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{{short description|Swimming Pool in Kolkata, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}

{{Infobox street
| name = College Square Swimming Pool
| maint = [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation]]
| known_for =
| designer =
| demolition_date =
| inauguration_date = 
| completion_date =
| construction_start_date =
| commissioning_date =
| junction =
| terminus_b =
| direction_b =
| terminus_a = College Square
| direction_a =
| coordinates = {{coord|22.5747|N|88.3639|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=title, inline}}
| client =
| native_name =
| metro = [[MG Road metro station, Kolkata|MG Road]], [[Central metro station, Kolkata|Central]] and [[Sealdah metro station|Sealdah]](under construction)
| metro_system = [[Kolkata Metro]]
| location = [[Kolkata]], India
| width =
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| addresses =
| postal_code = 700073
| former_names =
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| caption = College Square Swimming Pool
| image = College Square Swimming Pool in Kolkata 05.jpg
| marker_image =
| status =
}}

'''College Square Swimming Pool'''<ref>{{Cite book|first=Kushanava|last=Choudhury|title=The Epic City: The World on the Streets of Calcutta|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2018|year=|isbn=9781635571578|location=|pages=}}</ref> is a swimming pool arena of [[Kolkata]] maintained by [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 21, 2018|title=College Square swimming pool getting ready for next season|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/college-square-swimming-pool-getting-ready-for-next-season/articleshow/63390473.cms|access-date=2020-07-15|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> It is situated at [[College Street (Kolkata)|College Street]] area adjacent to [[Hindu School, Kolkata|Hindu School]] and Surya Sen Street.

== History ==
The first swimming club to be constructed in this pool arena was College Square Swimming Club in the year 1927 by a group of sports enthusiasts of Kolkata, led by Pramoth Nath Ghosh.<ref name=":1" /> Several Olympians have been part of the College Square Swimming Club.<ref>https://www.cssc.in/brief_history.php</ref>

== Organization ==
[[File:College Square Dive.jpg|thumb|Diving at College Square Swimming Pool]]
Though the swimming pool is administered by the Municipality Corporation, it is allowed to be used by six swimming clubs namely College Square Swimming Club, Bowbazaar Bayam Samity, Self Culture Institute, YMCA Swimming Club, Sailendra Memorial Club, The Calcutta University Institute (Swimming Section).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Perils swim in College Square pool|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/perils-swim-in-college-square-pool/cid/1406553|access-date=2020-07-23|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref>

== Swimming culture ==
It is one of the oldest swimming pools of Kolkata other than the aquatic pool of [[The Calcutta Swimming Club|Calcutta Swimming Club]] while having one of the oldest swimming clubs of Kolkata - College Square Swimming Club<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=College Square Swimming Club|url=https://cssc.in/brief_history.php|access-date=2020-07-21|website=cssc.in}}</ref> situated within its arena.<ref>{{Cite web|date=|title=CSSC|url=http://cssc.in/images/100years.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721194703/http://cssc.in/images/100years.pdf |archive-date=21 July 2020 |access-date=|website=}}</ref> This swimming pool is found to have considerable contribution towards history of aquatic culture of Kolkata.

== Accidents and controversies ==

In August 2017, a veteran swimming trainer Kajal Dutta drowned in the concerned swimming pool. In spite of being swimming pool in nature, there was reported to be many unplanned structures underwater which was claimed to be formed in unauthorized manner. Such unsafe structures were blamed to be the reason for the death of the veteran swimming coach.

In August 2019, a novice swimmer trainee of Calcutta University Institute Swimming Section<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-05|title=Kolkata: Teenager drowns during swimming lessons in pool|url=https://www.asianage.com/metros/kolkata/050819/kolkata-teenager-drowns-during-swimming-lessons-in-pool.html|access-date=2020-07-21|website=The Asian Age}}</ref> drowned at the swimming pool.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-05|title=Novice swimmer drowns in city pool|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/bengal/novice-swimmer-drowns-city-pool-1502785768.html|access-date=2020-07-21|website=The Statesman|language=en-US}}</ref> Kolkata Municipal Corporation closed the entire swimming pool for about seven days post such tragic incidence.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2019-08-05|title=Swimming clubs using College Square pool to be shut for 7 days|url=https://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/swimming-clubs-using-college-square-pool-to-be-shut-for-7-days-367469|access-date=2020-07-21|website=www.millenniumpost.in|language=en}}</ref>

