'Cooch Behar' () is the district headquarters and the largest town of
Cooch Behar District in the
Indian state of
West Bengal. It is situated in the foothills of the
Eastern Himalayas and located at . Cooch Behar is the only planned town in North Bengal district with remnants of royal heritage.
[1] One of the main tourist destinations in
West Bengal, the town is well-known for the
Cooch Behar Palace and
Madan Mohan Bari and has been declared a heritage town.
[2]
During the
British Raj, the town of Cooch Behar was the seat of the
princely state of
Koch Bihar, ruled by the
Koch dynasty. After
20 August 1949, Cooch Behar District was transformed from a princely state to its present status, with the town of Cooch Behar as its headquarters.
[ Brief Royal History of Cooch Behar 5 ]
Etymology
Main articles: Etymology of Cooch Behar
The name ''Cooch-Behar'' is derived from the name of the
Koch tribes (the Rajbongshi or Rajbanshi or Koch Rajbongshi) indigenous to this region for many centuries.
[3]
The word ''Behar'' is the
Sanskrit word ''bihar'' (to travel), which means the land through which the Koch kings used to roam.
History
The princely state known during British rule as Cooch Behar had been part of the
Kamarupa Kingdom from the
4th century to the
12th century. In the 12th century, the area became a part of the
Kamata Kingdom, first ruled by the
Khen dynasty from their capital at Kamatapur. The Khens were an indigenous tribe, and they ruled till about 1498
CE, when they fell to
Alauddin Hussein Shah, the independent Pathan Sultan of
Gour. The new invaders fought with the local
Bhuyan chieftains and the
Ahom king
Suhungmung and lost control of the region. During this time, the Koch tribe became very powerful and proclaimed itself ''Kamateshwar'' (Lord of Kamata) and established the
Koch dynasty.
The first important Koch ruler was
Biswa Singha, who came to power in 1510 or 1530 CE.
[http://coochbehar.nic.in/HTMfiles/royal_history.html] Under his son,
Nara Narayan, the Kamata Kingdom reached its zenith.
[4] Nara Narayan's younger brother, Shukladhwaj (
Chilarai), was a noted military general who undertook expeditions to expand the kingdom, and he became governor of its eastern portion. After Chilarai's death, his son
Raghudev became governor of this eastern portion. Since Nara Narayan did not have a son, Raghudev was seen as the heir apparent. However, a late child of Nara Narayan removed Raghudev's claim to the throne. To placate him, Nara Narayan had to anoint Raghudev as a vassal chief of the portion of the kingdom east of the
Subansiri river. This area came to be known as
Koch Hajo. After the death of Nara Narayan in 1584, Raghudev declared independence, and the kingdom ruled by the son of Nara Narayan,
Lakshmi Narayan, came to be known as Cooch Behar. The division of the Kamata Kingdom into Cooch Behar and Koch Hajo was permanent.
The early capital of
Koch Kingdom (Cooch Behar) was not static and became stable only when shifted to Cooch Behar town. Maharaja
Rup Narayan, on the advice of an unknown saint, transferred the capital from
Attharokotha to
Guriahati (now called Cooch Behar town) on the banks of the
Torsa river between 1693 and 1714. After this, the capital was always in or near its present location.
In 1661 CE, Maharaja
Pran Narayan planned to expand his kingdom. However,
Mir Jumla, the
subedar of
Bengal under the
Mughal emperor
Aurangazeb, attacked Cooch Behar and conquered the territory, meeting almost no resistance.
[3]
The town of Cooch Behar was subsequently named Alamgirnagar.
[ Royal Banglapedia Kamta-Koch Behar ] However, Maharaja Pran Narayan regained his kingdom within a few days.
