Tollygunge

Hello, friends. After couple of days I am back again with another story of this City of Joy. I said it quite often that name doesn't come at random. So, today we are going to unfold the name 'Tollygunge'. Obviously this is not the only name which Tollygunge ever have. The first name of this place was 'Rasha Pagla'. Sounds weird isn't it? Well, behind this name we have two theories. The first one is - It was believed that in this place there was a village which was named after a Sadhu called 'Rasha Pagla'. Somewhat like Vabha Pagla. The second theory is quite weird. Before 1847 we have only one mental asylam which was in Rasha road means in today's Deshopran Sashmal road. After some time it was shifted to Hastings and the new building of the mental asylam is now known as PTS- Police training school. From mental asylam or in bengali 'Paglagarod' to 'Rasha Pagla'. Well, this is obviously the old name but what about the new one.

Well, through our city flows the Adi Ganga( not nowadays). Around 16th century the changed it's course and the Adi Ganga became a small ditch which was known as Govinda Pure er Khari. This name changed to Surman's Canal when East India Company's Jon Surman started to live beside it. This guy, Jon Surman went to Delhi in 1715 and received a 'Farman' from Samrat Farookh Siyar that East India Company will not pay any taxes for their business here. At Dalhousie, just beside the tomb of Job Charnock there is a tomb of Dr. Willia Hamilton. He also went to Delhi with Jon Surman in 1715. Cut to 50 years later. Army Engineer Captain William Tolly started to live here. In 1775, he gave a proposal to East India Company as a Major that he wants to wide up the Surman's Canal so that all the big ships can carry their loads upto Garia. East India Company accepted this proposal and Surman's Canal became 'Tolly Canal'. The whole area started to develop. William Tolly set up a  market their and the name of that market, yes today's Tollygunge. William Tolly also purchased a house from Hastings and the name of that house is 'Belvedere'. Today's National Library.

Walking through Biswakosh Lane

As a Game of Thrones fan I can say in this month of September that 'Winter is coming'. We all know in winter in Kolkata lots of fairs take place. But among them my favourite is Kolkata Book Fair. We have world's largest open air book fair and we should be very proud of that. I found the history of bengali books is very interesting and also important for us to remember. The first bengali newspaper was published from Srirampur and it was published by the two of the famous Srirampur trio - William Kerry and William Word. The newspaper was 'Samachar Darpan'. But, wait why I am telling story about Srirampur. Well, today I am going to tell you about a person who's ancestors used to live in Srirampur in a place called Mahesh. The second oldest RathaYatra is held here at Mahesh. The oldest obviously Puri. His ancestors settled here in our Kolkata near SyamBazar. I spent my college life there. So, while roaming around  I found this great story about this man, Nagendra Nath Basu.

He was born on 6th of July in 1866. He was a brilliant student and later found a membership in Asiatic Society. He edited an English to Bengali dictionary name 'Sobdendu Mohakosh'. He was just 18 years old then. But, the main reason we should remember him is an editor of 1st Bengali Encyclopedia. This work of Bengali Encyclopedia was started by Rongolal Basu and Troilokyonath Mukherjee in 1885. After three years at the age of 22 Nagendra Nath Basu started editing it. After 22 years of hard work in 1911 he finally finished the work. In 1933 he started to edit the second edition of Bengali Encyclopedia but after finishing the 4th volume( the 1st edition contained 22 volumes) in 1938 he passed away. 17th March 1915 to honour a great work of dedication of a great Bengali, Kolkata Corporation decided to change the name of the lane where Nagendra Nath Basu used to live. The previous name of that road was Kata Pukur By Lane. In 1915 it changed into 'Biswakosh Lane'. Even now in that road lives Sambhu Nath Basu, the Grand son of Nagendra Nath Basu. But, this is not the only road in Kolkata which is named after a Book. At the Hazra - Lansdowne crossing there is road called ' Swarnalata St', Which is named after the novel of Tarak Nath Ganguly. As I said earlier, We have world's largest open air book fair in our city. It is obvious here isn't it???

