Heriberto60T at 08:48, 26 March 2026

2026-03-26T08:48:38Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement



|name = Bagbazar 
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|settlement_type = Neighbourhood
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|image_skyline = Kolkata_Bagbazar_Ghat.jpg
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|image_caption = Bagbazar Ghat on [[Hooghly River]]
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|image_map = Kolkata Bagbazar Map.jpg
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| pushpin_map = India Kolkata
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|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{IND}}
|subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[West Bengal]]
|subdivision_type2 = City
|subdivision_name2 = [[Kolkata]]
|subdivision_type3 = [[List of districts of West Bengal|District]]
|subdivision_name3 = [[Kolkata district|Kolkata]]
|subdivision_type4 = [[Kolkata Metro|Metro Station]]
|subdivision_name4 = [[Shyambazar metro station|Shaymbazar]]
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|seat_type = [[Municipal Corporation]]
|seat = [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation]]
|parts_type = [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation|KMC]] wards
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|parts = [[Ward No. 7, Kolkata Municipal Corporation|7]], [[Ward No. 8, Kolkata Municipal Corporation|8]]
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|timezone = IST
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|coordinates = {{coord|22.603|N|88.366|E|display=title|region:IN-WB|format=dms}}

|postal_code_type = PIN
|postal_code = 700003
|area_code = +91 33
| blank1_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Kolkata Uttar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kolkata Uttar]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Shyampukur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Shyampukur]]
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'''Bagbazar''' (also spelt as '''Baghbazar''') is a neighbourhood of [[North Kolkata]], in [[Kolkata district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]]. The area, under [[Shyampukur]] police station of [[Kolkata Police]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kolkatapolice.org/section.asp?PSID=1&Typ=PS |title=Shyapukur Police Station |access-date=2007-08-10 |publisher=Kolkata Police |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201323/http://www.kolkatapolice.org/section.asp?PSID=1&Typ=PS |archive-date=2007-09-27 }}</ref> has been, along with neighbouring [[Shyambazar]], the citadel of the [[Bengali people|Bengali]] aristocracy, in a part of what was earlier known as [[Sutanuti]].<ref name = "Nair">Nair, P. Thankappan in ''The Growth and Development of Old Calcutta'', in ''Calcutta, the Living City'', Vol. I, edited by [[Sukanta Chaudhuri]], p. 17, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0-19-563696-3}}.</ref>

==Origin of name==
The name, Bagbazar, is derived from two words put together from old Bengali literature: "bagh" meaning ''flower garden'' and "bazaar" meaning ''market''. So it refers to a place where flowers are abundant.

==History==
As [[Kalikata]] became settled, [[Sutanuti]] was gradually abandoned by the English as a place of residence. There remained, near its northernmost corner, Perin's Garden, a pleasure resort, where once it was the height of gentility for the [[British East India Company]]’s covenanted servants to take their ladies for an evening stroll or moonlight fete. However, it was little frequented from around 1746 and by 1752 was sold for Rs. 25,000. Captain Perin was owner of several ships.<ref>[[H.E.A.Cotton|Cotton, H.E.A.]], ''Calcutta Old and New'', 1909/1980, p. 34, General Printers and Publishers Pvt. Ltd.</ref> In 1754, Colonel C.F. Scott began manufacturing gunpowder at the garden.<ref name = "Nair"/>

===Bosepara===
Bosepara, which now forms part of Bagbazar, was set up by the Boses and Pals migrating from Hooghly district. Nidhuram Bose is believed to have arrived before the British came to Sutanuti. The Bagbazar High School is a very old school there.<ref name = "Nair"/>

====Nandalal and Pasupoti Bose's house====
The house is located on the North side of Bagbazar Street. Late 19th century Bengal found this house as one of the hub for nationalist politics. Many important meetings were held in this house during the course of anti partition politics in 1904–5. The famous procession to raise protest against partition of Bengal led by Rabindranath and other eminent persons started from Federation hall and ended at this house.

