chandan nagar

8/10/2019 Chandan Nagar

1/8

Chandannagar was established as a French colony in 1673, when the French obtained permission from Ibrahim Khan,

the Nawab of Bengal, to establish a trading post on the right bank of the Hughli River. In that year (1673-74)

Duplessis, the French Commander,built a house after gathering a plot at Taldanga on the northern part of the

present Chandannagar with the permission of Ibrahim Khan, the then Nawab of Bengal.Bengal was then a province

of the Mughal Empire. It became a permanent French settlement in 1688, and in 1730 Joseph Franois Dupleix wasappointed governor of the city, during whose administration more than two thousand brick houses were erected in

the town and a considerable maritime trade was carried on. For a time, Chandannagar was the main center for

European commerce in Bengal. Unlike the rest of India which had been a British colony for two hundred years,

Chandannagar was ruled by French.

Chandannagar Rail Station

Then in 1687 the French commander Deslandes started business at Bandel in Hooghly; but coming across many

inconveniences he tried to shift to another Gateplace in Hooghly and failed to receive the permission of the Nawab to

build a new firm at the very place obtained by Duplessis at Chandannagar. At last in the next year, the French

received the permission to carry on duty free business in Bengal, Bihar, Orissa on payment of Rs. 40,000/- to the

Moghul Government (Aurungzeb was Emperor then). Deslandes laid the foundation of Chandannagar.

In course of time Chandannagar occupied the topmost position among all foreign settlements of Bengal in trade and

commerce. It maintained traderelations with Basora, China, Pegu, Jedda, Tibet etc. In those days Chandannagar was

a bigger centre of commerce than Calcutta.

In 1756 war broke out between France and Great Britain, and Colonel Robert Clive of the British East India Company

and Admiral Charles Watson of the British Navy bombarded and captured Chandannagar on 23 March 1757. The

towns fortifications and many houses were demolished thereafter, and Chandannagars importance as a commercial

center was eclipsed by that of Calcutta just downriver. Chandernagore was restored to the French in 1763, but

retaken by the British in 1794 in the Napoleonic Wars.
http://chandernagar.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/chandannagar-station.jpg


2/8

Chandannagar Chruch

The city was returned to France in 1816, along with a 3 sq mi (7.8 km2) enclave of surrounding territory. It was

governed as part of French India until 1950, under the political control of the governor-general in Pondicherry. By

1900 the towns former commercial importance was gone, and it was little more than a quiet suburb of Calcutta, with

a population of 25,000 (1901). The European town was noted for its clean wide thoroughfares, with many elegantresidences along the riverbank.

The first European named Louis Bonnaud who established the indigo plant along the cultivation of the crop in this

country was an inhabitant of Chandannagar. Batakrishna Ghosh, the first founder of a cloth mill amongst Bengalis,

was a resident of the place of this place. The factory for manufacturing European tincture and other medicines which

Dinanath Chandra established here wasthe first such organisation in this area. Names of Bengal Chemical, Indian

Drugs etc. were even then unknown. Indrakumar Chattopadhyay, the first maker and publisher of a wall map

containing locations of places in Bengal, was a man of this place.

Chandannagar continued as the commercial center but completely banking on the local businessmen. Among them

Indranarayan Chowdhury was the most prominent figure. In the year 1730 he was appointed the courtier of the

Company. He received a gold medal from Louis xv, the King of France. He constructed the temple of Sri Nandadulal

and a rest house in the year 1740.

SJC Convent Chapel
http://chandernagar.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/sjc-convent-chapel.jpghttp://chandernagar.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/chandannagar-chruch.jpghttp://chandernagar.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/sjc-convent-chapel.jpghttp://chandernagar.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/chandannagar-chruch.jpg


3/8

Colonel Robert Clive of Brittish East India Company Limited and Admiral Watson of British army captured

Chandannagar in March 1757. It was a turning point of Indian History. Chandannagar was again taken by French

through a treaty with the British but again lost to them in 1794 but ultimately ruled the town from 1816 to 1950.

Galakuti In 1832 the French administrators set up the Comite de Bienfaisance whose main aim was to help the poor

people.In 1862, Ecole de saint mare was established, which is at present one of the best educational institutions ofthe town- Kanailal Vidyamandir. In 1867 alfred Curjon set up a convent for the upliftment of the women education

system. In 1871, a big hospital was set up in Chandannagar with the help of Doctor Margon. In 1896, Durga charan

Rakshit, the courtier of the French Government, achieved the distinction of becoming the first Indian to be conferred

with the chevalier de legion dHonour.

In 1915, twenty people from Chandannagar participated in World War I in support of the French people. TheFather

of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi came to Pravartak in Chandannagar to inspire people in the freedom struggle in 1925

and again in December, 1927. On 12th March 1930 Mahatma Gandhi called the nation for the famous Dandi March

against the infamous Salt Act. Yuba Samiti of Chandannagar came forward to support the movement with full

enthusiasm.