Borgi Elo Deshe

When I was a child my mother used to sing a song to put me into bed. I was very charmed by her singing and the way of singing. The song she used was ' খোকা ঘুমালো পাড়া জুড়ালো বরগি এল দেশে'. Well at that time I didn't know the what is the meaning of the song. But, after sometime i wondered who are these বরগি ? Did they come here ? Well, I am going to tell you the most fascinating story about our Bengal and the city of joy. For that we have to take a ride in a time machine and go back to 1550. In the African continent there is a country name Ethiopia. In that country in a small village near Harar a son was born to a very poor family. His parents were so poor that they sold their son as a slave. That son , after serving a lot of masters for many years finally came to Baghdad. In Baghdad , his new master Mir Kasim Al Baghdadi noticed that this boy is not like the others. He named that boy Ambar and educated him. Ambar after serving in Baghdad came to our India. In India Ambar was very Surprised to see that his new master is not an Indian, he is like him an African. Well, at that time it was pretty common here in our country slave to master and master to King. Ambar gathered some great fighters and started fighting for several Kings. By doing that he became a King maker. At that time Mughals were become a headache for the King of Ahmed nagar. Samrat Akbar was flourishing his kingdom. While fighting with the Mughals Ambar realized that in a combat in an open field it is very difficult to beat this Mughals. So , he invented a new tactics of war. Very few men riding in their horses will come like a thunder bolt and attack all the tents of Mughals, burn and loot them and before anybody realize what is happening they will vanish. Ambar named this new tactics of war as Bargirgiri. Ambar, where he was fighting is today's Maharashtra. So, some martha leaders also fight with him. Among them one Maratha sardar learned this tactics very minutely and then passed it to his son. The name of this Maratha leader was Sahuji Bhosle and his son is known as Chatrapatti Shivaji.

In, 1741 , in Bengal the grand father of Siraj-Ud-Doulah, Ali bardhi Kha was the Nawab. Well, he came into power not in good way. He killed his previous king Sarfaraz Khan and became Nawab. The brother-in- law of Sarfaraz Khan was Rustam Jang , who was the Nayeb of Orissa at that time. Ali Bardhi Kha defeated him as well and captured Orissa. Now, this Rustam Jang went to Nagpur and complained to the Marathas. Maratha Army general Raghuji Bhosle sent an army under Bhaskar Pandit. If they only give the Orissa back to Rustam Jang, then there will be no problem. But when they saw the Sonar Bangla they couldn't ressist themselves. 1741, this Martha Army , trained by Sahuji Bhosle used the tactics of Ambar which is called Bargirgiri. The people of Bengal named them বরগি . From 1741 to 1751 they looted, killed, demolished this Sonar Bangla. Around 4 lakh bengalees died. With these constant attacks East India Company was very worried aboout their Calcutta. To save a city you can only do two things - Go up or Go down. Go up means to build a wall all over Calcutta, but in order to do so the company will become penniless .So, they decided to dig up a ditch. Which is called the Maratha Ditch. The ditch was to long on paper. Syambazar, Entally, Camak st, Park st evertything came under this. But as I said it was on paper. In first 6 monthes only 3miles of the 6 miles ditch was digged up. Ali Bardhi Kha then made a peace tretty with the Marathas and the attack was stopped. As a result it left a 3miles long ditch. The people of Calcutta started to throw their garbages there and the ditch became dirty and started to spread obnoxoius smell. Seeing there is no way out Lord Wellesley ordered to close it immedietly. Do you know what that ditch has became today. Lower and Upper Circular Road. Yes, AJC and APC . Only in BagBazar there is road is named as Maratha Ditch Lane. The memory of that attack is still remembered in our songs and as landmarks in this City of Joy.

Bagbazar

Hello friends. Have you ever wondered why the names of some places in this city of joy are unique? Well, I have a belief that name doesn't come at random. Do you know the story behind the name 'BagBazar'? When I was a child  I thought that maybe the people of that area sell tigers or 'Bagh'[ in bengalli]. But it is BagBazar, not BaghBazar. So, are you ready to hear the story?

