Shyampukur | |
---|---|
Neighbourhood in Kolkata (Calcutta) | |
Country | India |
State | West Bengal |
City | Kolkata |
Ward | |
Metro Station | Shyambazar, Sovabazar |
Parliamentary constituency | Kolkata Uttar |
Assembly constituency | Shyampukur |
Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
PIN | 700 006 |
Area code(s) | +91 33 |
Shyampukur is a neighbourhood in north Kolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, in the Indian state of West Bengal. As a neighbourhood, it covers a small area but its importance is primarily because of the police station and the assembly constituency.
Shyampukur, like its neighbour Shyambazar, is likely to have been named in honour of Shyam Rai (or Gobinda), the attendant of the goddess Kali, the household deity of the Basaks, who with the Setts were amongst the first to have settled in Sutanuti, after having cleared the jungles.
Shyampukur is in the heart of what was Sutanuti. It was one of police stations mentioned in the earliest list of police stations of Kolkata prepared in 1785. After the Battle of Plassey, in 1757, the British settled down to more organised administration in Kolkata. One of the developments was the police station, which also provided civic facilities. The Police Commissioner doubled as Municipal Chairman till 1888. Shyampukur was one of the twenty-five Police Section Houses in 1888. Shyampukur was overtaken in importance by Shyambazar and Baghbazar, the area being the citadel of Bengali aristocracy.
Shyampukur police station of Kolkata Police is spread over Shyambazar, Bagabazar and Kumortuli and a part of Shovabazar. Bagbazar ghat, Promoda Sundari ghat, Kashi Mitra ghat, Kumortuli ghat and Shovabazar ghat on the Hooghly River are within the jurisdiction of Shyampukur police station.
Shyampukur police station area spread over ward nos. 7 (Baghbazar), 8 (Bagabazar-Shovabazar), 9 (Shovabazar), 10 (part of Shyambazar), and 11 (partly under Shyapukur and partly under Bartola) had a total population of 110,420 in 2001. Out of this 66,359 were males and 54,061 were females. Certain pockets such as ward nos. 8,9, and 11 recorded negative decadal growth.
In 1891, Mohun Bagan shifted its ground from Phariapukur to Shyampukur as a result of the benevolence of the Maharaja of Shyampukur, Durga Charan Laha. Later, the club's ground was moved to Shyam Square.