===Bagbazar Ghat===
Bagbazar Ghat, on the [[Hooghly River]] is an old one. It was once called Rogo Meeter's Ghat after Raghu Mitra, son of [[Gobindram Mitter|Gobindram Mitra]], the black zemindar, and once one of the wealthiest and most influential natives of Kolkata, in the early days of the [[British East India Company]].<ref>Cotton, H.R.A., pp. 281,290</ref>

There is steamer jetty next to Baghbazar Ghat, ghat in Bengali is a paved staircase. Steamers carry passengers to the opposite bank of the river, as also the office localities around [[B.B.D. Bagh]], [[Calcutta|Esplanade]] and [[Howrah]]. The old ghat is used by bathers, people collecting Ganges water for religious ceremonies, for performance of religious ceremonies, and for such mundane tasks as unloading country boats carrying various materials.

===Battle with Siraj===
Bagbazar has also seen battle - on 16 June 1756, a small force under Ensign Piccard repulsed an advance guard of [[Siraj ud-Daulah]] from the north, but two days later Kalikata fell in the [[Lal Dighi#Battle of Lal Dighi|Battle of Lal Dighi]].<ref>Cotton, H.E.A., p290</ref>

===Association with Sri Ramakrishna===
Possibly the first visit to a house in north Kolkata by [[Ramakrishna|Sri Ramakrishna]] was in 1877. He visited the ancestral house of [[Kalinath Bose]], then numbered 40 Bosepara Lane (presently 47B, Ma Saradamani Sarani). It was here that he first met Harinath Chaterjee (later [[Apostles of Ramakrishna#Swami Turiyananda|Swami Turiyananda]]), Gangadhar Ghatak (Gangopadhyay) (later [[Apostles of Ramakrishna#Swami Akhandananda|Swami Akhandananda]]) and [[Girish Chandra Ghosh]], the noted playwright.<ref>The stone tablet outside the house records this in detail. The visit has been described by Swami Turiyananda and Girish Chandra Ghosh, and quoted by [[Christopher Isherwood]] in his ''Ramakrishna and His Disciples'', Advaita Ashram, pp 228-229, 249. However, Christopher Isherwood does not mention any name. These are given in the stone tablet.</ref> The [[Ramakrishna Sarada Math]] is housed at 10, Ramakrishna Lane, Baghbazar.
[[File:Girish chandra Ghosh Home.jpg|thumb|Statue of [[Girish Chandra Ghosh]] in Bagbazar]]

[[Sister Nivedita]] came and lived in 53/1 Bosepara Lane. "Bagbazar in the northern part of Calcutta had its own fascination for Sri Ramakrishna’s devotees. On one side stood [[Balaram Bose]]’s house, the ‘Calcutta Citadel’ of Sri Ramakrishna, where his disciples repaired for rest. On its north-east is the huge family mansion of [[Girish Chandra Ghosh]]. A little to its north was the Holy Mother's house. All these houses were encircled by the Ramkanto Bose Street and Bosepara Lane, whose very dust was trod upon by Sri Ramakrishna."<ref>Pravrajika Atmaprana, ''Sister-Nivedita of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda'', pp. 4-5, Sister Nivedita Girls’ School.</ref> She opened her school formally on 13 November 1898 at 16, Bosepara Lane, in the presence of [[Sarada Devi|Sarada Ma]], [[Swami Vivekananda]], [[Apostles of Ramakrishna#Swami Brahmananda|Swami Brahmananda]], [[Apostles of Ramakrishna#Swami Saradanandane|Swami Saradanandane]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.udbodhan.org/bagarea.htm| title= Udbodhan| access-date= 2007-08-05| work= A brief history of the area around| publisher= Ramakrishna Math, 1 Udbodhan Lane, Kolkata - 700003| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070801075432/http://www.udbodhan.org/bagarea.htm| archive-date= 1 August 2007| url-status= dead}}</ref> The office of ''[[Udbodhan]]'', the magazine founded by Swami Vivekananda, is also located in Bagbazar.
{{OSM Location map 
| coord = {{coord|22.603|88.366}} 
| zoom = 15 
| label = Bagbazar
| mark-coord = {{coord|22.603|88.366}}
| label-pos = right
| float = left
}}