== Religious festivity and popular culture ==

Each year, an event of [[Durga Puja]] is undertaken within the arena of the swimming pool and its adjoining area.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Durga Puja 2019: From Kumartuli to College Square, 7 North Kolkata Pandals You Must Visit|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/durga-puja-2019-from-kumartuli-to-college-square-7-north-kolkata-pandals-you-must-visit-2334397.html|access-date=2020-07-21|website=News18}}</ref> This puja event is periodically reported to witness heavy footfall during the concerned festival time.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sharma|first=Anuradha|date=2018-10-10|title=Durga Puja: Soak in an immersive experience in Kolkata|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/travel/the-goddess-of-good-times/article25179072.ece|access-date=2020-07-21|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> During this festivity time, all aquatic activities are kept suspended.

==College Square Swimming Club==
{{OSM Location map |coord={{coord|22.574511|88.363472}} |zoom=15 |label=College Square Swimming Pool|mark-coord={{coord|22.574511|88.363472}}|label-pos=right|float=right}}'''College Square Swimming Club''' is one of the swimming clubs at College Square Swimming Pool (also known as Vidyasagar Udyan). The club trains people in aquatic sports including [[swimming (sport)|swimming]], [[Diving (sport)|diving]] and [[water polo]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Prashant H. Pandya|title=Vadophil: Issue No. 146-147|publisher=Baroda Philatelic Society|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> Its situated at the north east corner of the swimming pool arena.

=== History ===
The Swimming club was situated in the year 1917<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-11|title=Swimming faces a dry summer of discontent|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/swimming-faces-a-dry-summer-of-discontent/story-5eaQ827doT3ggMt5EMJqeK.html|access-date=2020-07-22|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> by a group of swimming enthusiasts of Calcutta (now [[Kolkata]]) while Pramotho Nath Ghosh leaded them and the same was the founder Secretary of the club.<ref>{{Cite web|title=College Square Swimming Club|url=http://cssc.in/brief_history.php|access-date=2020-07-22|website=cssc.in}}</ref> Advocate General of that time [[Satish Ranjan Das]] (MLC) was the first president of the club.

=== Notable swimmers ===
During the time, the club has reportedly produced many swimming talents a handful of them were Olympians

* Dwarka Das Muljee (Olympian Swimming 1923)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-18|title=Dwarkadas Murarji Bio, Stats, and Results {{!}} Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mu/dwarkadas-murarji-1.html|access-date=2020-07-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418063842/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mu/dwarkadas-murarji-1.html|archive-date=18 April 2020}}</ref>
* [[Durga Das (water polo)|Durga Das]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ananth|first=Venkat|date=2014-09-29|title=India's first Asian Games gold medallist Sachin Nag|url=https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/foRS7rnLTXbqXc1MSaZbCI/Indias-first-Asian-Games-gold-medallist-Sachin-Nag.html|access-date=2020-07-22|website=Livemint|language=en}}</ref> (Olympian Water Polo 1948)
* Kedar Shaw (Olympian Water Polo 1952)
* [[Sambhu Saha|Shambhu Saha]] (Olympian Water Polo 1952)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-18|title=Sambhu Saha Bio, Stats, and Results {{!}} Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/sambhu-saha-1.html|access-date=2020-07-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418085218/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/sambhu-saha-1.html|archive-date=18 April 2020}}</ref>
* [[Bijoy Barman]] (Olympian Swimming &Water Polo 1952)<ref>{{Cite web|title=College Square Swimming Club|url=http://cssc.in/internationals.php|access-date=2020-07-22|website=cssc.in}}</ref>
* Amrita Das<ref>{{Cite web|title=English Chanel Crossing By Amrita Das From College Squar Swiming Club - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E9AD0ePVlI|access-date=2020-07-23|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref>(Crossed English Channel)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-09-06|title=Kolkata girl crosses English Channel|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/sports/report-kolkata-girl-crosses-english-channel-1434292|access-date=2020-07-22|website=DNA India|language=en}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Swimming venues in India]]
[[Category:Swimming clubs in India]]
[[Category:Sports clubs and teams in Kolkata]]
[[Category:1927 establishments in British India]]

College Square Swimming Pool - Revision history

Veronairy: made new entry