Katwa

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name=Katwa
type=taluk


latd = 23.65 | longd=88.13
state_name=West Bengal
district=Bardhaman
leader_title_1=MP
leader_name_1= Abu Ayesh Mondal
leader_title_2=MLA
leader_name_2= Rabindra Nath Chatterjee
altitude= 21
population_as_of = 2001
population_total= 71573
population_density= 8391
area_magnitude =
area_total= 8.53
area_telephone= 91 3453
postal_code= 713130
vehicle_code_range=
website =bardhaman.gov.in/
unlocode=
footnotes =

Katwa is a subdivision in the district of Bardhaman, West Bengal. The area has a rural charm and natural beauty, but many trading and other business activities has made it clumsy and congested. It is a good middle class residential area.

History

The small town has a historical background of five hundred years. The earliest name of Katwa was "Indranee Pargana". Later the name was changed to 'Kantak Nagari' and became the fort area of Murshid Kuli Khan, Nawab of Bengal. Katwa was invaded by the Bargis (break-away Maratha groups) several times.

This was the place where Sri Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu got "deeksha" from Sri Ishwarpuri. Since then, this small township has been a sacred place for the Vaishnavites.

Geography

Katwa is located at coord|23.65|N|88.13|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/28/Katoya.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Katwa] ] . It has an average elevation of m to ft|21|m|abbr=on. It is situated between the rivers Ajay River and Hooghly River and thus the east, west and north of the town is bounded by water. It is at the eastern end of the district and is 150km from Kolkata and 56km from Barddhaman Town.And recenly Govt. has announced the Broad gaged Railway Line between Burdwan and Katwa.

The weather/climate is similar to the rest of Gangetic West Bengal. One can have a good feel of all the six seasons.

Economy

Katwa in the recent years has seen a very significant development of economy. The general backbone of the economy had traditionally being farming and industries revolving around it. Recently though, the town has developed into a major trading hub, with a booming retail economy and flourishing services sector. Katwa also acts as an important transit point for agro-based products, which are transported to the cities after being brought here from nearby villages.

Recently, The Minister for Railways inaugurated the Broad Gauge line for Katwa Burdwan section. Economic prospects seem to be very bright as many investments are being planned for this soon to be an Industrial Hub.Recently Bengal Govt has started a mega power project at Katwa after which Katwa will become a landmark in Indian map.

Katwa is visited by the populace from its surrounding habitats and villages everyday in hundreds. They are used to their regular trips to this busy town mainly to avail the medical services offered at this place. Late Dr. Sanat Kumar Konar, Late Dr.S.K.Roy, Late Dr. Basanta Kumar Bandhopadhay and Late Dr. Nandagopal Chattopadhaya were pioneers for professional medical services in the town.

The town has a strong communications setup with most of the major telecommunications companies providing mobile and broadband internet facilities.

However, a major cause of concern is that Katwa is one of the areas of Bardhaman district which is affected by arsenic contamination of ground water. [ [http://www.soesju.org/arsenic/wb7.htm Arsenic contamination] ]

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Katwa had a population of 71,573. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Katwa has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 69%. In Katwa, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Katwa has a total area of 8.53 km² with population density being 8,391/km². [ [http://bardhaman.nic.in/census/popdensity.html#uui Population data on urban units of Bardhaman] ] Steady flow of refugees from East Pakistan swelled the population of the area in the fifties. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, "Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti" (History and Folk lore of Bardhaman District.), Bn icon, Vol I, p57, Radical Impression. ISBN 81-85459-36-3 ]

Culture

Festivals

Durga Puja is widely celebrated here, but Katwa is more famous for its traditional Kartik Puja. Which is rather known as "KARTIK LARAHAI". The whole town comes alive with pandals in each and every street. The celebration is not restricted to the townsfolk. People come in large niumbers from neighbouring villages. The entire atmosphere rivals that of a carnival. Apart from this all the other local festivals are celebrated widely.murundi is a small village 16 km from katawa.the traditional way of celebrating durga puja could be seen there.this puja is organised by singha(sinha) family (shri.MRIYUNJOY SINHA,BANKIM CHANDRA SINHA). one could see the two durga temples standing side by side at the entarance of the village.the celebration is said to be about 250 years old.

Education

Education standards aren't very high in the town as many students move out to study. However, The Society of Jesuits inaugurated St. Joseph School in November 2006. The school is said to meet education standards of present times.

High schools

Katwa Kashiram Das Institution This High school is named after the great writer of Holly Script "The Mahabharata" and this Instituation has given so many famous personalities like Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose and others.The school was established in 1857, the year of the 'Sepoy Mutiny'.

[http://www.kdinstitution.com] , Katwa Bharati Bhavan High School, Katwa D. D. C. Girls' High School, Katwa Janakilal Siksha Sadan, Katwa Ramkrishna high school, Katwa Balika Vidalaya, Kaseswari Girls school, St. Joseph School

Colleges

Katwa Mahavidyalaya [http://katwacollege.org] , Katwa Teachers' Training College [http://bed.katwacollege.org] , Bengal Institute of Technology(BIT) [http://www.webindia123.com/career/eng_dip/details.asp?uname=Bengal+Institute+Of+Technology%2C+Burdwan+]

Politics

Rabindranath Chatterjee of INC won the Katwa assembly seat in 2006, 2001, 1996 defeating his nearest rivals, Sudipta Bagchi, Kanak Kanti Goswami and Anjan Chatterjee, all of CPI (M) in the respective years. Anjan Chatterjee of CPI (M) won the seat in 1991 and 1987 defeating Rabindranath Chatterjee of INC. Haramohan Sinha of CPI (M) won the seat in 1982 and 1977 defeating Subrata Mukherjee of INC and Nityananda Thakur of JNP in the respective years. [ [http://archive.eci.gov.in/ElectionAnalysis/AE/S25/Partycomp280.htm Election Commission] Assembly election results 1977-2006. Click on Party-wise Performance of Political Parties for details. ]

Subrata Mukherjee of INC won the Katwa assembly seat in 1972. [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1972/StatReport_WB_72.pdf Assembly elections 1972] ] Haramohan Sinha of CPI (M) won it in 1971. [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1971/StatReport_WB_71.pdf Assembly elections 1971] ] Nityananda Thakur of INC won it in 1969. [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1969/StatReport_WB_69.pdf Assembly elections 1969] ] Subodh Chowdhury of CPI (M) won it in 1967. [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1967/Statistical_report_WB1967.pdf Assembly elections 1967] ] Subodh Chowdhury, representing CPI, won the seat in 1962. [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1962/StatRep_WB_1962.pdf Assembly elections 1962] ] Tarapada Cahudhuri of INC won it in 1957. [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1957/StatRep_WB_1957.pdf Assembly elections 1957] ] Subodh Chowdhury, representing CPI, won the seat in 1951. [ [http://eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_WestBengal.pdf Assembly elections 1951] ]

Abu Ayesh Mondal of CPI (M) won in the Katwa (Lok Sabha constituency) in the 2006 bye election subsequent to the death of sitting MP Mahboob Zahedi.

References

ee also

* Katwa (Lok Sabha constituency)