Bengali settlement in Delhi down the timeline
The first wave of Bengali settlers came when Calcutta and Delhi were first connected by train in 1864. With the shifting of capital to New Delhi in 1911, government employees migrated to Delhi. Initially employees of central government departments like Post and Telegraph, Government of India Press, Accountant General of Central Revenues (AGCR) and Railways settled in Timarpur ; thereafter in 1924, another phase of government housing came up near Gole Market for employees of the Secretariat. Overtime many employees after retirement settled in Karol bagh and WEA, and later in South Delhi.
Fallout of Partition of Bengal in 1947
In 1954, an association was formed for the refugees from the then East Bengal who were displaced from their homes during the Partition of India and the associated Partition of Bengal (1947). A large group of government officers hailing from the erstwhile East Pakistan migrated to Delhi and lobbied for a residential colony. Leading roles were taken by Chandra Kumar Mukherjee, Subodh Gopal Basumallik, Bimal Bhusan Chakraborty, and the then Chief Election Commissioner, Shyamaprasanna Senverma. In 1967, 218 acre land was assigned in a barren rocky area now known as Chittaranjan Park. Applicants were required to provide some documentation of their refugee status, and were required to be "already residing and gainfully employed in the capital"; based on this, 2147 people were given plots of land, initially on lease for 99 years, but subsequently converted into a freehold ownership. The EPDP ( East Pakistan Displaced Persons’ Association) registered in 1960 had key role in handling allotment and welfare of the habitation. It continues to be the Apex RWA in CR Park today.
The original layout had the two thousand odd plots, divided into eleven blocks A-K, along with a number of markets and cultural spaces. However, in the 1990s, 714 displaced families were accommodated . This resulted in new blocks, called M, N, O, K-1, K-2, Pocket 40 (referred to as Navapalli), Pocket 52 (referred to as Dakhinpalli ) and Pocket-K. The main thoroughfare of the colony is Bipin Chandra Pal Marg. Notable Institutions which grew up over the years are- a branch of the Raisina Bengali School, Kali Mandir (also called the Shiv Mandir), Bangiya Samaj, Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Memorial, Bipin Chandra Pal Memorial Trust, Purbashree Mahila Samity,Aparajita Mahila samity, Shri Shri lokenath Ashram.
The colony was founded with plots going exclusively to migrants from East Bengal; but over time the demographics has become a little more pan-Indian, though it continues to attract other Bengalis in general. Most of the residents are eminent ex-government servants, scholars, professors, teachers and other professionals . With an estimated 2000 Bengali families , it has emerged as ‘mini Kolkata ‘ in the capital. The explosive growth of South Delhi property prices and the aging of the original land allottees is resulting in an ongoing demographic diversification.
Kali Mandir
click the link for the timeline in Bengali....... https://app.box.com/s/tsuwljbmw2gwnlepz6d6
The first wave of Bengali settlers came when Calcutta and Delhi were first connected by train in 1864. With the shifting of capital to New Delhi in 1911, government employees migrated to Delhi. Initially employees of central government departments like Post and Telegraph, Government of India Press, Accountant General of Central Revenues (AGCR) and Railways settled in Timarpur ; thereafter in 1924, another phase of government housing came up near Gole Market for employees of the Secretariat. Overtime many employees after retirement settled in Karol bagh and WEA, and later in South Delhi.
Fallout of Partition of Bengal in 1947
In 1954, an association was formed for the refugees from the then East Bengal who were displaced from their homes during the Partition of India and the associated Partition of Bengal (1947). A large group of government officers hailing from the erstwhile East Pakistan migrated to Delhi and lobbied for a residential colony. Leading roles were taken by Chandra Kumar Mukherjee, Subodh Gopal Basumallik, Bimal Bhusan Chakraborty, and the then Chief Election Commissioner, Shyamaprasanna Senverma. In 1967, 218 acre land was assigned in a barren rocky area now known as Chittaranjan Park. Applicants were required to provide some documentation of their refugee status, and were required to be "already residing and gainfully employed in the capital"; based on this, 2147 people were given plots of land, initially on lease for 99 years, but subsequently converted into a freehold ownership. The EPDP ( East Pakistan Displaced Persons’ Association) registered in 1960 had key role in handling allotment and welfare of the habitation. It continues to be the Apex RWA in CR Park today.
