Sakchi
Sakchi is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city of Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India. Situated in the heart of the city, it is surrounded by Bistupur to the west, Swarnarekha River to the north, Kalimati to the south and Bhalubasa to the east. The neighbourhood covers a very large area and is further divided into many neighbourhoods.
It was a village in north eastern Indian territory of Singhbhum which was selected by Jamsetji Tata to be the location of a planned steel city, which in 1919 became Jamshedpur. Sakchi is now part of the city between the Tata Steel site and the river Subarnarekha. Then it was known as Kalimati. Due to the presence of iron ore, river water and sand, Jamsetji Tata decided to establish TISCO there. The company is now known as Tata Steel. Gradually, the neighborhood became more urbanized and new developments came, such as Jubilee Park, Tata Steel Zoological Park and Water Pumping Station. It has its own police station.
History
Foundation
In April 1904, Dorabji Tata, Shapurji Saklatvala and C.M. Weld, went on a journey to locate a site rich in iron, coal, limestone and water. One day they reached to Sakchi village, situated in the dense forests of the Chota Nagpur Plateau, near the convergence of the Subarnarekha and Kharkai rivers. It appeared to be an ideal choice for a steel plant and the location was selected.Sakchi was a tribal village, mainly inhabited by the Bhumij and Santhal tribes. Sakchi village was populated by 17 families of Bhumij, and its two hamlets – Kashidih consisted 18 families of Bhumij and 3 families of Santhal; and Mahulbeda consisted 17 families of Santhal.
The construction of the plant began in 1908, the plant rolled its first steel ingot on 16 February 1912. As Tata Steel was established, the first planned urban settlement started in Sakchi area and it included Gujarati, Parsi and Punjabi businessmen and servicemen, particularly Biharis, Bengalis, Oriyas, Telugus, Kannadigas, Marathis, Tamils, and Malayalis. In 1919, Lord Chelmsford renamed Sakchi to Jamshedpur in honour of its founder, Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata.
Contemporary
Many people who then migrated from West Bengal, East Bengal, Gujarat and Assam are now permanent residents of Jamshedpur city and their ancestral homes were either lost or sold after the separation of East Pakistan during the 1971 war.Once, there used to be a single line railway track which would carry sand for the factory in present-day Aambagan Maidan near the mosque, it does not exist anymore. Mode of transport in the Jamshedpur city were buggies and taxis. There were single lane roads with old British style street lamps. Most roads between Sakchi and Bistupur were surrounded by jungles.
Even today running through Sakchi is the Kalimati Road. During British India, a railway line connecting Jamshedpur to Howrah was started. Jamshedpur is in the Indian mineral-rich state of Jharkhand which was earlier in South Bihar. Old houses of Bengalis, Parsis, Anglo-Indians and Gujaratis can still be seen in Aambagan, Hill Cart Road, Kalimati Road, Pennar road, Sakchi Bazar areas of Sakchi. A few such houses are also present in Bistupur.
The city is unique because it is a very small town even today with extreme ends being covered within 45 minutes. It is not a metro city, yet it has the demography of a metro town as people from all ethnicities live here as permanent residents. Sakchi is located in the centre of the city, with Bistupur, Kadma, and Sonari lying in the West. In the East, lies Baradwari, Kasidih, Bhalubasa, Sitaramdera, Agrico and Sidhgora. In the North, lies Mango which is also one of the busiest locations of the city and down south lies Burmamines, Tatanagar station, Jugsalai and Parsudih.
Sakchi today has numerous cinema halls. Sakchi Market, also known as Sakchi Bazaar is the oldest market in the city. It was used to hold Tuesday Market every Tuesday on footpath, till 2010. Today, a large number of modern development such as shopping malls and luxurious hotels, have took place over the Straight Mile Road and Karim City College Road. Sakchi Golchakkar is one of the busiest intersections of the city.
Landmarks
Points of interest
- [Jubilee Park, Jamshedpur|Jubilee Park] is the largest urban park of Jamshedpur. Built in 1950 as a gift by Tata Steel to the residents of Jamshedpur, the park was inaugurated by then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. With an area of, it is one of the largest parks in the world. It consists of a lake called Jayanti Sarovar. The park features illuminated fountains, lush greenery, and flowering plants, and is a favorite spot for boating, fishing, and picnicking. There is a lake, that attracts migratory birds, especially during the winter, and has a small island inhabited by bats.
- Tata Steel Zoological Park is a zoo and sanctuary. Situated at the corner of the Jubilee Park, it is spread over an area of 43.25 hectares interspersed with wooded area and manicured lawns, gardens and lakes. It is specially known as the only zoo in India to have mandrills. The zoo also features African Lions, white tiger, Zebra, and butterfly park. It consists of Butterfly Park and Safari Park. There is an information center, that allows visitors to touch an ostrich eggshell or a deer antler. Recently, the park underwent massive renovation.
Establishments
- The Graduate School College for Women
- Karim [City College, Jamshedpur|Karim City College] is one of the oldest colleges in the state of Jharkhand. The oldest campus of the college, it is located on Karim City College Road near Tata Steel and surrounding industrial complex. It consists of various heritage buildings associated with Karimia Trust, such as Karim Talkies, Karim Mansion and Central Karimia School, many which have significance over a 100 years ago.