Samta, India

For the village in Saudi Arabia, see Samtah.

For other uses, see Samta.

Samta, India Samta (সামতা)
Village
Website	http://howrah.gov.in/

Samta (Bengali:সামতা) is a small village and a Gram panchayat in Deulti in the Howrah district in the Indian state of West Bengal. which is located between villages like Ghoraghata, Nabasan, Asaria. It is a village situated on the banks of the Rupnarayan River in the Howrah district of West Bengal. It is located between Howrah and Kharagpur on the South Eastern Railway (India). This village is located between between the stations Bagnan, Ghoraghata and Deulti.

History

Early days of Zamindari and its collapse

Samta is a very reputed village; the village is more than thousand years old and earlier was ruled by the “Roy Zamindars”. The Zamindars were formerly surnamed Banerjee, but they were given the title of Roy, by the British. The Zamindars were then under the Bardhaman Raj Estate. The Zamindari started to collapse as the British introduced the system of Dual Government, then at last at the end of the mid-17th century, it collapsed and it was then taken by the Panchayat Samity, the Zamindars then became the head of the Samity but only those who are well educated and all the villagers would listen to him and his decisions. Ishan Chandra Roy was the famous head of Samta's Panchayat Samity. He is still knwon for his good works. His samadhi which was located infront of the Roys' house can still be seen but has half-drowned in a pond. The Roy's still live in Samta but have scattered and started living in Samta, Deulti and its nearby villages. A cluster of the Roy family can be seen living in a hill located in the heart of Samta close to the Shetola Maa Temple and the barrage.

Arrival of Government and progress

Later, the village’s progress and all the public properties were taken by the government but the Panchayat Samity still exists but it is not much poupular like the early days. But still now there had not been much progress but the villagers earn a good living and stay in pucca houses and a few works as maids or servants. But, still there are no lampposts lighting on the roads to lit them at night, the main road called Sarat Road is made with pitch but they are derelict, the roads which pass through the village are made with bricks or mud.

Temples

Here one can see very ancient temples, which have been mentioned further below in a seperate topic titled "Temples".

Clubs

In this village we also have many clubs of which one needs special attention. That club called Mallock Bisalakhi Athletic Club was established in 1905 and is located in the border of Samta and Mallock. The club is a football fan club and still exists in this village.

Geography

Samta is located at 22.46117°N 87.91062°E / 22.46117; 87.91062. It has an average elevation of 6.372 m (20.91 ft). It is situated about 1 kilometer away from the bank of Rupnarayan River. The main road passing through the heart of the village is built on a barrage is commonly referred to as the "Baandh" (a kind of breakwater created to protect the villages from floods). It is also connects to NH 6, called the Bombay Road though the nearby village called Mallock and the road passing through them which starts from the Bombay Road and leads towards Kalyanpur and Hooghly in the north, called the "Sarat Road". This is an unplanned village.

Present condition and surroundings

Flowers in a garden in a house in Samta.

The village is surrounded by gardens and trees, there are also numerous ponds and swamps all around, surrounding most of the village. People can find fishes and different types of animals and so on there. There is insufficient supply of electricity but water is available twice a day. There are no lampposts on the roads to light them at night, the main road called Sarat Road is made with pitch but they are derelict, the roads which pass through the village are made with bricks or mud.

Rivers like Damodar and Rupnarayan flow along the village thus, the soil here is very fertile for crops like that of rice, wheat and vegetables. Though earlier the river Rupnarayan was much closer to the village but later it changed its route and moved far away. But, nowadays the river water is again breaking the shore and coming close to the village, thus all the houses, temples and the crop-fields are endangered.

The Rupnarayan River passes through and along the village, so there it was earlier controlled by machines but later the machines rusted and were destroyed, and they are still not repaired so only the remains of the rusted machines can be seen, their the Rupnarayan River now is controlled by a barrage, which is locally known as baandh. The baandh leads to Mallock in the south and to the poet, Sarat Chandra Chatterjee’s house in the north.

Samta panorama from a house's terrace during sunset.

There is also a cremation ground on the banks of Rupnarayan River and beside the barrage.

