Ghatal

Ghatal
ঘাটাল
Town
Ghatal

Location in West Bengal, India

Coordinates: 22°40′N 87°43′E / 22.67°N 87.72°ECoordinates: 22°40′N 87°43′E / 22.67°N 87.72°E
Country  India
State West Bengal
District Paschim Medinipur
Elevation 5 m (16 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 51,586
Languages
 • Official Bengali, English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Lok Sabha constituency Ghatal
Vidhan Sabha constituency Ghatal
Website paschimmedinipur.gov.in

Ghatal is headquarters of Ghatal subdivision in Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal, India. It also has a community development block. Ghatal is flood-prone area and in many years is flooded by the Rupnarayan River. This town is old one. The river Shilabati divided the town into two parts. The Ghatal Police station is lying at 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 the both sides in the banks, called "Bhasa Pool" (Floating bridge). Also one cement bridge is constructed on the main pitch road passing through Chandrakona Town, Ghatal, Daspur and Mechhogram.

History

Ghatal Sub-Division and the town Ghatal have their old history of civilization, business, struggle for freedom of India, Many Patriots, Social reformers, freedom fighters were the sons of this PS area. The river Darakeswar and Shilabati meet with rivers Jhumi and Damodar at a place named as Bandar (Port) 3 km (2 mi) East from Ghatal PS.This is the Subdivision of Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Patriot Pradyot Bhattacharya, Patriot Pravangsu Paul, Patriot Mohini Mondal, Raja Narendralal Khan, Patriot Manabendranath Roy and so many ever-memorable persons.

In ancient time when Tamralipta was important port for shipping for export and imoprt between Bangal and other countries including Sri Lanka. This Bandar of Ghatal was also used as port for anchoring boats and ships with goods.Ghatal had once become famous for manufacture of cotton,tusser silk,bell-metal utensils,earthen ware etc. and was so important that Dutch had a factory in the headquarters town, which is still used as a sub divisional courts and in the early days of British occupation three Commercial Residents were located in the locality to supervise local trade.The old industries like cultivation and weaving of silk and cotton for which Ghatal and his nearest areas were famous from ancient times were systematically wiped away by the policy of the East India Company's administration. Withdrawal of Company's investments, shrinkage in the marketability of textile goods at home and abroad and heavy competition of the foreign goods were responsible for the decline of textile industries in Ghatal and his nearest areas like Radhanagar, Khirpai, Chandrokona, Khrar. This area was also famous for sugar industry ( mainly in Radhanagar areas) in ancient times.

In 2002, Medinipur District was divided into two parts – Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur for the sake of administrative efficiency and expediency. Paschim Medinipur consists of four sub-divisions - Kharagpur, Medinipur Sadar, Ghatal, Jhargram. Ghatal sub-division now consists of five blocks- Chandrokona-I, Chandrokona-II, Daspur-I, Daspur-II, Ghatal and five municipalities- Ramjibanpur, Khirpai, Chandrokona, Kharar and Ghatal.

Geography

Ghatal is located at 22°40′N 87°43′E / 22.67°N 87.72°E.[1] It has an average elevation of 5 metres (16 feet). It is situated on the sides of river Shilabati at south, Dwarakeswar at east and Jhumi river other third side.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[2] 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.

As per 2001 census, Ghatal CD Block had a population of 190,705 out of which 96,605 wer males and 94,100 were females. Growth of population in the 1991-2001 decade was 11.83 per cent.[3]

Economy

Besides town area the people of the villagers basically earn their livlihood by producing crops, like Paddy, Potato, Wheat, Jute and vegetables of different kindes. Some people earn money by fishing and hawking and weaving. A good many of the inhabitants are used to leave their houses to different states like Maharastra and Gujrat and abroad in Dubai and other Arabian Countries to earn money by working as goldsmith and silversmith and employing themselves in private factoryis. A few of the percentage of the people are government employees, School Teachers and employed in other small private sectors.

The financial status of most of the people is in middle class and lower middle class category. There are some Muslim inhibitants in some villages. No communal tension exists. Manufacture of bell metal articles in Kharar Town under this subdivision is famous in the market of the state.

Climate

Moderate. But Ghatal is flood-prone area and flooded by the Shilaboti, Jhumi, Kethiya, Kansaboti and Rupnarayan River. Rice, Potato and other Vegetable farming are the main occupation of the people of this Subdivision.

Transportation

Ghatal is well connected by roads/highways with nearby cities like Kolkata, Howrah, Midnapore, Kanthi, Digha, Burdwan, Bankura. For local transportation Bus, Minibus, Cycle-rikshaws are available. Panskura Railway Station is the nearest railway station.

