The age old tradition mingled with education, culture, art, commerce, science etc. which the town, Kalna being situated at the bank of the Bhagirathi has been carrying for an indefinite period is being presented before the entire global area with the help of Web-site, an extraordinary invention of advanced science.

            The unknown information of our known town, some unidentified concepts of handsome Kalna, with the combination of information, investigation and photographs are hereby raised through out the world.  

  Ambika Kalna alias Kalna is a sub divisional town under the district of Burdwan. It's a small unit of larger multi dimensional background in Indian History. Kalna is not only a piece of man's land, it is also an all powerful vessel of maternity consisting with different categories of people ranging from survivors of primitive men and women, several communities castes and races.
          During the reign of Shashanka in 7th century, a hyper naval-base was founded at Kalna. While Lakshman Sen was the ruler of Saptagram, Murari Sharma was supposed to rule over Kalna in the period of Hindu rulers. Ikhtiyaruddin Bin Baktiyar Khalji passed one night in the guise of a horse merchant and had a start from Kalna to invade Nadia and ultimately won over it in 1204 A.D. It is revealed from the above mentioned information that from the very oldest age i,e from the very beginning of pre-historic age, Kalna had been reputed as a recognized, dignified habitable area.
           From the sources of ancient manuscripts, chronicles and Mangal Kavya, it is vivid that this town was entitled as Ambika, Amuya, ambua etc. So many learned men and well-wishers has converted the name Kalna Court into Ambika Kalna after their hardest revolt and strong demand. They submitted the logic - Ambika is ancient and Kalna is younger. Ambika is the ancient wakeful goddess of Kalna. The name Kalna does not trace out any historical or archaeological significance. Kalna is a Partuguise term. It means Thana. Probably when founded their residence at Kalna, Sashi Bhushan Banerjee and others changed the name of Kalna station from Kalna Court to Ambika Kalna. But the above mentioned statements are disputable. In Dravida - 'Kal' means river bank and 'ona' means a place situated beside the river.

Specially nature has no geography. We create geography after we search for the characteristic of EARTH CONSTRUCTION. While geologists had analysed the characteristic of Earth construction, river banks and Stratum of earth, it revealed that the earth stratum of Kalna are founded on the archaean rockbed. About 250 cores of years back, such type of rock was constructed. During tracing out mineral oil, N.G.O geologists divided the soil layers into four characteristics;

• 2800 ft under the earth crust, soil is made of clay, rock made of silt and deposition of deep sea. The shape of this constructions is entitled "Devgram Formation".

• From 2200 ft to 2800 ft underground layer is containing silt rock, sand stone and molecular deposition. This position of soil layer is named "Pandua Formation".

• Under ground soil layer from 500 ft to 2200 ft. is full of mixed water borne sand-stone and lignite cell’s particles. This part is called "Bardhaman Formation".

• The upper layer from (200 ft. to 500 ft.), the soil is full of calcium, gluconite, sand-stone, and silt deposition. This layer is known as "Memari Formation".

To the west of Kalna police station, the parts of Khari, Banka, Gangur, and Behula flows. So this part of soil consists with less quantity of clay or silt and thus this part has limited capacity to hold water. But Purbasthali, Manteswar and eastern part of Kalna is constructed with fine silts. A little quantity of rain pour is enough for well cultivation.

Just to the South-East of district Bardhaman, Kalna sub divisional area is situated. To the North there exists Katwa sub divisional town, to the West there exists Bardhaman, Memari etc, To the West the rivers "Bhagirathi, Shantipur, Krishnanagar, and to the South there are Balagarh, and Pandua under the district of Hooghly. The weather is mainly influenced by the ‘Monsoon’. Average rainfall varies from 150 to 200 cm. Kalna has 88^o 20’ East longitude and 23^o 12’ 25’’ North latitude. It is situated at Bandel – Katwa loop line in the name of Ambika Kalna station being about 81 Km. Away from Howrah. Before 1932 A.D. this railway station was identified as "Kalna Court". It is about 45 mtrs. above the sea surface.

       Statistical record of natural disaster during last 250 years :

In-spite of receiving huge rivers and well balanced rain-pour, there occurred frequent natural disaster

during last 250 years. The list of natural disaster is given below:

• 1770 – Flood of the Bhagirathi- and most of the area of Kalna and Purbasthali over flooded.

