Gosaba#Police station

File:Bungalow of Daniel Hamilton 01.jpg

Sir Daniel Mackinnon Hamilton, a Scotsman, had travelled to Kolkata to work for MacKinnon & McKenzie, a company with which he had family connections. The company sold tickets for the P&O shipping line, then one of the largest in the world. Hamilton became head of the company and master of an immense fortune, one of the richest men in British India. Another man may have taken his money and gone away but Hamilton set his eyes on the deltaic islands in south Bengal. In 1903, he bought {{convert|10000|acre|km2|disp=flip}} of the tide country from the government – it included such islands as Gosaba, Rangabelia, and Satjelia. His efforts at developing these places brought in other people into these islands. They were people who dared not only to struggle against nature but also the predators that lived there – tigers, crocodiles, sharks and lizards. They killed so many people that Hamilton gave rewards to people who killed them.Ghosh, Amitav, The Hungry Tide, 2004, pp. 49-53, HarperCollins/India Today, {{ISBN|81-7223-613-1}}. In December 1932 Rabindranath Tagore visited and stayed at Gosaba in the house of Sir Daniel Hamilton.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v08xxlHuWtUC&q=rabindranath+hamilton+gosaba&pg=PA381|title=Selected Letters of Rabindranath Tagore|last=Rabindranath Tagore|access-date=28 December 2017|isbn=9780521590181|date=26 June 1997}}{{Cite journal|url=http://www.epw.in/journal/2014/50/reports-states-web-exclusives/digitising-endangered-village-archives.html|title=Digitising Endangered Village Archives|journal=Economic & Political Weekly|volume=50, 50, 50, 50, 50|issue=23, 23, 23, 23, 23|pages=7, 7, 7, 7, 7–8, 8, 8, 8, 8|date=13 December 2014|issn=2349-8846|access-date=28 December 2017}}

{{OSM Location map

| width=380| height=450| zoom=10

| coord={{coord|22|15|0|N|88|41|0|E}}| float=left|caption=Places in Canning subdivision (Canning I & II, Basanti, Gosaba CD blocks) in South 24 Parganas district
R: rural/ urban centre
Places linked with coastal activity are marked in blue
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

|mark-coord1={{coord|22|23|7|N|88|31|11|E}} | label-pos1=left|label1= Kalaria| numbered1=CT| mark-title1= Kalaria (CT)|label-color1= #800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1=#A40000|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2

|mark-coord2={{coord|22|22|20|N|88|31|48|E}} | label-pos2=left|label2=Gaur Daha| numbered2=CT| mark-title2= Gaur Daha (CT)

|mark-coord3={{coord|22|22|6|N|88|32|57|E}} | label-pos3=right|label3=Banshra| numbered3=CT| mark-title3= Banshra, Canning (CT)

|mark-coord4={{coord|22|20|0|N|88|36|9|E}} | label-pos4=left|label4=Rajapur| numbered4=CT| mark-title4= Rajapur, Canning (CT)

|mark-coord5={{coord|22|20|45|N|88|36|23|E}} | label-pos5=left|label5=Taldi| numbered5=CT| mark-title5= Taldi (CT)

|mark-coord6={{coord|22|20|10|N|88|37|17|E}} | label-pos6=right|label6=Bayarsingh| numbered6=CT| mark-title6= Bayarsingh (CT)

|mark-coord7={{coord|22|19|24|N|88|38|52|E}} | label-pos7=right|label7=Matla| numbered7=CT| mark-title7= Matla, Canning (CT)

|mark-coord8={{coord|22|17|50|N|88|40|4|E}} | label-pos8=left|label8=Dighirpar| numbered8=CT| mark-title8= Dighirpar (CT)

|mark-coord9={{coord|22|18|37|N|88|39|28|E}} | label-pos9=right|label9= Canning| numbered9=R| mark-title9= Canning, South 24 Parganas (R)|shape-color9=#C42222

|mark-coord10={{coord|22|25|20|N|88|39|53|E}} | label-pos10=right|label10= Jibantala| numbered10=R| mark-title10= Jibantala (R)|shape-color10=#C42222

|mark-coord11={{coord|22|18|33|N|88|37|18|E}} | label-pos11=left|label11= Tangrakhali| numbered11=R| mark-title11= Tangrakhali (R)|shape-color11=#C42222

|mark-coord12={{coord|22|22|50|N|88|33|15|E}} | label-pos12=right|label12=Makhal Tala| numbered12=CT| mark-title12= Makhal Tala (CT)

|mark-coord13={{coord|22|28|1|N|88|41|46|E}} | label-pos13=right|label13= Deuli| numbered13=R| mark-title13= Deuli, Canning (R)|shape-color13=#C42222

