PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The State of West Bengal is full of great river valleys and it stretches from the Bay
of Bengal in the south to the Great Himalayas in the north. Its southern part is
formed by the delta of the Ganges; its northern part consists of the Ganges valley.
The valley of the Ganges, which is now divided between 1est Bengal and East
Pakistan, is one of the most fertile and densely populated tracts of country in the
world. It abounds with every product of nature, including timber from the
feathery bamboo and coroneted -palm to the ironhearted sal-tree. The land near
the sea is full of alluvial deposits and it is stated that no substance so coarse as
gravel occurs throughout the delta or in the heart of the state within 400 miles of
the river mouths. The climate varies from the snowy regions of the Himalayas to
the tropical vapor bath of the delta. Seasons supposedly change here every two
months and thus theare six seasons marking each year, as follow:
INHABITANTS
Out of a total Indian population of 360 million people distributed in all over thirty
states, the state of West Bengal is inhabited by about 25 million people in an area
of 29,476 square miles, with a density of 806 per square mile. About 76 per cent
of these people live at present in the rural areas of the state and nearly 57 per
cent of the total population have their major income from agriculture. The
inhabitants of this 'region are mostly of the Indo-Aryan origin and their history
dates as far back as 1500 B.C.
Life in Bengal, as in all other Indian states, is strongly influenced by the old Indian
social structure and all of the three concepts of a traditional social setup - namely,
the autonomous village community, the caste, and the joint family system work
even today within the Bengali community, though to a lesser degree. In all three it
is the group that counts; the individual has a secondary place. The old Russian mir
was somewhat similar to the old Indian village community. Caste has been based
mainly on functions similar -03- to the mediaeval trade guilds in Europe. There is
nothing in the west, perhaps, which could really be compared with the Hindu joint
family system.
Caste, in its earliest forms, was much needed and desirable and meant to develop
individuality and freedom, but it took a different course in its later stages and
crushed the masses altogether. The joint family system, on the other hand, served
to give guaranteed security to all members of the family but, again, due to its
stress on the family or the group it cut down the egocentric attitude of the child
and tended to develop an aptitude for socialization. The group economy suffered
consequently and, when in this era of science and technology, we notice an
industrial progress in the country, the change that is taking place in our society is
due to certain basic economic changes which have influenced our living habits and
which are likely to upset it completely. Thus, we find that the joint family system is
rapidly breaking off, leading to individualistic attitudes and hence some new
problems of behavior. Living conditions have changed and it is impossible for the
caste system to endure any longer. What will take its place, however, remains to
be seen.
Family Composition
According to the recent census report, the average family in West
Bengal, as in most other parts of the country, consists of 5.5 persons. This figure
has reduced to 5 for the sake of this study and it is expected that with the present
trend in the growth of industry and mass education that the joint family will break
off more rapidly and the family size will consequently decrease. Again, it is
assumed that a family will consist of the head couple, with either three children or
with- two children and one of the grandparents or other relatives.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Present Condition of Houses:
1. There are at present various types of houses in Kharagpur villages built of
thatch, tile, brick,- mud, bamboo and timber.
2. These houses are usually of the single-room type built with cheap local
materials such as mud, bamboo. and thatch.
3. These houses are usually overcrowded and poorly ventilated, too.
4. The structures are usually temporary,without being waterproof.
5. Small openings without shutters usually characterize these houses.
6. These often have a low roof.
7. Being of one-room type, the kitchen facilities are often very unsatisfactory.
8. The area around the hut is usually used as a latrine.
9. Animal pets, such as cows and goats, are often kept in the houses.
