This smallest district in West Bengal
is situated between 22012’ 30” and 22046’ 55” north
latitude and 88022’ 10” and 87050’ 45” east longitude.
It was recently transferred from the Burdwan Division
to the Presidency Division under Government of West
Bengla Notification No. 999-G.A. dated March 4, 1963.
It is bounded on the north by the Arambagh and Serampore subdivisions of the
Hooghly district; on the east by Calcutta and the Barrackpur, Alipur and Diamond
Harbour subdivisions of the 24-Parganas district; on the south by the Tamluk
subdivision of the Midnapur district; and on the west partly by the Tamluk and
Ghatal subdivisions of the latter district and partly by the Arambagh subdivision
of the Hooghly district. The boundaries are partly natural and partly artificial.
On the west and south-west the Rupnarayan, and on the east and south-east the
Bhagirathi constitute natural boundaries, while on the north, except for small
stretches to the north-east and north-west bounded by the Baly Khal and the Damodar
respectively, the boundary is formed by an artificial line marking the southern
limits of the Hooghly district.
Howrah, the second largest city of West Bengal and twin of Kolkata is said to
have a rich history that dates back to 500 years. The name itself is possibly
derived from a village named Harirah which was located in or about the site of
modern day Howrah City. Venetian explorer Ceasare Federici was the first european
who mentioned a place called Bator in his journal in 1578 AD which is identifiable
with the modern day place around the Howrah City. The Bengal Council of East
India Company, on the accession of the Emperor Farrukshiyar to the throne of
Delhi in AD 1713, sent a deputation to him praying for a settlement of the villages
'Salica' (Salkia), 'Harirah'(Howrah), 'Cassundeah'(Kasundia), 'Ramkrishnopoor'
(Ramkrishnapur), and 'Battar'(Betor) to the west of river Bhagirathi and once
the settlement was made in favour of the East India Company the places were quickly
adopted as exit and entry point of sea fareing business hubs and the modernisation
of Howrah city as we know it now, began.
The Howrah Railway Terminus came up in 1854 and in 1862 the first municipal administration
started functioning though the modern day Corporation as we see it now came into
being in 1980 when the Howrah Act,1980 was implemented. |
