Shyambazar

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settlement_type =Neighbourhood in Kolkata (Calcutta)
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image_caption = Shyambazar fivendash point crossing with statue of Netaji Subhas


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = IND
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = West Bengal
subdivision_type2 = City
subdivision_name2 = Kolkata
subdivision_type3 = Ward
subdivision_name3 = # 11,12
subdivision_type3 = Metro Station
subdivision_name3 = Shyambazar
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timezone = IST
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postal_code_type = PIN
postal_code = 700 004
area_code = +91 33
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Shyambazar ( _bn. শ্যামবাজার) is a neighbourhood in north Kolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, in the Indian state of West Bengal. The area, under Shyampukur police station of Kolkata Police, [cite web | url = http://www.kolkatapolice.org/section.asp?PSID=1&Typ=PS
title = Shyapukur Police Station | accessdate = 2007-08-10 | last = | first = | work = | Kolkata Police] has been, along with neighbouring Bagbazar, the citadel of the Bengali aristocracy, in a part of what was earlier known as Sutanuti.Nair, P. Thankappan in "The Growth and Development of Old Calcutta", in "Calcutta, the Living City", Vol. I, edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, pp. 13-17, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-563696-3.]

Shyambazar-Hatibagan broadly covers Ward Nos. 11 and 12 of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. [Map no. 7, Detail Maps of 141 Wards of Kolkata, D.R.Publication and Sales Concern, 66 College Street, Kolkata – 700073]

The Japanese had dropped a bomb near Hatibagan market during World War II but it did not explode. [cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=6&id=26469&usrsess=1 | title = Hatibagan Market: Too strong for WW II, too weak for fire| accessdate = 2007-08-16 | last = | first = | work = Bengal | publisher = "The Statesman", 17 May 2002]

Origin of the name

There was a big market in the area, which Holwell called Charles Bazar. The present designation was conferred upon it by Sobharam Basak, in honour of Shyam Rai (or Gobinda), the attendant of the goddess Kali. The Basaks and the Setts were amongst the first to have settled in Sutanuti, after having cleared the jungles. Sobharam Basak was one of the wealthiest native inhabitants of 18th century Kolkata. [Cotton, H.E.A., "Calcutta Old and New", 1909/1980, p. 291, General Printers and Publishers Pvt. Ltd.]

Five-point Crossing

Growth and development of the neighbourhood and surrounding localities largely followed the construction of roads that opened up the area. Sutanuti had no roads, except the pilgrim path extending across it from Halisahar to Barisha. Chitpur Road (renamed Rabindra Sarani) was developed along this path. It passed through neighbouring Bagbazar and Chitpur. Road construction picked up in the early 19th century. The Lottery Commission (1817) and its successor the Lottery Committee (1836) opened up the native parts of old Kolkata. The main axial thrusts were from south to the north, parallel to the existing Chowringheendash Chitpur alignment.Lahiri Choudhury, Dhriti Kanta, "Trends in Calcutta Architecture", in "Calcutta, the Living City", Vol I, p.171]

The three-mile long Maratha Ditch was excavated in 1742 as a protection against the marauding Maratha soldiers then foraging in the countryside but who never came. [ Lahiri Choudhury, Dhriti Kanta, p 157] It was filled up in 1799 to build the Circular Road, that ran from Shyambazar, right around old Kolkata, covering the southern end of the Maidan. It was metalled in the early 19th century. Around the same time, the most important axial thoroughfare from south to north — Wood Street (portion renamed Dr. Martin Luther King Sarani), Wellesley Street (renamed Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Street), Wellington Street (renamed Nirmal Chandra Street), College Street and Cornwallis Street (renamed Bidhan Sarani) — was built by the Lottery Committee. The new road to Barrackpur (now called Barrackpur Trunk Road and partly Bidhan Sarani) and R.G.Kar Road also converged at the same point.Subsequently, the extension of Central Avenue (the Shyambazar end is now called Bhupen Bose Avenue), which was built by the Kolkata Improvement Trust formed in 1911, also converged on the same point, making Shyambazar five-point crossing one of the busiest street crossings in Kolkata.Nair, P.Thankappan, "Civic and Public Services in Old Calcutta", in "Calcutta, the Living City", Vol I, pp. 235-6]

