Andul

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Andul আন্দুল
Town
Country	India
State	West Bengal
Population  (2001)
• Total	5,677
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	711 302 vehicle_code_range =
Lok Sabha constituency	Howrah
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Sankrail
Website	howrah.gov.in

Andul is one of the ancient census towns in the Sankrail block under the Sadar sub-division in Howrah district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a local hub of commercial and industrial activity within and around Sankrail block. It is considered as one of the developing towns in Howrah district.

History

The Andul Raj Bati or Royal Palace.

Andul was once acknowledged as one of the most royal and exquisite place in the Howrah District, due to the residences of three zamindar families.These Families came in the power once the Bhurshut Dynasty is over, which was conquered by Kirtichand Rai. The Bose(surname) family was the antecedent, who came and inhabit in this place. From Kannauj (Uttar Pradesh) to BallyGram and finally this “ Bose” family settled in Andul from a very early age, though at that time the name of this place was not Andul. This family was the Zamindar (superior landlord) family. Previously, the name of this place was not Andul but it was addressed as "Dokhin Nabadwip". This family was only "Bose" erstwhile, but after gaining respect from Shah Jahan, who bestowed the zamindari title or surname "Chaudhury" to this family. The Bose was a very influential family of Kolkata at their time. They shaped the present Kolkata in many ways, the story of the foundations of Gobindapur was one of its example.

Though Ramnath Kamal Bose came Andul from Kannauj, but his mother remained there at Kannauj. In order to look after his land,his 17 years old son, Shyamnath Kamal Bose stayed over here at Andul. It is said that once Ramnath Kamal Bose went for Ganges-Bath and saw a crystal stone, he picked it up. But this stone was not like an ordinary Crystals .It was ‘Parash Pathor’(Touch stone) looks like a Lotus (Kamal). The glare from it was dazzling. He then brought it to his home of Andul and preserve that in an ordinary steel vessel. But after some time that steel vessel turned into a golden vessel. His mother then kept it in a more safer zone. With the blessing of this stone, Ramnath became the possessor of much wealth. Then that stone was named ‘Devdutta Mani’. The stone said to have looked like a 'Lotus'(Nelumbo nucifera). Later it said that many family descendent put 'Kamal'(Lotus) in middle of their name to remember that stone.

The news of Ramnath soon spread over-wide including the ruler of Gaur or Gauḍa (city) (in the Maldah district of West Bengal, India). Now this city is spelled as Lakhnauti, which is a ruined city. The ruler of Gaur then summoned Ramnath with his stone. While he was his way to Gaur by boat, he decided not to hand over this ‘Devdutta Mani’ to the Gaur ruler. He then jumped into the river Ganges with that stone. The total region of Andul including Argori up to Amta belonged to this zamindar family of "Bose". This family has produced many eminent persons, one of them is Gobinda Kamal Bose, by whose name Gobindapur (one of the three villages which constituted the modern Kolkata city) was termed. Their more than 500 years aged ancestral zamindari house is totally obliterated now, one cannot even find any fragment of it. They are also having Durga Puja which was started in the year of 1570 and they still celebrated, with the same tradition, in their ancestral Hall (given in the picture). There lie a Super-Natural symbolization in the Durga Hall (Thakur Dalan). Once three intellectual person (Sages) roomed into this Hall for a night. The very succeeding day when they are about to depart, they verbalized this place to be a very blessed and dive place. Last night perhaps or feasibly they got some divine vision, which they have not disclosed. Alike the previous event, there lie another tale regarding the Dive or blissful vision. Nipendranath Bose, one member of this family was adored of playing Violin (a string instrument). He generally used to play it in mid-night, to skip out from local bedlam. When he played violin, he used to play it wholeheartedly, with full absorption, leaving behind the outer materialistic world. One day like as usual he was playing violin, facing towards the Durga Hall (Thakur Dalan), all on a sudden got sight of a charming small girl proceeding by dancing and disappeared near the Lord Kashiwar Shiva temple, which are attached to the Durga Hall (Thakur Dalan). He got astonished and thunder-bolted. When he set aside such vision to his family members, got to know that the little girl was none another than Goddess Saraswati, who probably felt nice about the way he was devoted in playing violin so She came into sight to him in such way.

According to local folks, there is a supernatural story regarding the name and fame of this family. They affirmed that this family came into power only for the virtue of the blessings of a mythical gemstone (snake pearl). There is a figuration behind their acquiring of this snake pearl. It is said that a little boy was once playing and got astound to view a sparkling crystal like object, so he griped and reserved it in a simple typical vessel. At half-light, he disclosed his mother that, while he was playing, he got hold of an interesting thing. And then at his mothers interrogation, he showed her that stone. Her mother too was perplexed at once by its site, as she could make out that to be a snake pearl. The vessel, where the snake pearl was conserved, turned into a golden vessel. From that event the wealth, name and fame of this family boosted. They said the son was not Ramnath Kamal Bose, it was Shyamnath Kamal Bose. But both the myths lead to the existence of a costly stone which is lost while they prevent King Shashanka from owning in.

