What is College Square, where students are protesting to get justice for Kolkata rape victim

College Square or College Street of Kolkata is the place in the city where many big and famous colleges of the country are located. Its history is more than 200 years old. Whenever the youth of West Bengal have taken the path of agitation, this place has definitely been a witness to it. The presence of many colleges and universities in this street makes it historic. Once again, a march of students was taken out from here in support of the Nabanna movement to get justice for Dr. Abhaya against the Kolkata rape case.

Famous institutions like Calcutta University, Calcutta Medical College, Presidency University, Sanskrit College, City College of Commerce and Business Administration are located here. Presidency University was established here in 1817 as a Hindu College. It is the oldest post-secondary arts institution in South Asia. College. After this, in 1835, the first European medical college was established in Asia, i.e. Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata was established. India’s first institute offering MBA, the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, was established in 1953 in Kolkata’s College Street.

World War 1 connection

College Square also has a connection with the First World War. Near the eastern gate, there is a small war memorial dedicated to the 49th Bengali Regiment who died in the Great War of 1914-1918. The regiment was sent to India in 1917 and 63 of its members died in the war. The marble memorial has the names and origins of each soldier. It was installed in August 1926, and is reportedly the only war memorial dedicated to a Bengali regiment of the British Army in India. This war memorial also gives an inspiration of revolution to the youth.

Historical Street of Kolkata

A beautiful water body has been built on this street of Kolkata. This water body was built by the Lottery Committee of Kolkata between the years 1817 and 1836. After this, in the year 1869, this water body was filled with water for the first time. After this, it was redeveloped in the year 1906. This pool of Kolkata is known as Gol Dighi. It is also called Madhab-Babu’s pond, named after a Madhab Babu. Madhab Babu used to run a very big market in Kolkata Street where Calcutta University is now located. Apart from this, many people believe that the name Gol Dighi is derived from the round shape of an aquatic plant that once grew here.