Horse drawn tram cars were introduced up to Shyambazar in 1882 and in 1899, Calcutta Tramways Company Limited introduced electric traction. In 1902 the entire system was electrified. Subsequently, tramways were extended to Belgachia. In 1941, tram tracks were laid along Circular Road. For many years tram cars were the only form of mass transport in Kolkata. Although the first motor car appeared in Kolkata in1896, motor bus services started only in 1920.Shyambazar tram depot is on Bidhan Sarani, near the five-point crossing. Circular Road had a garbage clearance light railway up to the early fifties.

The Shyambazar station of Kolkata Metro is also located at Shyambazar fivendash point crossing. Belgachiandash Shyambazar section, along with Dum Dumndash Belgachia stretch, was opened on August 13,1994 and the Shyambazarndash Shovabazarndash Girish Park and Chandni Chowkndash Central sections were opened on February 19, 1995. Services on the entire stretch of Metro, from Dum Dum to Tollygunge were introduced from September 27, 1995 [cite web | url = http://www.kolmetro.com/history.html | title = Metro Railway, Kolkata | accessdate = 2007-08-16 | last = | first = | work = History | publisher = Kolkata Metro] While most of the metro railway was constructed by the cut and cover process, the Shyambazarndash Belgachia stretch was constructed by tunnelling.

hopping

Shyambazar is the focal point of shopping in north Kolkata. In fabrics and clothing, it can match College Street-Mahatma Gandhi Road crossing in central Kolkata or Gariahat in south Kolkata. In Jewellery, it can match Bowbazar in central Calcutta or Gariahat in south Kolkata. The once famous house of jewellers, M B Sircar of Shyambazar, has given way to numerous shops of descendants using variations of the name, all across the city. [cite web | url = http://cityofpalaces.tripod.com/shopping.htm | title = Shopping | accessdate = 2007-08-16 | last = | first = | work = | publisher = Focus Calcutta Initiative, Inc] In sweet meat, the old favourites of Shyambazar are Dwarik Ghosh and Sen Mahasay. Old timers will remember shops such as sweet-meat seller Jalajog or a popular restaurant like Golbari.

In traditional Bengali families, new clothes are a must for the Bengali New Year. Braving the scorching afternoon heat and drizzles in the evening, people throng at roadside shops for the Chaitra sale offering attractive concessions. Shyambazar vies with New Market and Gariahat as the most crowded markets in Kolkata. [cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=22&id=180994&usrsess=1 | title = Time for merriment | accessdate = 2007-08-16 | last = Ghosh | first = Arunima | work = Kolkata Plus | publisher = "The Statesman", 4 April 2007] The Shyambazarndash Hatibagan area also caters extensively to customers on the eve of Durga Puja and for weddings, apart from daily necessities. A newspaper columnist wrote, “A formidable matron with husband and children in tow wading through the crowds at Gariahat and Shyambazar is a familiar sight on the eve of Poila Baishakh. [cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=11&id=142025&usrsess=1 | title = Bengali new year | accessdate = 2007-08-16 | last = | first = | work = Notebook | publisher = The Statesman 10 April 2006]

