Murder on the Roof in Calcutta, 1790
In 1790, an Indian petitioner, a young Sikh, climbed the steps of the house of Peter Speke (a member of the Supreme Council of Calcutta) in the compound that later became part of the Museum grounds. The Indian came with a grievance and a request for redress. Speke, a senior official whose term as a…
The Night Chowringhee Burned: The 1839 Fire That Ended Calcutta’s Grandest Theatre
On May 31, 1839, the Chowringhee Theatre in Calcutta ignited, symbolizing not just a loss of architecture but uncovering themes of leisure, risk, and gender in early colonial life. The fire impacted local livelihoods reliant on the theatre, notably affecting performers like Mrs. Leach, illustrating the precarious nature of theatrical work amidst inadequate safety measures.
Battala: Where Press and Bazaar Braided Together
In early 1800s Calcutta, Battala emerged as a vibrant printing hub under a banyan tree, where cheap prints fueled public literacy and cultural exchange. Missionary presses and local entrepreneurs transformed the production of texts, creating a diverse market reflecting societal tastes and tensions, ultimately reshaping readers’ engagement with literature and discourse in modern India.
Calcutta and Murshidabad: Rivalry, Complementarity, and the Limits of Growth
The eighteenth-century urban geography of Bengal highlights Calcutta and Murshidabad’s interdependent roles within a politically structured economy. Calcutta’s rise was influenced by the decline of Mughal authority and colonial interventions, contrasting with Murshidabad’s established institutional depth. This relationship evolved through contested significance, ultimately shaping Calcutta’s uneven urban growth and enduring social inequalities.
Calcutta 1756: The Making of a Colonial Capital
The sack of Calcutta in 1756 and its aftermath marked a decisive hinge in the city’s trajectory — not merely a dramatic military episode but the catalytic moment that turned a cluster of villages on the Hooghly into the political theatre of eastern India. Before 1756 the English settlement was essentially peripheral: an entrepôt operating…
Auctioneers in 18th-century White Town of Calcutta
In late eighteenth-century Calcutta, the auctions in White Town served as vital social and cultural events for British expatriates, offering European goods and establishing a semblance of home. These gatherings fostered connections and trends while blurring material distinctions with local populations, highlighting both the comforts and vulnerabilities of colonial identity amid changing fortunes.
Armenian Merchants, Calcutta, and London’s Court of Directors
In early 1703, the Court of Directors in London disputed two significant bills of exchange from Calcutta due to lack of proof on the shipment of goods. Despite questioning the legitimacy of the claims, they remained open to payment contingent on documentation, highlighting the complexities of early Company finance and the crucial role of Armenian…
Calcutta, Banaras, and the Armenians’ Price-Hunting Mission
In October 1698, the Court of Directors in London instructed their agents in Bengal to exploit price disparities in Banaras to combat local monopolists. They proposed sending an Armenian merchant with funds to purchase textiles for profit in Calcutta, showcasing how Armenians were vital to early colonial trade dynamics amidst local pricing challenges.
European Women in White Calcutta
European women in colonial Calcutta occupied a paradoxical position. They were the bearers of “civilized” domestic norms, yet their very presence—and the rituals around it—often highlighted the fragility of British claims to social order in India. “Sitting-Up” and the Fishing Fleet Throughout the eighteenth century, single European women were scarce in Bengal. When they did…
The 1842 Map of Calcutta by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge
The 1842 SDUK map of Calcutta illustrates colonial power dynamics, showcasing a clear division between “White Town” and “Black Town.” It emphasizes British architectural dominance and neglects indigenous spaces and structures. This map serves as both a practical tool for administration and a pedagogical instrument, reinforcing racial segregation and reflecting the colonial worldview.
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Arup K. Chatterjee 