KOLKATAThe

CityOf

Joy

Introduction KolkataKolkata , ,

formerly known as CalcuttaCalcutta, is the capital , is the capital of the of the Indian state of state of West Bengal. Kolkata . Kolkata was the commercial was the commercial capital of capital of East India, , located on the east located on the east bank of the bank of the Hooghly River. The city . The city of Kolkata has 4.5 of Kolkata has 4.5 million residents, and million residents, and the metropolitan area, the metropolitan area, including suburbs, has including suburbs, has a population ofa population of

approximately 15.7 million, making it the approximately 15.7 million, making it the third most populous metropolitan area in India and the 13th in India and the 13th most populous urban area in the world. The city is also in the world. The city is also classified as the classified as the eighth largest urban agglomeration in the in the world. Kolkata served as the capital of India during the world. Kolkata served as the capital of India during the British Raj until 1911 when due to geographical disadvantages until 1911 when due to geographical disadvantages and growing nationalism in Bengal the capital was shifted to and growing nationalism in Bengal the capital was shifted to New Delhi. .

EconomyKolkata is the main Kolkata is the main

business, commercial and business, commercial and financial hub of financial hub of East India and the and the northeastern states. . It is home to the It is home to the Calcutta Stock Exchange — — India's second-largest India's second-largest bourse..Until recently, flexible Until recently, flexible production had always been production had always been the norm in Kolkata, and the the norm in Kolkata, and the informal sector has has comprised more than 40% comprised more than 40% of the labour force. For of the labour force. For example, example, roadside hawkers generatedgenerated

business worth business worth Rs. 8,772 8,772 crore (around 2 billion (around 2 billion U.S. dollars) ) in 2005. State and federal government employees make up in 2005. State and federal government employees make up a large percentage of the city's workforce. The city has a a large percentage of the city's workforce. The city has a large unskilled and semi-skilled labour population, along with large unskilled and semi-skilled labour population, along with other blue-collar and knowledge workers. As in many other other blue-collar and knowledge workers. As in many other Indian cities, Indian cities, information technology became a major became a major growing sector in Kolkata since late 1990s, with the IT sector growing sector in Kolkata since late 1990s, with the IT sector growing at 70% yearly — twice that of the national average.growing at 70% yearly — twice that of the national average.

TransportPublic transport is provided by is provided by

the the Kolkata suburban railway, , the the Kolkata Metro, , trams and and buses. buses. i) a i) a pulled rickshaw; a two-; a two-wheeled passenger cart pulled wheeled passenger cart pulled by a human runner by a human runner ii) a ii) a cycle rickshaw, also called , also called a pedicab a pedicab iii) an iii) an auto rickshaw, also , also called a tuk-tuk, bajaj, called a tuk-tuk, bajaj, mototaxi, or baby taxi mototaxi, or baby taxi

The The Kolkata MetroKolkata Metro is a mass is a mass rapid transit system serving the system serving the city of city of Kolkata and the districts and the districts of of South 24 Parganas and and North 24 Parganas in in Indian state of state of West Bengal. The . The network consists of one network consists of one operational line and five lines operational line and five lines currently under construction. It currently under construction. It was the first such form of was the first such form of transportation in entire India transportation in entire India when it first opened its when it first opened its commercial services back in commercial services back in 1984.1984.

Howrah BridgeThe The Howrah BridgeHowrah Bridge is is

a a bridge that spans the that spans the Hooghly River in in West Bengal, , India. It . It was originally named was originally named the the New Howrah New Howrah BridgeBridge because it links because it links the city of the city of Howrah to to its twin city, its twin city, Kolkata (Calcutta). On 14 June (Calcutta). On 14 June 1965 it was renamed 1965 it was renamed Rabindra SetuRabindra Setu, after, after

Rabindranath Tagore a great poet and the first Indian Nobel a great poet and the first Indian Nobel laureate. However it is still popularly known as the laureate. However it is still popularly known as the Howrah Howrah BridgeBridge..

The bridge is one of the four on the The bridge is one of the four on the Hooghly River and and is a famous symbol of is a famous symbol of Kolkata and and West Bengal. The other . The other bridges are the bridges are the Vidyasagar Setu ,the ,the Vivekananda Setu and and the newly built engineering marvel the newly built engineering marvel Nivedita Setu. Apart from . Apart from bearing the stormy weather of the bearing the stormy weather of the Bay of Bengal region, it region, it successfully bears the weight of a daily successfully bears the weight of a daily traffic of approximately of approximately 80,000 vehicles and, possibly, more than 1,000,000 80,000 vehicles and, possibly, more than 1,000,000 pedestrians. pedestrians.

Food Bengali cuisineBengali cuisine is a style of is a style of

food preparation originating in food preparation originating in Bengal, a region in the , a region in the eastern eastern South Asia which is which is now divided between the now divided between the Indian states of states of West Bengal, , Tripura, and , and Barak Valley of of Assam and the independent and the independent country of country of Bangladesh. With . With an emphasis on fish and an emphasis on fish and lentils served with rice as a lentils served with rice as a staple diet, Bengali cuisine is staple diet, Bengali cuisine is known for its subtle (yet known for its subtle (yet sometimes fiery) flavours, its sometimes fiery) flavours, its confectioneriesconfectioneries

and desserts. It also has perhaps the only traditionally and desserts. It also has perhaps the only traditionally developed multi-course tradition from developed multi-course tradition from South Asia that is that is analogous in structure with similar traditions found in analogous in structure with similar traditions found in French and and Italian cuisine, as well as the , as well as the kaiseki ryori of of Japanese cuisine..

