Santipur
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Santipur
Town in the Ranaghat subdivision of Nadia District, Bengal, situated in 23 15' N. and 88 27' E., on the Hooghly river. Population (1901), 26,898, having declined from 30,437 in 1891 ; but it is still the most populous town in the District. Hindus number 18,219, Muhammadans 8,672, and Christians 6. Santipur was con- stituted a municipality in 1865. The income during the decade ending 1901-2 averaged Rs. 28,000, and the expenditure Rs. 25,000.
In 1903-4 the income was Rs. 31,000, including Rs. 16,000 derived from a tax on houses and lands, and Rs. 7,000 obtained from muni- cipal property; and the expenditure was Rs. 26,000. Santipur was once the centre of a flourishing weaving industry, and its muslins had a European reputation, the town being the site of a Commercial Resi- dency and the centre of large factories under the East India Com- pany. Owjng to the competition of machine-made goods, however, the weavers are no longer prosperous. There was at one time a con- siderable trade in date-sugar, but this too is becoming less profitable.
The earthquake of 1897 destroyed many of the largest buildings, and the impoverished owners have been unable to replace them. There is still, however, a considerable local trade. The Rash Jatra festival in honour of Krishna, celebrated on the day of the full moon in Kartik (October-November), is attended by about 10,000 persons; Santipur is also a celebrated bathing-place. The Zanana Mission has a school and dispensary here.
