Hooghly district is one of the 23 districts in the Indian state of West Bengal. The headquarters of the district is Hugli-Chuchura. The district is named after the Hooghly River and is located in the Burdwan division. There are four subdivisions of the district: Chinsurah Sadar, Serampore, Chandannagore, and Arambagh.
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History
The district of Hooghly derived its name from the town of Hooghly on the west bank of the Hooghly River about 40 km north of Kolkata. This town was a major river port for trade in India before colonization.
The district has thousands of years of rich heritage as part of the Bengali kingdom of Bhurshut. In 1536 Portuguese traders obtained a permit from Sultan Mahmud Shah to trade in this area. In those days the Hooghly River was the main route for transportation and Hooghly served as an excellent trading port.
Within a few decades, the town of Hooghly turned into a major commercial centre and the largest port in Bengal. In 1579–80, Mughal Emperor Akbar gave permission to a Portuguese captain Pedro Tavares to establish a city anywhere in the Bengal province. They chose Hooghly, and it became the first European settlement in Bengal. In 1599, the Portuguese traders built a convent and a church in Bandel. This was the first Christian church in Bengal and is known as ‘Bandel Church’ today.
The Portuguese traders started slave trading, robbery and converting natives into Christians by pressure. At one point they stopped paying taxes to the Mughal Empire. As a result, Emperor Shah Jahan ordered the then-ruler of Bengal province, Qasim Khan Juvayni, to blockade the city of Hooghly. This led to a war in 1632 in which the Portuguese were defeated.
Among other European powers that came to Hooghly were the Dutch, the Danish, the British, the French, the Belgians and the Germans. Dutch traders centred their activities in the town Chuchura which is south of Hooghly. Chandannagar became the base of the French and the city remained under their control from 1816 to 1950. Similarly, the Danish establishment in settlement in Serampore (1755). All these towns are on the west bank of the Hooghly River and served as ports. Among these European countries, the British ultimately became most powerful.
Initially the British were based in and around the city of Hooghly like traders from other countries. In 1690 Job Charnock decided to shift the British trading centre from Hooghly-Chinsura to Calcutta. The reason behind this decision was the strategically safe location of Calcutta and its proximity to the Bay of Bengal. As a result, trade and commerce in the Bengal province shifted from the town of Hooghly to Calcutta. Hooghly lost its importance as Calcutta prospered.
Tarakeswar Temple
The Taraknath Temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva worshiped as Taraknath, is a major pilgrimage spot in the town of Tarakeswar. Built in 1729, the temple is an ‘atchala’ structure of Bengal temple architecture with a ‘natmandir’ in front. Close by are the shrines of Kali and Lakshmi Narayan. Dudhpukur, a tank to the north of the Shiva temple is believed to fulfil the prayers of those taking a dip in it.
Pilgrims visit the temple throughout the year, especially on Mondays. Thousands of pilgrims visit Tarakeswar on the occasions of Shivaratri and ‘Gajan’, the former taking place in Phalgun (Feb-March) while the latter lasts for five days ending on the last day of Chaitra (mid-April). The month of Sravana (mid-July to mid-August) is seen to be auspicious for Shiva when celebrations are held on each Monday.
Geography
The district is flat, with no place having an elevation of more than 200 meters. The River Hooghly borders it to the east. Another major river is the Damodar. The district is bordered by Howrah district to the south, Purba Bardhaman District to the north, and to the east by the River Hooghly. Bankura District lies to the north-west, with Paschim Medinipur District to the south-west.
Economy
Hooghly is one of the most economically developed districts in West Bengal. It is the main jute cultivation, jute industry, and jute trade hub in the state. The jute mills are along the banks of the river Hooghly in Tribeni, Bhadreswar, Champdani and Sreerampur.
There are a number of industrial complexes including one of the largest car manufacturing plants in India, the Hindustan Motors plant in Uttarpara.
It was also home to the Singur Tata Nano controversy. Hindustan Motors plant was closed in 2014.
Bandel Thermal power plant and Tribeni tissue plant (ITC) are running smoothly.
