Shobhabazar

Infobox Settlement
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settlement_type =Neighbourhood in Kolkata (Calcutta)
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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 = # 9
subdivision_type4 = Metro Station
subdivision_name4 = Shobhabazar-Sutanuti
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population_as_of =2001
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population_total =19937
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timezone = IST
utc_offset = +5:30
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latd=23 |latm=35 |lats=55.33 |latNS=N
longd=88 |longm=21 |longs=41.47 |longEW=E
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area_code = +91 33
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footnotes = Shobhabazar (also spelt Sovabazar) ( _bn. শোভাবাজার) is a neighbourhood in north Kolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, in the Indian state of West Bengal.

History

Sheths and Basaks, well-to-do traders at Saptagram, were among the first to settle in Sutanuti and are said to have cleared much of the jungles in the area. Neighbouring Shyambazar was named after the family deity of the Basaks, Shyam Roy (or Gobinda), the attendant of goddess Kali by Shobharam Basak, one of the richest native inhabitants of 18th century Kolkata.Cotton, H.E.A., "Calcutta Old and New", 1909/1980, p. 289-291, General Printers and Publishers Pvt. Ltd.]

Interestingly, no historian touches upon the origin of the name of the neighbourhood but all link its fame and growth to the Deb family, who settled there.

When Ramcharan Deb was murdered by Maratha marauders in the jungles of Midnapore, his widow came back to their house at Gobindapur with her three sons and five daughters. The house was washed away by the Hooghly River and they moved to Arpooly, and from there to Shobhabazar. Ramcharan’s youngest son Maharaja Nabakrishna Deb rose to fame and power.Bandopadhyay, Debashis, "Bonedi Kolkatar Gharbari", Bn icon, Second impression 2002, pp. 101-102, Ananda Publishers, ISBN 81-7756-158-8]

The glorious days of Shobhabazar starts with the decision of the British to build, after their decisive win in Battle of Plassey, the new Fort William in the heart of Gobindapur. The inhabitants of the village were compensated and provided with land in Taltala, Kumortuli and Shobhabazar. [ Cotton, H.E.A, p. 72]

Maharaja Nabakrishna Deb built his Rajbari (palace) at Shobhabazar. Some say that he acquired it from Shobharam Basak and made major extensions, matching his taste for pomp and grandeur.At least money was not in short supply. After the death of Siraj ud-Daulah, Nabakrishna Deb along with Mir Jafar, Amir Beg and Ramchand Roy earned eight crore rupees worth of treasures from the secret treasury. [Sengupta, Subodh Chandra and Bose, Anjali, "Sansad Bangali Charitabhidhan" (Biographical dictionary) Bn icon, Vol I, 1998 edition, p 242. ISBN 81-85626-65-0 ]

Maharaja Nabakrishna Deb is said to have constructed the road from Upper Chitpur Road (now Rabindra Sarani) to Upper Circular Road (now Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road) and named with his own name. However, while half of the street was merged with Grey Street (now Aurobindo Sarani), another half became Shobhabazar Street. Another street north of it was named Raja Nabakrishna Street..

Amongst those in the Deb family, who had streets named after them are: Raja Gopi Mohun Deb, Raja Sir Radhakanta Deb, Raja Rajendra Narain, Raja Mahendra Narain, Raja Debendra Narain (adopted side), Raja Raj Krishna, Taja Bahadur Kali Krishna, Maharaja Kamal Krishna, Maharaja Bahadur Sir Narendra Krishna, and Rajah Bahadur Harendra Krishna (own side)..

Geography

Shobhabazar is spread over Ward No. 9 of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and is bounded by Baghbazar on the north, Shyambazar on the east, Kumortuli on the south, and the River Hooghly on the west. ["Detail Maps 0f 141 Wards of Kolkata", D.R.Publication and Sales Concern, 66 College Street, Kolkata – 700073]

Demographics

Ward No. 9 under Shyampukur police station had a total population of 19,937 in the 2001 census, of which 10,973 were males and 8,964 were females.cite web | url = http://www.wbcensus.gov.in/DataTables/02/Table4_17.htm | title = Provisional Population Totals, Table 4| accessdate = 2007-10-10 | last = | first = | work = Population, Decadal Growth Rate, Density and General Sex Ratio by Residence and Sex, West Bengal/ District/ Sub District, 1991 and 2001| publisher = Census Commission of India]

Culture

Maharaja Naba Krishna Deb started the Durga Puja in Shobhabazar Rajbari in 1757. He set a pattern for the puja which became a fashion and a status symbol among the upcoming merchant class of Kolkata. The number of Englishmen attending the family Durga Puja became an index of prestige. Religious scruples fell by the wayside. The nautch girls were mostly from Muslim "gharanas". The Englishmen attending the dance-parties, dined on beef and ham from Wilson’s Hotel, and drank to their heart’s contentment. [Jaya Chaliha and Bunny Gupta, "Durga Puja in Calcutta" in "Calcutta The Living City" Vol II, edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, Oxford University Press, first published 1990, paperback edition 2005, pp 332-333. ISBN 0-19-563697-X ]

The Shobhabazar Durga Puja is split into two parts, near each other, but both the Pujas continue with their characteristic distinctions. Karttikeya is dressed in breaches worn by Englishmen. In most Bengali pujas Ganesha dons the traditional "dhuti-chadar", but at Shobhabazar he is an idol worshipped by the Marwari ancestors of Jagat Seth; and Durga wears jewellery designed after the Mughals or Nawabs of Oudh.cite web | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Kolkata/Old_is_gold_even_in_Pujas/articleshow/2477884.cms | title = Old is gold, even in Pujas | accessdate = 2008-02-15 | last = | first = | work = | publisher = "Times of India", 21 October 2007] In earlier days Nidhu Babu and kabials like Anthony Firingee and Bhola Moira vied for attention with the nautch girls and baijis.cite web | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/18600827.cms | title = Time stands still in rajader para | accessdate = 2008-02-08 | last = Rudra | first = Aeya | work = | publisher = "Times of India", 10 August 2002] As the non-Brahmin patrons of Sovabazar Rajbari were not allowed by tradition to offer "annobhog" or rice in any form, they offered homemade sweets to the goddess. For the past 250 years, generations of haluikars (traditional confectioners) from Bardhaman come down to the Sovabazar Rajbari and make lip-smacking delicacies like jibe gaja, khaja and nimki. [cite web | url = http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Opulence-dims-but-not-the-tradition/230401/ | title = Opulence dims but not the tradition | accessdate = 2008-02-15 | last = | first = | work = | publisher = "Indian Express", 20 October 2007]

It was in the Shobhabazar Rajbari "dalan" (courtyard) that Swami Vivekananda was accorded a civic reception after his return from the Parliament of the World's Religions at Chicago.

Sobhabazar Rajbari is identified as heritage building by Kolkata Municipal Corporation [cite web | url = http://www.wbtourism.com/kolkata/heritage_buildings.htm
title = Heritage buildings in Kolkata | accessdate = 2008-02-15 | last = | first = | work = | publisher = West Bengal Tourism ]

Others

Apart from the Debs, the Bhagyakul Roys and the Nattas (pioneers of jatra) have given the neighbourhood much of its architectural and cultural uniqueness. The Nattas’ putulbari (house of statues) used to be a major attraction for tourists. The Sovabazar club, founded in 1886, still organises football and badminton tournaments, and keeps younger generations attached to their roots.

References

ee also