, Ashok Nagar etc.

Towards West: Barakpore, Naihati, Krishna Nagar etc.

International Volvo Bus Services towards: Dacca (Bangladesh), Timpu (Bhutan)

Rail

Barasat Junction is the railway station, on Bongaon line of Sealdah Station (North Section). This junction is where Bongaon line and Hasnabad-Basirhat line of Kolkata Suburban Railway get separated.

The Barasat - Basirhat Railway line was originally run by Martin's Light Railways. Now it is a section under Sealdah division of Eastern Railways.

Train Time Table of Barasat Local for 2009-2010

Barasat Local towards Shialdha:

5.16 am , 8.20 am , 10.40 am , 2.45 pm , 3.55 pm (to Princes Ghat) , 4.10 pm , 5.12 pm (till Dum Dum)

Barasat Local towards Bongaon:

7.35 am , 3.40 pm (till Habra) , 5.40 pm

Hasnabad Local from Barasat to Hasnabad:

4.45 am , 6.55 am , 4.50 pm , 6.05 pm , 9.58 pm

• This train time might be change without any local notification, please confirm with the electronic time table board for accurate time.

Air

Dumdum Airport ( Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport ) is 15 kilometres from Barasat.

Intra city transport

Mainly depends on cycle-rickshaws and, quite interestingly, the three-wheeled man-driven "cycle-vans". Auto rickshaws ply between Barasat and nearby areas. Several buses connect the town with Kolkata, other suburbs of Kolkata and the other towns of West Bengal.The bus service to Kolkata is extremely frequent.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Barasat had a population of 231,515. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Barasat has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; 54% of the literates are male and 46% are female. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Population of Barasat–I CD Block was 249,625 according to 2001 census, with a population density of 2,223 persons per square km. Barasat–II CD Block had a population of 239,699 in 2001 census, with a population density of 1,480 persons per square km.

Culture

The culture milieu in Barasat reflects the usual culturel characteristics of similar small towns in Bengal.The educated middle-class community continues to perpetuate the Bengali cultural manifestations like drama, recitation, classical music, songs and dances, while young Turks take a rather revolutionary stand and let out their feeling in the form of minor little magazines and socially relevant functions like health check up camps etc.

In Barasat some religious ashrams like the ashrams of Pranabananda, Prabhu Jagadbandhu[2], Shibananda Dham, Shankar Moth O Mission [3], Sree Sree Yogashram, Hazarat Ekdil Shah Darga etc are located.

The cultural diversity has increased over the years with the infiltration of more people from Bangladesh.An annual fair held in honour of a Muslim saint, Hazarat Ekdil Shah is attended by both Muslims and Hindus, since hundreds of years. Kalipuja is a very important event in Barasat.All the communities join this occasion togather.Kalipuja is organized by different clubs of Barasat.

Education

The town's schools are either run by the state government or by private organisations. Schools mainly use English or Bengali as the medium of instruction. The schools are affiliated with the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), or the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education. Under the 10+2+3 plan, after completing their secondary education, students typically enrol in a 2 year junior college (also known as a pre-university) or in schools with a higher secondary facility affiliated with West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education. Students usually choose from one of three streams — liberal arts, commerce, or science, though vocational streams are also available. Upon completing the required coursework, students may enrol in general or professional degree programmes.

Schools

Noapara Rashbehari Institution For Girls

Barasat Government High School

Barasat Peary Charan Sarkar Government High School

Barasat Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School

Purba Barasat Adarsha Vidyapith

Nabapally Boys' High School

Kalikrishna Girls' High School

Barasat Girls' High School

Barasat Indira Gandhi Memorial High School

The Central Modern School

Barasat Satya Bharati Vidya Pith

Kalyani Public School

Banamalipur Priyanath Institution

Kazipara Hazarat Ekdil Shah Higher Secondary School

Ashwinipalli High School

Nabapally Jogendranath Balika Vidyamandir

Auxilium Convent School

Aditya Academy

Berachampa Deulia Uchcha Vidyalaya

Colleges/University

Colleges:

Barasat Government College,K.N.C. Road, Barasat

Barasat College, previously Evening College, I, Kalyani Road, Barasat , 24- Paraganas,

Adamas Institue of Technology, an Engineering College under the aegis of RICE GROUP, affiliated to West Bengal University of Technology and approved by AICTE.

University:

West Bengal State University

Media

Some small local newspapers and magazines (Review Preview, Sabujer Abhijan etc.) are there. However the scenario is dominated by the media of Calcutta (Kolkata). Bengali language newspapers like Anandabazar Patrika, Aajkaal, Bartaman, Sangbad Pratidin and Ganashakti are widely circulated. Regional and national English newspapers such as The Telegraph, The Statesman, Asian Age, Hindustan Times and The Times of India are available. Kolkata's radio stations are available here. Eleven local FM stations: AIR Kolkata (FM Rainbow & FM Gold), Radio Mirchi (98.3 MHz), Red FM (93.5 MHz), Aamar FM (106.2 MHz), Gyan Vani (105.4 MHz),Fever FM(104 MHz),Radio One(94.3 MHz),Meow FM(104.8 MHz),BIG FM(92.7 MHz) and Power FM (107.8 MHz) are available. The state-owned television broadcaster Doordarshan provides two free terrestrial channels, while MSO provide a mix of Bengali, Hindi, English and other regional channels via cable.

Sports

Football (soccer) is the passion of the citizens. Cricket is also played with great fanfare. Besides Indian sports like Kabbadi, kho-kho are also played.

The Barasat stadium holds some matches of the Kolkata football league and also several district-level, state-level and, infrequently, national level tournaments of several games like Volleyball, soccer etc.

Healthcare

Barasat is one of the areas where ground water is affected by arsenic contamination.

The North 24 Parganas District Hospital is located in Barasat. Barasat also has several privately operated nursing homes and hospital.

Notable Persons

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was the deputy Magistrate of 24 Parganas in the 19th century. Warren Hestings lived here during the early 18th centuty. Peary Charan Sarkar was a notable scholar of the town. He was the head master of Barasat Government High School.

See also

• Barasat (Lok Sabha constituency)

• Chitta Basu

References

External links

• Census 2001 data
• Kolkata Football
• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)