ঔপনবশক ও উততর-ঔপনবশক পরব খডগপর শহরর বকশ: রলওয, নগরয়ণ ও পরবশ সকটর একট ঐতহসক বশলষণ

The development of Kharagpur constitutes a significant chapter in the history of colonial and postcolonial urbanization in India.In the late nineteenth century, as part of the expansion of the railway network under British colonial rule, Kharagpur emerged in 1898 as an important junction of the South Eastern Railway.This railway-centric development transformed Kharagpur from a rural, forest-dependent region into a planned railway town.During the colonial period, the establishment of railways and related infrastructure led to the growth of new settlements, a working-class population, and urban facilities in Kharagpur.However, this urbanization was primarily driven by administrative and economic imperatives, in which environmental balance and local social realities were not given due importance.In the postcolonial phase, particularly after independence, the character of Kharagpur became more multidimensional.The expansion of railway workshops, the growth of small and medium industries, rapid population increase, and the establishment of IIT Kharagpur in 1951 transformed the city into a major centre of education and technology.During this period, the pace of urbanization increased manifold and the geographical extent of the city expanded rapidly.As a result, land-use patterns underwent radical changes-agricultural land and water bodies were gradually converted into residential, industrial, and commercial uses.This paper argues that while the process of urbanization in Kharagpur has created opportunities for modernity, employment, and infrastructural development, it has simultaneously generated serious environmental crises.Excessive exploitation of groundwater and the filling up of natural water bodies have intensified water scarcity; deforestation and land acquisition have adversely affected local biodiversity and the lives of indigenous communities; and the expansion of railways, industries, and vehicular traffic has made air, noise, and solid waste pollution permanent features of urban life.Through historical analysis, this paper seeks to demonstrate that the environmental crisis of Kharagpur is not a sudden or isolated phenomenon, but rather the outcome of a long-standing colonial legacy and postcolonial development policies.Therefore, in envisioning the future urban planning and development of Kharagpur, it is essential to consider history, society, and environment in an integrated manner.