In the latter part of
the seventeenth century, the metropolis of Calcutta arose centered on the three
adjoining villages of Dihi Kolikata, Sutanati and Gobindpur. Among these,
Kolkata is considered to be the city of Dihi Kolikata. But there is disagreement
among historians about the origin of this name Kolkata or Kolikata.
The word Calcutta is
found in Vipradas Piplai's 5th century work 'Mansamangal' and Mukundaram's
Chandimangal. Besides, the name Calcutta is in the book 'Ain-e-Akbari' written
by Abul Falj. However, according to local scholars, 'Mansamangale' and
'Chandimangale' - the context of Kolkata are projected.
Besides, some coins
of the Gupta period were found while digging the soil near Kalighat in Kolkata.
These include three coins of the reign of Dvadasaditya Chandragupta III and 15
coins of the reign of Vishnu Gupta. From this, many people think that Kolkata
is not a modern city, it is an ancient area. However, the history of the origin
of the name is not known. The popular ideas about the origin of the name
Calcutta are-
1) The name Calcutta
is believed to be derived from the worship of Maa Kali. It is known that there
were Kalikshetra from Behala to Dakshineswar in Calcutta at that time. And his
divine mother Kali lived in Calcutta. Later the Kapalikas fled with this Kali
to the forest of Kalighat. And since then the presence of Maa Kali at Kalighat.
Besides, many people also mention the worship of Maa Kali in Dakshineshwar.
Because once Dakshineshwar was the capital of Bengal.
2) However, according
to Radhakanta Dev, the name Calcutta is derived from 'Kil Qila' i.e. 'Kila or
Kella'. And he also said - poet Ram's book is also like that.
3) Besides, the issue
that has come up in the study of Kolkata naming - Koli means lime, and Kata
means kiln, i.e. Kolikata or kolkata is a lime kiln. It is said that there were
fishermen's houses here, they used to catch oysters and snails from the river.
They were burnt to make lime here. Calcutta from that lime or koli.
4) Moreover, one more
information emerges, the name Calcutta comes from 'Galgatha'. "Gal"
means dead skull in Dutch. "Galgatha" means land of dead people's
skulls. It is believed that Calcutta was like this in the beginning.
5) Many others put
forward a completely unrealistic argument regarding this name. According to
them the name Calcutta is derived from 'Khal-kata'. The people of Calcutta cut
a canal to prevent the bargis. That was the Maratha Ditch. As a result the
people of Calcutta became known as Dicher. So Calcutta is believed to have come
from canal cutting. But this is an unrealistic argument. Because the city of
Calcutta or Calcutta came from April 1700. But Bargi's time-table is seen forty
years after that.
6) Besides, many
people think that the name of Calcutta comes from grass cutting. Because then
Calcutta was a grassy area. He was called Ghesura bhabal. One day a gentleman
asked a local man when this grass was cut. In response, he says - tomorrow. And
its distorted form is Calcutta.
7) But the historical
idea that emerges is that Calicut was a place south of Calcutta at that time.
It was there that the first ships of the West stopped, the Portuguese anchored.
This Calicut is the original wealth of Calcutta. At that time, even in Europe,
the goods of Calicut were very famous. Indian goods were known as Calicut
goods, and it was known from the 'Made in Calicut' written on the packing box
or sack. Therefore, the British were in trouble with Calicut. They built a
factory there. But the problem is with the writing on the packing box or bag,
because if you say 'Made in Hooghly' or 'Made in Sutanati', no one will buy it
in the market. At that time the market was bustling with 'Made in Calicut' products. So an
English genius wrote 'KALKATA' on the packing box or sack. Calicut also started
with 'K' and the spelling was very similar. So this loophole was not caught in
the eyes of the customer. The goods of Sutanati started moving slowly in the
market. And since then the Sutanati became Calcutta.
It is taken as evidence, transcribed by the British to Mir Jafar he has no objection to marking Alinagar to 'Calcutta'. And the British at that time were busy sending this news to the country faster than the news of the battle of Palashi.