|mark-coord14={{coord|22|11|53|N|88|42|50|E}} | label-pos14=left|label14=Basanti| numbered14=CT| mark-title14= Basanti, South 24 Parganas (CT)

|mark-coord15={{coord|22|12|45|N|88|42|47|E}} | label-pos15=top|label15= Sonakhali| numbered15=R| mark-title15= Sonakhali, Basanti (R)|shape-color15=#C42222

|mark-coord16={{coord|22|16|52|N|88|41|3|E}} | label-pos16=right|label16= Bhangonkhali| numbered16=R| mark-title16= Bhangonkhali (R)|shape-color16=#C42222

|mark-coord17={{coord|22|1|34|N|88|41|12|E}} | label-pos17=right|label17= Jharkhali| numbered17=R| mark-title17= Jharkhali (R) |shape-color17=#0048BA

|mark-coord18={{coord|22|9|54|N|88|48|28|E}} | label-pos18=right|label18= Gosaba| numbered18=R| mark-title18= Gosaba (R)|shape-color18=black| label-size18=13|label-color18=black

|mark-coord19={{coord|22|12|29|N|88|45|6|E}} | label-pos19=right|label19= Pathankhali| numbered19=R| mark-title19= Pathankhali (R)|shape-color19=#C42222

|mark-coord20={{coord|22|13|19|N|88|53|44|E}} | label-pos20=left|label20= Chhota Mollakhali| numbered20=R| mark-title20= Chhota Mollakhali (R) |shape-color20=#0048BA

|mark-coord21={{coord|22|22|42|N|88|44|41|E}} | label-pos21=right|label21= Matherdighi| numbered21=R| mark-title21= Matherdighi (R) |shape-color21=#C42222

|mark-coord22={{coord|22.0482 |N|88.7552|E}}| label22=Sundarbans National Park| label-color22= Black| label-angle22=-0| label-pos22=right| label-size22=10| mark-size22=0| mark-title22=none

|mark-coord23={{coord|22.0882 |N|88.7068|E}}| label23=Bidyadhari River| label-color23 = #77A1CB| label-angle23=-50| label-pos23=right| label-size23=10| mark-size23=0| mark-title23=none

|mark-coord24={{coord|22.1182|N|88.6282|E}}| label24=Matla River| label-color24 = #77A1CB| label-angle24=-60| label-pos24=right| label-size24=10| mark-size24=0| mark-title24=none}}

Canning subdivision has a very low level of urbanization. Only 12.37% of the population lives in the urban areas and 87.63% lives in the rural areas. There are 8 census towns in Canning I CD block and only 2 in the rest of the subdivision. The entire district is situated in the Ganges Delta with numerous islands in the southern part of the region. The area (shown in the map alongside) borders on the Sundarbans National Park and a major portion of it is a part of the Sundarbans settlements. It is a flat low-lying area in the South Bidyadhari plains. The Matla River is prominent and there are many streams and water channels locally known as khals. A comparatively recent country-wide development is the guarding of the coastal areas with a special coastal force.{{cite web |url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook |title = District Statistical Handbook 2014 South Twety-four Parganas |work = Table 2.1, 2.2, 2.4b |publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal |access-date = 5 December 2019 |archive-date = 21 January 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190121045803/http://www.wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook |url-status = dead }}{{cite web | url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1917_PART_A_DCHB_SOUTH%20TWENTY%20FOUR%20PARGANAS.pdf| title = Census of India 2011, West Bengal, District Census Handbook, South Twentyfour Parganas, Series – 20, Part XII-A, Village and Town Directory |work= Page 19, Physiography| publisher = Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal |access-date = 5 December 2019}}{{cite web | url = http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/24%20pgsSouth/s24prg_main.htm | title = District Human Development Report: South 24 Parganas | work = Chapter 9: Sundarbans and the Remote Islanders, p 290-311 | publisher = Development & Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2009 | access-date = 5 December 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161005044029/http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/24%20pgsSouth/s24prg_main.htm | archive-date = 5 October 2016 | url-status = dead }}

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

Gosaba is located at {{coord|22.1652|N|88.8079|E|format=dms}}. It has an average elevation of {{convert|6|m}}.[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/28/Gosaba.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Gosaba]

Gosaba is one of the main deltaic islands in the Sundarban region, bounded by the Matla and Zilli rivers/ creeks. It is the last inhabited area before the deep forests start. Kolkata to Sonakhali (opposite Basanti) is {{convert|100|km|mi}}; it takes about three hours by road. Sonakhali to Gosaba is about 1½ hours by powered boat.{{cite web | url = http://www.ksrindia.com/travel-in-india/sunderban-tour-package.htm | title = Sunderban Tiger Tour| access-date = 26 September 2007 }} Sundarbans are home to some 270 man-eating tigers. Sixteen of them have entered the villages of Gosaba between 2001 and 2004.{{cite web | url = http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_22-12-2004_pg4_21 | title = Man-eating tigers wreak havoc on India's island of widows | access-date = 22 September 2007 | publisher = Daily Times, 22 December 2004 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060525102738/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_22-12-2004_pg4_21 | archive-date = 25 May 2006 }}