==Geography==
The old Chitpur Road (renamed Rabindra Sarani) was for many years the life line of Bagbazar. It followed the same track as the old pilgrim path built by [[Sabarna Roy Choudhury]] from [[Halisahar]] to [[Barisha, India|Barisha]].<ref>Nair, P.Thankappan, ''Civic and Public Services in Old Calcutta'', in ''Calcutta, the Living City'', Vol I, p. 228.</ref> Tram tracks along Rabindra Sarani came to Bagbazar in 1904<ref>Nair, P.Thankappan, ''Civic and Public Services in Old Calcutta'', p.235.</ref> and being renewed in 2007. Finally Tram service closed along Rabindra Sarani in Bagbazar since 2012 due to construction of [[Green Line (Kolkata Metro)|Green Line]].<ref>{{cite news|title=B.B.D. Bagh Metro Station Work Begins|url=https://newsmen.in/news/bbd-bag-minibus-stand-tram-station-to-be-shut-down-from-5-july/|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=28 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328065420/https://newsmen.in/news/bbd-bag-minibus-stand-tram-station-to-be-shut-down-from-5-july/|url-status=live}}</ref> While Rabindra Sarani cuts across Bagabazar from north to south, Bagbazar Street cuts across from Bagbazar Ghat in the west to [[Bidhan Sarani]] in the east. Girish Avenue is an extension of [[Chittaranjan Avenue]].<ref>Map no. 5, Detail Maps of 141 Wards of Kolkata, D.R.Publication and Sales Concern, 66 College Street, Kolkata – 700073</ref> When it was built in the 1930s, a portion of the house of [[Girish Chandra Ghosh]] was spared and stands in the middle with the two flanges of the road on both sides of the house. There are numerous lanes and bylanes in Bagbazar.

==Culture==
''[[Alaler Gharer Dulal]]'' (The Rich Man's Spoilt Child) (1857) by [[Peary Chand Mitra]] has an interesting piece of women's conversation centred on Bagbazar, possibly when they went for a bath in the [[Hooghly River]]:
:: "Some are speaking of their oppressive sisters-in-law, some are cursing their tyrannical mothers-in-law, some are tired of life because of the kicks they receive from their daughters-in-law, particularly when their sons are too timid to intervene; some complain of the intolerable behaviour of the wives of their husband’s brothers and some say how keen they are to get their ten-year-old sons married."<ref>Dasgupta, Rabindra Kumar, ''Old Calcutta as Presented in Literature'', in ''Calcutta, the Living City'', Vol. I, p. 130</ref>

Bagbazar has been home to many a creative person.

[[Nagendranath Basu]] (1866 – 1938) took twenty years to edit the 22 volume ''Biswakosh'', Bengali encyclopaedia. He lived and worked at 8 Biswakosh Lane in Bagbazar. Kolkata Municipal Corporation renamed it Biswakosh Lane. This is possibly the only road in the world named after a book.<ref>Majumdar, Swapan, ''Literature and Literary Life in Old Calcutta'', in ''Calcutta, the Living City'', Vol. I, p. 111</ref>

Mohanchand Basu, who lived in Bagbazar in the 19th century and was a disciple of Nidhu Babu, introduced ''kheur'' in Bengali ''akhrai'' songs.<ref>Mitra, Rajyeshwar, ''Music in Old Calcutta'', in ''Calcutta, the Living City'', Vol. I, p. 182</ref>

Bhola Maira (18th-19th century), the renowned [[Kavigan|kaviyal]] (verse-contestant) had a sweet-meat shop on Bagbazar Street.<ref>Banerjee, Sumanta, ''The World of Ramjan Ostagar, the Common Man of Old Calcutta'', in ''Calcutta, the Living City'', Vol. I, p. 82</ref>

Two auditoriums, side by side on Bagbazar Street, still testifies to active cultural life of Bagbazar. Girish Mancha, opened in 1986 has over 900 seats. The auditorium of Paschim Banga Jatra Akademi is next door.

