Coordinates: 22°32′N 88°19′E / 22.53, 88.32 Khidirpur or Kidderpore (Bengali: খিদিরপুর khidirpur) is a neighbourhood of metropolitan Kolkata (Calcutta). 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 oldest parts of the city, Kidderpore has a funny legend as far as its name is concerned. It is said that some British could not converse in Bengali. Whenever they passed by, their asking in broken Hindi for the directions to the port where their ships used to harbour sounded somewhat like 'kidder-port'. More plausibly, the name is a corruption of Khidrpur or Khizrpur, Khizr/Khidr being the guardian saint of the seas and the delta for the fishing communities in Bengal.
The gateway of Kidderpore is at the crossing of Diamond Harbour Road and Gangadhar Banerjee Lane. At that place a roadside restaurant dating from the British era remains, named "Panchubabu's Shop" or "Panchubabur Dokan", one of the landmarks of Kidderpore. The area is also home to quite a few dargahs of Sufi saints like Syed Baba and Shah Warsi Baba, to name a few.
A number of soldiers killed during the two World Wars were buried at the Solana Muslim burial ground.
St Thomas school, which is probably one of the oldest and largest (in area) schools of India is situated here. Its history runs for more than 220 years.
Geography
Kidderpore is located at 22°32′N 88°19′E / 22.53, 88.321. It has an average elevation of 9 m (30 ft).
Transport
Kidderpore Bridge is one the few bridges in Kolkata that has trams plying over it. The Kidderpore Tram Depot connects famous locations like Kalighat, Tollygunge and Ballygunge, etc. The Kidderpore crosspoint (also called More in Bengali) is connected with North, South and Central Kolkata by various private and state bus services. Kidderpore is the site of the only ocean port in India accessed by river.
Medical Facilities
Well known hospitals of South Western Kolkata like Calcutta Medical Research Institute, BM Birla Heart Research Center, Kothari Medical Research Center and Woodlands Nursing Home are located near Kidderpore. Besides there are some governmental medical institutions like Calcutta Dock Labour Board Hospital and Shambhunath Pandit Hospital.
Educational institutions
- Jnan Chandra Ghosh College of Polytechnique
- St. Thomas College of Engg And Technology, Diamond Harbour Road
- St. Thomas School, Diamond Harbour Road
- St. Paul's School, Diamond Harbour Road
- St. Teresa Secondary School, Diamond Harbour Road
- Lajpat Hindi High School(H.S.), 24/1/1,Mansatalla Lane
- Loyola High School
- The Kidderpore Academy, 35 RamKamal Street, Kidderpore, Kolkata-700 023, Phone No.(033) 2459-6297.
- Kendriya Vidyalaya, Command Hospital
- Sarat Chandra Paul Girls High School
- Sir Syed High School (Urdu)
- Kidderpore Urdu Girls Primary School
- Kidderpore oriya high school, 1-satya doctor road.
- Kidderpore Balika Vidyatan
- Bankim Ghosh Smriti Uchha Balika Vidyalaya
Famous persons
- Michael Madhusudhan Dutta, Poet
- Rangalal Bandopadhyay, Poet
- Hemchandra Bandyopadhyay, Poet
- Ram Prosad Sen, Famous Singer, once stayed in Kidderpore at Bhukailash Rajbari worked as Accounts Book Writer, used to write his famous songs in the Accounts Book
- Santosh Kumar Bose, Minister Bengal Government at the British Period
- Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee, barrister, INC President,
- Munirul Haque, Owner of Green Plaza Shopping Mall, Prominent Philanthropist, Educationist, Commonly Known As DADA, Bengali for Big Brother.
- Ratu Mukherjee (Ratneswar) is the famous music composer
- Anirban Bhattacharya, the theatre Personality
- Kalimuddin Shams, Former Cabinet Minister in the West Bengal Govt.
- Mohammad Aziz (playback singer)
- Mohammed Ali Qamar, the boxer
- Deepak Mukherjee, Mominpore, Movie artist at the time of Uttam Kumar
- Tapas Mitra, Sitar Maestro
- Tapas Banerjee, A Researcher in Bengali Drama and Stage Acting, it is considered that Sri Banerjee is the most knowledged person in this subject
- Dr Gora Chand Nandi,FRCOG, a legendary Gynaecologist of Kolkata, Philanthropist
- Sushil Chatterjee, eminent Rabindra Sangeet Singer
- Prof. Tarak Mohan Das, scientist
Places of Interest
- Lord Shiva's Temple at Bhukoilash and the adjacent Bhukoilash Rajbati
- Hastings House, Warren Hasting's Residence
- The Kidderpore Fancy Market, famous for latest foreign goods.
- Green Plaza Shopping complex, famous for mobile phones and accessories.
- The Twin Shiv Temple at Bhukailash, it considered that it is the biggest ShivLinga in India.
- Kolkata Port Trust
- Kidderpore Tram Depot
- Manasa Mandir besides 204 no. Bus Terminus
- Panchananda Mandir at Panchanantala (Watgunge Crossing)
- Mahalakshmi Mandir situated Opposite of Alipore Body Guard LInes.
- Kidderpore Puddapukur the only Swiming Club of Kidderpore situated
- Hanging Place of Maharaja Nandakumar at Hastings
- The oldest Church in Kidderpore situated inside of St. Thomas School
- The Only Engineering College situated inside of St. Thomas School Campus
- Ismail Masjid (Oldest masjid of the area)
Libraries
- Hemchandra Pathagar is the oldest library in Kidderpore, recently the library authority renovated its building and established a stage named Hem Madhu Ranga Mancha in the name the three poet of Kidderpore.
- Michael Madhusudan library is the second oldest one. it also have its own building. and engaged with different activities.
- Excepting the above, some small libraries established in Kidderpore in different time. In 1944 a few enthusiastic people of the area established a small library at 32, Harisava Street, mainly the organizers of the local Durgapuja Committee, in memory of Shishir Chatterjee, one of the then executive member of that Durgapuja Committee. The Library named as "Shishir Smriti Pathagar" (Shishir Memorial Library) situated inside the space of Kidderpore Mitali Sangha, now abolished. Another one is "Abhijatri Pathagar" (Abirjatri Library) at Ramanath Paul Road : Now abolished.
Clubs
- Kidderpore Sporting Club: It is a first division Football club and is the Pride & Glory of Kidderpore People.
- Kidderpore Boys Sporting Club
- Kidderpoe Nabajatri Sangha
- Kidderpoe Mitali Sangha : At present no activities visible.
- Kidderpoe Kishore Sangsad : Now abolished
- Kidderpore Sandhyanir : Famous for organising Kali puja with one of tallest Kali idol in Kolkata
- Kidderpore Milan Sangha : One of the oldest clubs in Kidderpore locality known for its Social services rendered to the society and a famous Durga puja.
Social Organisation
- MARGAM: Margam, a community focussed organisation located in this area works for the education of underprivileged children. Margam has a small team and the support of innumerable responsible citizens of this country who have extended their hand in our support. There have been times when our patience has been tested and questions have been raised. But we have worked hard as a team to defy the rules and norms that has been set. We gave meaning to our lives by being a part of Margam. There are around 60 children associated with Margam who are being nurtured into better human beings with education and values.
- For more information on MARGAM please visit: www.notionalsystems.com/philanthropy.html
See also
References