Sweets RasgullaRasgulla is a is a

very popular very popular cheese based, cheese based, syrupy sweet dish syrupy sweet dish originally from originally from the the Indian state of of Orissa..[1][2][3][4] It It is popular is popular throughout India throughout India and other parts of and other parts of South Asia.South Asia. The The dish is made from dish is made from balls of balls of chhena (an Indian (an Indian cottage cheese) cottage cheese) and and semolina dough, cooked in dough, cooked in sugar syrup. syrup.

Culture Kolkata has long been Kolkata has long been

known for its literary, artistic and known for its literary, artistic and revolutionary heritage. As the revolutionary heritage. As the former capital of India, Kolkata was former capital of India, Kolkata was the birthplace of modern Indian the birthplace of modern Indian literary and artistic thought. literary and artistic thought. Kolkatans tend to have a special Kolkatans tend to have a special appreciation for art and literature; appreciation for art and literature; its tradition of welcoming new its tradition of welcoming new talent has made it a City of Furious talent has made it a City of Furious Creative Energy. For these Creative Energy. For these reasons, Kolkata has often been reasons, Kolkata has often been dubbed as the Cultural Capital of dubbed as the Cultural Capital of India or the Literary Capital of India or the Literary Capital of India.India.

A characteristic feature of A characteristic feature of Kolkata is the Kolkata is the para or or neighbourhoods having a strong neighbourhoods having a strong sense of community. Typically, sense of community. Typically, every para has its own community every para has its own community club with a clubroom and often, aclub with a clubroom and often, a

playing field. People here habitually indulge in playing field. People here habitually indulge in adda or or leisurely chat, and these adda sessions are often a form of leisurely chat, and these adda sessions are often a form of freestyle intellectual conversation.freestyle intellectual conversation.

Education Institute of Cost and Works Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India(ICWAI)-Head Accountants of India(ICWAI)-Head office for Cost and Management office for Cost and Management Accountants is situated in Sudder Accountants is situated in Sudder Street in main city area.Street in main city area.

Kolkata's schools are either Kolkata's schools are either run by the state government or by run by the state government or by private (many of which are private (many of which are religious) organisations. Schools religious) organisations. Schools mainly use mainly use Bengali or or English as as the the medium of instruction, though , though Urdu is also used, especially in is also used, especially in Central Kolkata. The schools are Central Kolkata. The schools are affiliated with any of the following affiliated with any of the following — — West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, the , the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), the , the Central Board for Secondary Education

(CBSE), the , the National Institute of Open School (NIOS) and the and the A-Level (British Curriculum).(British Curriculum). Under the Under the 10+2+3 plan, after completing , after completing their secondary education, students typically enroll in a 2 year their secondary education, students typically enroll in a 2 year junior college (also known as a pre-university) or in schools with (also known as a pre-university) or in schools with a higher secondary facility affiliated with a higher secondary facility affiliated with West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education, ICSE or CBSE.

Sports The most followed sports in The most followed sports in

Kolkata are football and Kolkata are football and cricket. Kolkata, a major cricket. Kolkata, a major centre of football activity in centre of football activity in India and home of top India and home of top national football clubs such national football clubs such as as Mohun Bagan AC, , East Bengal, , Chirag United S.C., and , and Mohammedan Sporting Club is known as Mecca of Indian is known as Mecca of Indian Football.Football.[114] Calcutta Football League, , which started in 1898, is the which started in 1898, is the oldest football league in oldest football league in Asia. . Mohun Bagan AC, one of , one of the oldest footballthe oldest football

clubs in clubs in Asia, is the only club to be entitled 'National Club of , is the only club to be entitled 'National Club of India'. Kolkata is also home to India'. Kolkata is also home to Kolkata Knight Riders IPL cricket team franchise. Matches between East bengal and cricket team franchise. Matches between East bengal and Mohun Bagan are known as derby macthes and draw huge Mohun Bagan are known as derby macthes and draw huge crowds. The biggest margin of a Derby remains 5-0 in favor of crowds. The biggest margin of a Derby remains 5-0 in favor of East bengal, which is a record till date.East bengal, which is a record till date.

Conclusion The city and its port were The city and its port were

bombed several times by bombed several times by the the JapaneseJapanese during during World War IIWorld War II, the first , the first occasion being 20 occasion being 20 December 1942, and the December 1942, and the last being 24 December last being 24 December 1944. During the war, 1944. During the war, millions starved to death millions starved to death during the during the Bengal famine Bengal famine of 1943of 1943, caused by a , caused by a combination of military, combination of military, administrative and administrative and natural factors. In 1946, natural factors. In 1946, demands for the creation demands for the creation of a Muslim state led of a Muslim state led

to to large-scale communal violencelarge-scale communal violence resulting in the deaths of over resulting in the deaths of over 4,000 people. 4,000 people.

- Presented bySaikat

Rakshit.