Divisions
Administrative subdivisions
The district comprises four subdivisions: Chinsurah, Chandannagore, Srirampore and Arambagh.
Chinsurah subdivision consists of two municipalities (Hugli-Chuchura and Bansberia) and five community development blocs: Balagarh, Chinsurah–Mogra, Dhaniakhali, Pandua and Polba–Dadpur.
Chandannagore subdivision consists of Chandannagar municipal corporation and three municipalities (Bhadreswar, Champdani and Tarakeswar) and three community development blocs: Haripal, Singur and Tarakeswar.
Srirampore subdivision consists of six municipalities (Serampore, Uttarpara Kotrung, Dankuni, Konnagar, Rishra and Baidyabati) and four community development blocks: Chanditala–I, Chanditala–II, Jangipara and Sreerampur Uttarpara.
Arambagh subdivision consists of Arambag municipality and six community development blocks: Arambag, Khanakul–I, Khanakul–II, Goghat–I, Goghat–II and Pursurah.
Hugli-Chuchura is the district headquarters. There are 23 police stations, 18 development blocks, 12 municipalities and 207 gram panchayats in this district.
Other than municipality area, each subdivision contains community development blocks that are divided into rural areas and census towns. There are 41 urban units: 12 municipalities and 64 census towns.
Two municipalities: Hugli-Chinsurah and Bansberia
Balagarh community development block consists of rural areas with 13 gram panchayats and four census towns: Jirat, Sripur, Badhagachhi, Mirdhanga.
Chinsurah Mogra community development block consists of rural areas with 10 gram panchayats and eight census towns: Kodalia, Raghunathpur, Madhusudanpur, Amodghata, Shankhanagar, Chak Bansberia, Kulihanda, Simla.
Assembly constituencies
The district is divided into 18 assembly constituencies:
12 constituencies Balagarh, Dhaniakhali, Khanakul and Goghat constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates. Along with two assembly constituencies from Howrah district, Jangipara, Chanditala, Uttarpara, Sreerampur and Champdani constituencies form the Sreerampur Lok Sabha constituency. Chandannagar, Singur, Chunchura, Balagarh, Saptagram, Pandua and Dhanekhali constituencies form the Hooghly Lok Sabha constituency. Tarakeswar, Pursurah, Khanakul, Arambagh, Haripal and Goghat constituencies are part of the Arambagh Lok Sabha constituency, which contains two assembly segments in Paschim Medinipur district.
As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in the West Bengal, the district will be divided into 18 assembly constituencies: Balagarh, Dhanekhali, Arambag and Goghat constituencies will be reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates. Along with two assembly constituencies from Howrah district, Uttarpara, Sreerampur, Champdani, Chanditala and Jangipara constituencies will form the Sreerampur (Lok Sabha constituency). Singur, Chandannagar, Chunchura, Balagarh, Pandua, Saptagram and Dhanekhali constituencies will form the Hooghly (Lok Sabha constituency). Haripal, Tarakeswar, Pursurah, Arambag, Goghat and Khankul constituencies will be part of the Arambag (Lok Sabha constituency), which will contain one assembly segment in Paschim Medinipur district.
Police administration
Hooghly District comes under Burdwan Police Range. Hooghly Rural Police District was created on 30 June 2017, curbing out of erstwhile Hooghly district. Presently it consists of sixteen police station with jurisdiction, one women police station and one Cyber Police Station. The head quarter of Hooghly Rural Police District was shifted to Kamarkundu under Singur PS from Chinsura.
Chandannagar Police Commissionerate was formed after bifurcation of the Hooghly Police District, and has nine police stations under its jurisdiction established on 30 June 2017, is a police force with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within certain urban parts of Hooghly district. The Commissionerate is part of the West Bengal Police, and comes under the Department of Home & Hill Affairs, Government of West Bengal.
For the functioning of 23 police stations of the district, District Intelligence Branch, District Enforcement Branch and District Reserve Police Force SP, Hooghly is assisted by three additional superintendents:
HQ: Having his office at Chinsurah, he looks after the Sadar Sub-Division and District Police Force, being assisted by Dy.S.P. (HQ) and Dy.S.P. (D&T).
