The origin of Kolkata (now West Bengal), one of India’s oldest cities, is an interesting one and the misconception had been that it was founded by the East India Company in the late 1600s was quashed by the Calcutta High Court several years ago. However, its gradual growth highlights a fascinating mix of ancient habitation and colonial history.
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| Job Charnock setting up Trading post 1690.Calcutta.en.wikipedia.org |
Archaeological findings at Chandraketugarh in North Kolkata reveal that the region has been inhabited for over two thousand years. Yet, Kolkata's officially recorded history is often traced to 1690, when the British East India Company set up trade operations under a firman from the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, allowing British agents to reside in Pipili, Odisha, and later establishing factories at Balasore and Hooghly. A significant turning point came when a British doctor healed the Emperor’s sick daughter, leading to the establishment of a trading factory, which attracted further British investment in the fertile region region.
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| Kolkata 1690 en.wikipedia.org |
Under Emperor Aurangzeb’s reign, the British received another firman but encountered frequent clashes with local rulers. Part of the reason was the EIC violated the trade agreement despite warnings from the rulers. British officer Job Charnock faced a crisis when Nawab forces attacked British posts, pushing Charnock’s group into a dangerous forest where many succumbed to hardships. In response, the British retaliated by blockading Mughal ships, eventually leading to a truce and a fresh firman allowing them to settle on the Hooghly River in Sutanuti, a low swampy dangerous area. After many negations with the local rulers, Charnock came back with 30 soldiers and finally hoisted the British Flag on August 24, 1690, marking the beginning of their rule in the region with minimal tax obligations, a privilege that was exclusive to the Company and resented by Indian traders. That was the earlier beginning of the British entry on the soil of Bengal.
Following Charnock’s unexpected death in 1692, the settlement grew rapidly, prompting the British to fortify it by 1696 due to threats from local landlords. In 1701, the area was officially named Fort William, honoring King William III of England, and the British acquired surrounding villages, including Kalikata and Govindpur, for expansion. This laid the foundation for Kolkata’s urban growth. This was the old Fort William and construction for a new one (the present one) started after ruler Siraj Ud-Daulah attacked Fort William in 1756. The five day siege was a long one and the famous black hole incident took place during that time. A new sturdy fort came up with better defensive facilities and wide rampart. Ft William played a crucial role in the growth and development of the English company safeguarding its interests.
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| Charnock and Kolkatacollegedunia.com |
Above image: Historical records point out that Kolkata was not established by the British officer Job Charnock and had been continuously occupied for several centuries before the British.........
While traditionally, Charnock was credited as Kolkata’s founder, the Calcutta High Court ruled in 2003 that Kolkata’s origins predate Charnock, tracing back to the Maurya and Gupta periods and connecting with Kalighat's ancient Kali Temple. Portuguese and French trading centers in the area further suggest a pre-British presence, challenging Charnock’s title as Kolkata's founder.
As part of colonial history, Kolkata which was the capital of the British Empire became a vital center of the Indian independence movement. In 1911 during the Delhi Darbar King George V shifted the capital to Delhi for its strategic location. Lots of freedom fighters and patriots hailed from Kolkata and its Presidency followed by Bombay (Mumbai) Presidency and Madras (Chennai) Presidency because the colonists' exploitation and racial arrogance went beyond the limits of patience. The Calcutta (Kolkata) city alone fostered numerous patriots who fought against British rule in particular Police forces, earning a significant place in India's struggle for freedom.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Kolkata
https://www.navrangindia.in/2018/06/job-charnock-who-developed-calcutta-and.html
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