Jorasanko

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settlement_type =Neighbourhood in Kolkata (Calcutta)
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image_caption = Jorasanko Thakur Bari, now Rabindra Bharati University


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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 = # 26
subdivision_type4 = Metro Station
subdivision_name4 = Girish Park
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leader_title = MLA
leader_name = Dinesh Bajaj
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population_as_of = 2001
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population_total = 34819
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timezone = IST
utc_offset = +5:30
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latd=23.8 |latm= |lats= |latNS=N
longd=88.25 |longm= |longs= |longEW=E
postal_code_type = PIN
postal_code = 700 006
area_code = +91 33
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Jorasanko ( _bn. জোড়াসাঁকো) is a neighbourhood in north Kolkata. It is so called because of the two ("jora") wooden or bamboo bridges ("sanko") that spanned a small stream at this point.

History

Apart from the distinguished seat of the Tagore family, traditionally known as the Jorasanko Thakur Bari, it was also home of the Singhas (including Kaliprasanna Singha), the Pals (including Krishnadas Pal), and the families of Dewan Banarasi Ghosh and Chandramohan Chatterji. “The area thus became the cradle of Bengal Renaissance.” Nair, P. Thankappan in "The growth and Development of Old Calcutta" in "Calcutta, the Living City", Vol I, edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, pp. 15 - 17, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-563696-1. ] It was earlier known as Mechuabazar. Deb, Chitra, "Jorasanko and the Thakur Family", in "Calcutta, the Living City", Vol I, edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, pp. 64-66, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-563696-1]

The earliest list of thanas (police stations) in Kolkata was prepared in 1785 for both police and municipal administration. Jorasanko was one of the 31 thanas then recorded.

Amongst the institutions in Jorasanko are – Adi Brahmo Samaj, the Jorasanko Bharati Natya Samaj, the Kalikata Haribhakti Pradayani Sabha, the Minerva Library and Oriental Seminary. The Oriental Seminary started in 1829 by the educator Gour Mohan Addy, was one of the earliest privately run, first-rate, Hindu supported modern school in Kolkata, open to middle and lower middle-class Hindu boys only. [ Kopf, David, "The Brahmo Samaj and the Shaping of the Modern Indian Mind", p 49, Princeton University Press.]

Rabindra Bharati University, the third university in Kolkata, was set up in 1962 in the Tagore family’s house at Jorasanko, primarily as a centre for music and fine arts, but extended subsequently to arts and humanities. [ Chaudhuri, Sukanta, in "Education in Modern Calcutta" in "Calcutta, the Living City", Vol II, edited by Sukanta Chaudhuri, p 205, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-563697-X.]

Rabindra Sarani

Jorasanko is located on Rabindra Sarani (earlier Chitpore Road.) “The great thoroughfare, which commencing in the extreme south, assumes the various names of Russa Road, Chowringhee Road, Bentick Street, Chitpore Road, and Barrackpore Trunk Road, forms a continuation of the Dum Dum Road and was the old line of communication between Morshedabad and Kalighat. It is said to occupy the site of the old road made by the Sabarna Roy Choudhurys, the old zemindars of Calcutta, from Barisha, where the junior branch resided, to Halisahar, beyond Barrackpore, which was the seat of the senior branch.” [ Cotton, H.E.A., "Calcutta Old and New", first published 1909, revised edition 1980, p 283, General Printers and Publishers Pvt Ltd. ] Some people refer to the entire stretch through which Chitpore Road ran as Chitpore or Chitpur. That includes Jorasanko.