In the thirties the Communist movement was taking shape in India and Chandannagar took a leading part in it under

the guidance of Dr. Hiren Chatterjee, a commissioner general under the French Government. As Chandannagar was

under the French rule, the party make it decided to make it their district headquarters.

ndependence

Chandannagar Jora Ghat

India became independent of Britain in 1947, and in June 1948 the French Government held a plebiscite which found

that 97% of Chandannagars residents wished to become part of India. In May 1950, the French allowed the Indian

government to assume de facto control over Chandannagar, officially ceding the city to India on 2 February 1951. De

jure transfer took place on 9 June 1952. On 2 October 1955Chandannagar was integrated into West Bengal state

and also became a part of India.
http://chandernagar.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/chandannagar-jora-ghat.jpg


4/8

Surya Kumar Modak Grandsons

The knowledge about Chandannagore is incomplete without the mentionof its mouthwatering sweets especially-the 'Jalbhara Sandesh' . 'Jalbhara'

literally means - 'filled with water' and it is exactly so. It is a sweet made

from chana and sugar which has rose water in its core. It is a marvellous

sweet because the water inside it remains as it is for a couple of days

without drying.It was first discovered by Late Surya Kumar Modak

about 100 years back. Surya Kumar Modak was asked to make some

new sweets for the new bridegroom of the local zaminder. He agreed to

do it and after several experiments he invented the famous 'Jalbhara

Sandesh'. Nobel laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore often visited

Chandannagar and he was an ardent admirer of 'Jalbhara'. Many other

renowned persons e.g. Mahatma Gandhi, Rashbehari Bose, Shyama

Prasad Mukhopadhyay also appreciated the speciality of

Chandannagar.Apart from 'Jalbhara' another famous sweet

ofChandannagar is 'Motichur' which is also a product of this shop.

Late Sailendra Kumar Modak, the grandson of Surya Kumar Modak,carried on the family business and made it flourish.

His sons Saradindu Modak and Subhendu Modak are the present owner

of the shop.

Since 'Jalbhara' can remain intact for a few days, you can have a taste of

it by ordering from anywhere in the country. Just call Sradindu Modak at

(033)2633-6305 or (033)2683-9383 and place an order. You can also

sent a mail to theWebmasterwhich will be conveyed to Sri Modak

immediately.

HariGopal Nandy Mistanna Bhander
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


5/8

Hari Gopal Nandy, a self made man, opened his sweet shop in 1920. A

born honest innovator, he created 'Golapipanra' ushering in a renaissance

of sweets in Chandannagar.

A born scientist, Hari Gopal Nandy, inspite of his educational

limitations, expandsproduct range through effort and enterprise.He

introduced 'Pranahara', 'Sarer Naru', 'Chanar Murki', and 'Nonta Gaja'.

A major share of his efforts was focussed on the very strict quality

requirements that govern every stage of manufacture and storage during

his time. Thus, the-then rich people of Chandannagar- Shyamacharan

Rakshit, BholaNath Das, HariharSett, FaloKrishna Pal, the then

conseiller general and notaire Sadhu Charan Mukherjee became his

customers.Over 80 years have gone by since. His youngest son Umesh Nandy (85

years) and his grandsons, sons of his eldest son Late Akshoy Kumar

Nandy are carrying the heritage still now with same glory. All through

these precious years, the continuing support and goodwill of people of

Chandannagar have nurtured the sweet shop to reach the next high.

RESTAURANTS

There are restaurants where you can have your Lunch, Dinner or Snacks.

1. Rosoi: Situated on the Strand Road. You can have your lunch, Dinner

or Snacks here with Continental, Mughlai or Chinese dishes.

2. Begum:Situated on the G.T. Road near Court Ghat More. It is

famous for its Mughlai Dishes.3. Shahajadi:Situated on the station road near Bagbazar. It is also

famous for its Mughlai dishes.

4.Garden Restaurant: Open air restaurant situated on the G.T. Road

near Bagbazar. Mughlai and Chinese are their speciality.

5. Abhinandan: Situated near Laxmigunj Bazar. Their specialty is the


6/8


7/8

Chandannagar ):One of the oldest and finest museums of the entire region. It boasts a beautiful

collection of French items (e.g cannons used in Anglo - French war, wooden furniture of the 18th

century, etc.) which are difficult to find anywhere else in the world. The institute still teaches French

through regular classes.

Chandannagar Church: The beautiful church stands over for

two centuries to mark the beauty of the architecture during the French period - a good place to visit

for th historians and tourists. The remains of the church at St. Louis is also an attractive tourist spot.

The Underground House (Patal Bari) : The building is another beautiful example of the

advancement in the knowledge of architecture and the aesthetic sense of the people of those earlier

days. Its lowest floor is submerged in the river Ganges. The great social reformer Iswar Chandra

VidyaSagar and Nobel laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore stayed in this house during their visits to

Chandannagar.

Ancient Temples: Nandadulal temple, built in 1740 by IndraNararayan Choudhury presents an

excellent example of ancient Indian Sculptures. There are many fascinating temples devoted to Kali,

Siva and other deities which show marks of brilliant craftmanship and artistic


8/8

taste.

Residence of famous personalities: The place hosts a galaxy of famous personalities .

The revolutionary leader Rashbehari Bose, Kanailal Dutta and the great

social reformer Sri Harihar Seth belonged to the place.

chandan nagar

Documents