During 1772–1773, the king of
Bhutan attacked and captured Cooch Behar. To expel the Bhutanese, the kingdom of Cooch Behar signed a treaty with the
British East India Company on
5 April 1773, and the king of Cooch Behar became a feudal ruler under the British.
[3]
Cooch Behar Palace
The famous
Victor Jubilee Palace, a landmark in the city, was designed on the lines of
Buckingham Palace of London, in 1887, during the reign of Maharaja
Nripendra Narayan.
[ In 1878, the maharaja married the daughter of Brahmo preacher Keshab Chandra Sen, and this union led to a renaissance in Cooch Behar state.[3] Maharaja Nripendra Narayan is known as the architect of modern Cooch Behar town.[8]]
Under an agreement between the kings of Cooch Behar and the Indian Government at the end of British rule, Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan transferred full authority, jurisdiction and power of the state to the Dominion Government of India, effective 12 September 1949.[ Cooch Behar District became part of the state of West Bengal on 19 January 1950, with Cooch Behar town as its headquarters.][ ]
Geography
Cooch Behar is situated in the foothills of Eastern Himalayas, located at in the north of West Bengal. It is the largest town and district headquarters of Cooch Behar District with an area of 8.29 km².[9]
The Torsa river flows by the western side of town. Heavy rains in the area often cause strong river currents and flooding. The turbulent water carries huge amounts of sand, silt, and pebbles, which have an adverse effect on crop production as well as on the hydrology of the region.[ Annual Plan on Agriculture 2003-04, , Principal Agricultural Officer, , Cooch Behar District Agriculture Office, , ] Alluvial deposits form the soil, which is acidic.[ Soil depth varies from 15 cm to 50 cm, superimposed on a bed of sand. The foundation materials are igneous and metamorphic rocks at a depth 1000 m to 1500 m. The soil has low levels of nitrogen with moderate levels of potassium and phosphorus. Deficiencies of boron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and sulphur are high.]
The town of Cooch Behar and its surrounding regions face deforestation due to increasing demand for fuel and timber, as well as air pollution from increasing vehicular traffic. The local flora include palms, bamboos, creepers, ferns, orchids, aquatic plants, fungi, timber, grass, vegetables, and fruit trees. Migratory birds, along with many local species, are found in the city, especially around the Sagardighi and other water bodies.[10]
Climate
Five distinct seasons (summer, monsoons, autumn, winter and spring) can be observed in Cooch Behar, of which summer, monsoons and winter are more prominent. Cooch Behar has a moderate climate characterised by heavy rainfall during the monsoons and slight rainfall from October to mid-November.[ The district does not have high temperatures at any time of the year. The summer season is from April, the hottest month, to May. During the summer season, the mean daily maximum temperature is 32.5°C, and the mean daily minimum is 20.2 °C.][District Profile, Cooch Behar Government website Accessed on October 1, 2006] The winter season lasts from the end of November to February; January is the coldest, when temperature ranges between 10.4 °C and 24.1 °C.[ The lowest and highest temperatures recorded have been 3.9 °C and 39.9 °C respectively. The atmosphere is highly humid throughout the year except from February to May, when relative humidity is around 50 to 70 percent. The rainy season lasts from June to September. Average annual rainfall in the district is 3,201 mm.][ However, the climate has undergone a drastic change in the past few years, with the mercury rising and the rainfall decreasing each year.[11]]
Economy
The central and state governments are the largest employers in Cooch Behar town.. Cooch Behar is home to a number of district-level and divisional-level offices and has a large government-employee workforce. Business is mainly centred on retail goods; the main centres lie on B.S. Road, Rupnarayan Road, and at Bhawaniganj Bazar.
