West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is contesting her fourth election from Bhowanipore, a constituency with a rich history dating back to 1758. The area has grown from a small village to the heart of political power in West Bengal. It was a suburb dominated by artisan and trader communities in the 19th century and came to be known as Cinema Para due to the presence of several cinema halls.
Home to personalities like Subhas Chandra Bose, Satyajit Ray, and politicians such as Siddharth Shankar Ray and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, the story of Bhowanipore is as old as it is fascinating. It is one of the oldest areas of Kolkata, no history of this city would be complete without this neighbourhood.
The area was a safe haven for English occupiers during malaria and cholera outbreaks in the 1750s. It was also a hub for legal battles, with the Sadar Diwani Adalat, the highest court of appeal for civil and revenue cases, being located there. The area's history is a testament to its significance in the development of Kolkata.