Jorasanko Natyashala

There were two Jorasanko Natyashalas. The earlier one was organised by Peary Mohan Bose at his house on Banarasi Ghose Street, in Jorasanko. The only play staged was Shakespeare’s "Julius Caeser" on 3 May 1854. [cite web | url = http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/T_0148.htm | title = Theatre Stage
accessdate = 2007-04-24 | last = | first = | work = Banglapedia | publisher =Asiatic Society of Bangladesh ]

Ganendranath Tagore established the second Jorasanko Natyasala, a home theatre, in 1865 and staged "Krishnakumari" written by Michael Madhusudan Dutta that year itself. Young Jyotirindranath had the first opportunity to act in it in the role of Ahalyadevi.Bannerjee, Hiranmay, "Thakurbarir Katha", Bn icon, p.103 , Sishu Sahitya Sansad.] At first men played women’s roles, but subsequently women of the family also acted before an audience of friends and relatives and even late before the public.

As there were few good plays in Bengali, which could be taken up for staging, Ganendranath announced a prize for writing plays. "Nabanatak" written by Ramnarayan Tarkaratna won the first prize. He awarded the playwright Rupees two hundred (a princely sum in those days) and promised to bear the cost of printing a thousand copies of the play.Bannerjee, Hiranmay, p. 219.] [ Sengupta, Subodh Chandra and Bose, Anjali (editors), 1976/1998, "Sansad Bangali Charitabhidhan" (Biographical dictionary) Vol I, Bn icon, p. 127, ISBN 8185626650 ] Akshay Mazumder, Sarada Prasad Ganguly, Jyotirindranath Tagore and others took part in the acting. [cite web | url = http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/T_0148.htm | title = Theatre Stage | accessdate = 2007-04-24 | last = Mukhopadhyay | first = Ganesh | work = Banglapedia | publisher =Asiatic Society of Bangladesh ]

Recent developments

Buddhadev Dasgupta won the award for the Best Direction for the Year 2001 for the film Jorasanko Thakurbari for artistically unfolding the history of the house of the Tagores. [cite web | url = http://pib.nic.in/archieve/lreleng/lyr2002/rjul2002/26072002/r2607200224d.html | title = 49th National Film Award | accessdate = 2007-04-24 | last = | first = | work = Award for the Best Direction | publisher =Press Information Bureau, Government of India. ] Joanne Taylor who has written a book on the "Forgotten Palaces of Calcutta" was spell bound by the Jorasanko Thakur Bari. “These structures form the fabric of Kolkata’s history,” she says. [cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=26&id=146834&usrsess=1 | title = Charming Bricks | accessdate = 2007-04-24 | last = Paul
first = Mathures | work = Kolkata Unplugged | publisher =The Statesman]

Jorasanko is an important centre of shell industry in Kolkata. [cite web
url = http://www.craftandartisans.com/shell-craft-of-west-bengal.html | title = Shell Craft of West Bengal | accessdate = 2007-04-24 | last = | first = | work = Crafta and artisans of India | publisher =Craftsandartisans.com] However, the industry has not been in good shape in recent years. [cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=23&id=180393&usrsess=1 | title = A little more help needed but… | accessdate = 2007-04-24
last = | first = | work = Bengal Plus | publisher =The Statesman, 10 April 2007]

Politics

In the 2006, assembly elections, Dinesh Bajaj of AITC won the Jorasanko seat defeating Shyam Sundar Gupta of AIFB. Satya Narain Bajaj of AITC defeated Shyam Sundar Gupta of AIFB in 2001. Deokinandan Poddar of INC defeated Satish Narayan Bajaj of FBL in 1996, Sukumar Das of FBL in 1991 and 1987, and Shyam Sundar Gupta of FBL in 1982. Vishnu Kant Shastri representing JNP defeated Deokinandan Poddar of INC in 1977. [cite web | url = http://www.eci.gov.in/electionanalysis/AE/S25/partycomp143.htm | title = 143 - Jorasanko Assembly Constituency | accessdate = 2007-10-12 | last = | first = | work = Partywise comparison since 1977 | publisher = Election Commission of India]

Jorasanko is part of Calcutta North West (Lok Sabha constituency) [cite web
url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S25/WB_ACPC.pdf
title = General election to the Legislative Assembly, 2001 – List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies | accessdate = 2007-10-08 | last = | first = | work = West Bengal | publisher = Election Commission of India]

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