• 1770 – 1771 – Great devastating famine.
• 1855 – Entire sub division was damaged due to flood caused by the Damodar and Bhagirathi
• 1866 – Scarcity of Rain pour for continuous two years caused famine.
• 1874 – Again famine.
• 1885 – 1894 – Scarcity of rain fall, draught, earthquake.
• 1907 – Absence of rain fall for a continuous period, scarcity of crops and food grains, famine
• 1917 – 1921 – Influence of flood at some places every year.
• 1932 – 1933 – Famine.
• 1935 – 1936 – Absence of rain fall.
• 1942 – Cyclone in Aswan and major damage to crops.
• 1943 – Devastating flood caused by Damodar and entire sub division over flown.
• 1944 – Great Devastating famine.
• 1956 – Bhagirathi caused flood.
• 1971 – Ceaseless rain reasoning to flood.
• 1978 – Limit less rain pour and Bhagirathi caused flood.
• 1987 – Flood of Bhagirathi.

The castes and communities who are the permanent residence of Kalna sub division are mainly –

1) Aguri (ugrakshatriya) 2) Sadgope, 3) Bagdi, 4) Durlav, 5) Brahmin, 6) Tanti(tantubai), 7) Goala(gope), 8) Jele, 9) Karmakar etc.

Most of the Aguri communities reside mainly in three police station namely – Purbasthali, Manteswar, and Kalna. They have been residing mostly by the bank of the rivers Khari, Behula, Banka, Bhalluka etc. According to the census report of 1872, out of 69791 Aguri of undivided Bengal, 59887 are the inhabitants of Burdwan district, and 90% of them have been leaving in Kalna sub division. Their occupations are cultivation, taming beasts and animals. But sometimes they are found to be Engineer, Doctor, Teacher etc. Kalna sub division consists with many Sadgope families. Ghosh, Pal, Hazra, Mondal, Kumar, Pan are the main surnames of theirs. They are mainly cultivators but many sadgope’s occupations are now a days, Teaching, Engineering, Business etc. Examples of some extra ordinary personalities of Sadgope communities are Uma Pati Kumar (footballer), Prana Ballav Ghosh (poet of Jahnnabi Mangal). Bagdi Community have been leaving without any hesitation for 1000 of years. Accordong to the census report, 1872, out of 2034745, 205074 are belonging to Bagdi caste. Excellent talented Bagdi personalities are Monomohan Das (M.P.) and jamadar Bagdi etc. Chatuti Poushla, Ambuli, Choutkhandi, Dighere are the most important villages under Kalna sub division belonging to mostly Brahmin Caste. ‘Jajmany’, ‘Kathakata’, ‘Worshiping’ etc are their main occupation. Now a days they are found well placed in different places like Service, Business, Institutions etc. A large number of weavers of Tanti community live at Bagnapara, Dhatrigram, Hatkalna, Samudragarh etc. Radha Gobinda Basak, Kshetranath Das etc are the remarkable personalities among Tanti Sampradai like other places, Kalna sub division is also belonging to many Gope communities. Besides the above mentioned casts and communities there are many other casts and communities which were breeded on the basis of profession and occupation. For instances- Kamar, Dom, Chandal, Chamar, Jugi etc. Out of many sub divisions, Kalna sub division is also influenced by some Adibasi community like Santals, Oraon etc. Reputed worth mention names are Baidyanath Santal etc. People belonging to many religious like Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Buddhists, unitedly reside in this sub division.

  According to the census report of 1981, there are 850951muslims out of total 4835388 population. That means 17% of total population of Kalna sub division are Muslims.

We fail to sense the reality of Kalna in field of advanced business taking part in the long past viewing the present situation of Kalna. About nine hundred years back, the golden period of business and trade at Kalna and its surrounding took place. Actually the business centre is Hat-Kalna to the north, west and south of which flew the Damodar, Bhagirathi and Jalangi respictively.

During the rein of Gupta emperer, Samudra Gupta (300-400 A.D) the external business and trade raised to the peak point. At that time, a Naval-base is founded at Kalna as a powerful commercial centre.