Industrial: He is in Serampore. He is the supervising officer for Serampore and Chandernagore Sub Divisions, assisted by SDPO: Serampore and SDPO: Chandernagore.
Rural: He is in Arambagh and is the supervising officer for Arambagh Sub Division; being assisted by SDPO: Arambagh.
Transport
Rail
The railway communication of the district, especially at the suburban area, are available throughout the district.
There are four junction stations in Hooghly:
Bandel Junction railway station
Dankuni Junction railway station
Sheoraphuli railway station
Kamarkundu
The railway is under Howrah Division. The Howrah – New Delhi Rajdhani Route passes through the district
Bus
There are several bus stands in Hooghly district. Grand Trunk Road passes through the district and Private and Govt. buses are available.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census Hooghly district has a population of 5,519,145, roughly equal to the nation of Denmark or the US state of Wisconsin. This gives it a ranking of 16th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 1,753 inhabitants per square kilometre (4,540/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 9.49%. Hugli has a sex ratio of 958 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 82.55%. 38.57% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 24.35% and 4.15% of the population respectively.
Religion
Hindus are the majority community in the district. Muslims are the largest minority, concentrated more in rural areas.
Language
At the time of the 2011 census, 87.49% of the population spoke Bengali, 7.59% Hindi, 2.37% Santali and 1.72% Urdu as their first language. Hindi and Urdu speakers are predominantly found in urban areas.
Education
There are 2992 primary schools, 408 high schools, 127 higher secondary schools, 22 colleges, and 6 technical institutes in Hooghly district.
Notable institutions include:
Balagarh Bijoy Krishna Mahavidyalaya
Chatra Nandalal Institution
Furfura Fatehia Senior Madrasah established in 1902
Government College of Engineering & Textile Technology, Serampore
Hooghly Branch Government School
Hooghly Collegiate School established in 1812
Hooghly Madrasah established in 1817
Hooghly Mohsin College established in 1836
Mahesh High School
Mahesh Sri Ramkrishna Ashram Vidyalaya (Higher Secondary)
Rani Rashmoni Green University established in 2018
Sarat Centenary College
Saroj Mohan Institute of Technology
Serampore College
Serampore Girls' College
Serampore Girl's High School
Serampore Union Institution
St Joseph's Convent, Chandannagar
Historical places
Tarakeswar, home of Taraknath Temple.
Serampore, where the Senate of Serampore College (University) was established
Bandel, home of Bandel Church, West Bengal's oldest church
Furfura Sharif, Shrine of Pir Mohammad Abu Bakr Siddique
Itachuna Rajbari, the historical mansion in Itachuna
Serampore Rajbari, the heritage mansion at Chatra
Notable people
This is a list of notable people from Hooghly District:
Sridhara was an Indian mathematician, Sanskrit pandit and philosopher. Sridharacharya's formula is also known as the Quadratic formula or Sridharacharya's method.
Panchanan Karmakar, inventor of wooden Bengali alphabet typeface
Syamadas Mukhopadhyaya, Mathematician
Anil Chatterjee is an actor.
Brajendra Nath Seal was a humanist philosopher.
Diwan Mohanlal, born in Guptipara, was a Hindu King, and the Chief commander of Nawab Siraj au Daulla.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy, born in Radhanagore. He is considered as the "Father of the Indian Renaissance". He was one of the founders of the Brahmo Sabha, the precursor of the Brahmo Samaj, a socio-religious (Hindu) reform movement in Undivided India.
Nibaran Chandra Mukherjee was a Brahmo reformer.
Haji Muhammad Mohsin was a famous philanthropist.
Bhaduri Mahasaya, revered as Maharishi Nagendranath Bhaduri, once guided young minds as headmaster of Janai Training High School. Bhaduri Mahasaya was also known as "The Levitating Saint" due to accounts of his levitation during intense pranayama practices, as described by Paramahansa Yogananda in his Autobiography of a Yogi. His maternal uncle’s home in Chatra, Serampore was a cherished haven, where he often stayed and immersed himself in quiet contemplation.
Satish Chandra Mukherjee, born in Banipur, was a pioneer in establishing a system of national education in India.