Ghatal

Ghatal is a city and a municipality in Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Ghatal subdivision.

This article is about the city in West Bengal, India. For 1 its namesake community development block, see Ghatal (community development block). For 2 its namesake subdivision, see Ghatal subdivision. For 3 its namesake parliamentary constituency, see Ghatal (Lok Sabha constituency).

Ghatal
City
Ghatal
Location in West Bengal, India
Ghatal
Ghatal (India)
Coordinates: 22.67°N 87.72°E / 22.67; 87.72
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictPaschim Medinipur
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • BodyGhatal Municipality
Area
 • Total10.40 km2 (4.02 sq mi)
Elevation
5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total54,591
 • Density5,200/km2 (14,000/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialBengali, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 codeIN-WB
Lok Sabha constituencyGhatal
Vidhan Sabha constituencyGhatal
Websitepaschimmedinipur.gov.in

History

In ancient times, when Tamralipta was an active port, Ghatal had its own ‘Bandar’ (port), 3 km east of Ghatal PS, used for anchoring boats and ships with goods. Now, the place is the confluence of the Dwarakeswar, Shilabati, Damodar and Jhumi. Ghatal was famous for manufacture of cotton goods, tussar silk, bell metal utensils etc, and the Dutch had a factory here. The activities continued till the early British period.[2]

In the early British period, Ghatal PS and Chandrakona PS were a part of Jahanabad (later Arambagh) in Hooghly district and were transferred in 1872 to Midnapore district. These became a part of the newly formed Ghatal subdivision in 1876. Daspur PS became a part of it in 1877. Ghatal municipality was formed in 1869.[3]

Geography
Cities and towns in Ghatal subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district
M: municipal city/ town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical/ religious centre
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

Ghatal is located at 22.67°N 87.72°E / 22.67; 87.72.[4] It has an average elevation of 5 metres (16 feet).

Ghatal is a flood-prone area and in many years is flooded by the Shilabati River. The river Shilabati divided the city into two parts. The Ghatal Police station lies on the west bank of the river. There is one peculiar floating bridge on the river made of by joining some boats tied with rope from both sides in the banks, called "Bhasa Pool" (floating bridge). Also, one cement bridge is constructed on the main pitch road or State Highway 4 passing through Chandrakona Town, Ghatal, Daspur, and Mechogram.

Area overview

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, scholar, social reformer and a key figure of the Bengal Renaissance, was born at Birsingha on 26 September 1820.[5][6]

Ghatal subdivision, shown in the map alongside, has alluvial soils. Around 85% of the total cultivated area is cropped more than once.[7] It has a density of population of 1,099 per km2, but being a small subdivision only a little over a fifth of the people in the district reside in this subdivision. 14.33% of the population lives in urban areas and 86.67% lives in the rural areas.[8]

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Demographics

As per 2011 Census of India, Ghatal had a total population of 54,591 of which 27,882 (51%) were males and 26,709 (49%) were females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 5,399. The total number of literate persons in Ghatal was 44,016 (89.48% of the population over 6 years).[9]

As of 2001 India census,[10] Ghatal had a population of 51,586. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Ghatal has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 69%. In Ghatal, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Civic administration

CD block HQ

The headquarters of Ghatal CD block is located at Ghatal.[11]

Police station

Ghatal police station has jurisdiction over Ghatal and Kharar municipalities and Ghatal CD block.[12][13]

Transportation

Ghatal is well connected by roads and highways with nearby cities like Kolkata, Howrah, Midnapore, Kanthi, Digha, Burdwan, Bankura. For local transportation buses (both state and private), minibusses, tempos and cycle-rickshaws are available. Panskura Railway Station is the nearest railway station. SH 4 passes through Ghatal.

Education

Ghatal Rabindra Satabarsiki Mahavidyalaya was established in 1961. Affiliated with the Vidyasagar University, it offers honours courses in Bengali, Sanskrit, English, political science, philosophy, history, physics, chemistry, mathematics, zoology, botany, geography, economics and accountancy, post graduate courses in Bengali and Sanskrit, and general courses in arts, science and commerce.[14]

Ghatal Government Polytechnic, established in 2016, offers diploma courses in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering.[15]

Ghatal Vidyasagar High School is a Bengali-medium coeducational institution established in 1886. The school has facilities for teaching from class V to class XII. It has a library with 11,000 books, 26 computers and a playground.[16] The school was founded by Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar.

Ghatal Basanta Kumari Girls High School is a Bengali-medium girls only institution established in 1957. The school has facilities for teaching from class V to class XII. It has a library with 2,000 books, 4 computers and a playground.[17]

Ghatal Yogoda Satsanga Sri Yukteswar Vidyapith is a Bengali-medium coeducational institution established in 1958. The school has facilities for teaching from class V to class XII. It has a library with 3,200 books.[18]

Culture

The common people of this area maintained a culture something different from other parts of the district in conducting and observing their way of work in rituals and customs. They cherish their customs. For example, the people celebrating the worship of Maa Sitala Buri and other Maa Sitalas in an around Ghatal Town used to carry hundreds of dhaks in procession and arrange open operas acting on the stage dragged and pushed by the men on pitch road running through the town.