During the war against Harshavardhan and Kamrup expedition preparation, this Naval-base existing at Kalna was moulded to a High powerful Naval-base by King Shasanka. From that very time up to the first half of 19^th century, Kalna had been carrying the same tradition in the field of commerce and trade. The present two places to the east west of Kalna, Hat-Kalna and Gram Kalna were the staple centres of business and trade. The maps belonging to Brook and Rennel reveals the same reality. Besides those integral centres, Dhatrigram, Baigachi, Nibhuji, Subarnanagar, Dharmadanga, Rangapara etc. also deserve praise as commercial places of Kalna – Sub- division.

From the detailed description commenced by Reverent loud we came to know-at Japot of Kalna there produced one kind of sugar, Purbasthali and its surrounding places of Kalna Sub-division used to produce enormous quantity of jute. Kansari para was adept in manufacturing utensils and images made of bell metal. Hanspukur built huge quantity of cotton papers which were exported to several countries.

Puratan hat was famous for Nilkuthi. At the river-shore, there cultivated indigo. Indeed, after the establishment of muslim-right in the year 1440, the reputation and fame of Kalna in the field of business and trade was multiplied. Then the commercial reputation was shifted to Satapati Bundelbag villages which were to the south of Kalna. Besides, many articles,food-grains, and handicraft like paddy, rice, mustard seeds, potato, gold ornaments etc. were treated as the commodities of best quality. During those days, Kalna and its surrounding villages used to establish constant communication mainly through river-ways with Saptagram which was taken for the then mega-centre of business.

In the modern period Kalna has been establishing link with many business places like Kolkata, Burdwan, Memari, by road ways. About 21 to 22 rice mills many agricultural equipment industries, some repairing workshops were founded. Of course this development in trading was an excessive addition to the business and trade proceeding.

But cultivation of potato and its preservation, of course have charged the economic cell of commerce belonging to Kalna to the greatest degree. Many cold storage have been founded at several places under the control of Kalna Sub-division like Baidyapur, Singerkone, Sanerdanga, Bhabanandapur, Kalna Rameswarpur, Lichutala, Goara, Atghoria etc.

Besides in the modern age Kalna and its surrounding area have been famous for setting-up their businesses in the field of selling and manufacturing electronic and electrical goods. Now a days vegetables are adequately found in the markets of Kalna and its surrounding area at cheap rate.

Rice mill, Cold storage, Brick field, Saw mill, Oil mill, Attachaki, Jute mill, Husking mill etc. are the means of commerce and trade

Maa Lakshami, Relax, Nataraj, Annapurna, Milancabine, Mohismordini dharmashala, Panthanir and Pathik Bhaban are the renowned hotel and boarding of Kalna.

Chakraborty Petrol pump, Ghosh Petrol pump, Ambika Petrol pump and Hem Petrol pump are the remarkable Petrol pumps of Kalna.

The heartbeat of a country or land can be sensed well through the investigation of education & culture. Ancient education was based on viva- voce and ancient culture pertaining to educational expansion was formed with the help of previous experience. Gradually "Gurukul Shiksha" was transformed to bookish knowledge. Mass education sources were "Kathakata", "Jatra Panchali" and some folk-festivals. Sri Govardhan Das (Pre Chaitanya age) residing at North-Kalna was the then a landlord. With the help of his noble efforts many a vast learned Pandits were encouraged to set up some "Gurukul" Centres providing them scholarships. Language and literature, Maths and Arya were the three fundamental subject of learning. There was born a learned noble Pandit of Vidyanagar named Maheswar Bisharad. Bharat Mallick, another learned Pandit, whose greatness took birth at Pindira, under the police station Kalna was also a Pandit of repute. Besides those talented Pandits, some other Pandits like Narasingha Kabiraj, Manohar, Vidyabhusan belonging to Hasan Hati, Nabinchandra Shiromoni, Gayaram Vidyabaghish of Mirhat etc. are the renowned personality in the field of spreading education through "Gurukul" custom. One of the most reputed, famous learned Pandit personality was Ayodhyaram Vidyabagish an inhabitant of Kalna. A vast learned Pandit who has multiplied the homage and gratitude of Kalna was Taranath Tarkabachaspati. They were remarkable and deserving extra-rdinary praise and respect for their vast learning mission over seven generations.

Sri Taranath was hands and gloves with an extra-ordinary outstanding personality, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar. But as Vidyasagar was antagonist to "Polymarriage" later he fell in the had book of Vidyasagar in 1873, on 31^st December, he resigned the post of a professor. Undoubtedly, he is an asset to Kalna. In excess of the above mentioned dignified respectable Persons, Kalna had given birth to many Pandits and learned persons the lives of whom could not be discussed for the sake of brevity which is highly regrettable.

