Konnagar

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Konnagar | type = city | latd = 22.7 | longd = 88.35
locator_position = right | state_name = West Bengal
district = Hugli
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altitude = 14
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 72,211| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone =
postal_code =
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sex_ratio =
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Konnagar is a city and a municipality in Hooghly District in the Indian state of West Bengal. There are 18 wards in the Konnagar Municipal Area. It is under Uttarpara police station in Serampore subdivision. [ [http://www.wbcensus.gov.in/DataTables/01/Table-3.htm District-wise list of statutory towns] ] It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. [cite web
url = http://www.cmdaonline.com/kma.html | title = Base Map of Kolkata Metroploitan area | accessdate = 2007-09-03 | last = | first = | work = | publisher = Kolkata Metroploitan Development Authority ] Konnagar is under the Serampur Loksabbha Kendra and Uttarpara Bidhansava Kendra.

History

It was a small village that grew to be a town in the 19th century. Sib 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. It was removed to Batanagar in 1936 and the company now has several manufacturing sites throughout the Indian sub-continent.

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 [http://www.meta-religion.com/World_Religions/Hinduism/sri_aurobindo.htm] and noted physicist Sisir Kumar Mitra. [http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in/scientists/SKMitra.htm] Shafiur Rahman one of the martyrs of the language movement in East Pakistan was born in Konnagar. [http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/bengali_heritage/bangla_language_movement.htm]

Geography

Konnagar is located at coord|22.7|N|88.35|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/28/Konnagar.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Konnagar] ] . It has an average elevation of 14 metres (45 feet).Konanagar is positioned between Rishra and Uttarpara on the Howrah-Bardhaman main line and Grand Trunk Road. It is located on the west bank of the River Hooghly.

West side of the Konnagar railway station is called Nabagram. Most of the population in Nabagram is migrated from East Bengal. Being situated only 20 K.M from the heart of Kolkata the area enjoys semi urban status.

Konnagar is also the place of the famous Kalitala and Baro Mandir. Thousands of devotees visit Kalitala during the puja of Goddess Kali. The unique feature of this puja is, the idol is created and decorated in one single day. Later it is immersed in the river Ganga, after the puja is over, on the same day.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Konnagar had a population of 72,211. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Konnagar has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 77%. In Konnagar, 8% of the population is under 6 years of age.A Book fair & Industrial Fair is also held every year by the Municipality.A number of VIPs,Ministers come to inaugurate that fair.

Education

* Konnagar Boys High School
* Konnagar Hindu Girls School
* Ashalata Balika Vidyalaya
* Konnagar Rajendra Smriti Vidyalaya
* Konnagar Sri Aurobindo Vidyapith
* Xavier's English School
* Nabagram High School
* Shishu Bharati School
* Nabagram Vidyapith
* Konnagar College
* Kanaipur Boys School
* Kanaipur Girls School
* Hiralalpal College
* Konnagar Public Library and free reading room

There is a CMC Computer centre.

People

* Sofiur Rahman, martyr of the 1952 Language Movement
* Captain Suman Dasgupta ( Vir Chakra ) Posthomous ( Siachen Martyr )

References

Unish Shotoker Konnogar o Konnogar Public LibraryAmarnath Chattopadhyay ISBN 81-85709-64-5

External links

* [http://www.konnagarhighschoolalumni.com/ Konnagar High School Alumni]
* [http://www.bata.in/page.php?kon=5_1 Bata India] accessed 31 Dec 2007

See also