Tilottoma Kolkata”- is it proper meaning ? 
Geologists say that
Kolkata is located 100 feet above the sea-level and 86 feet North from the
islands. It is located at 22˚23’25” North and 88˚19’16” East. A report
published in 1780 stated the boundaries of Kolkata as Baranagar to the north,
the canal of north Gobindapore to the south, Ganges to the west and swamps and
marshes to the east stretching for six miles which eventually vanished with
time. On 11th September 1794 the Governor General’s council demarcated
the limits of the city of Kolkata as follows: Jakkhapore (Ghusuri) in the north to the lower reaches of the
present Tala Poole, the east was bounded by the western bank of the maharashtra canal, the southern limit
was defined from the Park Street cemetery to the western part of the mouth of
Adi Ganga while the western boundary comprised of the land reclaimed from the
Ganga at ebb-tide.
This is how with the
evolution of time the boundaries of Kolkata have been dissolved and re-drawn.
Like its shifting boundaries Kolkata has been christened and re-christened over
the passage of time by eminent personalities. Some of it names are as follows:
1. Kilkila 2. Nagari.
3. Koleykata 4. Kolkhata 5. Jakhapuri 6. Golgata 7. Calcutta
8. Khalkata 9. Kalighata
10. Kalikota 11. Alinagar
Many scholars believe
that the name Kolkata is a corruption if the Kilkila Nagari mentioned in the
Digvijaya Prakash text.
Mr. Gourdas Basak had
mentioned in one of his speeches that, in ancient times Kolkata was home to the
people of the Koll tribe and since the huts of the lower castes such as the Kolls
were known as khata, the name Kolkhata came into being which eventually became
Kolkata.
Like Kilkila, “Jakhapuri” is also a name found in the
ancient Sanskrit texts and the Purana’s.
Many believe that it refers to the location that is the present day
Kolkata.
When the Gentleman’s
Magazine reported on the 1739 Calcutta cyclone, it referred to the city as
Galgata, which name some historians believe had been coined by the English.
An archaeologist had
once mentioned in Calcutta’s Review magazine that no government reports before
the year 1724 bear the name ‘Calcutta’, therefore according to his conjecture
‘Calcutta’ could have been the anglicized derivation of ‘Khal-kata’ a
word which came into being after the Maharashtra canal (khal) was dug.
 |
| 13th SOLO EXHIBITION AT ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS 2013 |
The nawab of Bengal
Shiraz-ud-Daula renamed the city Alinagar in apprehension of the British.
However, later the British later rejected this name and reverted back to the
original one.
Much like the
evolution of its name the evolution of the city itself has kaleidoscopic
facets. The Holwell report of 1752 divides Kolkata into four parts: the first
being Dihi, Jannagar and Kolkata, the second Gobindapore, the third Sutanuti
and the fourth Bagua Kolkata.
The three villages
that the Company had taken over in 1780 were not Sutanuti, Gobindapore and
Kolkata but Bagua, Sutanuti and
Kolkata.
But going back nearly
a century from the above year, 1690, one finds the three original divisions of
Kolkata as Sutanuti, Gobindapore and dihi
Kolkata. From the myriad and confusing facts of Kolkata’s developmental
history, most of the government reports and circulars lend credibility to the
last mentioned sub-division.
Nevertheless, the
debate over the development, evolution, borders and the etymology of Kolkata
are unceasing, but I felt the need to shed light over this matter because they
provide the background for the main part of my discussion. In this regard I
carve the pardon of my readers because such facts were vital if not necessary.
Kolkata. The very name inspires wonder and nostalgia. Like its name the very subject of Kolkata conjures up different sentiments in different people, some say it is the city of dreams while other describe it as a labyrinthine maze while in the eyes of some it is city paralyzed with protests and demonstrations. Whatever the differing views the city is inexorably entwined with life of its people as on object of their innate pride. The pride with which we repeat Swamiji’s famous phrase “We declare with pride that we are Indians and India’s water, air and soil are our life” is the same pride each citizen feels for this great city. Kolkata; a city of throbbing pulsating energy, the City of Palaces, all these descriptions carry us on the wings of imagination into the land of our dreams.
But since the bygone
generation can we truly repeat the above words with the same fervor? Even if we
retain our faith in this great city how many of the above declarations can we
validate in this changing Y2K generation that is the modern Kolkata.
Yes Kolkata has evolved through change taking violence, discord, joy and sorrow in its stride; a study in contradictions. It is a place where the rich and the poor congregate, a place where the rule of morality co-exists with amoral anarchy, where if science gets precedence religion is not far behind. There is strange and deep sweetness in this heritage. However this eternal and coveted heritage is a product of the tyrannical British rule, a result of the unrelenting efforts of the celebrated Job Charnock who laid the foundations of this great city on 24th August, 1690. From then on the trio of the villages of Gobindapore, Sutanuti and dihi Kolkata were collectively assimilated into the city of Kolkata which went on to become the centre of business and commerce of the British empire in India and thus the East India Company was born making Kolkata the life center and eventually the capital of India. Kolkata had now become a thriving metropolis as a result of better employment opportunities, improved standard of living and an increasing food security. Bidding adieu to the Battle of Plassey came up the monumental structures of Fort William, Government House, Maidan etc. At this time the population of Kolkata swelled causing it to stretch its boundaries when around the year 1834 it was declared a separate district. At this time Kolkata was attracting the population of the country and world with the dream of a rewarding life. And thus Kolkata was struggling under its burgeoning population often failing to meet even the basic needs of food, work and shelter of its inhabitants. At the same time it had to contend with issues of cultural and political importance.