However, the 125 year-old Bagbazar Reading Library is not in good shape because of paucity of funds.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070620/asp/calcutta/story_7944648.asp | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930060731/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070620/asp/calcutta/story_7944648.asp | url-status = dead | archive-date = 30 September 2007 | title = Reading landmark in the doldrums | access-date = 2007-08-05 | last = Sarkar | first = Sebanti | publisher = The Telegraph, 20 June 2007}}</ref>

Bagbazar Durga Puja continues to a major crowd puller with its deity of traditional design and innovative decoration.

==Transport==
Buses ply along Rabindra Sarani, Girish Avenue (Khirode Vidyavinode Avenue) and Bagbazar Street in Bagbazar. [[Shyambazar|Shyambazar 5-Point]] crossing is also located nearby.

'''Bus routes'''
* S-21 (Baghbazar - Garia)
* S-45 (Baghbazar - Shakuntala Park)
* 240 (Baghbazar - Golf Green)
* 240/1 (Baghbazar - Garia Stn)
* 242 (Cossipore - Esplanade)
* 43 (Dakshineswar - Esplanade)
* 93 (Baghbazar - Kharibari)
* 79B (Baghbazar - Barasat)
* S-17A (Dakshineswar - Kudghat)

Bagbazar (Khirode Vidyavinode Avenue) is connected to [[Chitpur]] and [[Cossipore]] (Cossipore Road/Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa Dev Sarani) with '''Chitpur Bridge''' over a canal.<ref>Google maps</ref> The bridge was firstly inaugurated in 1937.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chitpur Bridge|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/the-ill-health-of-calcutta-bridges-spells-much-more-than-logistical-doom/cid/1719743|access-date=15 February 2023|archive-date=6 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206154513/https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/the-ill-health-of-calcutta-bridges-spells-much-more-than-logistical-doom/cid/1719743|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Bagbazar railway station]] on [[Kolkata Circular Railway]] line serves the locality. [[Kolkata Station]], one of the major railway hub stations of the city, is also located nearby.

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
image:Kolkata Girish Mancha.jpg|[[Girish Mancha]]
image:Kolkata WB Jatra Akademi.jpg|Auditorium of Paschim Banga Jatra Akademi
image:Kolkata House of Sister Nivedita.jpg|House where [[Sister Nivedita]] started her school in 1898
image:Kolkata Girish Avenue.jpg|Girish Avenue. At the time of the construction of the road, a portion of the house of [[Girish Chandra Ghosh]] was left in the middle.
image:Ramakrishna Math, at Bagbazar, Kolkata.jpg|House of Balaram Bose, now [[Ramakrishna Math]]
image:Kolkata Bosepara Lane2.jpg|Bosepara Lane in Bagbazar
image:Kolkata Bagbazar Ghat2.jpg|The Steamer Jetty as seen from Bagbazar Ghat
Image:Mayer Ghat Entrance - Baghbazar - Kolkata 2017-04-29 1921.JPG|Mayer Ghat Entrance on Rabindra Sarani, Bagbazar
image:Bom Kali Mandir - Rabindra Sarani - Baghbazar - Kolkata 2017-04-29 1832.JPG|Bom Kali Mandir on Rabindra Sarani, Baghbazar
image:Gaudiya Maath.jpg|Gaudiya Math, Bagbazar
File:Galiff Street Bird Market.jpg|Galiff Street Bird Market, Bagbazar
image:Bagbazar sarbojonin Durgapuja.jpg|[[Durga Puja]] at Bagbazar which was started in the year 1918
image:Kolkata Bagbazar Pandal 2006.jpg|Exterior decoration and lighting for Durga Puja 2006 - one of the earliest [[Barowari]] Pujas in Kolkata
image:Bagbazar railway station.jpg|[[Bagbazar railway station]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{Commons category|Bagbazar}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage inline|Kolkata/North Kolkata}}

{{Kolkata neighbourhoods}}

[[Category:Neighbourhoods in Kolkata]]

Bagbazar - Revision history

Heriberto60T at 08:48, 26 March 2026