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	CALCUTTA
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CALCUTTA (also known as Kolkata) The names Calcutta and Kolkata were probably based on Kalikata, the name of one of the three villages (Kalikata, Sutanuti, Gobindapur) in the area before the arrival of the British. "Kalikata", in turn, is believed to be an abridged version of Kalikshetra ("Land of [the goddess] Kali"). While the city was always pronounced either "Kolkata" or "Kolikata", in the local dialect, its official English name was only changed from "Calcutta" to "Kolkata" in 2001. Kolkata is located in eastern India in the Ganges delta at an elevation ranging between 1.5 to 9 meters. It is spread linearly along the banks of the River Hooghly in a north­south direction. Much of the city was originally a vast wetland, reclaimed over the" decades to accommodate the city's burgeoning population. The city's documented history begins with the arrival of the East India Company in 1690, when the Company was consolidating its trade business in Bengal. Job Charnock, an administrator with the Company who eventually settled in Sutanuti after invading through Hijli kingdom, was traditionally credited as the founder of this city. However, recently experts have endorsed the view that Charnock was not the founder of the city. In 1699, the British completed the construction of old Fort William, which was used to station its troops and as a regional base. Kolkata (then Calcutta) was declared a Presidency City, and later became the headquarters of the Bengal Presidency. Kolkata was named the capital of British India in 1772. It was during this period that the marshes surrounding the city were drained and the government area was laid out along the banks of the Hooghly River. Richard Wellesley, Governor General (1797 - 1805), was largely responsible for the growth of the city and its public architecture which led to the description of Kolkata as "The City of Palaces". The city was a center of the British East India Company's trade during the 18th and 19th century. The city underwent rapid industrial growth from the 1850s, especially in the textile and jute sectors. This caused a massive investment in infrastructure projects like rail roads and telegraph by the British government. The coalescence of British and Indian culture resulted in the emergence of a new Babu class of urbane Indians - whose members were often bureaucrats and professionals who belonged to upper­communities. Throughout the nineteenth century, a socio-cultural reform, often referred to as the Bengal Renaissance resulted in the general uplifting of the people. Calcutta became the seat of education and culture of the entire country. Calcutta gradually became the centre of the Indian independence movement, especially the revolutionary movement. The Partition of Bengal resulted in widespread public agitation and the boycott of British goods .These activities, along with the administratively disadvantageous location of Kolkata in the eastern fringes of India, prompted the British to move the capital to Delhi in 1911. The city's port was bombed twice by the Japanese during World War II. As food stocks were being diverted to feed Allied troops, millions starved to death during the Bengal Famine (1943). In 1946, demands for the creation of a Muslim state led to large-scale communal violence resulting in the deaths of over 2,000 people. Over the 1960s and 1970s, severe power shortages, strikes and a violent Naxalite movement damaged much of the city's infrastructure, leading to an economic stagnation. In 1971, war between India and Pakistan led to the mass influx of thousands of refugees into Kolkata resulting in a massive strain on its infrastructure. In the mid 1980s, Mumbai overtook Kolkata as India's most populous city. Kolkata has been a strong base of Indian communism as West Bengal has been ruled by the CPM (Communist Party-Marxist) dominated Left Front for three decades now. In spite of all difficulties, Kolkata is bubbling with life and is our own beloved city. Long live Kolkata!

From an advertisement by 91.9 FM Friends Radio channel

OH! CALCUTTA  ^

Every city has some unique things to offer. This is true for Calcutta, as well. 
Things that are so special and distinctive, that you won’t get them in any other city in India.

Food for thought : Belly buttons

• Phulkopir Shingara: samosas don’t stand a chance against these.
• Phuchka: gol-gappas aren't a patch on phuchkas.
• Karaishutir Kochuri: a seasonal favourite, have it with alur dam.
• Luchi: puri and phulkas - no comparison.
• Alurdom: the world's best. Try the offering at Vivekananda Park.
• Jhalmuri: a unique concoction, with nothing to equal it.
• Telebhaaja: these and jhalmuri are like 'made for each other'.
• Chanachur: many have tried unsuccesfully to steal the formula, MNCs included!
• Alukabli: where will you get something like this?
• Ghugni: again, chana is not the same at all.
• Radhaballavi: try it with alurdom or cholar daal.
• Chanmp: even Pakistani cricketers have sampled these, in Chitpur.
• Rezala: out of this world, just out of this world!
• Paradiser Sharbat: there is one which is green, and another, pink. No college student from Presidency or the University has failed to sample these!
• Lere Biscut: needed to make the batter for chop-katlet.
• Chicken Kabiraji: an unbelievable variation on the chicken cutlet.
• Moton Afghani: an equally innovative presentation of the mutton cutlet.
• Dimer Kalia: again, where do you get something like this?
• Kasha mangsho: it's become an institution now.
• Roll: the ubiquitous mutton, chicken or egg roll. Unquestionably superior to any variants in any other city of the world.

And also….

• Coffee houser coffee: try the float with ice cream.
• Bharer chaa: on the Maidan, from shining brass vessels on a rainy day.

And not to be missed in all this,

• Pan unmatched, even in Benaras or Lucknow. Honestly!

