Bhatpara

Bhatpara ভাটপাড়া (Bengali)
city
Bhatpara Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates: 22°52′N 88°25′E / 22.87°N 88.41°ECoordinates: 22°52′N 88°25′E / 22.87°N 88.41°E
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	North 24 Parganas
Government
• Municipality Chairman	Arjun Singh[1] (TMC)
Elevation	12 m (39 ft)
Population (2011 census)
• Total	390,467
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	743123
Telephone code	(+91) 33
Lok Sabha constituency	Barrackpore
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Bhatpara, Jagatdal
Website	bhatparamunicipality.in

Bhatpara (Bengali: ভাটপাড়া) is a suburban town and a municipality under Jagatdal police station of Barrackpore subdivision^[2] in North 24 Parganas district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is situated on the bank of Hooghly river. It is known for its rich traditions in the field of Sanskrit learning. The name 'Bhatpara' originates from the ancient name "Bhatta-Palli", where 'Bhatta' denotes the sect of Bramhin Sanskrit pandits and 'palli' denotes locality or village. It is one of the oldest municipalities in West Bengal and it was constituted a municipality in 1899, when it was separated from the Naihati municipality. In the British era and afterwards, it had become an important industrial hub on Hoogly river bank, mainly for the high density of jute processing plants. It is also the home of prominent peoples like Swapan Chakladar.

Geography

Bhatpara is located at 22°52′N 88°25′E / 22.87°N 88.41°E.^[3] It has an average elevation of 12 metres (39 feet). The main town is sandwiched between the Hoogly river in the east and railway track linking Sealdah and Krishnanagar in the west.

Bhatpara has a rail station named Kankinara, which connects it to Kolkata through Sealdah main line to Krishnanagar and Ranaghat. It is approximately a one-hour train journey from Kolkata to Bhatpara. It also has boat services to the other bank of Hoogly river, connecting it to Chinsura and Chandannagar. The main roadway passing through Bhatpara is called Ghosh Para Road. Public transport includes auto rickshaws running between Naihati and Bhatpara, manual rickshaws, and bus service (routes 85, 87A, JM8).

Weather

Bhatpara has hot and humid summer and dry winter, typical of West Bengal. The rainy season is typically from mid-July to mid- or late October. Average temperature during summer can go as high as 38 degree Celsius and in winter the mercury plunges to below 10 degree Celsius. Humidity, in the time of summer, is often above 90% and is the primary reason of discomfort.

Demographics

As per provisional reports of Census India,^[4] population of Bhatpara in 2011 is 390,467; of which male and female are 207,876 and 182,591 respectively. The sex ratio of Bhatpara city is 878 per 1000 males. In education section, total literates in Bhatpara city are 307,362 of which 172,042 are males while 135,320 are females. Average literacy rate of Bhatpara city is 85.86 percent (well over national average) of which male and female literacy was 90.08 and 81.04 percent. Total children (0-6) in Bhatpara city are 32,498 as per figure from Census India report on 2011. There were 16,879 boys while 15,619 are girls. Child sex ratio of girls is 925 per 1000 boys.

The jute mills drew in a large labour force from the neighbouring states of Bihar and Odisha, as well as eastern Uttar Pradesh, quite often forming an overwhelming majority of the population in the area, living in shanty towns and slums dotting the jute mill area of Kankinara.^[5]

The educated, middle-income, and predominantly Bengali populace lives in the old town area.

Education

Earlier, Bhatpara was renowned for its Sanskrit cultural heritage and learning. As an example, Srijib Nayatirtha (1893–1992) was a famous Sanskrit scholar and recipient of several fellowships and awards (including President's Honor). He was a Professor of Calcutta and Jadavpur Universities. Much of that ancient tradition has faded. However, modern educational practices are upheld by several high schools such as Kendriya Vidyalaya Kankinara,Kankinara Arya Vidyalaya, Bhatpara Amar Krishna Pathsala, Bhatpara High School, Bhatpara Central Girls' School, Taraknath Balika Bidyamandir, Himayat-ul-gurba High school, Chasm-i-rahamat High School, Kankinara High School, Katadanga North Janata Arya Vidyalaya, Rajlaxmi balika vidyalaya . According to the official website of Barrackpore sub-division,^[6] there are 34 higher-secondary, 10 secondary, and 135 primary schools within the jurisdiction of Bhatpara municipality (although not all of them are situated in the main town).

