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International Journal of Research and Review Vol.8; Issue: 3; March 2021 Website: www.ijrrjournal.com Research Paper E-ISSN: 2349-9788; P-ISSN: 2454-2237

The Socio-Economic Study of Barabazar - A Traditional Market, , West

Sulagna Gupta Bhaya

Dept. of Geography, Ranaghat College, Ranaghat, Nadia, . Pin-741201

ABSTRACT started their business in hat. This bi-weekly hat grew into Barabazar, a Kolkata Metropolitan is one of the largest permanent residential wholesale cum retail agglomerations in . The major and market. Kolkata being capital of British powerful wholesale trading activities are located India grew in importance and the invent of in the heart of Kolkata in Barabazar. Barabazar railways in the early 1860’s opened the expanded from a yarn and textile market into one of the largest wholesale markets in Asia. It flood gates of the journey of the up-country merchants particularly the Marwari, is a lively wholesale market with sections for [2] spices, textiles, electric and electronic goods, Gujarati and Khatri etc. to Kolkata . They ornaments and other kinds of goods. Here nested in Barabazar in a large number. The people can get customer for everything. People Marwaris and other North Indian from neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan businessmen ousted the Sheths and Basaks as well as Bangladesh even come here for their and the other cloth merchants and business. On-street parking of good traffic, established their dominance over Barabazar loading and unloading operations severely market by the late 19th century [3]. affects operational efficiency of traffic and transportation. One fifth of the volume of good 2. Objective of the Study vehicles entering and exiting city are destined to Barabazar area. Kolkata Logistic Hub has been The objectives of the study of proposed in the outskirts of the city to get rid of Barabazar market are: this problem. This study is an attempt to depict a 1. to represent morphology of the markets brief representative picture of the whole of and marketing structure. Barabazar market 2. to study about the various components i.e. the sellers, hawkers and buyers. Keywords: Wholesale market, agglomeration, 3. to understand the work environment of Kolkata Logistic Hub, Barabazar market the sellers and hawkers. 4. to observe and evaluate the economic 1 INTRODUCTION and social activities of sellers, hawkers The great Bazar or Barabazar has not and buyers. grown up overnight. , an agent of Company, the British Trading 3. METHODOLOGY Center in Bengal set up an important yarn [1] The present study includes collection factory at Sutanuti on August 24, 1690 . It of primary data from Barabazar market was a long process through which this yarn about the sellers, hawkers and buyers by market has become one of the largest random sampling method with detailed wholesale market in Asia. When the British questionnaire. The sample design included formed their headquarter, the new Fort 375 sellers, 750 buyers and 223 hawkers William in Gobindapur, the British from Barabazar market. The field data were displaced Sheths, Basaks, Sheels and Dattas finally converted into master table and were compensated by the British with mere lands in Sutanuti [1]. These native traders

International Journal of Research and Review (ijrrjournal.com) 188 Vol.8; Issue: 3; March 2021 Sulagna Gupta Bhaya. The socio-economic study of Barabazar- a traditional market, Kolkata, West Bengal. cartographic and statistical interpretations 10.07% by Sonapatti, 14.64% under were finally made. commercial space, 2.11% by Bagri market, 2.47% under chemical commodities, 2.51% 4. Morphology under cloth market, 1.72% by Satya From the analysis of the landuse Narayan Underground A.C. market and map prepared for the market occupied area, 5.30% by Textile market. Barabazar also it appears that about 17.31% is by comprises of 15.43% of the total roads as Khangrapatti, 25.55% under mixed area, shown in Map No. 1.1

This market consists of highly other types of shops like vegetables, sweet specialized sub-markets like Khangrapatti, shops, furnitures, spare parts, electrical Sonapatti, Masalapatti, Lohapatti, goods, plastic items etc. It can be said that Pagyapatti etc [2]. The sub-markets are also anything and everything necessary for subdivided into Katra, Chowk or Kothi [1]. society are available in this traditional Each Katra is known for a particular item. market. This market is also covered with various

International Journal of Research and Review (ijrrjournal.com) 189 Vol.8; Issue: 3; March 2021 Sulagna Gupta Bhaya. The socio-economic study of Barabazar- a traditional market, Kolkata, West Bengal.

5. Hinterland

The different varieties of goods that fluctuations. The bargaining process is also come to this market are from various states in practice to some extent. This market has of India and also from other districts of many shops run by employees and there are W.B. as shown in Map No. 1.2. The outflow also shops which are run by their family of the goods of this market generally goes to members. Employees are also hired during various other traditional markets of Kolkata the festive period. The peak season of sale is like Hatibagan Market, Gariahat Market, during festive occasions and ceremonial New Market etc. This market draws its functions. The daily income of the sellers purchasers not only from within Kolkata but are 12% with daily income of less than Rs. also from other districts of W.B. and other 10,000, 12% in the range of Rs. 10,000 to states of India, particularly Eastern and Rs. 20,000, 26% between Rs. 20,000 and North Eastern Indian states [4]. Rs. 40,000 and 50% even greater than Rs. 40,000. This is because Barabazar is a very 6. Nature of shops big wholesale cum retail market and have a The shops of this market do not huge variety and sale all throughout India. practise any fixed price policy and the The data collected during survey give a fair prices mainly vary with the market idea about the income of the sellers

International Journal of Research and Review (ijrrjournal.com) 190 Vol.8; Issue: 3; March 2021 Sulagna Gupta Bhaya. The socio-economic study of Barabazar- a traditional market, Kolkata, West Bengal. although they usually conceal their actual income.

