'Bandel Survey' : A legacy of Colonial India

Bandel, an erstwhile potuguese settlement which carries interesting legacy of late 16th century, kept alive today through Bandel Church, Bandel Cheese etc. But apart from these, Bandel carries a legacy of a British colonial survey institute through an unique history.

History of Surveying is commenced with the advancement of history of People, Countries and Nations. Advent of East India Company in India in the 17^th century turned into an emperor since 1858. They formed their own system of governance and for requirements in trade they decided to mapped the territories of East India Company. Survey of India was established in 1767 under James Rennel (1742 - 1830) and later  decided to undertake Great Trigonometrical Survey (1802 – 1852) over the Indian Sub Continent. For this mammoth task they felt dare needs to establish survey training institutes to keep the trained manpower ready. Michael Topping (1747–1796), Chief Marine Surveyor and a East India Company Astronomer founded the first Surveying School in Indian subcontinent at Gulndy  in the then Madras Presidency on 17th May 1794.*

Employment of native surveyors of British Bengal has been forbidden since 1815.** Things changed when extensive revenue surveys was ordered in the upper provinces of Bengal. They felt need to form regular establishments. During  March 1876, the Government of British Bengal taken steps to open Survey Schools in the chief cities of Bengal.

List of Principal of Bengal Survey
School now known as Bangladesh
Survey Institute. PC : Prince Md. Subho

In 1914, Bengal Government of British India, decided to setup a Survey School named as Bengal Survey School  at Mainamoti hills in Comilla  (now in Bangladesh) under Survey Department.**** Then Comilla was under the  Hill Tippera (British ascent of Tripura) a part of Eastern Bengal and Assam (from 1905). Institute was located among a group of low hills in quiet and beautiful surroundings with a view to giving diversified experience in surveying and levelling.# The first  principal of Bengal Survey School was Mr. Paistar. From the inception, two year course was conducted, first year course was called Amin  Course and second year course was Survey Final Examination. Each year student intake was around 50 students. Students was all  residents in the two katchha hostels.##  School encouraged students to take part in the outdoor sports.

Eventually from the very beginning Bengal Survey School goes through the very stirring times in the context of two world war and billowy storm for Indian Independence. During pre independence movement in the year of 1929, students went on a strike as a protest against a decision of Principal Babu

Military Barrack of 2nd World
War now used as boys hostel.
PC MadhuSudan Chowdhury

Rajendra Lal Banerjee. On the death of independence activist and revolutionary Jatin Das in Lahore Jail, the students observed strike/ hartal on 16th September 1929 .  During 2nd world war in 1942, Mainamoti hills converted as a British cantonment for military movement and Bengal Survey School shifted to Bankura, in western part of Bengal. After the 2nd World War is over, in the month of October 1946, School again transferred to Mainamoti Hills.^^^ After so long battle for independence, in exchange of blood at last that very August 1947 had came, British rule comes to an end. But in exchange of independence, infamous partition occurred on the basis of religion.  As India so Bengal was divided into two parts.  The eastern part of the Bengal falls in the East Pakistan. Comilla falls in the East Pakistan so the Bengal Survey School. Administration of Western part which remain in India, immediately felt necessary to open a new survey institute to feed Estate Acquisition Department. Anandamoy Mukherjee Msc BL ARSM (England), the then Principal of Bengal Survey School and Sri Aswini Kumar Mondal, teacher opted for Western Bengal and joined in new Survey Institute. A place was found suitable in Bandel, Hooghly in an abandoned military barrack of 2nd world war.^^^ Then this place was  full of jungle and have eight dilapidated tiled roof barrack. Instruments, furniture and other goods of  Bengal Survey School divided and one part bought to Bandel  by a goods train from Comilla to Hooghly rail station.^^^ Anandamoy Mukherjee, Aswani Kumar Mondal started to mingles

Old building of West Bengal Survey
Institute Building Constructed in 1952.
PC Google Map

their experience in the new institute. The new survey institute which was named asWest Bengal Survey Institute, officially started functioning on 8th Nov 1947 without any ceremonial function. Following same fashion, two year certificate course, Junior Surveyorship and Senior Surveyorship was started. In 1952, a single storied building of colonial neo classical architecture with plinth area of 7500 sq feet has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 1,50,530.^^  Tiled roof barrack still exist today. Tiled replaced with the asbestos and used for students hostel till date. Ruins of Militery Camp still exit in the Institute compound. 

One of the structure which was Hospital
of Avoy Ashram now used as hostel of
Bangladesh Survey Institute
PC Prince Md Subho

After independence in 1947, at Eastern Pakistan, Bengal Survey School renamed as The East Pakistan Survey School. The Bengal Survey School has been permanently shifted from Mainamoti to Comilla  Avoy Ashram due to Military Activity in Mainamoti in Decembor 1950. Avoy Ashram at Comilla was established on 1910 by the three giants Dr. Prafulla Chandra Ghosh, Dr. Sures Ch. Bandhopadhay and Dr. Nripen Basu. The site located where hospital of Avoy Ashram was situated. The hospital buildings was still exist today and used for students hostel. Later in independent Bangladesh,  The East Pakistan Survey School,  Comilla renamed as Bangladesh  Survey Institute.

Bangladesh Survey Institute
PC Google Map

Now,  erstwhile two years survey course upgraded into Diploma in Survey Engineering in W B Survey Institutes as well as Bangladesh Survey Institute. West Bengal Survey Institute which is famous in name ‘Bandel Survey’ is a pivot of survey education in country.  May be the West Bengal Survey Institute start afresh but how can be ignored the legacy of Bengal Survey School and the very connection with the partition of nation which may only be the reason for the birth of a institutes -  West Bengal Survey Institute.

Find WB Survey Institute on Google Map.

Find Bangladesh Survey Institute on Google Map.

Information Sources:

*  The history of British India- A chronology by Jhon. F. Riddick. Page 210.

**Historical Records of the Survey of India, Volume 3  Survey of India, R. H. Phillimore 1954 Page 359.

****Annual Report on the Survey Operations in Bengal (Other Than Cadastral Surveys) During the Year 1915-16 Directorate of Survey Bengal.

# Banglaadesh District Gazetters Vol -14 1974 : Bangladesh Government Press.

##Eighth Quinquennial Review on the Progress of Education in Bengal, 1927-32 Page 112.

^^ Report of Administration of West Bengal 1965

^^^  “Amar Atmokatha : Aswini Kumar Mondal” Published in WBSI Reunion Souvenir of 2000.
Thanks to Prince Md Subho for sharing valuable information and pics of Bangladesh Survey Institute.

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