Although Bhatpara does not have any college within its territorial boundary, colleges in nearby Naihati and Barrackpore provide ccess to higher education for the youth of Bhatpara Kankinara and Jagatdal. Many students go to Kolkata for university and technical education, also go to Kalyani because there located ITI college for technical.

Sports, culture, and health services

There are few play-fields in Bhatpara such as Barwadi math, Sabuj Sangha math, Shatadal Math, A.K. Pathshala play ground etc. Bhatpara Young Men's Association (BYMA) and Kishore Bahini are few organisations which promote sports and recreational activities such as cricket, football, gymnastics, bodybuilding(Bhatpara Bayam Samiti, Salpasoy Club,Shatadal Bayam Samiti Club)etc.

Historically Bhatpara is famous as the abode of prominent Sanskrit pundits and as a seat of learning of ancient Hindu shastra and Vedic texts. That aspect of culture has diminished over the time and has been replaced by more diverse modern day culture. Bhatpara is famous for its Durgapuja. Although, family-based pujas were more common a few decades ago, it has become a community-centric affair in modern times. The youth communities or clubs(amara kojon type) organise these pujas and due to sheer number of these clubs, one can find over fifty pujas being arranged within a square kilometre of area. Under Bhatpara Municipality Kankinara is famous for Ganesh Chaturthi and Chatth puja.

Sahitya Mandir is a West Bengal Government registered and state-funded public library well equipped with large number of books and periodicals.

Bhatpara State General Hospital is one central health facility. Apart from that, a substantial number of qualified medical practitioners run their private clinics in Bhatpara which caters to the day-to-day needs of the local populace. Large number of medicine retail shops also supplement this service.

Economy

Earlier, a significant portion of population was engaged in some form of job in the local jute mills. Economic instability related to jute industry in West Bengal forced many of these mills to be shut down. Nowadays, people of Bhatpara are mostly engaged in services in the private and public sector outside the area (in Kolkata and neighbourhood) and small personal businesses within the locality. There are significant number of small eateries and sweet shops in Bhatpara. A significant number of Bhatparans and kankinarians have also moved on and shifted to cities outside West Bengal and even India, in search of better prospects. Kankinara Bazar is main market area for the people of Bhatapara.

Places of interest

Rupdas Babur Ghat

One of the oldest ghat belongs to Mukherjee family. Since almost 90 years back RADHAKANTA MUKHERJEE build the ghat and dedicated towards his father Late Rupdas Mukherjee in the Bank of River GANGA. The family carries their traditional RATHA YATRA which was started in the year of 1912.

Bhatpara Gure Bari

It is one of the oldest zamindari houses of Bhatpara where an age old Durga Puja is celebrated.

Balaram Sarkar Ghat

It is a ghat beside Ganges.

Panch Mukhi Hanuman Mandir

Just 200 metres from Kankinara Bazar towards the Kankinara Ghat The Panch Mukhi Hanuman mandir is there and it is one of the best temple in Bhatpara. The evening Arti of lord Hanuman is also famous.

Bhatpara Kali Temple

It is a temple in this locality, beside the holy river and the ghat named Balaram Sarkar Ghat.

Panchmandir(Five Temples)

It is a complex of five temples constructed nearly 400 years ago. Each of the temples were funded by different well established families of the upper class.

Aat goli

It is a cul-de-sac. It is famous for being extremely narrow and having eight near exact 90 degree turns.it is near to the pancha mandir. It ends to the baroary math.

Madrail Hanuman Mandir (Madral Mahaveer Mandir)

It is one of the best temple of Kankinara to visit. The Idol of god is in lying position, situated at 10 feet below the surface .This temple is located 2.5 km from Kankinara railway station. Along with this a Shiva temple is also situated nearby to it. Vaishnav, Kali, and Vishwakarma temples are also situeted nearby to this temple. These temples are required to be renovated.

References

1. Official District Administration site Archived January 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
2. District-wise list of statutory towns Archived August 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. and North 24 Parganas District official site Archived January 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
3. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Bhatpara
4. http://www.census2011.co.in/census/city/223-bhatpara.html
5. Goswami, Onkar, Calcutta’s Economy 1918-1970 The fall from Grace in Calcutta, the Living City, Vol II, edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, p 90, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-563697-X
6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-12-11. Retrieved 2012-01-16.

External links

• Bhatpara Municipality official website
• Kolkata/Northern fringes travel guide from Wikivoyage