The development of Asansol as a municipal city with Anglo-Indian touch: A historical analysis (1863-1896)

Abstract

Although Asansol is considered as a rapid financially growing city in India but before the expansion of railways it was a mere village in the truest sense of the term. The East India Railway Company bought a large forest land at Shargar from the Panchakot Raj for constructing a Railway Zone of the East India Railway. The Company extended the railway track up to Asansol in the month of July 1863. From this period Asansol became an important railway hub for the company and later it also became a junction for the Bengal Nagpur Railway. Europeans and people of Anglo-Indian community settled in Asansol mainly as railway employees. Anglo-Indian community is considered as a mixed race between Indian mother and European father. Inspite of having a European culture they also adopted various aspects of Indian culture. During this time Anglo-Indian Schools also started to function in full swing. This era also witnessed a filthy Asansol and lack of proper hygiene. Public health infrastructure was in a deplorable condition. Assensole (now Asansol) municipality was set up on 1st July 1885 with the tacit support of The East India Railway. But in 1886 due to some special reasons the Municipal Act was withdrawn from Asansol. Finally the Municipal act was re implemented in 1896. The Anglo-Indians played a vital role in establishment of a structured municipality in Asansol. The aim of my paper is to focus on the role of the Anglo-Indian community in the formation of Asansol municipality.