Esplanade, Calcutta
Encyclopedia
Esplanade is an area in central Kolkata
, earlier known as Calcutta, in the India
n state
of West Bengal
. This is not a conventional esplanade
in the sense that the place is not exactly situated alongside a waterbody. However, the river Ganges, also known as the Ganga or the Hooghly, is located nearby. This esplanade is located in the heart of the city and is one of the busiest portions.
. In olden days, it stretched from Dhurmotollah (now Lenin Sarani) to Chandpal Ghat on the Hooghly River. In the days of Warren Hastings
, it formed a favourite promenade for ‘elegant walking parties’. The five principal streets of Kolkata abutted on it, says Sophia Goldborne, who wrote in 1780. Both Daniell and Baillie give us a picture of Esplanade as it appeared in the closing years of the eighteenth century. The old Government House and the Council House are conspicuous objects in each drawing. Danielle presents an unfamiliar addition view in the shape of two elephants with a crowd of attendants. Bourne & Shepherd
, photographic studio was established here in 1867 by British photographers, Samuel Bourne
and Charles Shepherd
, and still exist here.
The strengthening of British power, subsequent to their victory in the Battle of Plassey
was followed by the construction of the new Fort William
, in 1758. The European inhabitants of Kalikata
gradually forsook the narrow limits of the old palisades and moved to around the Maidan .
and Council House, both facing south. Subsequently, it was divided by the gardens of Government House into two parts, Esplanade Row (East) and Esplanade Row (West). Esplanade Row (West) now runs between Government Place (West) and Strand Road, through the High Court. Esplanade Row (East) has been renamed Sidhu Kanu Dahar and occupies the northern end of the Maidan.
As a result of the movement of Europeans from the old palisades in the eighteenth century, Esplanade Row took on a new look. The most important public buildings and imposing private houses lined the northern side of the Esplanade, facing the Maidan on the south. “Esplanade Row,” wrote Mrs. Fay, “seems to be composed of palaces.”
, earlier known as Dalhousie Square. It acquired its name from the old court house, that was located where St. John’s Church now stands. The northern part of the stretch is known as B.B.D. Bagh (East). It was constructed around 1781, when the finishing touches were put to the new Fort William. It is linked with the name of Col. Henry Watson, who brought about many improvements in Calcutta, including the laying out of surrounding Esplanade. The Red Road is an extension of this street. The stretch of Old Court House Street from the crossing with Ganesh Avenue or the south-eastern corner of B.B.D.Bagh to the crossing with Waterloo Street has been renamed Hemanta Bose Sarani. The stretch from the crossing with Waterloo Street to the crossing with Rani Rashmoni Avenue has been renamed Marx-Engels Bithi.
was located at the corner of Council House Street.
at the junction of Esplanade Row (East) and Dhurmotollah Street was built by his eighth son, Prince Gholam Mohammad. It was declared a heritage building by Kolkata Municipal Corporation
. In 1984, the first underground railway in India, started from Tollygunge
to Esplanade. Today, Esplanade is the busiest tram terminus & busiest metro station of Kolkata
In 2002, it was estimated that during rush hours some 200,000 to 300,000 vehicles passed through the Esplanade. Experts say 50-60 per cent of air pollution in Kolkata is due to vehicle emission. Increase in number of vehicles may have added to the problem. The noise tolerance level of an average human being is 60-65 decibels (dB). Recommended levels are 45 dB for residential areas and a maximum of 85 dB for industrial areas without resident population. In the Esplanade area, the noise levels are 75-84 dB.
According to transport department officials, over 2,000 long-distance buses operate from the city. Most of the state and private buses originate from the Esplanade and Babughat, nearby. Some private buses operate from Howrah station
and Rabindra Setu
. The state transport department will construct two central bus terminuses here, on the lines of the Central Bus Terminus in Delhi, to avoid the increasing traffic congestion that officials described as “alarming”. One will come up along the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass
, near one of the entrances to Salt Lake city. The other will be located in Howrah, near Vidyasagar Setu
. .
A newspaper reported, “Promontories of garbage, vendors happily hawking away fruits and woollens, harassed commuters chasing buses... Add to this winding trams, rallies, clouds of black smoke and puddles of water. You’ve guessed right, this is Esplanade on any given day. But by the end of this year, this strategic junction located in the heart of the city will get a new look, thanks to a brainwave of transport minister Subhash Chakraborty. His plan is simple: Push the long-distance buses to another spot and Esplanade will breathe freely.”
The proposed second metro line, cutting across Kolkata from east to west, will not touch the Esplanade. It will meet the old metro at Central Station.