Kalna shows the primary raise of modern education from the middle of 19^th century. According to the survey report of Mr. Adam in the year 1837, out of total 190 "Chatuspathis" situated throughout Burdwan district, 57 belonged to Kalna. During those days (1941-1951) Purbasthali, Patuli, Mertala, Monteswar, Kusumgram, Putshuri, Madhyamgram, Shushunia, Badla, Begpur, Sultanpur, Dhatrigram, Akalpoush had four high schools. Out of them, Badla high school which was established in the year 1856 was the oldest. Mondlai school also recognized as the best expectation of learners during these days. Vaidyapur George Institution was founded in the year1912. In the year 1994, the total no. of high and higher secondary school reached 68 out of which only 11 were meant for girls. The no. of Junior high school was 45 and that of college was one. "Kalna Rajar School’s" new building was erected in the year 1968. It’s credit and capacity know no bounds till today. Kalna Ambika School had started from the year 1935. Besides those schools, there situated many academic schools like Mahismardini Institution (1942), Kalna Junior High School, Nigamananda Vidyamandir (1970), Hindu Valika Vidyalaya (1895-96), Sashibala Valika Vidyalaya (1956), Sashibala Saha Uccha Valika Vidyalaya (1957), which is now entitled as Mahismardini Valika Vidyalaya. Kalna College had started with it’s 46 intermediate students in the year 1943 on 1^st July. The Science stream had been approved by the university in the year 1948. Not only Bookish knowledge, Kalna had also remarkably flourished in the field of public education. The integral means of public education are :

Jatrapala : As a carrier of public education, Jatrapala has a staple role, and Kalna has never lagged behind this public education system. Mr. Motilal Roy under Monteswar police station was a talented personality who was famous for writing several popular Jatrapala. Shashibhushan Adhikari was a deserving talent in the field of Jatrapala direction. Shashibhushn and Motilal were contemporary. Besides, many Jatra-Party like Mahishmardini Natya Samaj, Anadi Natya Samaj, Pathuriyamohal Natya Samaj, Kishore Natya Chakra etc. are some of the worth mention Jatra-Party.

The fame of kavigan and panchali also filled the hollowsky of Kalna. Bhavani Banik of Purba Satgachhia had revolutionized in the field of Kavigan, Panchali etc. There is a school for physically handicpped like dumb and deaf at Baidya pur near Baidyapur Ramkrishng Bidyapith. It was started by the N.G.O (Baidyapur Bikash Bharati Pratibandhi Kalyan Kendra) in the year 1993. It was recognized by the Govt. of West Bengal (Mass Education Extension Department ). It was sponsored on 2000.

Total intake Capacity: 101

Present roll strength: 92

Residential: 58

Age limit: 5-18 Years

There is a vocational unit where in tailoring, Clay-modeling, Food processing etc. are taught.

Number of Teaching Staff: 6

Number of other staff: 7

Kalna town has been carrying a great tradition in publishing different Magazines and Booklets. Following are the Newspapers with year of publishing:

The pre historic conveyance system was built on the basis of water flow. We have realised the river Damodar and her branches through out Kalna used to establish link among several villages and places.

Through several flow the communication and link among various interior gangs like Nandan Ghat, Manteswar were well kept. Still S.D.O. office of Kalna sub division exists just beside the river. The distance villages Faleya, Nimdaha, Nadanghat, Mahmudpur, Bagnapara are still depending on the naval way.

Even after setting on railways conveyance, two water conveyance associations: i) Steam navagation company ii) Horemiller company found themselves busy for the transportation of people and goods. Starting from Hatkhola of Kolkata, Naval transportation was practiced to reach Kalna via Uttarpara, Sreerampur, Sheorafuli, Nababganj, Bhadreshwar, Chandannagar, Bhatpara, Chinsura, Hooghly, Bansbaria, Tribani, Kaliganj, Jirat, Somra, Shantipur, Guptipara etc.

As two roadways Kalna was certainly linked with the administrative centres – Saptagram, Pandua, Nabadwip. To meet up the curiosity about roadway linking with other administrative centres, we can collect from two maps, no 1. Von-Den-brook in 1660 and Rennel’s map in the year 1779. Dain-Brook’s map indicated two roads which are too important in the background of present age.