An industrial park has been built at Chakchaka, just four kilometres from town, on the route to Tufanganj. A number of small companies such as Poddar Food Products Pvt., Ltd, and Deepa Casing Pvt., Ltd have set up industries there.[12]
Farming is a major source of livelihood for the nearby rural populace, and it supplies the town with fruits and vegetables. Poorer sections of this semi-rural society are involved in transport, basic agriculture, small shops and manual labour in construction. As the town is near the international border, the Border Security Force (B.S.F.) maintains a large presence in the vicinity of Cooch Behar. This gives rise to a large population of semi-permanent residents, who bring revenue to the local economy. The state government is trying to promote Cooch Behar as a tourist destination, though income from tourism is low.[13]
Civic administration
Cooch Behar Municipality is responsible for the civic administration of the town. The municipality consists of a board of councillors, elected from each of the 20 wards[14] of Cooch Behar town as well as a few members nominated by the state government. The board of councillors elects a chairman from among its elected members; the chairman is the executive head of the municipality. The present chairman is Biren Kundu. Currently, the Indian National Congress Party holds power in the municipality. The state government looks after education, health and tourism in the town.
The town is within the Cooch Behar (Lok Sabha constituency) and elects one member to the Lok Sabha (the Lower House of the Indian Parliament). It elects one member to the Vidhan Sabha, which is the West Bengal state legislative assembly. Cooch Behar town comes under the jurisdiction of the district police (which is a part of the state police); the Superintendent of Police oversees the town's security and matters pertaining to law and order. Cooch Behar is also home to the District Court.
Utility services
Cooch Behar is a well-planned town,[15] and the municipality is responsible for providing basic services, such as potable water and town sanitation. The water is supplied by the municipality using its groundwater resources, and almost all the houses in the municipal area are connected through the system. Solid waste is collected every day by the municipality van from individual houses. The surface drains, mostly uncemented, drain into the Torsa River. Electricity is supplied by the West Bengal State Electricity Board, and the West Bengal Fire Service provides emergency services like fire tenders. Most of the roads are metalled (macadam), and street lighting is available throughout the town. The Public Works Department is responsible for road maintenance in the town and on the roads connecting Cooch Behar with other towns in the region. Health services in Cooch Behar include a government-owned District Hospital, a Regional Cancer Centre, and private nursing homes.
Transport
Rickshaws are the most widely available public transport within Cooch Behar town. Most of Cooch Behar's residents stay within a few kilometres of the town centre and have their own vehicles, mostly motorcycles and bicycles.
The New Cooch Behar railway station is around five kilometres from town and is well connected to almost all major Indian cities. The rail route is one of the important connecting North-East India with remaining parts of the country. All express and Superfast trains going towards North East have a stoppage here. A station inside the town exists but is not operational.
Cooch Behar is headquarters of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation, which runs regular bus service to places in West Bengal, Assam and Bihar. Private buses are also available. Most buses depart from the Central Bus Terminus near Cooch Behar Rajbari. Hired vehicles are also available from the taxi stand near Transport Chowpathi.
Cooch Behar has an airport that, at present, is defunct, but plans are being considered to make it operational soon.[16]
At present, the nearest airport is in Bagdogra near Siliguri, about 160 kilometres from Cooch Behar. Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Air Deccan are the three major carriers that connect the area to Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati.
Demographics
As per the 2001 census,[17] the Cooch Behar municipal area has a population of 76,812. The sex ratio is 972 females per 1,000 males. The decadal growth rate for population is 7.86 %. Males constitute 50.6% of the population, and females constitute 49.4%. Cooch Behar has an average literacy rate of 82%, which is higher than the national average of 64.84%. The male literacy rate is 86%, while female literacy rate is 77%. In Cooch Behar, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.[18]
The major religion followed is Hinduism, followed by Islam; Christianity and Sikhism also attract sizable minorities. The population's ethnic composition is closely linked with that of Bengal and Assam. Communities that inhabit Cooch Behar include the Bengalis, Gorkha, Marwaris, Biharis and Rajbangsi. Commonly spoken languages include Bengali and Hindi. English and Assameese are understood by most of the people.