According to the 2011 Census of India Gosaba had a total population of 5,369, of which 2,681 (50%) were males and 2,688 (50%) were females. There were 503 persons in the age range of 0 to 6 years. The total number of literate persons in Gosaba was 3,994 (82.08% of the population over 6 years).{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/pca/cdb_pca_census/Houselisting-housing-WB.html |title = C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA) | work= 2011 census: West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks|publisher= Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India | access-date = 26 April 2016}}

According to the 2001 census, Gosaba community development block had a population of 222,764 out of which 113,827 were males and 108,937 were females. The entire population is classified as rural.{{cite web | url = http://www.wbcensus.gov.in/DataTables/02/Table4_18.htm | title = Census of India 2001 | access-date = 24 August 2007 | work = Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 4 | publisher = Census Commission of India }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

Gosaba is an intermediate panchayat (local self-government) under the South 24 Parganas district. Village panchayats under it are – Amtali, Bali I and II, Bipradaspur, Chhota Mollakhali, Gosaba, Kachukhali, Kumirmari, Lahiripur, Pathankhali, Radhanagar-Taranagar, Rangabelia, Satjelia and Sambhunagar.{{cite web | url = http://panchayat.gov.in/adminreps/viewpansumr.asp?selstate=32&pno=7&ptype=V | title = Details of West Bengal till Village Panchayat Tier | access-date = 24 August 2007 | publisher = Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

Gosaba police station started functioning in 1965. It covers an area of 127 km², consisting of 4 islands. It has jurisdiction over parts of the Gosaba CD block. Earlier, Gosaba PS had jurisdiction across 9 islands.{{cite web| url = https://baruipurpolicedistrict.org/images/SUNDARBAN%20COASTAL%20PS.pdf| title = Sundarban Coastal Police Station| work = Baruipur police district| publisher = West Bengal police| access-date = 23 October 2019| archive-date = 23 November 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181123161123/http://baruipurpolicedistrict.org/images/SUNDARBAN%20COASTAL%20PS.pdf| url-status = dead}}{{cite web | url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook | title = District Statistical Handbook 2014 South 24 Parganas | work = Table No. 2.1 | publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal | access-date = 23 October 2019 | archive-date = 21 January 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190121045803/http://www.wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook | url-status = dead }}

The headquarters of the Gosaba CD block are located at Gosaba village.{{cite web | url = http://www.wbpublibnet.gov.in/node/2155 | title = BDO Offices under South 24 Parganas District | publisher = West Bengal Public Library Network, Government of West Bengal | access-date = 21 October 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181003083629/http://www.wbpublibnet.gov.in/node/2155 | archive-date = 3 October 2018 | url-status = dead }}

The main tourist centre in the region is Sajnekhali in the heart of the Sundarbans tiger reserve, where the state tourist department has a lodge with basic amenities. Sajnakhali Wildlife Sanctuary is about 1½ hours by boat from Gosaba. Most tourist boats go past Gosaba. Some tourists travel to Gosaba on their way to Pakhiralay (the home of the birds). Foreigners need a special permit to enter Sunderbans, which is issued in Kolkata by the Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal. A small Jungle Camp is at Bali island, outside the tiger reserve and Sunderban Tiger Camp at Dayapur, Gosaba.{{cite web | url = http://www.kolkatabirds.com/sundertripreport.htm | title = Sunderbans Trip Report | access-date = 22 September 2007 | publisher = Water Birds of India | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071009104431/http://www.kolkatabirds.com/sundertripreport.htm | archive-date = 9 October 2007 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}

Villages in the deltaic region of Sundarbans do not have access to conventional forms of energy. A 5x100 kW biomass-based power plant was installed at Gosaba island, in June 1997 and has been running successfully, serving about 650 consumers through a network of distribution lines. The power plant is being run on a commercial basis by the Gosaba Rural Energy Cooperative. A 500 kW gasifier-based power plant was commissioned in the remote island of Chhota Mollakhali in June 2001.{{cite web

|url=http://mnes.nic.in/biogasifier_ach.htm

|title=Biomass gasifier

|access-date=26 September 2007

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815132836/http://mnes.nic.in/biogasifier_ach.htm

|archive-date=15 August 2007

|url-status=dead

}}

Plans are afoot to set up a 3.6 MW power plant in Durgaduani creek using tidal water. The Durgaduani creek is between the rivers Bidyadhari and Gomdi Khal. It is about {{convert|8.5|km|mi}} long and has an average width of {{convert|145|m|ft}}. Tidal water will be stored and then let out to generate electricity using four turbines. There will be two gates at either end at Gosaba and Sonagaon to form a low head.{{cite web | url = http://in.news.yahoo.com/060605/48/64tha.html | title = First for country: harnessing tides for electricity in the Sundarbans | access-date = 26 September 2007 | publisher = Yahoo News}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