1) Saptagram to Gour through the west bank of the Ganges. 

2) From Kalna to Burdwan. Besides those mentioned river-ways, there leads many roads as:

1)      From Baramura to Sasaram via Hooghly, Pandua, Memari, Burdwan, Ukhura, Barakar etc.

2)      From Dhanekhali to Golaganj, via Hazipur Krishnabati, Boinchi etc.

3)      Up to Shankhai via Hooghly, Nayasarai, Inchura, Samudragarh etc.

4)      From Samudragarh to Katwa via Sribati.

5)      From Kalna to Puti via Dhanekhali, Chandipur etc.

Present leading roadways:

1)  Kalna - Chinsura via Guptipara, Balagarh, route No.- 8

2)  Kalna - Pandua via Bakulia , Kuliapara, Daspur, route No. – 13.

3)  Kalna - Pandua via Patharghata, Jamgram.

4)  Singarkone – Pandia via Chagram, Kulti, Sarai

5)  Kalna – Gurap via Nepakuli, Jharubati, Baidyapur, Boinchi, route No. – 11

6)  Kalna – Badhaman via Dhatrigram, Austogharia, Satgachia etc. route No – 3.

7)  Kalna - Memari  via Maina matiswar, Kalibele, etc.

8)  Kalna – Chupi via Dhatrigram, Samudragarh etc.

Of late Kalna has started S.B.S.T.C. Government bus service and some Auto and some other privet vehicle service.

RAILWAYS

           Necessity of Railways was sensed from the year 1845. Essential lands were acquired and surveyed under the supervision of Mr. A. H. Boiler by the year 1905. In the year 1911, experimental service was set on. On 18^th April 1914 a passenger steam engine Train was set on in service from Hooghly to Nabadwip. During the period (1832 – 1983) diesel engine was put to service, and almost all the Trains were converted  into Diesel Engine in the year 1990 – 1991.

          After hard efforts of the then M.P. Saifuddin Choudhury and incessant movement of daily passengers’ association, the Rail authority was subjected to take a decision of Electrification of Train. And at present many electric coach run up and down every day like   Katwa to Bandel, Katwa to Sealdeh, Katwa to Howrah, Howrah to Katwa, Bandel to Katwa, Sealaeh to Katwa, Bandel to Nabadwip etc.

From the year 1892, Kalna Hospital was handed over to United Free Church of Scotland Medical Mission to control the property. Besides, on 1^st August, 1896 at Purbasthali, 1^st June, 1905 at Kulingram and 1^st April, 1906 at Jamna some dispensaries were set-up with Government Aid. In1909. A floating medical unit was also set up with the guidance of Jilla Board.

 Kalna has a good reputation in the field of Sports & Games and Athletics, which are part and parcel of culture and civilization. The present Stadium at Kalna Aghorenath Park had once been the favorite ground of Football and Cricket players. Here, once two Football Shields were in full swing namely- (i) Benimadhav Memorial Shield and (ii) Chandicharan Memorial Shield. Many important figures from Tallyganj, Surendranath College, Barrackpore Military Barrack used to come to take part in those Shield Games. An excellent personality in the field of Football, Sri Chuni Goswami had also played for some years at Kalna. The Friends Union after it defeated some rival party, won the Game and was awarded the Shield. Young Blood, Eleven Friends, Depali Sangha, Pinaki Memorial Kalna are most reputed clubs. Those who were adept in Sports and Games during those days are described below:- 

 Sri Debnath Palit, a renowned Athlete of Ambika Bayam Samiti was awarded Bardhaman Sri title. Sri Basudev Dey had showed his creditable Athletic-show, which was of course memorable. Besides, Kalna Recreation Club is habituated to play Badminton, Tennis and Billiard Game in a regular manner and is able to show excellent performance in the Game. Apart from these, Panchayat has also been encouraging the Youth to play different kinds of play.

Municipality

         The foundation of Kalna Municipality had started since 1869, 1^st April through a Govt. notice. During those days there exists no election system. Hon’ble S.D.O was to be selected as Municipal Administrator ex-officio, and people belonging to all corner of society could suggest him. From 1891 number of names are found to occupy the seat of Chairman by turns in the following statistical way: