The land measurement of the area started in the year 1891. The whole area was covered with deep forest. Naturally there was abundance of Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, variety of Deer, reptiles and birds. One major problem in the Terai area at that time was Malaria – Kalajwar. The names of the different places in the region are significant in this respect. Bagdogra was known for the Bag or the Tiger. Matigara is where one buries the dead. Hatighisha was famous for Hati or the Elephant and so on.

One of the first notable residents of Siliguri was Harsundar Majumdar. He came to Siliguri to act as a lawyer in Phansidawa. Worried about attacks of wild animals at Phansidawa, he came to Siliguri and set up his home opposite to the present location of Siliguri Police Station. This was probably the only two storied concrete building of the town at that time. Harsundar had an adapted son, Harikiram Majumdar. The present district library was originally named Terai Harsundar Library. Today the town does not have much to put reference to one of its founders.

The Siliguri Police Station was established in 1903. It was a corrugated tin structure supported by wooden pillars of Sal with wooden flooring.

In 1907 the town became a subdivision.

In 1917 the first community Durga Puja was organized by the railway workers.

In 1907 Mitra sammelani was established. In 1927 Mitra Sammelani started its Durga Puja which is continued till date. The Siliguri Union Board was established in 1938. The first president was George Mohbart.

Siliguri was also a major hub for trading in Jute. Rally brothers, Lamden Clerk, Clerk Mayer and other companies had their office and godown (storehouse) in Siliguri. These were mostly in the present Deshbandhu para area. The main area for trading of Jute was the Matigara hat. Jute was purchased from here and stored in Siliguri godowns before sending them to Calcutta jute factories.

Most of the local inhabitants were involved in business of either jute or timber. Besides, there was a large portion of tea garden babus and railway workers in the population.

The Siliguri Municipality was established in 1949. The office was in a wooden construction on the hill cart road. The first chairman of the municipality was the then Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) Mr. Sachindra Mohan Guha.

On the 18th October 1952 the then Governor of Bengal Harendrakumar Mukhopadhaya put the foundation stone of the Gour Bhawan at its present location. On 26th January 1960 the building was inaugurated by Bireswar Majumdar.

The growth of the town received momentum after the independence of India in 1947. First there were thousands of refugees pouring in from East Pakistan after the country was divided. Then there was the refugees from Assam in the 1960’s who lost their home in anti Bengali riot their. During this period there were several wars where Siliguri was in the centre stage. The 1962 war with China, 1965 war with Pakistan and ultimately 1971 war with Pakistan and creation of Bangladesh. Each of these events contributed major inflow of refugees to the town. There was also major influx of business communicates from other parts of the country such as Bihar and Rajasthan who came here to take advantage of the increasing business opportunity in the town. Not surprisingly much of the population in Siliguri has its root in other places.

Increasing population demanded facilities for higher education. The Siliguri college was established in 1950. Siliguri College of Commerce followed in 1962. In 1981 came Siliguri Women’s college, in 1987 Kalipada Ghosh Terai Mahavidyalaya in Bagdogra and in 1998 Surya Sen College.

North Bengal University, the only university in the entire region, was established in 1962 at a place called Shivmandir near Siliguri. The place was officially renamed as Raja Rammohanpur, but the old name still persists. The initial classes of the university were held in Siliguri college campus. The Medical College and Hospital was established in 1967.

Written by - Partha Guha
Reference - Writings of Haren ghosh and others on Siliguri