The state government has accepted a proposal to add two northward flanks to the Park Street flyover to ensure smooth flow of traffic through Esplanade during an agitation in front of Metro cinema. The flanks will descend on Chittaranjan Avenue and Bentinck Street.
, particularly the Communist Party of India
in organising urban protest was strongly felt from around 1957. The old institutions of mass mobilisation were strengthened to suit the agitation-oriented strategy of the left parties. A particularly significant expression of this agitation-oriented form of opposition to government policies was the way in which massive demonstrations of tens of thousands of people were organised in the heart of the city. Various administrative steps were taken to impede or disrupt large public rallies. Police resorted to large scale arrests or even shooting. Esplanade East, the Monument
, and Brigade Parade ground
, lying just outside the cordon thrown around the citadels of power, were the new rallying points of mass protest.
With the Left Front
in power for decades, the opposition has picked up similar agitation-oriented tactics quite often bringing different parts of the city, including the Espalanade to a halt. Even the ruling party in the state continues to organise rallies (sometimes against the policies of the Central Government). In March 2007, CITU organised an exhibition of buses that had been damaged during the previous general strike called by the opposition.
Not only political rallies, sometimes religious ceremonies , as for example Muharram
, throw traffic out of gear. Even Rath Yatra
has to pass through the Esplanade. Nobody wants to miss the limelight of a busy street junction.
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, earlier known as Calcutta, in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
. This is not a conventional esplanade
Esplanade
An esplanade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The original meaning of esplanade was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide clear fields of fire for the fortress' guns...
in the sense that the place is not exactly situated alongside a waterbody. However, the river Ganges, also known as the Ganga or the Hooghly, is located nearby. This esplanade is located in the heart of the city and is one of the busiest portions.
History
The Esplanade was the name given to the northern portion of jungle, which later formed the MaidanMaidan (Kolkata)
The Maidan is the largest urban park in Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a vast stretch of field and home to numerous play grounds, including the famous cricketing venue Eden Gardens, several football stadia, and Kolkata Race Course. Maidan is dotted with several statues and...
. In olden days, it stretched from Dhurmotollah (now Lenin Sarani) to Chandpal Ghat on the Hooghly River. In the days of Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings PC was the first Governor-General of India, from 1773 to 1785. He was famously accused of corruption in an impeachment in 1787, but was acquitted in 1795. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1814.-Early life:...
, it formed a favourite promenade for ‘elegant walking parties’. The five principal streets of Kolkata abutted on it, says Sophia Goldborne, who wrote in 1780. Both Daniell and Baillie give us a picture of Esplanade as it appeared in the closing years of the eighteenth century. The old Government House and the Council House are conspicuous objects in each drawing. Danielle presents an unfamiliar addition view in the shape of two elephants with a crowd of attendants. Bourne & Shepherd
Bourne & Shepherd
Bourne & Shepherd established in 1863 , is the oldest photographic studio still in operation, and one of the oldest established photographic businesses in the world...
, photographic studio was established here in 1867 by British photographers, Samuel Bourne
Samuel Bourne
Samuel Bourne was a British photographer known for his prolific seven years' work in India, from 1863 to 1870...
and Charles Shepherd
Charles Shepherd (photographer)
Charles Shepherd was an English photographer and printer who worked in India in the latter part of the 19th century. In 1862, Shepherd and Arthur Robertson established a photographic studio called Shepherd & Robertson in Agra. The firm moved to Simla in 1864, at which point Samuel Bourne joined...
, and still exist here.
The strengthening of British power, subsequent to their victory in the Battle of Plassey
Battle of Plassey
The Battle of Plassey , 23 June 1757, was a decisive British East India Company victory over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies, establishing Company rule in South Asia which expanded over much of the Indies for the next hundred years...
was followed by the construction of the new Fort William
Fort William, India
Fort William is a fort built in Calcutta on the Eastern banks of the River Hooghly, the major distributary of the River Ganges, during the early years of the Bengal Presidency of British India. It was named after King William III of England...
, in 1758. The European inhabitants of Kalikata
Kalikata
Kalikata was one of the three villages which were merged to form the city of Kolkata in India. The other two villages were Gobindapur and Sutanuti. Job Charnock, an administrator with the British East India Company is traditionally credited with the honour of founding the city...
gradually forsook the narrow limits of the old palisades and moved to around the Maidan .
The neighbourhood
There are a number of roads and streets which form part of or have been linked with the Esplanade for many years.Esplanade Row
The street named Esplanade Row, finds a mention in the map of 1784, running from Dhurmotollah right on to the banks of the river at Chandpal Ghat, passing on its way Government HouseRaj Bhavan (West Bengal)
Raj Bhavan is the Governor's palace in Kolkata, West Bengal. Built in 1803 and once the residence of the Viceroy of India, and called Government House, the palatial building is now the residence of the Governor of West Bengal. The present Governor, H.E...
and Council House, both facing south. Subsequently, it was divided by the gardens of Government House into two parts, Esplanade Row (East) and Esplanade Row (West). Esplanade Row (West) now runs between Government Place (West) and Strand Road, through the High Court. Esplanade Row (East) has been renamed Sidhu Kanu Dahar and occupies the northern end of the Maidan.