The sweeter side

Roshomalai: a creamy, mouth-watering delight!
Jilipi: smaller than the jalebis and tastes quite different.
Lal doi: is an experience by itself!
Kamala bhog: a pale yellow orb, delicately sweetened.
Notun gurer sondesh: a winter speciality available in no other city.
Rosogolla: simply needs no introduction.
Natun gurer Rosogolla: the latest innovation. 

And also:.

Shitabhog: pure white, sweetened to just the right extent.
Mihi Dana: golden yellow, saffron scented. 
Maalpoa: rich brown pancakes, dripping in sugar syrup.
Ranga alur pithey: another traditional favourite in winter.

Up fashion street

Fashions keep changing. 
But the dhuti-panjabi and tangail look never becomes out-dated.

• Dhuti with extra broad borders: the finest and most elegant available here.
• Dhutis in red or black! The latest sensation in Calcutta.
• Giley kara Panjabi: those with the improbably crinkled sleeves.
• Tangail Sari: the best in these all-time favourites can be found here.

And the other marks of distinction are …

• Bidyasagari choti: you still get them here.
• Kabuli Chappal: another old favourite.
• Garader Sari: ideal with pujo bari, shankher awaaj.

Sights and sounds

One wakes up in the morning and hears their voices drifting through the air. 
So typically do they say their bit…that it is difficult to forget…. and even more so …to imitate…

• Shil katowala: they chip the stone slabs which grind masalas.
• Chhuri Kanchhi Shaanwala: sharpens knives, scissors and anything with an edge.
• Lep Shelaiwala: they make those cotton quilts which warm you up in winter.

And early in the morning, before Durga Pujo, who can forget the strains of

• Mahalayar mahishashuromardini

Other things, quaint and very special

• Chinese Food in China Town: an early morning breakfast here is an experience.
• Metro Rail: spick and span, and the trains are dot on time.
• Maidan: the ideal place to be on a sleepy, winter morning.
• College Streeter Boipara: bookworms buzz around this place morning, noon and night.
• All Night Music Conference: you won't find a minute to yawn.
• Circular Rail: see the river all along as you travel on the train.
• Ganga te nouko bihar: either in a country boat or a steamer or on hover craft!
• Dolphins in the Ganga: if it’s your lucky day, you might catch a glimpse of a frolicking shoal.
• Morning tram to the Maidan: see how green and fresh the city looks.
• East Calcutta Wetlands: our very own eco-system regulator – just on the outskirts.

Travel in style

• Rickshaw: still the preferred form of transportation for some, especially children and the elderly.
• 'School van': it’s to be seen to be believed.
• Tram: if you have time on hand, you can see the city glide by.

Calcutta’s passion

• Roaker adda: Calcuttans are an adda baaj lot.
• Mohan Bagan & East Bengal: prices of ilish or chingri go up, depending on who wins the day.
• Jatra: who says it is all melodrama?
• Durga pujo: the pomp and pageantry, reserved each year for the ‘mother of all festivals’.
• Little magazine: you still find devotees of this publishing wonder.
• Book Fair: when the fair is on, you are there - whether you love books or not.
• Cricket match at the Eden: cricketers and cricket lovers the world over treasure the experience. 

City’s own

• Hydrant: there’s a move by the CMC to revive the practice of washing the streets with Ganga water from the hydrants
• 'Italian' Saloon: road side barber joints, where you sit on a piece of brick (it).
• Chinese dry cleaners: do a very clean job, indeed.
• Darjees of Metiabruz: are a cut above the rest. Even if they cut corners at times!  

Source: The Calmanac Website
 

TRUE KOLKATTAN ^

You're a true Kolkattan if.....

· Your Residential Address: 45B comes between 30 and 30A.

· Your answer is "Jani na dada", when somebody asks you for directions whether it's to Esplanade, Metro rail, Nandan or Gariahat.

· You come across a Xerox shop: "Xerox machine out of order".

· PCO's also sell ice-creams.

· You are a universal bandh supporter.

· Office-goers are better traffic controllers - criticize Traffic police from the bus.

· Parents are proud to tell others, "Chele Computerer kaaj kore" - whether he's a cashier in a departmental store or a Senior Software developer.

· You have at least one cousin, friend, colleague or acquaintance in the US in software.

· Every time somebody gives you a piece of good news - you became frustrated and the first thing you ask them is, "Sotti? Ki bhabey holo?"

· First day at the Book Fair you locate the important stalls like ARAMBAG'S CHICKEN and BENFISH.

· You call 11:00 A.M. as "Shokaal shokaal" You are 1 hour late and you feel you are on time.

· You look at the "Rs. 90/- Fixed Price" stand and still ask,"15 taka ar ek poisa beshi na! Deben to din..", and wait for his response. And at the end of 30 mins argument, you buy it for Rs. 85/-.

· You know the answers and ins & outs of everything on this planet but for some reason still want to be an NRI but don't quite know how to go about it.

· You know cricket better than Gavaskar, Science better than Einstein, Politics better than Marx and everything else better than everybody else.

· You think being either an engineer or a doctor is the greatest achievement in life because that's what your parents tell you.

· You think you are a great patriot because you quote media statements by politicians better than anyone else and because you think the noise and crowd of the Puja days is the most attractive cultural event ever. Even though you have no idea which year Tagore won the Nobel prize.

· You think you are a good professional because you are good at company politics.

· You think you are a very good family person because you take your kids & wife out for vacations once a year on company LTC.
 

UNDERGROUND METRO RAIL ^

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