Culture
Popular festivals in Cooch Behar include, Durga Puja in October, along with ''Ras Purnima'', when a big fair is organised in the town near the famous Madan Mohan Temple.[19] Cooch Behar ''Ras mela'' is the oldest in the North Bengal region.[20] Other major festivals celebrated in the region include ''Pohela Baishakh'' (Bengali New Year), ''Rathayatra'', ''Dolyatra'' or ''Basanta-Utsab'', Diwali, Poush parbon (festival of Poush), Christmas, Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha. During ''Rathayatra'', a small fair is organised at Gunjabari area of the town.
Cooch Behar has a mixture of cultures, similar to those of West Bengal and Bangladesh. Rice and fish are traditional favorites, leading to a common saying that "fish and rice make a Bengali" ''(machhe bhate bangali)''. Meat consumption has increased with higher production in recent years. ''Bhuni Khicuhri'' (a dish made of rice and dal) and ''labra'' (a mixed-vegetable preparation) are quite popular and are served during any religious occasion. As in any part of West Bengal, people of Cooch Behar are known to prepare distinctive confections from milk products; popular ones are '' Rôshogolla'', ''Chômchôm'' and ''Kalojam''. Bengal's vast repertoire of fish-based dishes includes various hilsa, ilish preparations (a favorite among Bengalis). Fast foods, such as '' Paratha'' (fried bread), egg roll (flatbread roll with vegetable stuffings and egg), and ''phuchka'' (deep fried crêpe with tamarind and lentil sauce), are also widely popular. The ''momo'' is another popular snack made from vegetable or meat filling, which is steamed and served with a soup. Another popular snack is ''Ghatigaram'', a variety of ''Jhalmuri'' (a mixture made out of flattened rice and other spices).
Bengali women commonly wear a ''sari'' (shaŗi) and the ''salwar kameez'', which are distinctly designed as per local customs. However, Western-style attire is also quite popular, especially amongst youngsters. Men wear traditional costumes such as the ''kurta'' with ''dhoti'' or ''pyjama'', often on religious occasions.
A characteristic feature of Cooch Behar is the ''Para'' or neighbourhoods with a strong sense of community attachment. Typically, every ''para'' has its own community club with a clubroom and often a playground. People here habitually indulge in ''adda'' or leisurely chat, and these adda sessions are often a form of freestyle intellectual conversation. Residents of Cooch Behar are fond of music and generally listen to Rabindra Sangeet, Bangla Bands, Hindi Pop music and the local Bhawaiya Sangeet. The local Bengali dialect, is different from the one spoken in Kolkata. The local dialect is more closer to that of East Bengal and a mix of Assamese and Rajbangsi language.
The sole museum in Cooch Behar is located inside the Cooch Behar Palace. It has a variety of photographs and articles used by the maharajas of Cooch Behar and also information about the tribals of North Bengal. The town boasts a well-archived North Bengal State Library. Rabindra Bhawan, an auditorium, is often chosen as the venue for cultural events such as dramas, concerts, poetry-recitals, and dance programs. Temples exist throughout region; the Madan Mohan Temple, Bara Debi Bari and Rajmata Temple are centres of religious and cultural importance.
Education
Cooch Behar's schools are either run by the state government or by private and religious organisations. The schools usually use English and Bengali as their medium of instruction, although the use of national language Hindi is also stressed. The schools are affiliated with the ICSE or the CBSE or the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education. Some of the reputed schools in the town include Kendriya Vidyalaya, St. Mary’s H.S. School, B.D. Jain Modern School, Jenkins School, Nipendra Narayan H.S. School, and Sunity Academy. There are five[21]colleges and a polytechnic in the Cooch Behar town including A.B.N. Seal College, Cooch Behar College, University B.T. and Evening College, Thakur Panchanan Mahila Mahavidyalaya, and Cooch Behar Polytechnic College, all of which are affiliated with the University of North Bengal in Siliguri.
There is also an agricultural university, Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, just outside the main town at Pundibari.
