Sir Daniel – Co-operative movement – One Rupee Currency for

 Gosaba Island (6 Dec.1860 - 6 Dec’1939).

In the year 1880, Sir Daniel Mackinnon Hamilton, from Scotland, came to India at the age of 20. After two years he came to Calcutta on being appointed as the Chief Executive, Eastern Zone of the renowned mercantile firm Mackinnon Mackenzie. He got married in India with M. E. Brown, a Missionary teacher and made Bengal his second home.

Later, he came to Gosaba Island and lived there from 1902 to 1939.

In 1903 he bought land of about 9000 acres in Gosaba and had it reclaimed by felling the woods and raising embankment on the riverside. 

His involvement with Gosaba was motivated by his desire to improve the living conditions of the poverty stricken people of British India. 

He got 'Knighthood' from Britain's King Edward VII on 4th July 1960 for his social work. Later, he was awarded the ‘Sir Daniel’. 

He introduced the co-operative system in Gosaba. 

He established the Samabaay Bank (1915), co-operative credit society (1916) with 15 members in Gosaba. 1n 6 Dec 1918, he started Samabaay Vandar and Agriculture Farm.

He also brought the poor tribal from Bihar, Orissa, South West Bengal, etc. and given them shelter at Gosaba. 

There feted, he actually went for Co-operative movement ‘Samabaay’ ran parallel with the growth of the co-operative movement in India with the star of cultivation,

storages, banking system, rice-mill under Co-Operative System. 

In 1918 he started a Consumers’ Co-Operative Society. 

In 1919 he set up a Central Model Farm to experiment with paddy, vegetables and fruits. 

A Co-operative Paddy Sales Society was established in 1923. 

In 1924 he established the Gosaba Central Co-operative Bank and in 13th Sept 1927 he established the Jamini Rice Mill, in Feb 1928 he started Co-operative rice go-down (Dharmogola) in every village.

In 11th Feb 1932 he started the Rural Reconstruction Institution (Co-education School). He was close associate of Rabindranath Tagore with whom he exchanged views on village reconstruction and co-operative society.

He was also considered to be close to Mahatma Gandhi. Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose and Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy also was closed to him. They came in Gosaba and stayed at Bacon bunglo in his period.

This is also remarkable to note that, Sir Daniel introduced ‘One Rupee Note’ (8th Feb 1936) through the Gosaba Central Co-operative Bank at Gosaba for the purpose of all financial transaction of his public. He died in Scotland on 6th Dec 1939.

Where to stay:

 when the Tour is without hiring Launch/Boat

(A) Sajnekhali : nearby Hotels/ Lodge/Resorts

1. Sundarban tiger Camp : Dayapur Island, +91 32 935749 (info@sunderbantigercamp), Star Classified, opposite Sajnekhali forests, conference facilities, Tents, Huts and Cottages, A/C also vegetarian options, sight see by boat.

2. Sundarbans Jungle Camp : Bali Island, +91 321821494, per Help Tourism 2485458

3. M.B India Beacons: Sajnekhali, +91 3324191976, and houseboat with 2 rooms for 7 persons. A unique experience of cruising during the day and staying in the middle of the river at night.

4. Sundarbanrove Retreat : Jemspur, www.sunderban mangrove.com,+91 33 24994367, A/C (2 persons) Rs.10,345, Non-A/C-Rs. 10,075, Cottage-Rs. 10,000

5. Sundarban Riverside Holiday Resort, Dayapur: +91 9088537500 info@sundarbanresort.com.

6. ICNL Field Camp: Annpur Island, It is suitable for School, College and University groups for their trips and for research, documentation, filming programmes. It can accommodate around 40 people in 13 rooms in total. They also have launch and motor boat. Cont: mrinalchatt54@gmail.com, +91 9674529522/ 9339830280

7. Krishnakungja : +91 9733558583, Hotel Mangrove : +91 9874743353

Tour Operators

 [Tour Operators based at Canning, Gosaba and Kolkata]

1.Govt. : Tourism Cenrte, West Bengal Tourism Development Corp. Ltd., 3/2 BBD Bad (near Great Eastern Hotel), Kol-1 +91 33 2210 3199, 33 2248 8271

2.SUNDARBAN TIGER CAMP- Pick up from kolkata (by luxury bus/super deluxe/ push back-big and small, big & small car (AC/ Non AC) and bsack to kolkata. Deluxe cottage, executive room

3.BANALATA TRAVELS- Pick up from kolkata (by luxury bus/super deluxe/ push back-big and small, big & small car (AC/ Non AC) and bsack to kolkata. Cont: Rampada Mandal, +91 9830549149. www.sunderbanbanalata.com

4.THE ROYAL SUNDARBAN TOURIST CENTRE

5.Launch MV Monorama Cont : Shasadhar Manna. +91 9474007550, Fax- 03218 255 594. email- mannacan13@gmail.com. www.sundarbanmannada.com

6.ANAMIKA TRAVELS- Launch MV Kanchanjangha. Cont : Mihir Bhadra, +91 9732773033

7.GHOSH TRAVELS- Launch MV Shree Ramkrishna, Biswajoyi & MB Rajanigandha (Mini)/
Cont : Mahadeb/ Arun Ghosh- +91 9732545726, +91 9332064338

8.SUNDARBAN BHRAMAN 
SATHI- Lanch MV Sagardut. Cont : Samir Mandal, +91 9732545714 /+91 9734351502

9.SUNDARBAN MANGROVE RETREAT  Cont : www.sunderban mangrove.com +91 33 24994367,

10.SUNDARBAN GATEWAY RESORT - Cont  :+91 033 2227 7400. Email: panways@yahoo.com

11.SUNDARBAN NATIONAL PARK- Cont: +91 033 24610599 , sanrajtours@gmail.com

12. REVERSIDE HOLIDY RESORTRi- +91 9088537500, info@sundarbanresort.com

13.SURANJANA RESORT- Cont : +91 9433556126, www. contact@suranjanaholidayresort.com

14.BANANI RESORT- Cont : +91 9836904990, email : bananiresort@gmail.com

15.SUNDARBAN TIGER ROAR- Cont : Bibek Deb Purakayastha, +91 9820311520 / email : tiger.roarsunderban@gmail.com / www.sunderbantigerroar.com

16.SUNDARVILLA- Cont : +91 9831023824, Fax: +91 033 22107954 / email eligindia@yahoo.co.uk,www.sundarvilla.com,

17.ROYAL SUNDARBAN RESORTR- (Jharkhali)- Cont : +91 9331911437, Fax : +91 033 22845062 / email : ttmi2@yahoo.com/ www.ttmi2.com

18.HOTEL MAHAMAYA (Raidighi) - Cont: +91 9734650122, +91 7872339297

SREE GURU TRAVELS (Canning)- Cont : +91 9732659369, +91 9800930016 kumudgharami@yahoo.com

.