Old Court House Street
Old Court House Street connects Esplanade Row (East) (or presently Sidhu Kanu Dahar) with B. B. D. BaghB. B. D. Bagh
B.B.D. Bag , formerly called Dalhousie Square, is the shortened version for Benoy-Badal-Dinesh Bag . It is the seat of power of the state government, as well as the central business district in Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Origin of name:B.B.D...
, earlier known as Dalhousie Square. It acquired its name from the old court house, that was located where St. John’s Church now stands. The northern part of the stretch is known as B.B.D. Bagh (East). It was constructed around 1781, when the finishing touches were put to the new Fort William. It is linked with the name of Col. Henry Watson, who brought about many improvements in Calcutta, including the laying out of surrounding Esplanade. The Red Road is an extension of this street. The stretch of Old Court House Street from the crossing with Ganesh Avenue or the south-eastern corner of B.B.D.Bagh to the crossing with Waterloo Street has been renamed Hemanta Bose Sarani. The stretch from the crossing with Waterloo Street to the crossing with Rani Rashmoni Avenue has been renamed Marx-Engels Bithi.
Council House Street
Council House Street connects the western part of B.B.D.Bagh with Esplanade Row. It acquires its name from the old council house, which stood on the western portion of Government House. It was pulled down in 1800. The southern part of the street was subsequently called Government Place West.Fort William CollegeFort William College
Fort William College was an academy and learning centre of Oriental studies established by Lord Wellesley, then Governor-General of British India. It was founded on July 10, 1800 within the Fort William complex in Calcutta...
was located at the corner of Council House Street.
Dacres Lane
The short lane between Esplanade Row (East) and Waterloo Street was once a fashionable locality. It was named after Philip Milner Dacres, Collector of Kolkata in 1773 and afterwards a member of the Council. It has been renamed James Hicki Sarani. With numerous eateries, the road is popularly referred to a Tiffin Gali (lane).One wall side shop namely "Chitto dar dokan" is very famous for its various snacks particularly bread & mutton stew. One dance/music bar "Metrpol Bar" is also existing there.Tipu Sultan Mosque
Tipu Sultan MosqueTipu Sultan Mosque
The Tipu Sultan Shahi Mosque is a famous mosque in Kolkata, India. Located at 185 Dhartamtalla Street, the mosque is a relic of architectural and cultural heritage...
at the junction of Esplanade Row (East) and Dhurmotollah Street was built by his eighth son, Prince Gholam Mohammad. It was declared a heritage building by Kolkata Municipal Corporation
Kolkata Municipal Corporation
Kolkata Municipal Corporation is responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration of the city of Kolkata. The organization is known, in short, as KMC . This civic administrative body administers an area of 185 sq. km. Its motto, Purosree Bibardhan, is inscribed on its emblem in Bengali...
Soccer
The first recorded soccer match in Kolkata was played on the Esplanade in the second week of April 1858 between the Calcutta Club of Civilians and the ‘Gentlemen of Barrakpur’. There had been matched earlier but those were not documented. With traffic taking over the Esplanade, games have shifted further south on the Maidan.Traffic hub
The Esplanade has always been a major traffic hub. In 1902, the first electric tram car ran from Esplanade to KidderporeKidderpore
Khidirpur or Kidderpore is a neighbourhood of metropolitan Kolkata . Located in the central-west part of the city, it is bounded by the districts of Alipore in the east, Ekbalpore in the south, Hastings in the north, Metiabruz in the south-west and the Hooghly River in the west.-History:One of the...
. In 1984, the first underground railway in India, started from Tollygunge
Tollygunge
Tollygunge is a locality of South Kolkata. It is flanked by the Eastern Railway south suburban line to the north, Lake Gardens and Golf Green in the east, the Pashchim & Purba Putiaries in the south, and Behala in the west.-History:...
to Esplanade. Today, Esplanade is the busiest tram terminus & busiest metro station of Kolkata
In 2002, it was estimated that during rush hours some 200,000 to 300,000 vehicles passed through the Esplanade. Experts say 50-60 per cent of air pollution in Kolkata is due to vehicle emission. Increase in number of vehicles may have added to the problem. The noise tolerance level of an average human being is 60-65 decibels (dB). Recommended levels are 45 dB for residential areas and a maximum of 85 dB for industrial areas without resident population. In the Esplanade area, the noise levels are 75-84 dB.