At this juncture
Kolkata had become reckoning force in the national arena, in politics,
education, literature and public health; its community comprised of the
foremost intellectuals and thinkers of the country, it became a nerve center of
rebellion, revolution and student uprising. Just when this pristine Kolkata was
taking its firm steps from infancy to maturity amidst the whirlwind of the
National Movement it was burnt and charred by the fire of the Division of
Bengal. Kolkata has still not been able to forego the traction brought about by
the influx of refugees as a result of the division. It has often the subject of
criticism for being unable to deal with the refugee situation but it had become
thoroughly incapacitated while trying to provide for the same.
The alleys and by-lanes of Kolkata became choked with the makeshift homes of the refugees which later sprawled into slums, their lack of even the basic amenities led to streets littered with heaps of waste and rubbish fouling the air of the city. This led to the spread of diseases and lack of proper medical attention to all as the hospitals started working at full capacity. Many portions of the pavement were cordoned off to provide for shrines, often two stones placed under large tree were likened to the narayan shila or said to be bestowed with divine powers much to the chagrin of the pedestrians. Soon there was shortage of electricity, water and lack of proper drainage system; the roads too fell into disrepair. Soon hawkers encroached upon the footpaths driving the common man to the main streets. Circling these issues, even the smallest of complaints led to meetings, demonstrations and protests across the city. Competition of means ensued among the demonstrators regarding who had the best banners, the best cartoons, the best festoons and who, most importantly, had the ranks to occupy the major arterial roads-the four point, five point or other crossings. Thus Kolkata became the city of meetings and rallies. It seemed that this was our ethics, our freedom of speech. This was the reward Kolkata reaped as an independent district. It would seem that more often than not we are mired in the misuse of the word ‘independence’. Thus the city had to wear its laurels and thorns together.
The so called citizens of independent mindset add to the heaps of waste. Again the question of independence comes up the true meaning of which remains unknown to these people. Though it is not an entertaining sight, however the heavy heart can assume a satirical tone and call these rubbish heaps the ‘beauty spots’ on the city of Kolkata. These rubbish clog up the drainage causing the rainwater to accumulate on the streets of the city and it seems that they are inseparable brothers who on parting leave trails of muck and mud bearing resemblance to an artist’s artistry. The squelching muddy roads and the suffocating load-sheddings add to the grinding hopelessness of city life. It seems as if the daily life moves in a slow stuffy silence. The roads are awash with the black rainwater, the stink of the festering waste rises up in the air, and the pitiable condition is that of the babus as they go to schools and offices; with their dhoti hitched above their knees their demeanor seems more suited towards agricultural pursuits in the fields rather than their original intended destination. Their umbrellas, dhoti pleats and bags compete to win the attention of their hand. The furrows on their brows deepen as they take two steps back for every step forward. Looking at them one feels that a master artist has used muddy waters to work his great art on an extremly life like mannequin. While talking of such deplorable conditions one is aware of a grief laden heart outwardly expressed in a sad smile and careworn eyes.
With these eyes one sees the load-shedding sapping the animation out of the daily life and plunging it into claustrophobic darkness with complete disregard to the ongoing enterprise of a busy city. These obstacles serve to severely hinder the already weakened rate of growth, factors compounded by the debilitating meetings and rallies clotting the roads that are the life lines of the city.
The World Environment
Day witnesses a token of tree planting ceremonies and garbage cleaning drives
attended by high ranking officials and highlighted by the media. Ironically on
the other hand many old and ancient trees are felled to the ground to give
shape to the real estate aspirations of the city. Lack of playgrounds in the
city make the children run in search of a park to play in. Indifferent to the
pedestrian rules of the government the people exercise their rights and
independence with complete and utter disregard to either commotion or mishap.
Therefore when such undesirable accidents occur the burning of cars and buses
on the streets takes place with the unnerving regularity of the burning of
stoves in the households. This and many other aspects of the city such as the
sprawling and unplanned growth of the sums have not seen any improvement
despite the façade of modernity.
Those of us from the bygone millennium who traverse across this City of Joy for the purpose of work see that in each of its many faces there is a sense of accomplishment for standing at the gateway to a new era in time. A sense joy, merriment and pride at the arrival of the Y2K. However, while this self congratulatory name was being bestowed upon everything from parks to children’s school bags, no thought of improving the aesthetics of the city came to minds of the citizens of Kolkata in order to mark this memorable epoch.
It has been 53 years
since independence and 311 years of the city Kolkata yet these unsightly aspects
of the city still remain, very much a part of its existential fabric.
