Oh! Calcutta!

This is a reference to an infamous 1969 avant-garde off-Broadway theatrical revue created by British drama critic Kenneth Tynan. The production tackles the subject of sexuality, with skits by John Lennon, Joe Orton, Samuel Beckett, Edna O’Brien, Jules Feiffer and Sam Shepard.

Now that I have your attention, this photo-essay is about Calcutta, now known as Kolkata, the former capital of British India (1772-1911). These images are concerned with the common people in this vibrant city of 20.5 million in the metropolitan area.

At the height of the British India era, Calcutta was second only to London as the most important city in an empire that stretched from England to Hong Kong.

The Great Eastern Hotel (officially The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata) was established in 1841 and is considered one of the first hotels in Asia.

During its heyday, the hotel was known as the Savoy of the East, and featured in Rudyard Kipling’s short story City of Dreadful Night. The hotel has hosted many famous personalities, including Mark Twain, Elizabeth II, Nikita Khrushchev and Ho Chi Minh.

After the capital of British India was moved to Delhi in 1911, Calcutta became the capital of the unified Bengal province from 1912 until 1947.

However, following the Partition of India in 1947, Bengal was divided, and Calcutta became the capital of West Bengal, the part that remained with India. East Bengal evolved into East Pakistan by 1956, and then into independent Bangladesh in 1971.

Among the many cultural highlights of Kolkata is its grand celebrations of the Hindu festival of Durga Puja, which is recognized by UNESCO for its importance to world heritage. The annual celebration honors Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura, and her return home with her children.