The dry river bed where once the Rupnarayan River once flows is at present a popular picnic spot, countless people come here on holidays, visit poet Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s house and spend the whole day here and at the river side some distance away. But there’s no proper drinking water facility and a guest house for overnight stay. There are guest houses like the famous Nirala Resort but it is located far away from the house. However, it is not even located in Samta, instead it is located in the nearby vilage of Mallock.

Flora and fauna

Hibiscus in a house's garden, Samta.

Different types of animals along with domestic animals are found in Samta. Except domestics animals like cows, goats, etc. one can also find other animals like wolves and foxes and one can also her them howl at night. Wild cats, called bagrolin Bengali, Monitor lizards called gosap or guisaap (গোসাপ or গুই সাপ) in Bengali and different types of snakes,spiders and insects are also found here. Frogs are also found here.

At night one can hear the owls hooting and the wolves howling. The whole village is lit by the moon and the firflies at night. It's a scene to gaze at and adore.

Different types of plants like bamboo, Sal tree, mango, Banana tree and so on are found here.

Birds like nightingale, cuckoos, parrots, common green pigeon, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon called holud kuri in Bengali (হলুদ কুড়ি), Pompadour Green Pigeon, Common Emerald Dove, Rock Pigeon, crows, Indian Cuckoo called bou katha kao in Bengali (বউ কথা কও), jungle babbler, Oriental Magpie Robin, ducks and Asian Koel are also found here.

All tropical crops like that of rice, wheat, vegetables, chillies, potato, mustard, cauliflower, cabbage, tomato and so on are grown here. Horticulture is also practiced here.

Varieties of fishes are also found in the rivers of Rupnarayan and Damodar but Samta is mainly famous for its Ilish.

Transport

Located near the South Eastern Railway station, Deulti, it is close to the NH 6, also known as Bombay Road. It is about approx. 60 km by rail and 67 km by road from Kolkata. Thus, proximity to Kolkata with good means of connectivity gives this place and added benefit and room for future growth.

The local transports exists in the form of rickshaws, rickshaw-vans and trekker (a kind of jeep). Recently, new routes have been started using trekkers from Deulti station to neighbouring villages and railway halts such as Bagnan, Mallock, etc. This has resulted in a significant growth in the number of daily commuters from these areas. People of areas such as Mallock would avail the trekker service to reach the Deulti station and then travel by train. These "Daily passengers" (as referred to in the local parlance) is gradually making Deulti a more happening and busy station.

Nearby villages and towns

After Samta comes before the famous census town of Kolaghat, where we have the Kolaghat Thermal Power Plant, and other small villages like Tamultala and Naopala, the nearby villages to Samta are Mallock, Birampur, Gobindopur, Baraberia, Kankte, Mashiara, Kalyanpur, Amrajor, Mankur and Dakaberia.

Education

Many schools are found here in the village of Samta which include Panitras Girls' High School, Samta Sarat Chandra Uccha Balika Bidyalay, Samta Primary School which is located near Shibtala, Children's Institution and the newly established Vivekananda Institution. However, no college has been so far established. The education seekers have to travel to Bagnan to have higher educations.

Economy

Market

The market is a major employment for the locals; there are as many as more than 100s of shops to fees the growing population of 5000 (including suburbs and remote areas). This main market place is located close to the station and is known as "Station Bazar". This also becomes a place of "adda" for the all sections of the society.

All such shops are small retail and ration stores which are often unable to apply economies of scale; rather they often charge a premium when compared with the larger markets in Bagnan, Kulgachia, etc.

Occupation

The people earn their living by working in the city, Kolkata or in nearby factories or mills. They also work as teachers in schools or in coaching classes, a few works as farmers, domestic help, and fishermen and so on. We can even find a few working as guides in the nearby heritage spots. The women are bound to the house works like cooking, washing and so on. Some are also horticultures or are either professional gardeners or have a deep passion for gardening. Many even work as masons. There are more occupations by which the inhabitants of Samta earn their living.

Temples

Maa Singhabahini at Shetola Maa Temple during 2011 Durga Puja.