Following this thought it can be seen that Kolkata shone the brightest under the light of the British rule. From 1775 to 1912, for 137 long years Kolkata was crowned the capital of India. It was during this time that the Government House, Medical College, Asiatic Society, Writer’s Building, Fort William, Federation Hall, City College, Baptist Church, Cathedral Church, Bankshall Court, National Library, Indian Museum, Kolkata Port Trust, Hartley House, Auchterlonie monument etc. came into being. It is these majestic buildings that now comprise what is the heritage of Kolkata. Then is the only glorious aspect of Kolkata’s history is its past, to which it now owes it present pride? Then is this the end of the Kolkata’s saga? When Kolkata celebrated its 300 years from August, 1991-1992 many of its monuments and memorials came alive with garlands of light and it was the sight to behold but did it satiate its desires or solve any of its problems? It was the only year when Kolkata truly assumed its epithet of ‘Tilottoma’ which it again lost with the passage of time.
 |
| 14th SOLO EXHIBITION OF ARUP LODH AT BIRLA ACADEMY OF ART & CULTURE CALCUTTA |
Even though Kolkata had lost its sheen it can never lose its glamour and still retains its eternal youth which is immortalized in our hearts. Despite all the adversity it presents it never loses its exalted position in our hearts therefore can never look upon it with contempt. It is one of the important pilgrimage spots of the country, it is here where the Dakshineshwar Kali Temple established by Rani Rashmoni is located, it is home to the famous Kalighat temple. This city bears testimony to the untiring efforts of te great Mother Teresa. This is not only the birthplace of Rabindranath Tagoreand Swami Vivekananda but it was also the home to Sri Ramakrishna who worked many of his miracles here. It is the city where towering personalities Vidyasagar, Bankim Chandra, Jagadish Chandra, Sivanath Sastri, Michael Madhusudhan and Rishi Aurobindo lived and worked. However much we barricade the city in our criticisms it will still remain the city of the revolutionaries who changed the course of Indian history. It is the city where the Sealdah Bridge came up to bridge the gap between two of the busiest hubs of the city, Sealdah and Howrah. Chandidas Bridge and Vidyasagar setu were other infrastructural developments. When tramcars are vanishing all over the world Kolkata still presents the visitor and the citizen alike with the allure of a tram ride. India’s first metro rail was inaugurated Kolkata. It is only the city of Kolkata that still retains the colonial charm of the horse-drawn carriages. The ninth edition of the super fast Rajdhani Express connects Kolkata to Delhi. Kolkata has also nurtured the new and modern Salt Lake City. Science city provides a place for science exhibition while Nandan, the film complex provides impetus to the propagation of culture. Asia’s greatest and most acclaimed stadium ‘Yuva Bharati Krirangan’ is situated in Kolkata. National Art Gallery, National Park, scattered shopping complexes make up the city today. There is no end to our expectations of Kolkata, no end to our conflicting debates regarding its current state of affairs; but as one stands near the race course and contemplates the city with nostalgia they are transported to a magical Utopia resurgent with new hope.
In the 1990s there was a great stress on improving the infrastructural facilities of the city like the roads, water supply, drainage, underground drainage systems, and creating necessary awareness regarding the same. It was decided to increase the boundaries of CMDA by allocating more resources in an inclusive five year plan. For this purpose Rs. 277.74 crore was estimated and $87 million dollars were invested in a project package with the help of the World Bank. This was known as the “IDA-II project”. For the upgrading the roadways, streets and complete overall development of the overall Kolkata metropolitan area the Integrated Area Upgrading Plan (IAUP) and New Area Development Plan (NADP) were adopted. Even though the Infrastructure Primary Systems Plant (IPSP) were called to cater to small and miscellaneous development requirements of the city, all such schemes remain shut in that redundant file from the 1990s.
In order to successfully solve the problems of the Kolkata metropolitan area the first problem that needs to be addressed is that of proper shelters. Kolkata has the fourth highest population densities in the state of West Bengal. According to the census report of 1991 the population of Kolkata stood at 43,99,819 and the population density was in an area of 185 square kilometer there exists a population density of 23,783 person per square kilometer. The population density of Kolkata is the highest (23,783) in comparison to its surrounding districts such as Murshidabad (890), Hoogly (383), Medinipore (592) and Bardhaman (861). Thus it is this staggering population density that is the primary cause of the shelter problem in Kolkata.
Addressing the shelter crisis is not the only answer to the problems of Kolkata, because what it really needs is an infallible social infrastructure and a modernization of poor Kolkata. There will inevitably be a shortage of funds but new avenues must be explored to overcome it. We stand in hope that one day the dust will be scraped off the dreams of development and they will be unleashed form the bindings of administrative red-tapism. As citizens we resolve to play our part by trying to keep the city cleaner and keep our hopes up for a new township. A lot of discussion is going on in this regard in the mainstream media. Therefore we will keep on hoping and keep on dreaming that one day our great city of Kolkata fully embraces its title of the ‘Tilottoma’ and become the ideal city.
BY ARUP LODH Date: 2. 07. 2001
Comments
Post a Comment