Contai

Contai, also known as Kanthi ( , ), is a coastal and subdivisional city and a municipality in East Midnapore district, West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Contai subdivision.

Contai, also known as Kanthi ( , ), is a coastal and subdivisional city and a municipality in East Midnapore district, West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Contai subdivision.

Etymology

In the 5th century, during the visit of Fa-Hien, Contai was uninhabited and had no name for the outside world. In Valentine's travelogue, a harbour, Petua by name, was mentioned. This harbour was on the bank of the river Rasulpur, a short distance from the Rasulpur estuary. Later the harbour was shifted to the present site of the Contai Town. However, it is said, the name of the abandoned port was retained for its new location, In foreigners tongue, Petua is said to have changed first to Cauntee and finally to Contai, whereas in local tongue it has changed to Kanthi (কাঁথি). According to the geologists, the present geographical dimension of Contai came into existence with the great natural disaster of the third century AD (flood), which created Chilka lake out of the Chilka Bay. Kanthi, that is Contai, means "sand-bound reefs" or sand walls. The name Contai may thus be an English expression of the local jargon meaning "sand heaps". But linguists raise serious doubts about such change of pronunciation. They offer other suggestions. Yogesh Chandra Sarkar thinks that the name Kanthi owes its origin to outstretched sand-dune, about 27 miles from Rasulpur estuary to Peeplipattan, that from the sea looked like a long wall or Kanth (কাঁথি) as it is called by local people. Some suggest that the name may originate from the custom of local people to build long walls or Kanths around their habitation in order to keep off wild beasts like buffaloes, tigers and rhinoceroses that were found in abundance then and these Kanths gave the place its name.

Geography

Location

Contai is about 160 km from Kolkata and 31 km from the beach town Digha.

Climate

Contai receives heavy rains during monsoon. Winters are not that severe. Summers are average and cooler than that of northern India.

Urbanisation

93.55% of the population of Contai subdivision live in the rural areas. Only 6.45% of the population live in the urban areas and it is considerably behind Haldia subdivision in urbanization, where 20.81% of the population live in urban areas.

Demographics

As per 2011 Census of India, Contai had a total population of 92,226 of which 49,031 (53%) were males and 43,195 (47%) were females. Population below 6 years was 8,440. The total number of literates in Contai was 78,500 (93.69% of the population over 6 years). India census, Contai had a population of 77,497. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Contai has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85% and, female literacy is 78%. In Contai, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Language and religion

In 2011 census Hindus numbered 73,732 and formed 79.95% of the population in Contai Municipal Area. Muslims numbered 18,263 and formed 19.80% of the population. Others numbered 231 and formed 0.25% of the population. In 2001, Hindus made up 79.95% and Muslims 19.80% of the population respectively.

Police stations

Located at the heart of the town, Contai police station has jurisdiction over Contai I and Deshapran CD Blocks. It covers an area of 370.80 km 2 with a population of 382,216. Contai Women police station was opened on 18 March 2012. It has jurisdiction over Contai subdivision.

Transportation

Contai is well connected by roads/highways with other nearby cities and towns and several important junctions like, Digha, Dantan, Jhargram, Kharagpur, Midnapore, Tamluk, Haldia, Howrah and Kolkata. Kanthi railway station is connected by a rail link to Howrah/Kolkata which is again extended to Digha. Kandari Express, Tamralipta Express and Howrah–Digha Super AC Express connects Kolkata and Contai. Local trains are available too. Contai is directly connected by rail to Asansol, Malda Town and Siliguri of West Bengal, Puri of Odisha and Vishakapatnam of Andhra Pradesh. The rail line is believed to have given a rise to the local economy. For local transportation, bus, mini-bus, taxi and much eco-friendly options like toto, autos and cycle rickshaws are available. The opening of Central Central Bus Terminus has eased the traffic congestion within the town to a great deal. The NH-116B from Nandakumar to Digha which passes through Contai was scheduled to get converted to dual road within 2020 thus enabling swifter trade, commerce and tourism.

Education

There are a number of well-known schools and colleges in Contai. For higher education, besides the Prabhat Kumar College under the Vidyasagar University, there is an Ayurvedic medical college, named Raghunath Ayurved Mahavidyalaya and Hospital; a Government Polytechnic Engineering College named Contai Polytechnic; a private management college, named Contai College of Learning and Management Science; three B.Ed colleges; private ITI colleges and many more. There are plans to upgrade the Contai sub-divisional hospital into a medical college.

List of schools in Contai

Contai Narayana School (CBSE) Contai Public School (ICSE & ISC) Contai Kshetra Mohan Bidhyabhaban (H.S.) Safiabad Sital Prasad Vidyamandir (H.S) Contai High School (H.S.) Contai Model Institution (H.S.) Contai Hindu Girls' School (H.S.) Contai Chandramani Brahmo Girls' School Contai Town Rakhal Chandra Vidyapith Kishorenagar Sachindra Siksha Sadan Kalikapur High School Contai Rahamania High Madrasha H/S Contai Muslim Girls' School Contai Sawkatia English Medium High Madrasha School Mount Litera Zee School, Contai (CBSE) Contai St. Paul's School North Point Day School Malabika Public School Contai Dishari Public School Mahishagote Shahid Smriti Vidyamandir Sabajput Sambodhi Shikshatirtha Nayaputra Sudhir Kumar High School

Health

There are many hospitals in the Contai town; one is the Contai Subdivisional Hospital. People of this subdivision depend mainly on this hospital. There are also many private nursing homes.

Culture

Among many festivals in Contai, "Gandhi Mela" is the most popular. It is a type of fair. It is held during January/February every year and it continues for 10 or 15 days. Many people from Contai and neighbouring subdivisions take part in "Gandhi Mela" not only for amusement but also for agricultural and industrial exhibitions. There are also some cultural institutions like Contai Bramho Samaj, Contai Harisabha, Contai Club etc. The regular Bengali festivals like Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja and Kali Puja are well attended. Other common pujas in the worship of Sitala, Jagaddhatri, Holi, Janmastami, Bheema Puja, Viswakarma also takes place. Film productions has newly seen a growth in recent years in this town. Several cultural programmes are frequently organised at the Town Hall. There is also an annual book fair held in the town. Baishakhi mela is another popular fair organised recently by the Contai Nandanik Club. There are frequent T20 tournaments held in winter in the various stadiums of Contai. Muharram Mela and Tajiya demonstration are some popular festivals in Contai observed by Muslims of the region and collectively shared and enjoyed by Hindus and other communities of the region as well. There is a competition held in Darua Karabala maidan for the best decorated Tajiya.

Arts and crafts

Contai is famous for (brass), kansa silpo (tin) and (mat made of a kind of grass).

Notable people

Birendranath Sasmal, nationalist Barrister Madhusudan Jana, doctor, journalist, teacher and social worker Sudhir Chandra Das, politician Suvendu Adhikari, former member of Lok Sabha, 9th Chief Minister of West Bengal Sisir Adhikari, member of the Lok Sabha, former Minister of State of Govt. of India Tuhina Das, Bengali actress

Tourist spots

Kapalkundala Temple, Dariapur Dariapur Light House Nimak Mahal Brahmo Samaj, Contai

References

External links

Contai Municipality official website Purba Medinipur District Official Website Paschim Medinipur District Official Website books on contai by sunil kumar ghosh Contai Information Point, Official site of Contai SDO Contai Prabhat Kumar College, Contai Midnapore - Website for East and West Midnapore On temples of Midnapur

Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1378746583 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.