They had also earned British trust, though they themselves didn't play the role of "middle man". But slowly due to internal family matters, this family dissolved into four parts, namely Hathkhola Bose family, Andul Bose family, Belur, West Bengal Bose family and Murgacha (now in Bangladesh) Bose family. Mainly two branches - Hathkhola Bose and Andul Bose family earned a huge amount of respect and trust from the British rulers. The zamindar family of "Roy Chaudhury" of Bonogram(Bangladesh) was their relatives.

The name of this place "Andul", is quite related with this family in some way or the other. It is believed that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, whose blessed feet have walked on and sanctified the soil of this place, and whose gracious presence and inspiration had led to this place being called as "Ananda Dhuli"( Happy land), ultimately from which the name "Andul" was derived. It is also believed that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had gave a feet of rest in one of the old houses (which can still be seen) of this royal family.

After "Bose", the family which came to power is "Kar". There magnificent Zamindari House (Bari/Bati) can still be seen today near a place called Bakshara, Santragachi as this family setteled later near Santragachi. They were given the title of "Raja" by Lord Clive himself.Venetian explorer Cesare Federici, who travelled in India during 1565–79, mentioned a place called Buttor in his journal circa 1578.[4] As per his description, this was the a location into which large ships could travel (presumably the Hoogli River) and perhaps a commercial port.[4] This place is identifiable with the modern day neighbourhood of Bator where the Palace of Kar is still there.[4] Bator was also mentioned in the Bengali poetry Manasamangal written by Bipradas Pipilai in 1495.Their daughter is marreied to infamous Sobhabazar Mallik family. To mark this event they constructed famous Mallick Phatak of Howrah was a part of their 'Zamin'. They are said to have had martial relationships with the Bose family. They named one of their market in their Son in Law's name. Still that market is existent near Howrah Maidan called Danu Bose market.

After Kar there came "Kundu Chaudhury". According to local folks the "Kundu Chaudhury" were at first merchants and as they earned the faith and trust of the British Empire, so they were given the charge of the regions of Danesh Shaikh Lane and few parts of Howrah (main) city along with Mauri. They also possess chariots "Rath", which is still be seen. Thus, they came to power.

Thus 'Andul' saw rise and fall of many powerful and influential families.

For more info please visit www.infoandul.com

For history of andul please visit http://www.infoandul.com/history/

Geography

Andul is located at 22.58°N 88.24°E / 22.58; 88.24. It has got moderate temperature.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Andul had a population of 5677. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Andul has an average literacy rate of 87%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 53% of the males and 47% of females literate. 6% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Economy

The Andul bazaar area.

Andul houses several industrial activity especially in the northern areas near Alampur. Leading industries are steel, engineering and instrumentation, motor vehicle, jewellery, dairy etc. Previously there was a large operation of Frigerio Conserva Allana Ltd at the southern part near Mourigram railway station. There are a number of markets including that of Andul Bazar. New shopping mall named as "SUPER SHOPPING", supermarkets, Howrah's only Garden "Bar cum Restaurant" named "HOT & SPICE" have been developed in last few years. Andul has its renowned traditional industry of wooden furniture.

Historical Places

The Andul Royal Palace is the most important to be mentioned.

Famous- MAA SIDHHESWARI MANDIR Saraswati River flows between the Royal Palace and the Prabhu Jagatbandhu College, through Andul.

The civilisation of Andul was developed by the side of the pious river Saraswati. It is a known fact that our very own metropolitan city also known as the ‘City of Joy’, Kolkata is some 300 years old. But what we actually do not know that Andul which is some 10–15 km away from Kolkata is 700 years (approx) old.

For more about the history of andul please visit http://www.infoandul.com/history/

Communication

Andul–Mouri Post Office

The Andul bus stand on Andul road.

Mahiari is adjacent to Andul and the two together are referred to as Andul–Mouri (also spelt Andul–Mowri). Andul–Mouri post office is located near Andul bus stand. PIN for Andul–Mouri is 711302 and for Andul Road is 711103.

Personalities

Bharatchandra Ray, Mahesh Chandra Nyayratna Bhattacharyya, Suniti Kumar Chatterji, Sarat Chandra Bose, Sisir Bhaduri, Rajnarayan Basu, Jnanesh Mondal(IT Biplobi), Ananga Mohan Chatterjee, Rabindranath Chatterjee (Social Activist)

References

7.Bonedi Kolkatar Ghorbari by Debasis Bondhopadhay(Ananda Publishers)
8.Sekaler Kolkata

http://www.andulmouri.com/