There are many temples found in the village, but there are mainly three temples in the village of Samta. They are the Shetola Maa Temple, where the Roys, who still live in the village worship Goddess Shetola and Goddess Singhabahini. The people from the whole village come here and worship the Goddess along with Maa Shashti and Lord Shiva during festivals like Shitala Puja, Durga Puja, Itu Puja, and Janmashtami and so on. It is the only temple of Goddess Shetola in the whole village and its nearby villages. It is also the most reputed temple in Samta and its nearby villages.

Gopaler Mondir under renovation.

The other famous temple is Gopaler Mondir, which literally means the temple of Gopala; the temple is nearly 700 years and was built by a wrestler known as Mukunda Roy or Mukunda Rai. He was very strong and muscular. Then, the road to the temple was connected to the barrage by a small wooden bridge. Mukunda Rai would carry two heavy stones in his arms ands would carry it to the temple crossing the wooden temple. Neither did he used to get tired nor the wooden bridge used to break. One of the stones is still kept in the campus around the temple. The condition of the temple is now derelict and it may fall anytime, however the reconstruction work of the temple has been started at present. The idol which is worshipped in the temple is an idol of Radha-Krishna and it is made of koshtipathor. Festivals like local Dol Yatra, Holi and Janmashtami are celebrated with pomp and show in this temple. The idol worshiped in the temple is an idol of Radha Krishna made of koshtipathor (Bengali: কষ্টিপাথর). The temple is under renovation at present.

The ancient idol of Maa Chandi at Shubho Chondi Tala.

The other famous temples are the temple of Lokenath Baba and the temple of Lord Shiva at Shibtala, a spot in the village of Samta. Local temples are also located in the village but one which needs special attention is the temple of Maa Chandi, which is locally known as Shubho Chandi Tala, which literally means the temple of the lucky Chandi. The idol worshipped ion this temple is very ancient and was found in the fishing net of a fisherman who was fishing in the Rupnarayan River. It is believed that some thieves stole it and were carrying it in a boat when somehow by some means the boat along with its occupants and the idol sank in the Rupnarayan River. It was found while rescuing their bodies from the river. The idol is kept in a temple under a tree called, Ashok in Bengali, near the barrage.

House of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay

Sarat Chandra's house at Samta.

Sarat Chandra was born into poverty in Debanandapur, Hooghly, West Bengal in India but he spent most of his lifetime here in Samta. He used to live in Samta and stay in his house with the fishermen and washer men. So the villagers separated him from the village, as fishermen and washer men were considered to be of low caste. So he along with the houses where he lived with the fishermen and washer men, used to call as a separate village called "Samtaber".

The Rupnarayan River then used to flow right outside the window of Sarat Chandra’s ground floor study. Now, the river has changed its route and has moved far away. The author would often gaze at the sparkling river while writing Abhagir Swarga, Kamal Lata, Shesh Prashna, Palli Samaj, Ramer Sumati, Pather Dabi and Mahesh. The two storied Burmese style house was also home to Sarat Chandra. His along with his brother Swami Vedananda's samadhi can still be seen there. Swami Vedananda was a disciple in Belur Math. The trees like that of bamboo, galoncho and the guava trees planted by the renowned author are still tourist attractions.

Inside Sarat Chandra's house.

Parts of the house-like the mud-walled kitchen-collapsed and the house was damaged in the 1978 floods, the Zilla Parishad undertook its repair spending ₹77000. Later, after it was declared as a Heritage Site the whole house was renovated and the belongings of Sarat Chandra like his furniture, walking stick, shoes etc. were polished and are restored in showcases. The tress which was almost going to fall down and die was given proper care and support. The house’s boundary has been extended till the Samadhis, surrounding them which earlier used to lie on the road. Except these tress have been planted around the house which add to its beauty.

Opposite to the house there is also a pond, which he mentioned in his novel Palli Samaj; he mentioned about two fishes of the pond,-who lived there-as Kartika and Ganesh, in the novel.