Among many festivals in Ghatal Sishu Mela (around the month of February) is most popular. Many people of Ghatal town and its neighbouring blocks take part in the Sishu Mela. Vidyasagar Mela is also popular, which takes place in Birsingha (the birthplace of Iswarchandra Vidyasagar). The regular Bengali festivals like Durga Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Saraswati Puja and Kali Puja are well attended and observed with glorious themed pandals. Other common pujas in the worship of Sitala, Jagaddhatri, Holi, Janmastami, Bheema Puja, Jhulan also takes place.

Science exhibitions, seminars on science and literature, awareness programmes on health and agriculture are usually held in Ghatal Town hall. Besides that musical, dance and magic shows are also held in Ghatal Town hall.

The Visalaxmi temple at Barada and Khipteswari temple at Ghatal are the main tourist attractions. There is also the Kushpata Satsanga Ashram. The largest Thakur Anukul Chandra temple of West Bengal is situated on the bank of Shilabati River which is 1.5 km (1 mi) away from Ghatal Vidyasagar Setu. Here one can see several temples of Anukul Thakur. There is a large prayer room for the common people. Everyday a huge number of people goes to the temple to worship the GOD, spend some great time with their families and enjoy the silence with beautiful greenery on the banks of river Shilabati. There are many ashramas like Anukul Thakurer Satsanga ashram, Nigamanand er ashram, Ramkrishna Mission, and Swami Debananda ashram.

There is an Independent Short Film Production House Named Niltara Films. The Production house was established in 2018. It is situated on the river side of Silaboti near the electric office. Niltara Films has made different kinds of Short films and got many awards. Their most remarkable Project is Joker (Short Film -2019), The Stranger (short film – 2020). And their upcoming short film is Laxmi The Curse. It will be released in 2021. Niltara Films is the first Film making production House at Ghatal.

Temples

David J. McCutchion mentions:[19]

  • The Vrindaban Chandra temple as a West Bengal nava-ratna with ridged rekha turrets, built in 1794, with rich terracotta façade, it measures 17’ 6” square.
  • The Ragunatha temple at Nimtala as a nava-ratna with smooth rekha turrets, built in 1801 with rich terracotta facade; measuring 20’ 11” x 19’ 8”.
  • The Raghunatha temple as a small flat-roofed or chandni type, built in 1797, it has terracotta archway panels etc.
  • The Sridhara temple at Katan as a double storied flat roofed temple, the upper storey was added in 1885, with rich terracotta, measuring hh14’ 10” x 16’.
  • The Simhavahini temple as char-chala temple with a char-chala porch, built in 1490, with slight terracotta, measuring 13’ square + 8’ 9” square.
  • Vrindabana Chandra temple at Konnagar
  • Terracotta relief at Vrindabana Chandra temple
  • Shridharjiu temple of Jana family at Chauli
  • Terracotta panel in Sridharjiu temple
  • Simhavahini temple at Konnagar

The pictures are a part of Wiki Explores Paschim Medinipur programme, an initiative by West Bengal Wikimedians User Group

Tourist spots
  • Bhasapool (Polton Bridge) - Heritage of India
  • Kushpata Satsanga Ashram of Anukul Thakur
  • Visalaxmi Temple at Barada
  • Birsingha - birthplace of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
  • Eco park- picnic destination
  • Birsingha Bhagabati Vidyalaya (H.S) - established by Pandit Ishwar Vidyasagar

Notable people

Healthcare

Ghatal Subdivisional Hospital functions with 200 beds.[20]

As of 2019, Ghatal Superspeciality Hospital is functional, although there are complaints galore.[21]

References
  1. "Ghatal City".
  2. "Attractions of Paschim Medinipur". Ghatal. Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  3. "Ghatal Rabindra Satabarshiki Mahavidyalaya". GRSM. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  4. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Ghatal
  5. Murshid, Ghulam. "Vidyasagar, Pundit Iswar Chandra". Banglapedia. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  6. "Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar". www.whereincity.com. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  7. "District Human Development Report Paschim Medinipur, 2011". Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. pp. 27–28. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  8. "District Statistical Handbook Paschim Medinipur, 2013". Table 2.2, 2.4 (a). Department of Planning and Statistics. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  9. "2011 Census – Primary Census Abstract Data Tables". West Bengal – District-wise. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  10. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  11. "District Census Handbook: Paschim Medinipur" (PDF). Map of Paschim Medinipur with CD Block HQs and Police Stations (on the fifth page). Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal, 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  12. "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Paschim Medinipur". Tables 2.1, 2.2. Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  13. "District at a Glance". Paschim Medinipur District Police. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  14. "Ghatal Rabindra Satabarsiki Mahavidyalaya". GRSM. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  15. "Ghatal Government Polytechnic, West Bengal". GGP. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  16. "Ghatal V.H.S.U.Pry". Schools.org. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  17. "B.K.G. H S. U. Pry". Schools.org. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  18. "Ghatal Y.S.S.Y.V. Pry". Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  19. McCutchion, David J., Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal, first published 1972, reprinted 2017, pages 52,53, 63, 67, 71. The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, ISBN 978-93-81574-65-2
  20. "Health & Family Welfare Department" (PDF). Health Statistics - Hospitals. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  21. "খুদেকে নেবুলাইজার যন্ত্র দিল হাসপাতাল Hospital provides a nebuliser for a child". Ananada Bazar Patrika, 13 April 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2020.

Bibliography
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