Latest / The Hidden History of Bengal: Kingdoms, Empires, and Revolution — Fexingo History
The Charnock Controversy: Calcutta's Founder or Colonial Myth
In 1690, an English merchant named Job Charnock stepped onto a muddy riverbank in Bengal and, according to legend, founded Calcutta. But the story is messier than a single founding moment. This episode unpacks the colonial myth-making behind Charnock's 'founding' of the city, revealing how the East India Company spun a convenient origin story for its future capital. We trace the actual settlements—Sutanati, Gobindapur, and Kalikata—that predated the British, and meet the Portuguese pirates and Mughal officials who made the Hooghly delta a contested frontier. We also examine…
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