Shyambazar has two regular markets — Shyambazar and Hatibagan. As Shyambazar is a popular shopping area, the footpaths have virtually been taken over by hawkers, who spread out their fare all over the place. It may be recalled that Kolkata Municipal Corporation had conducted Operation Sunshine in 1996 to remove hawkers from Gariahat and Shyambazar. Following the hawker removal drive, KMC had issued a notification imposing certain restrictions on the movement of hawkers on 21 streets in the city. However, everything seems to be back to the square one. [cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=23&id=112629&usrsess=1 | title = State to regulate hawker movement in Kolkata | accessdate = 2007-08-16 | last = | first = | work = | publisher = "The Statesman", 28 July 2005] In 2002, a decision was taken by the KMC to keep one-third of the pavement vacant for passers-by. [cite web | url =http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=6&id=29029&usrsess=1 | title = Oh Kolkata! Pavements are for pedestrians | accessdate = 2007-08-16 | last = | first = | work = A Better Kolkata | publisher = "The Statesman", 10 June 2002]

ports

As Shyambazar is a crowded residential and shopping locality, there are few play grounds here. However, Mohun Bagan AC, one of Kolkata’s leading sports clubs, had its first play ground at what is now Mohun Bagan Row. A plaque announces that the first play ground was in Mohun Bagan Villa from 1889-1892. Kolkata has a deep passion for football but other sports too have developed with time and have gained their share of importance and popularity as well. Tennis is one of them. Shyambazar Tennis Club operates regularly at ----Deshbandhu Park. [cite web | url = http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/india/kolkata/entertainment-&-recreation-in-kolkata/sports-in-kolkata/tennis-in-kolkata.html | title = Shopping | accessdate = 2007-08-16 | last = | first = | work = | publisher = Asia Rooms.com]

Entertainment

Shyambazar has traditionally been an entertainment neighbourhood. Nabin Chandra Basu staged the first Bengali production "Bidyasundar" at his Shyambazar home theatre in 1835. [cite web | url = http://www.catchcal.com/kaleidoscope/calcutta_theatre/introduction.asp
title = Introduction | accessdate = 2007-08-16 | last = | first = | work = | publisher = Catchcal] Later in the 19th century, crucial roles were played by Bagbazar Amateur Theatre and Shyambazar Natya Samaj, in highlighting the demand for public commercial theatres open to the public, as opposed to private home theatres of the rich. [Raha, Kiranmay, "Calcutta Theatre 1835-1944", in "Calcutta, the Living City", Vol I, p. 188]

It is Star Theatre which had been the focus of attention in Shyambazar. When the land of Star Theatre at Beadon Street was sold, the dramatic group purchased a land at 76/3, Cornwalis Street (renamed Bidhan Sarani), near Hatibagan Bazar, and built a new Star Theatre. It was famous for over 100 years and during the period nearly 250 Bengali dramas of more than 80 playwrights were performed by different producers. More than 12 Hindi dramas were also staged at the Theatre. Unfortunately a fire destroyed the glorious Star Theatre on 16 October 1991. [cite web | url = http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/T_0148.htm | title = Theatre Stage | accessdate = 2007-08-16 | last = Mukhopadhyay | first = Ganesh | work = Banglapedia | publisher = Asiatic Society of Bangladesh] It has again been built but it has failed to regain its old glory. Now, cinema shows are held in the auditorium. [cite web | url = http://kolkata.justdial.com/star-theatre_beadon-st_Kolkata_purynvbbiq.htm
title = Star Theatre | accessdate = 2007-08-16 | last = | first = | work = | publisher = justdial.com]

Nandikar, one of the leading theatre groups in Kolkata is based in Shyambazar. [cite web | url = http://www.karmayog.org/nonprofits/nposubcatdisplay.asp?r=235&sucatid=266
title = Nandikar Inc | accessdate = 2007-08-16 | last = | first = | work = | publisher = Karmayog]

With five cinema halls — Radha, Rupbani, Minar, Mitra and Darpana — in a row along Bidhan Sarani, Shyambazar was called cinema neighbourhood. The Bengali films that they screened were particulalrly popular with the housewives, who used to crowd the afternoon shows. Talkie Show House in Phariapikur was an outlet mostly for English films. With the advent of television both theatre and cinema has been badly hit.

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