According to transport department officials, over 2,000 long-distance buses operate from the city. Most of the state and private buses originate from the Esplanade and Babughat, nearby. Some private buses operate from Howrah station
Howrah station
Howrah Station is one of the four intercity train stations serving Howrah and Kolkata, India; the others are Sealdah Station, Shalimar Station and Kolkata railway station in Kolkata. Howrah is situated on the West bank of the Hooghly River, linked to Kolkata by the magnificent Howrah Bridge which...
and Rabindra Setu
Howrah Bridge
The Howrah Bridge is a cantilever bridge that spans the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India. Commissioned in 1943, the bridge was originally named the New Howrah Bridge, because it links the city of Howrah to its twin city, Kolkata . On 14 June 1965 it was renamed Rabindra Setu, after Rabindranath...
. The state transport department will construct two central bus terminuses here, on the lines of the Central Bus Terminus in Delhi, to avoid the increasing traffic congestion that officials described as “alarming”. One will come up along the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass
Eastern Metropolitan Bypass
The Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, or simply E.M. Bypass, is a major road on the east side of Kolkata that connects Bidhannagar on the northeast to southern parts of Kolkata. It was designed like a bypass or beltway on the eastern side of Kolkata to lessen the perennial traffic congestion on the...
, near one of the entrances to Salt Lake city. The other will be located in Howrah, near Vidyasagar Setu
Vidyasagar Setu
Vidyasagar Setu, also known as the Second Hooghly Bridge, is a bridge over the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India. It links the city of Kolkata to Howrah. The bridge is a toll bridge for all vehicles. At a total length of 822.96 m, it is the longest cable-stayed bridge in India and one of the...
. .
A newspaper reported, “Promontories of garbage, vendors happily hawking away fruits and woollens, harassed commuters chasing buses... Add to this winding trams, rallies, clouds of black smoke and puddles of water. You’ve guessed right, this is Esplanade on any given day. But by the end of this year, this strategic junction located in the heart of the city will get a new look, thanks to a brainwave of transport minister Subhash Chakraborty. His plan is simple: Push the long-distance buses to another spot and Esplanade will breathe freely.”
The proposed second metro line, cutting across Kolkata from east to west, will not touch the Esplanade. It will meet the old metro at Central Station.
The state government has accepted a proposal to add two northward flanks to the Park Street flyover to ensure smooth flow of traffic through Esplanade during an agitation in front of Metro cinema. The flanks will descend on Chittaranjan Avenue and Bentinck Street.
Rallies
The growing influence of the LeftLeft Front
The Left Front is an alliance of Indian leftist parties. After a 34-year reign in West Bengal, the Left Front was swept from power in the 2011 election...
, particularly the Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
in organising urban protest was strongly felt from around 1957. The old institutions of mass mobilisation were strengthened to suit the agitation-oriented strategy of the left parties. A particularly significant expression of this agitation-oriented form of opposition to government policies was the way in which massive demonstrations of tens of thousands of people were organised in the heart of the city. Various administrative steps were taken to impede or disrupt large public rallies. Police resorted to large scale arrests or even shooting. Esplanade East, the Monument
Shaheed Minar, Kolkata
The Shaheed Minar , formerly known as the Ochterlony Monument , is a monument in Kolkata originally built in 1848 by Major-general David Ochterlony, commander of the British East India Company's main force to commemorate his victory in Gurkha War...
, and Brigade Parade ground
Maidan (Kolkata)
The Maidan is the largest urban park in Kolkata in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a vast stretch of field and home to numerous play grounds, including the famous cricketing venue Eden Gardens, several football stadia, and Kolkata Race Course. Maidan is dotted with several statues and...
, lying just outside the cordon thrown around the citadels of power, were the new rallying points of mass protest.
With the Left Front
Left Front
The Left Front is an alliance of Indian leftist parties. After a 34-year reign in West Bengal, the Left Front was swept from power in the 2011 election...
in power for decades, the opposition has picked up similar agitation-oriented tactics quite often bringing different parts of the city, including the Espalanade to a halt. Even the ruling party in the state continues to organise rallies (sometimes against the policies of the Central Government). In March 2007, CITU organised an exhibition of buses that had been damaged during the previous general strike called by the opposition.
Not only political rallies, sometimes religious ceremonies , as for example Muharram
Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited...
, throw traffic out of gear. Even Rath Yatra
Rath Yatra
Ratha Yatra is a huge Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri in the state of Orissa, India during the months of June or July. Most of the city's society is based around the worship of Jagannath with the ancient temple being the fulcrum of the area...
has to pass through the Esplanade. Nobody wants to miss the limelight of a busy street junction.