The original layout had the two thousand odd plots, divided into eleven blocks A-K, along with a number of markets and cultural spaces. However, in the 1990s, 714 displaced families were accommodated . This resulted in new blocks, called M, N, O, K-1, K-2, Pocket 40 (referred to as Navapalli), Pocket 52 (referred to as Dakhinpalli ) and Pocket-K. The main thoroughfare of the colony is Bipin Chandra Pal Marg. Notable Institutions which grew up over the years are- a branch of the Raisina Bengali School, Kali Mandir (also called the Shiv Mandir), Bangiya Samaj, Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Memorial, Bipin Chandra Pal Memorial Trust, Purbashree Mahila Samity,Aparajita Mahila samity, Shri Shri lokenath Ashram.
The colony was founded with plots going exclusively to migrants from East Bengal; but over time the demographics has become a little more pan-Indian, though it continues to attract other Bengalis in general. Most of the residents are eminent ex-government servants, scholars, professors, teachers and other professionals . With an estimated 2000 Bengali families , it has emerged as ‘mini Kolkata ‘ in the capital. The explosive growth of South Delhi property prices and the aging of the original land allottees is resulting in an ongoing demographic diversification.
Kali Mandir
- 21 January,1973 : resolution to build a temple was taken in a meeting of residents at I-1614
- 25 February : public notice inviting plot holders to assemble on 4 th March was published in Statesman and Indian Express.
- 4 March,1973 : Allottees of plots met at the zonal park opposite to plot 1647.
- 2 December,1973: first General Body Meeting of the Society was held. Memorandum of Association was adopted and the steering committee was asked to function as Managing Committee.
- 19 January,1974 : recommended two acres of land for construction of proposed temple on the “Rock Garden” at the junction of ‘I’ and ‘J’ blocks. A proposal on this
- Thursday,25 th April- 1974, 8 Baishak , Bangabdo-1381 ( Akshay Tritiya ): Protishta of SHIVLINGA in a temporary shed. From dawn to dusk the barren rock garden resonated with ved mantrs and devotional songs for the first time. Swami Kripananda (Sannyasi) was present on this occasion and planted a bilwabriksha on the courtyard. Today one finds the green canopy of the tree at the entrance staircase .
- 13 may, 1976 : Electricity connection came
- 12 – 13 May, 1979; musical programmes were organized at Talkotra
- Monday,28 May-1979,13 Jaistho-1386 : foundation of Kali Mandir was laid with chanting of Veda mantras by five scholars of Ramkrishna order led by Sri Sri Budhanandaji Mahraj, the then secretary of RK Mission, Delhi . Earlier when sri sri Budhanandaji was requested to recommend a spot for the sanctum sanatorium , he sat on meditation and had a inner feeling about the spot where the temple stands today as the ideal location ; he also said that this place will be a tirthastal one day. As per his advice the temple was constructed on the roof of the existing huge tortoise like stone. In 1973 ,sh.Jibonath Roychoudhuri, one of the three persons who initiated the idea of having a Kali mandir here, saw the idol of goddess Kali standing on the roof of the same tortoise stone.
- 24 April,1983: the very first brick was laid in temple construction.
- 21 February,1985: Idol of Ma Kali was established in presence of Mohananada Maharaj of Deoghar.The temple was inaugurated by Swami Hiranmoyanandaji Maharaj, the then chief of R K Mission, Delhi.
- 4 April,1986: Balananda Yatrinibas started functioning with 12 rooms. Earlier Mohananandaji Maharaj donated Rs. 5.53 lakhs for construction of Balananda Dharmashala on the eastern part of the temple complex.
- 20 September,1990: foundation stone of Shiv mandir was laid with puja and vedpath
- May-1986 , 21 Baishakh-1399 : Shiv mandir was inaugurated by Swami Bijoyanandaji Maharaj of Bharat Sevashram Sangha in the presence of local residents, worshippers, priests and special invitees like- Sh. Pronab Mukherji,the then vice chairman of Planning Commission, Padmabhusan (sitarist)Pandit Debu Choudhuri, Sri santosh Mohan Deb, the then minister of Steel and Mines, Debaprosad Roy – MP.
- 22-23 February,1994,10 Phalgun-1400 :Radha Krishna temple was inaugurated by Achaya Dr. Dhyanesh Narayan Chakraborty. Sri sri Mohananandaji Maharaj performed pranpratistha. Sri Purnatmananda Maharaj, secretary Bharat Sevashram, Swami Gokulananda Maharaj, secretary-RKmission, Delhi graced the occasion. The renowned kirtaniya Srimati Chhobi Bandyopadhyay mesmerized the huge audience with palakirtan for two days. (... excerpts from the book 'Chittaranjan Park Kalimandir Society Rajat Jayanti Barsha Smaranika',1973 - 1998)
click the link for the timeline in Bengali....... https://app.box.com/s/tsuwljbmw2gwnlepz6d6