Around {{convert|20000|kg|lb}} of honey is collected every year from forests of Sundarbans. Mostly people from the Canning, Basanti, Gosaba, Kultali, Mathurapur, Patharpratima, Namkhana, Sagar and Kakdwip are honey collectors. The number of honey collectors has dwindled from around 1,500 a few years back to around 700 in 2007. From 1985 through 2004, about 75 honey collectors were killed by tigers in the forests. Now all honey collectors are insured for Rs. 50,000. The forest department has also intensified vigilance during the honey collection period. The range officers and guards are on full alert. No deaths have been reported since 2006.{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=23&id=181947&usrsess=1 | title = Honey come lately | access-date = 22 September 2007 | publisher = The Statesman, 24 April 2007}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

Educational institutions in Gosaba - Sundarban Hazi Dasarat College (Pathankhali), Gosaba Rural Reconstruction (government-sponsored) Institution, Rangabelia High School, Sambhunagar High School, Bipradaspur High School (Manmathanagar), Mongol Chandra Vidyapith (Chotomollakhali), Satjelia Natavar Vidyayatan (Satjelia), Radhanagar Kali Bari High School (Radhanagar), Sri Gourangha High School (Dakshin Radhanagar), Jatindra Nath Sikshaniketan (Paschim Radhanagar), Satjelia Santigachhi High School, Dayapur P.C. Sen High School (Satjelia Dayapur), Rajat Jubilee High School (Rajat Jubilee, Lahiripur).{{cite web| url =http://wbchse.nic.in/WEBSITE%202ndPage/_notes/24%20PGS(S).pdf| title =West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education| access-date =26 September 2007| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090410025049/http://wbchse.nic.in/WEBSITE%202ndPage/_notes/24%20PGS%28S%29.pdf| archive-date =10 April 2009}}

• Shyamal Bose (bishop)

Although in South 24 Parganas district groundwater is affected by arsenic contamination, in Gosaba all the tubewells analysed were arsenic safe (below 10 μg/L). The probable reason may be that being a coastal area most of the tubewells draw water from less contaminated deep aquifers.{{cite web | url = http://www.soesju.org/arsenic/wb4.htm | title = Groundwater arsenic contamination status of South 24-Parganas district, one of the nine arsenic affected districts of West Bengal-India | access-date = 26 September 2007 | publisher = SOES | archive-date = 27 September 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927002957/http://www.soesju.org/arsenic/wb4.htm | url-status = dead }}

The World Wildlife Fund has organised workshops on the treatment of snakebite victims in Gosaba block with the local quacks, ojhas and gunins, people who attend the local patients, to enhance the scientific knowledge of such people.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwfindia.org/news_facts/statenews/westbengal/index.cfm |title=Awareness and Skill Transfer Programme for the Treatment of Snakebite Victims |access-date=26 September 2007 |publisher=World Wildlife Fund India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808030618/http://www.wwfindia.org/news_facts/statenews/westbengal/index.cfm |archive-date=8 August 2007 |url-status=dead }}

Four launches with doctors carrying medicines, sophisticated portable X-ray and echo-cardiograph machines, provided by the French author Dominique Lapierre move along the waterways of the Sundarbans to its furthest corners. Residents of such places as Sandeshkhali, Basanti, Gosaba and Kultali have felicitated him when he came in 2004.{{cite web | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1041130/asp/bengal/story_4066942.asp

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041209223600/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1041130/asp/bengal/story_4066942.asp

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 9 December 2004

| title = Sundarbans gratitude to Lapierre | access-date = 22 September 2007 | publisher = The Telegraph, 30 November 2004}}

Gosaba Rural Hospital at Gosaba, with 30 beds, is the major government medical facility in the Gosaba CD block.{{cite web | url =https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/other_files/RH.pdf | title =Health & Family Welfare Department | work =Health Statistics – Rural Hospitals | publisher =Government of West Bengal | access-date =30 November 2019 | archive-date =8 October 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221008143352/https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/other_files/RH.pdf | url-status =dead }}

{{portal|Islands}}

{{Reflist|3}}

{{South 24 Parganas}}

{{South 24 Parganas topics}}

Category:Villages in South 24 Parganas district

Category:Islands of India

Category:Populated places in India