Education

There are number of well known schools and colleges in Ghatal.For higher education, There is a college named Ghatal Rabindra Satabarsiki Mahavidyalaya under Vidyasagar University. The literacy rate of Ghatal is 76%. The name of the schools are- 1. Ghatal Vidyasagar High School, 2. Rathipur Barada Banipith (H.S), 3. Ghatal Basantakumari Balika Vidyalaya, 4. Ghatal Gurudas High School, 5. Ghatal Yogoda Satsangha Sriyukteswar Vidyapith 6. Panchberia Ram Chandra Smritishiksha Mandir.There is also a non-governmental educational organization in Ghatal sub-division to help poor meritorious students named Rakshabandhan For Education.

Health

There is a hospital in the Ghatal town named Ghatal S.D Hospital. People of this subdivision mainly depends on this hospital. Ghatal town is famous for many private nursing home. There are 23 nursing homes in Ghatal. The name of the Private Hospital & Nursing Homes are- 1. GFC Hospital (জি.এফ.সি হাসপাতাল); 2. Lions Club Eye Hospital; 3. Dreamland Nursing Home 4.Jibandeep Nursing Home;5.Damodar Nursing Home 6.South Point Nursing Home 7.B.R.Sasmal Nursing Home 8.Ramkrishna Nursing Home 9.Bimal Sishu Sadan 10.Bidhan Nursing Home 11.Pal Nursing Home 12.Vibekanda Nursing Home 13.Shree Guru Nursing Home 14.Indrani Nursing Home 15.Moonlight Nursing Home 16.Sabita Nursing Home 17.Neramoy Nursing Home 18.Nebedita Nursing Home 19.Maity Nursing Home 20.Sunview Nursing Home 21.Sanjiban Nursing Home 22.Newlife Nursing Home. 23.Nightingle Nursing Home

Culture

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

The common people of this area maintained a culture something different from other parts of the district inconducting and observing their way of work in rituals and in customs. They are cherishing their old fashion and 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 opera acting on the stage dragged and pushed by the men on pitch road running through the town.

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

The Visalaxmi temple at Barada and Khipteswari temple at Ghatal are the main tourist attraction. There is one peculiar floating bridge on the river made of by joining some boats tied with rope from the both sides in the banks. This bridge is also called 'Bhasapool' which is one of the greatest tourist attraction in Ghatal. There is also an ashram named 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. Really it is a charming place. Here you can see several temples of Anukul Thakur. And also there is a large prayer room for the common people. In everyday huge number of people go to visit the temple and spend the few time in this silent area. The peoples of the Ghatal are very religious. There are many ashramas like Anukul Thakurer Satsanga ashram, Nigamanand er ashram, Ramkrishna Mission, Swami Debananda ashram etc.

Newspaper and Magazine

There are so many newspapers and Magazines published from Ghatal Subdivision. [1]Sthaniya Sambad (স্থানীয় সংবাদ), Editor Tripti Paul Karmakar, is the most popular and largely circulated newspaper in this subdivision. It has worldwide readers, Bengali who live apart from Ghatal they are fan of its ePaper. Besides that [2] Daspur Barta (দাসপুর বার্তা) Editor: Shyampada Patra, [3] Palli Prachar (পল্লী প্রচার) Editor: Alok Kumar Ghosh, [4] Shilaboti(শিলাবতী) Editor: Amiya Das Ghosh, [5] Chetua Sambad (চেতুয়া সংবাদ) Editor: Ashoke Chatterjee, [6] Sangrami Krishijibi Samachar (সংগ্রামী কৃষিজীবী সমাচার) Editor: Kamal Krishna Bera, [7] Satya Pathe Jatik (সত্য পথে যাতিক) Editor: Shantinath Pahari and [8] Ghatal Barta (ঘাটাল বার্তা)Editor: Gangadhar Roy are registered newspapers. [9] Biplabi Janakantha(বিপ্লবী জনকন্ঠ)Editor: Arun Kumar Paul and [10]Ekhan Ghatal(এখন ঘাটাল) Editor: Dibakar Shee are unregistered newspapers. [a] Srijan(সৃজন)Editor: Prof Laxman Karmakar, [b] Prakita Angikar(প্রকৃত অঙ্গীকার)Editor Ramranjan Roy and [c] Barne Barnan (বর্ণে বর্ণন)Editor: Arindam Prithibi are the popular magazine of Ghatal. Among them Srijan is an uncommon Magazine, readers say 'Srijan is the Desh of Ghatal' (ঘাটালের 'দেশ' পত্রিকা).

Notable People

Tourist Spot

References

  1. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Ghatal
  2. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  3. ↑ "Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 4, (erstwhile) Medinipur District". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved 2010-12-22.

4.How India clothed the world: the world of South Asian textiles, 1500-1850

5.History of Bagree-Rajya (Garhbeta)

6.Midnapore the Forerunner of India's Freedom Struggle

7.Changing Profile of the Frontier Bengal

8.District handbooks

External links