Malbazar

History

Before 1947 Malbazar was a very small place, mainly known for its tea gardens mostly owned by British people. Those tea gardens had a few Bengali white collar employees and the work force consisted of tribal people.

After independence of India as well as partition of Bengal refugees from the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) started to settle here by cutting down forests. By that time, Dr. Narayan Chandra Bannerjee, Dr Amalendu Biswas (came from Pabna), Dr Tarak Mukherjee, Shri Nripendra nath Choudhary who came there from Dacca established this city. Bannerjee had earned a lot of respect for his effective medical treatments and social services. He took initiatives to get the refuges settled there in an organised way. As a result, some colonies came up.

Later, due to efforts Bannerjee, Amalendu Biswas, Shri Nripendra nath Choudhary, Shri Sarat ch Ghosh, Shri Dulal Sengupta, Shri Makhan Bose established Adarsha Bidya Bhawan (a boys' high school). Shri Bipin bihari Bondhopadhy established Subhasini Balika Vidyalay (a girls' high school) in the 1950s. The government Mal Grahmin Hospital was established. Biswas contributed a lot as the only dentist of Maalbazar. Nath Choudhury had helped the refugees get settled. Soon, the police station was shifted to Malbazar from nearby Kranti.

During that time, Dr. Jogesh Chandra Dutta was closely associated with Dr. Narayan Chandra Bannerjee, Dr Amalendu Biswas, Shri Nripendra nath Choudhary and others. Dr. Jogesh Chandra Dutta was the only practicing ophthalmologist in that area. He was also closely associated with development of Mal RR Primary School.

In the 1970s Malbazar got its fire service station. Later, a street was named after Dr. Narayan Chandra Bannerjee.

Geography

Mal is at 26.85°N 88.75°E / 26.85; 88.75.

Malbazar is one of the more important towns in Dooars. It is strategically located in the eastern part of the Dooars region. The town does not have much to offer tourists except for the beautiful Mal Park, but due to its location on the national highway, one can stay at Malbazar and visit the important tourist destination of Eastern Dooars – Gorumara National Park, Chapramari Wildlife Reserve, Jhalong, Bindu, Samsing, Suntalekhola are the famous tourist spots in this area.

There is a government tourist lodge in Malbazar apart from a few private accommodations. An annual flower show is held, visited by people from places far and near.

Demographics

In the 2001 census, Malbazar had a population of 23,212 out of which 12,111 were males and 11,101 were females. Decadal growth for the period 1991–2001 was 13.81% for Malbazar, against 21.52% in Jalpaiguri district. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84%.

Education

There is a college called Mal Parimal Mitra Smriti Mahavidyalay.

Computer education centers:

Transport

The local train station, New Mal Junction, is connected by the newly converted Broad Gauge of the New Jalpaiguri-Alipurduar-Samuktala Road Line train line. The train line leads from the forests of North Bengal to the foothills near the border with Bhutan.

Malbazar is well connected by road with important towns like Siliguri and Jalpaiguri. It became very popular to tourists as a gateway to many more spots like Gorumara, Chalsa, etc. There is a short route between Malbazar and Lava via Gorubathan.

Politics

The chairperson of Mal Municipality is Swapan Saha and vice chairperson is Dipa Sarkar.

Tourist interests

Accommodations

Mal Tourist Lodge (run by West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation), Guest House of Mal Municipality, PWD Inspection Bungalow and some private hotels.