7. Demography of sellers

International Journal of Research and Review (ijrrjournal.com) 191 Vol.8; Issue: 3; March 2021 Sulagna Gupta Bhaya. The socio-economic study of Barabazar- a traditional market, Kolkata, West Bengal.

From the thorough demographic group of less than 40 years, 38% of sellers study of the sellers of this market, age-sex are in group of 40-60 years and the rest 37% structure, language, religion, caste structure, of the shop owners belong to the age group education, marital status of sellers are stated of above 60 years. The wholesale as shown in Figures no. 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6. characteristics of the market represent the The age-sex structure represents that 25% of existence of experienced male sellers. the owners are male and belong to the age-

The sellers of this market generally family and so they have given lesser speak in Hindi covering 62% of the shop emphasis on education. The sellers are owners. The language of rest 38% of the compelled to have a minimum education sellers are Bengali. The sellers are capable just to carry out their business activities. to communicate well with every linguistic group of customers. This market 8. Nature of hawkers predominates mostly by Bengali and Barabazar market is also occupied Marwari communities (75%) whereas 25% by hawkers selling variety of items and consists of Muslims and other communities. serves the needs of the lawyers. The The observed caste structure of the sellers of hawkers of this market show that 30% of the the market belongs to upper caste group hawkers are in the age-group of less than 40 (40%) and lower caste group (60%). From years, 60% of the hawkers belong to the the inception of the market, the so called age-group of 40-60 years and 10% of the lower castes with business background hawkers belong to the age-group of above families namely Seths, Basaks, Sheels, 60 years. This market is composed of fixed Sahas etc. started the trade here. and mobile hawkers. They mainly speak in From the interpretation of the data Bengali and Hindi and there are also collection regarding formal education level, hawkers with some other languages who are it appears that 50% of the sellers are well conversant in Bengali and Hindi. The educated upto the primary level, 25% of the hawkers of this market are bilingual. The sellers up to the secondary level and fixed hawkers cover the upper portion of the whereas 25% of the sellers have received no site with plastic and other materials. The education. In this traditional market, sellers mobile hawkers move from place to place in are originally from business background search of customers. The future generations

International Journal of Research and Review (ijrrjournal.com) 192 Vol.8; Issue: 3; March 2021 Sulagna Gupta Bhaya. The socio-economic study of Barabazar- a traditional market, Kolkata, West Bengal. of the hawkers are reluctant to come to the Government plans which will take profession of hawking and are eager to have necessary steps and remove all constraints education. They belong to low-income and thereof. Ware housing and cold storage low-expenditure group as hawking is facilities should be improved. Truck basically a low income generating business. terminal facilities should be extended. Barabazar experienced devastating fire. 9. Inflow of buyers Kolkata Metropolitan Development The buyers of this market generally proposed the upgradation of the exiting come from surroundings of Kolkata which Truck terminal situated along the account for about 40% and the rest 60% of Kona Expressway to Kolkata Logistic Hub. buyers comes from different districts and This upgraded facility will consist of a truck states of India. Due to the wholesale nature parking facility clubbed with wholesale and of the market and the presence of ample retail trading near Kolkata Logistic Hub. variety of goods from various states, this This transfer of wholesale functions relate to market attracts buyers from all corners. A transportation system, socio-economic set perception study [5] of the shoppers of this up, local environment and local economy market reveal that 20% of buyers are both quantitatively and qualitatively. engaged in buying for themselves and 80% of buyers are engaged in the process of REFERENCES marketing for carrying on business. 1. B. Gupta and J. Chaliha, “Barabazar” in: Calcutta, the Living City ed. by S. 10. Problems and challenges Chaudhuri. vol. 1 Oxford University Press, The sellers face a lot of problems in 1973, 113-116. 2. R. Bandyopadhyay. “Calcutta’s Market” in : respect of slow traffic flow, congested Calcutta, the Living City ed. by S. footpaths, accident prone roads etc. Traffic Chaudhuri. vol. 1 Oxford University Press, in this area are including the approaching 1973. road to Howrah has been a long 3. S. Mitra and A. Prasad. “The marwaris of standing problem for the pedestrians who Calcutta”, in : Calcutta, the Living City ed. pass through this area. Vehicles like lorry, by S. Chaudhuri, Vol. 1, 109-112, Oxford taxi, van and three wheeler goods carriers University Press, 1973. crowd the main road and slow moving 4. O. Gosami. : “Calcutta’s economy 1918- vehicles clog the side streets. People also 1970 the fall from grace” in : Calcutta, the face a great fear from the risky and Living City ed. by S. Chaudhuri vol. 1 hazardous unsafe buildings. The faulty Oxford University Press, 1973. 88-96. 5. R.L. Davis. Marketing Geography. , electric wiring in this market area is prone 1976. to fire hazards. How to cite this article: Bhaya SG. The socio- 11. CONCLUSION economic study of Barabazar- a traditional Goods from various parts of the market, Kolkata, West Bengal. International country enter Barabazar. Transportation Journal of Research and Review. 2021; 8(3): system is the most important of all the 188-193. aspects. There has been West Bengal

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International Journal of Research and Review (ijrrjournal.com) 193 Vol.8; Issue: 3; March 2021