Media
Newspapers in Cooch Behar include English language dailies, ''The Statesman'' and ''The Telegraph'', which are printed in Siliguri, and ''The Hindustan Times'' and the ''Times of India'', which are printed in Kolkata and received after a day's delay. In addition, Hindi and Bengali publications, including ''Anandabazar Patrika'', ''Bartaman'', ''Ganashakti'', ''Uttar Banga Sambad'' and ''Dainik Jagran'', are available.
The public radio station All India Radio is the only radio channel that can be received in Cooch Behar. However, recently WorldSpace Satellite Radio has started transmission in Cooch Behar. Cooch Behar receives almost all the television channels available in the rest of the country. Apart from the state-owned terrestrial network Doordarshan, cable television serves most of the homes in the town, while satellite television is common in the outlying areas and in wealthier households. Besides mainstream Indian television channels, the town also receives Nepali television channels and Bangladeshi television channels.
Cooch Behar has three cinema halls, featuring Hindi, Bengali, and English films. Internet cafés are available in the main market area, connected through dial-up access. BSNL provides a limited form of broadband connectivity of up to 128 kbit/s with DIAS (Direct Internet Access System) connections. Cooch Behar is soon to be connected by Broadband provided by BSNL. The area is serviced by local cell phone companies such as BSNL, Reliance Infocomm, Hutch, Aircel, Tata Indicom and Airtel.
Sports
Like most other towns in India, Cooch Behar has not been left out in the game of cricket. Cricket is the most popular game followed by football, swimming, badminton, volley ball, kabadi, and water polo. Cooch Behar has two outdoor stadiums, M.J.N. Stadium and Cooch Behar Stadium, for games such as cricket and football. Cooch Behar also has a new indoor stadium, Netaji Subhas Indoor Stadium. Inter-district and inter-school meets are often held in these stadiums. Swimming is practised under the guidance of trained coaches in the local Sagardighi. The popularity of games changes according to the season - for example, cricket and badminton are played during winter, swimming and water polo in summer and football during the monsoon. Cooch Behar town is one of few district towns in India with three stadiums.
Notes
1. http://www.himalayan-adventure.com/dooars/coochbehar.htm
2. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010623/nation.htm
3. Itikathai Cooch Behar (A brief history of Cooch Behar), , Dr. Nripendra Nath, Pal, Anima Prakashani, 2000,
4. Royal History of Cooch Behar
5. Itikathai Cooch Behar (A brief history of Cooch Behar), , Dr. Nripendra Nath, Pal, Anima Prakashani, 2000,
6. Itikathai Cooch Behar (A brief history of Cooch Behar), , Dr. Nripendra Nath, Pal, Anima Prakashani, 2000,
7. Itikathai Cooch Behar (A brief history of Cooch Behar), , Dr. Nripendra Nath, Pal, Anima Prakashani, 2000,
8. Royal History of Cooch Behar 5
9. West Bengal Census
10. West Bengal Tourism: Cooch Behar
11. Darjeeling warming up faster than earth Anuradha Sharma Lakhotia
12. Industries in Cooch Behar, Cooch Behar Government Website Accessed on October 1, 2006
13. Tourism Development in Cooch Behar, Cooch Behar Government Website Accessed on October 1, 2006
14. District Administration Accessed on October 1, 2006
15. North Bengal: Cooch Behar
16. More airports for Indian cities, says India's Civil Aviation Minister
17.
18. West Bengal Census Accessed on October 1, 2006
19. Fairs and Festivals in Cooch Behar Accessed on October 1, 2006
20. Cooch Behar Ras mela: The Statesman
21. Education in Cooch Behar, Cooch Behar Government Website Accessed on October 1, 2006
References
★ Cooch Behar District’s Official Website
★ Banglapedia Kamta-Koch Behar
★ Translation from ''Itikathai Cooch Behar'' (A brief history of Cooch Behar) by Dr. Nripendra Nath Pal
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