Rajabazar

Rajabazar is a locality in the city of Kolkata in West Bengal , India. It is located approximately in North-Central-East Kolkata , between CIT Road and APC Bose Road. The locality has grown around Narkeldanaga Main Road, now renamed as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Sarani , which acts as a connector between CIT Road and APC Bose Rpad. Thus , Rajabazar can be said to be located between Phoolbagan and Sealdah.

Rajabazar is in a prime location , and Sealdah Railway Station is a stone's throw distance from Rajabazar crossing. There is a tram depot in Rajabazar also. All civic amenities , like Hospitals , Colleges , Schools , Sanitation , Malls , Shopping Complexes , Cinema Halls , Mosques , etc. are located in and around RajaBazar.

History

Rajabazar grew around an old market-place, or Bazaar, near Sealdah, on the APC Bose Road. The market exists till today, and was initially called "Razabazaar". The bazaar had been established in around 1892 AD by Muslim merchants, businessmen, butchers and Cattle traders from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, who had immigrated to Calcutta. A Mosque, or Masjid was built, and several residential quarters were established around that area. A Police Station (Narkeldanga Police Station) was established in 1913. Over the decades, further population growth, immigration, etc. had resulted in the growth and extension of the original settlement further, up to Narkeldanga and Phoolbagan in the east, Sealdah to the south, Kadapara to the west, and further north. Today, the area is densely populated and crowded, with alleys and lanes established. There is a shrine (Mazaar) of a Muslim Sufi Saint in Rajabazar. The area spans the Canal, and crosses over the bridge. There are 5 to 6 Mosques located at Rajabazar. The bazaar is famous for its jewellery, bangles, kites, sweetmeats and mutton and beef shops. Rajabazaar is a major cattle and goat trading center in West Bengal.

Demographics

Majority ( 75 percent ) of the population of Rajabazar is Sunni Muslim , mostly Urdu-speaking , descended from immigrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The population is manily Barelwi by Aqeedah and Naqshbandi or Qadiri by sulook , but a large Deobandi population also exists peacefully. Many Hindus also live at Rajabazaar. Most of the population is middle-class and well-to-do.

Amenities

BC Roy Memorial Hospital is located at a stone's throw distance from Rajabaar , and Calcutta Medical College and Hospital is located just 2 kms away , on College Street. Narkeldanga Police Station is located right in the heart and center of Rajabazar. Sealdah Railway Station and Rajabazar Tram Depot provide ample transport opportunities. Buses on Routes 44 , 12 c/2 and 30 c ply by Rajabazaar , besides there is the Kidderpore-Rajabazar minibus and the Metiabruz-Rajabara minibus. The Mechua-Kadapara-Phoolbagan auto route plies through Rajabazaar.

Riots

Hindu-Muslim riots broke out in those areas on the 7, 8 and 21 December 1992 and 11 February 1993 after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya , and 9 people were killed in total , 6 Hindus and 3 Muslims , but timely and unbiased action by the Police prevented the situation from deteriorating further , and a peace committee was established with the help of local MP Mohammad Salim.

Names of the dead -

Mahesh Pandey , Sitaram Yadav , Jaiprakash Shukla and Omkar Sahu were all Bajrang Dal workers. Sudhangshu Ghosh and Jayanta Pal were innoccent Hindus kiled in the riots.

Mohammad Imran , Abbas Ansari and Javed Siddiqui were martyred in the riots.

Education

Momin High School , a co-eduactional English and Urdu-medium school , is located in Rajabazar. Presidency College and Maulana Azad College are located at a suitable distance from Rajabazaar.