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The history of Kalyani starts before the partition of Bengal from the time when it was counted under the supervision of Ranaghat in the district of Nadia. It consisted of 45 villages under the Kanchrapara Union Board. The place was full of people coming from different sections of the society and professional backgrounds. The place was surrounded by complete green cover making it a healthy place for settlement.
The history of Kalyani starts before the partition of Bengal from the time when it was counted under the supervision of Ranaghat in the district of Nadia. It consisted of 45 villages under the Kanchrapara Union Board. The place was full of people coming from different sections of the society and professional backgrounds. The place was surrounded by complete green cover making it a healthy place for settlement.
During the Second World War, a joint decision was taken by Winston Churchill and Franklin.D.Roosevelt to develop an army base in the eastern frontiers of India to prevent and restrict the Japanese aggression in South Asia. As a result of this decision, the 45 villages under Suguna and Kanchrapara Union Board were taken up and was planned to be the army base. The declaration for taking up this place was issued on 2nd September, 1943 and therefore the villagers had to leave their ancestral homes and move to other places.
During the Second World War, a joint decision was taken by Winston Churchill and Franklin.D.Roosevelt to develop an army base in the eastern frontiers of India to prevent and restrict the Japanese aggression in South Asia. As a result of this decision, the 45 villages under Suguna and Kanchrapara Union Board were taken up and was planned to be the army base. The declaration for taking up this place was issued on 2nd September, 1943 and therefore the villagers had to leave their ancestral homes and move to other places.
The land area of 20,000 acre of land comprising of the 45 villages was taken up and a planned army base was created along with a big granary for food supplies in various parts of Eastern India and South east Asia. The place finally came to be known as “Roosevelt Town” after the name of the American president. Roads made of concrete along with runways for fighter planes, residences for soldiers and other necessary buildings were built up. However, for the better movement of the goods and other necessary resources, a temporary railway station was formed between Kanchrapara and Madanpur known as the ‘Chandamari Halt’. From this station, a branch line was made till the banks of the Ganges which later developed as the Kalyani Simanta Branch line.
The land area of 20,000 acre of land comprising of the 45 villages was taken up and a planned army base was created along with a big granary for food supplies in various parts of Eastern India and South east Asia. The place finally came to be known as “Roosevelt Town” after the name of the American president. Roads made of concrete along with runways for fighter planes, residences for soldiers and other necessary buildings were built up. However, for the better movement of the goods and other necessary resources, a temporary railway station was formed between Kanchrapara and Madanpur known as the ‘Chandamari Halt’. From this station, a branch line was made till the banks of the Ganges which later developed as the Kalyani Simanta Branch line.
After the independence of India, the foundation of the town was planned by Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, the second chief minister of West Bengal and therefore is the founding father of the town. On 24th February, 1951 around 10 am the then Governor of West Bengal Dr. Kailashnath Katju officially laid the foundation stone of the town. The responsibility of looking into the planning and initial development of the town was given to Hiranmoy Bandopadhyay (I.C.S) who later on became the Vice-Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University.The first two tasks that were taken up was to take formidable steps for the development of the sectors of health and engineering. Although the foundation stone was laid in ‘A Block’ first, but the progressive development of ‘B block’ took an upward steep.
After the independence of India, the foundation of the town was planned by Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, the second chief minister of West Bengal and therefore is the founding father of the town. On 24th February, 1951 around 10 am the then Governor of West Bengal Dr. Kailashnath Katju officially laid the foundation stone of the town. The responsibility of looking into the planning and initial development of the town was given to Hiranmoy Bandopadhyay (I.C.S) who later on became the Vice-Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University.The first two tasks that were taken up was to take formidable steps for the development of the sectors of health and engineering. Although the foundation stone was laid in ‘A Block’ first, but the progressive development of ‘B block’ took an upward steep.
During this time some sub blocks in ‘B block’ was taken under the control of the government, which in turn constructed 2-3 rooms houses. Further, plots measuring from 5 to 10 ‘katas’ (Indian measurement system) were sanctioned for residential purposes. Keeping in mind the middle class people, land for residential purposes were given from 550 to 800 or 850 rupees per ‘kata’ at 999 years lease. On north western side of ‘B block’ 250 acres of land was given for the purpose of advanced agriculture and farming.
During this time some sub blocks in ‘B block’ was taken under the control of the government, which in turn constructed 2-3 rooms houses. Further, plots measuring from 5 to 10 ‘katas’ (Indian measurement system) were sanctioned for residential purposes. Keeping in mind the middle class people, land for residential purposes were given from 550 to 800 or 850 rupees per ‘kata’ at 999 years lease. On north western side of ‘B block’ 250 acres of land was given for the purpose of advanced agriculture and farming.
The year 1954 was very important for the town as the Indian National Congress session was held in the month of January between 21st and 25th. This was the 59th session of the Congress. The session was presided by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, mainly tried to organise this in Kalyani for its further development and gaining attention among people for the newly founded town. An exhibition based on the ideas of industrialisation and rural development was also organised over a large area and people came in large number to attend it. The town of Kalyani is forever indebted to this Congress session for its popularity and its transformation from an unknown to a known sphere.
The year 1954 was very important for the town as the Indian National Congress session was held in the month of January between 21st and 25th. This was the 59th session of the Congress. The session was presided by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, mainly tried to organise this in Kalyani for its further development and gaining attention among people for the newly founded town. An exhibition based on the ideas of industrialisation and rural development was also organised over a large area and people came in large number to attend it. The town of Kalyani is forever indebted to this Congress session for its popularity and its transformation from an unknown to a known sphere.
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