Calcutta was originally known as Kalikata, one of three villages (along with Sutanuti and Gobindapur) that existed before the British East India Company established a trading post there in the late 17th century. The name is believed to be derived from Kalikshetra (Land of the Goddess Kali) or the village Kali-kata.
Kolkata was always called Kolkata in Bengali — derived from the name of one of the three villages said to have become the modern city of Kolkata. But the British called it Calcutta.
The renaming to Kolkata was made to honour the city's Indigenous roots and reflect the cultural and linguistic identity of the Bengali-speaking population.
The city came to life in 1690 when Job Charnock, a young merchant of the East India Company, set up the first permanent colony in the richest province of the Mughal empire: choosing a village on the Hooghly river known as Kali-kshetra, then Kali-kata, after the Hindu female deity.
Although the city's name has always been pronounced Kolkata or Kôlikata in Bengali, the anglicised form Calcutta was the official name until 2001, when it was changed to Kolkata in order to match Bengali pronunciation.
The Black Hole of Calcutta - The Real Story Behind The Phrase
Why is Kolkata called Dead city?
After independence, civil strife and communist rule saw Kolkata lose pace to other Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. In 1985 the prime minister Rajiv Ghandhi described Kolkata as a “dying” city.
India is known by many names - Jambudweepa, Al-Hind, Hindustan, Tenjiku, Aryavarta, and Bharat. One country, many names. Jai Hind! This was the battle cry that Nehru, like several other political leaders, used after his speeches.
This historical significance of this state is very important. At the time of Alexander invasion a powerful kingdom called Gangaridai ruled over Bengal. The ancient name of this state were Anga, Banga and Gauda. Maurya and Gupta dynasties ruled this state.
In 1996, in keeping with the recent nationwide practice of Indianizing city names, the Government of Tamil Nadu, then represented by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, renamed the city to Chennai.
Kolkata earned its nickname 'The Black City' due to its historical association with the coal trade and the pervasive soot that filled the air, impacting both its landscape and the lives of its inhabitants. This moniker took root during the significant industrial development of the 19th century.
Definitions of Calcutta. noun. the largest city in India and one of the largest cities in the world; located in eastern India; suffers from poverty and overcrowding. synonyms: Kolkata.
For years, the British had ruled from Calcutta, the commercial hub of India, which the East India Company, in the 18th century, had developed into a colonial city. Hardinge argued that the rising importance of the elected legislative bodies meant that Britain needed to find a more centrally located capital.
Hinduism is majority religion in Kolkata city with 76.51 % followers. Islam is second most popular religion in city of Kolkata with approximately 20.60 % following it. In Kolkata city, Christinity is followed by 0.88 %, Jainism by 0.47 %, Sikhism by 0.31 % and Buddhism by 0.11 %.
Overview. The Bengali people are found throughout the world though they primarily reside in Bangladesh and India. Three million Bengalis live in Saudi Arabia. Other Bengalis live in Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.
According to a UNESCO survey, Bengali has been classified as the sweetest language in the world. As a language, Bengali is widely spoken all over India, including Assam and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. One of the world's sweetest languages is also recognized in the Constitution of India.
The most common Bengali greeting is namaskar (নমস্কার) which means “hello” or “greetings.” This versatile expression works in both formal and casual settings throughout Bengali-speaking regions.
but every Indian speaker (without exception) called it Bombay! Incidentally why does the BBC dutifully use these 'new' names for Indian cities, whilst continuing to refer to Venice (not Venezia) and Florence (not Firenze) etc.
On 11 May 1661, the marriage treaty of Charles II of England and Catherine of Braganza, daughter of King John IV of Portugal, placed Bombay in the possession of the British Empire, as part of Catherine's dowry to Charles, along with the North African city of Tangier.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, and his party the Muslim League, insisted on calling the modern-day Republic of India "Hindustan" in reference to its Hindu-majority population.
Indian names like Pooja, Rohit, Anjali, and Jai never grow old. Whether you're looking for a classic name, a name with a beautiful meaning, or one with a modern twist—there are so many wonderful names from India to choose from.
During British colonial rule (approximately 1757-1947), the British referred to the Indian subcontinent as "India." This term was derived from the river Indus, which marked the western boundary of British India. The British colonial administration used "India" as the official name.
