From Obscurity to a Sub-Divisional Headquarter: Siliguri in Colonial Period

Abstract

Siliguri is a city which spans across the Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts in the Indian state of West Bengal. The city is located on the banks of the Mahananda River and the foothills of the Himalayas. Siliguri is known for its "4T": Tea, Timber, Tourism and Transport and is one of the fastest developing and growing metropolis of the state and also of the country. This city with sky scrapers, big hotels, many residential townships, three Railway stations and airports is boosted as the "Uncrowned capital of North Bengal" by the newspapers. However, a hundred years before this metropolis was only a small village. This research article tries to trace the colonial history of Siliguri, the conduct it received from the colonial rulers and the reasons for its quick unprecedented development.