Well, the main character of this story was Captain Charles Perin. He was a businessman and was a very wealthy person. In 1707, he established a huge BaganBari near the river Ganges. One side of that was Haralal Mitra St, and on the other side was Chitpur Road, today's Rabindra Sarani. But sadly he died in 1708. After his death, his BaganBari was sold in an auction. After some time it was bought by British East India Company and they built an Ordnance factory there. They also built a small fort in the North-Western corner of the house, Which was called 'Perin's Readout'. It was more likely a military base camp to prevent any kind of attack from this side. So, when Siraj attacked in 1756, the army suffered a great resistance from Perin's Readout. After sometime when the army of the Nawab noticed there is no way out they crossed a ditch to enter Kolkata. British lost the battle. But after that nobody attacked Kolkata in that fashion. So, the use of Perin's readout became less. Everyone forget about it. But, up to then, the BaganBari was surrounded by a big market. Perin Sahab Ka Bagicha[ Bagan] or 'Bag' and a market or 'Bazar' in the surrounding. So, the name must be 'BagBazar'. Interesting isn't it? But, Have you noticed I have told you that the army of the Nawab had to cross a 'Ditch'? Do you know the story of that? No, well, I believe you have also crossed the ditch several times. I will tell you the story but not today. Goodbye and love Kolkata. 

Maidan

Hello, friends. In my last blog, I promised that I will come back with Nawab Siraj-Ud-Doulah and his army. Well, here I am. Today, I am going to tell you the story of the lungs of Kolkata, Maidan. In winter, people of Kolkata visit this place in a bulk. Do any other city has a large open space like this? I doubt it. But, what is this Maidan doing in the center of a city? For that, we need to go back to 262 years.

1756, British East India Company was conducting their business from  Fort William at Dalhousie Square. Problem is the goods and stuff of Chandannagar or I can say the French East India Company. It appeared to the British that there will be a chance of fighting they started to garnish the old Fort William with more weapons. This news arrived at Murshidabad, where the last independent Nawab of Bengal Siraj-Ud-Doulah ruled. He sent an emissary and warned the British that-" In my rule, I will not tolerate any private wars by you. You should sue for peace." As a reply, Roger Drake, the Governor-General of Fort William at that time wrote," In the late war between our nation and the French, they had attacked and taken the city of Madras. We are under some apprehension that they will act the same in Bengal". Shortly I don't care about your rule, I will do whatever my heart desires. Well, you know you can't talk to a Nawab like that. As a result, Nawab Siraj-Ud-Doulah attacked Kolkata in 1756 with 50,000 soldiers. In Kolkata, the number of British were only around 300. Siraj demolished the British as the old Fort William had a very chaotic surrounding. After that 1757, Plassey, Mirjafar etc we all know the story. But the British realized their mistakes and now they want to build a new fort in an open space. So, they said to the villagers of Govindpura-"Leave". They built a new fort with open spaces in three sides at the bank of river Ganges. That is why even today also, Kolkata Maidan is a property of Military.  18553ccbb8d9136dd995534581541b7e7d826fdb21d003c5dc

Victoria Memorial

Hi, friends. Today I am going to tell you some interesting and unknown facts about the city of joy, Kolkata. If you are a Bengali, maybe you are proud of this city because it contains rich culture. But one of the main attractions of this city of Bengalese,[ I can say] was built by the British, this is not fare. But is it really? Yes, I am talking about Victoria Memorial. Ready to hear the story. So, we have to go back to 117 years. 1901, 22nd January at Osborn house at the age of 81 years Queen Victoria died.

The British Government announced to build small memorials all over India. But, the resistance came from Lord Curzon. He said, " Small memorials for queen and that too in the capital city, the question doesn't  arise." Build something which will be truly admired and appreciated all over the World and there is a matter of competition with the Taj Mahal as well. But there is a big problem. Money. Who will provide that? The East India Company sought help from the Indians. Indians and the British Who lived in Kolkata at that time gave money from the core of their heart. But who will build this mammoth architect? British Government handed over the responsibility to Martin and Co. and they did it pretty well. But this company is half British and half Bengali. One of the partners was Tomas Aquinas Martin, But the other was known as R.N. Mukherjee or  Rajendra Nath Mukherjee. We have a road in his memory at Kolkata which is R.N.Mukherjee Road. There is also a statue of him in the premises of Victoria Memorial.
I hope you enjoyed this. We will meet again soon with Nawab Siraj o Doulla and his army. Goodbye.

My first post

Hi, there. My name is Koushik and this is my first blog post. Get ready for exciting posts. I hope that you will love it.

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