Sarat Mela

Sarat Mela is an annual fair which is held in late January every year for seven days to showcase the different lifetimes of Sarat Chandra. The fair is solely dedicated to Sarat Chandra and his works. Sarat Mela was started in 1972. Complete with countless stalls of handicrafts and local products, giant wheels, merry-go-rounds, stalls of jalebi, papad, toys, utensils, etc. Cultural programmes mostly held by local talents, debate and singing competition is also held. Students display their handicrafts as do amateur and professional gardeners. They also display uniques like oversized vegetables and plants, series of terracotta relief plaques depicting the various phases of Sarat Chandra’s life like his childhood, his marriage, his homeopathic clinic for the poor, his last journey to Kolkata’s Park Nursing Home in a palanquin and so on which catch the eye. Also such clay “illustrations” of Sarat Chandra’s works like Mahesh are installed. The fair ends late at night with Chhau dance and a fireworks display.

The fair is held on the Panitras High School grounds some distance from Sarat Chandra’s house but if it could be shifted to the open space where the Rupnarayan River once flowed right in front of the house people could link the two more easily. The Government of West Bengal does not provide funds, only private and public donations allow the villagers to hold the fair. However, sometime the number of people it draws is reduced due to unpleasant weather conditions like rainfall.

Festivals

Durga Puja preparations in the Shetola Maa Temple.

Almost all Hindu festivals are celebrated here as the entire village has a Hindu population. But the main celebrated festivals are as follows:

• Local Dol Yatra is held every year on a Purnima (full-moon day). However the villagers celebrate Holi a day after the full moon day. On the day of Holi the idol from the Gopaler Mondir is carried to a nearby house by a palanquin. There special rituals are performed and at evening it is brought back to the temple in a traditional way. The road is surrounded by burning bonfires. The people have to make their way and carry Gopal through them.
• Durga Puja is organised to pay homage to Goddess Durga either by the clubs on the road, by building temporary pandals built by bamboo or it is held in the temples of the village mainly in the Shetola Maa Temple. Sacrifice of animals is still practiced here
• Shitala Puja is held to pay homage to Goddess Shetola only in the Shetola Maa Temple in the whole village. Sacrifice]] is practised in this festival too.
• Janmashtami is also held in almost all the temples of Krishna in the village.
• Special puja is held on the birth anniversary of Lokenath Baba in the temple of Lokenath Baba.

Other festivals celebrated with great pomp and show include Bengali New Year, Shivaratri, Arandhan and so on. Gajans are held daily in all the temples dedicated to Krishna.

The annual fair called Sarat Mela is also held in Samta.

Famous people who have lived here

Sarat Chandra

Name	Details
Amulla Ghoshal	He was a famous science teacher in Samta.
Khagendra Nath Ghoshal	He was a social worker and was born and brought up here in Samta. The Sarat Road, which leads towards Kalyanpur and Hooghly in the north and Bombay Road in the south, was built by selling his wife's ornaments.
Sarat Chandra	Sarat Chandra was born into poverty in Debanandapur, Hooghly, West Bengal in India but he spent most of his lifetime here in Samta. Sarat Chandra lived here from 1926 till his last illness in 1938.

Major disasters

The mud idols of Lord Kartik left under a tree to get washed off after Kartik Puja.

Disaster	Time	Details
Storm	September-October, 1942	A severe storm ragged the village. Trees got uprooted and houses collapsed leading to the death of many people. This disaster took place during Durga Puja, which is the most celebrated and awaited festival in West Bengal. People took shelter in their houses or the temples. That year Durga Puja was not celebrated in the village.
Floods	1978	1000 and 1000s of houses were flooded as the banks of the River Damodar broke and the water poured in Samta and the other villages surrounding it. The crop fields were all destroyed. Huge amount of property was destroyed leading to loss of 1000s of life. The water level on the ground of villages was 15 to 20 feet. It took 1and a ½ months to get back to the previous condition and for the water to move into the Rupnarayan River. This was the worst floods in living memory. Much of the crops were ruined and fresh water supplies were contaminated. The government helped a lot during this flood
Storm	December, 2004	This storm took place at the time of the 2004 Tsunami. The effects of the storm was same as the 1942 storm but there was no loss of life.
Storm	May, 2009	This storm took place at the time of the Cyclone Aila, the storm also ragged the city of Kolkata and was locally known as Aila storm. A huge storm was accompanied by rain. Trees got uprooted, and parts of the mud-walled houses in the village collapsed. There was no recorded life loss in the village of Samta.