Howrah in 1909

The district gazetteer for Howrah in 1909 has a description of the district that is considerably different from today's Howrah

The old Howrah district was considerably different from today’s Howrah. There was a district gazetteer for Howrah in 1909 and this is what it said: “The history of Howrah, prior to the advent of European merchant adventurers, is practically unknown, and any attempt to trace it must necessarily lead along a wide and somewhat insecure track of conjecture... With an area of 510 square miles and a population of 850,514 persons, it is the smallest district in Bengal and has a less numerous population than any district in the province except Angul, Palamau, Singhum and Darjeeling... The district contains two towns, Howrah and Bally, which extend along the river Hooghly for about 10 miles and contain more than one-fifth of the total district population. Since the construction of the Hooghly bridge and the extension of tram lines there has been a growing tendency for workmen, who spend their days and earn their livelihood in the metropolis, to have their homes in Howrah; while several European and Indian gentlemen of Calcutta have houses or gardens in the town or its suburbs.”

Here is a description of the state of vital statistics, with the system having been introduced in 1892: “Under the present system, compulsory registration is in force in the towns, i.e. parents, guardians or the persons directly concerned are required to report births and deaths to the town police. In rural circles each village watchman is provided with a pocket book, in which he is required to have all births and deaths that may occur within his jurisdiction recorded by the village panchayat; these are reported on parade days at the police stations and outposts, which are the registering centres. The statistics thus obtained are compiled and classified by the police, and submitted monthly to the Civil Surgeon, who prepares the figures for the whole district for inclusion in the annual report of the Sanitary Commissioner. The statistics are checked from time to time by superior police officers and by Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors of Vaccination. In the towns, the higher level of intelligence and the fear of legal penalties tend to make registration and the classification of diseases more accurate than in the rural tracts. In the latter the reporting chaukidar is generally illiterate, and vital registration is less correct, the chief defects being that still-births are very often omitted, while births of females and births in outlying parts, and among the lowest castes, are overlooked. Deaths are more carefully recorded, but the causes of death, except cholera and small-pox, are hopelessly confused, the bulk being classified under the general head of fever.”

The Hooghly river in Calcutta during the British era

How can there not be a description of fish? “The principal varieties of river fish netted in the Hooghly river are hilsa, bhetki, tengra, and, during the season, tapsi or mango-fish (Polynemus paradiseus). The Hooghly from Uluberia to Diamond Harbour is in fact, noted for the delicious fish last named, which is described by Walter Hamilton (1820), “as the best and highest flavoured fish not only in Bengal, but in the whole world".” Bengalis do love topse (as it is now spelt), but I wouldn’t have expected its description in such superlative terms. Non-Bengali Indians find hilsa difficult to handle. But another surprise: “Hilsa and mango-fish are especially popular among Europeans; but among Indians carps take the first place, the rui (Sanskrit rohita) being considered the king of fresh-water fish.”  

The history of Howrah, prior to the arrival of European merchant adventurers, is unknown

“During the period preceding British rule roads in the modern sense of the word appear to have been unknown in the district... Nor is this to be wondered at, for, the country being intersected by rivers, creeks, and channels, the waterways then as now furnished a natural and easy means of transit... On account of the large number of rivers and waterways, both Municipal and District Board roads have to be provided with many bridges, and in Howrah town several bridges have been built over the East Indian Railway and the Bengal-Nagpur Railway lines, the finest being the Buckland Bridge leading to Howrah station, which is more than a quarter mile long... By far the most important bridge, however, is the Howrah Bridge over the river Hooghly, which connects Howrah with Calcutta. This is a floating bridge, the middle section of which is movable so as to allow of the passage of vessels up and down the river... In 1871 an Act was passed empowering the Lieutenant-Governor to have the bridge constructed with Government capital, to make and maintain ways and approaches, to authorize the levy of tolls and to appoint Port Commissioners to carry out the purposes of the Act. A contract was entered into with Sir Bradford Leslie for its construction, and the work was forthwith commenced in England, the different portions of the bridge being sent out and put together in Calcutta. The work of construction was completed in 1874; and the bridge having been opened to traffic in October of that year, was made over to the Port Commissioners for management... The main item in the receipts consists of a small toll on railway traffic at the rate of Rs 1 per 100 maunds of goods, which is paid by the East Indian Railway.”

“Howrah, with its large labour force and fluctuating population, is a convenient centre for criminals, and is frequented by professional criminals from up-country... They display a considerable amount of ingenuity and adopted up-to-date devices, e.g. by disguising themselves as policemen and using boats like those of the Port Police.”

The author is chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. Views are personal