Calcutta is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is also the commercial capital of East India , located on the eastern bank of the river Hooghly. The city of Kolkata has 4.5 million inhabitants and the metropolitan area including suburbs has a population of approximately 15.7 million, making it the third most populous metropolitan area in India and the 13 most populous urban area in the world . The city is also ranked as the eighth largest urban agglomeration in the world.
Calcutta was the capital of British India during Emperor. Documented history of the city, however, begins with the arrival of the English East India Company in 1690, when the company was consolidating its trading business in Bengal. Job Charnock, an administrator of the company is traditionally attributed as the founder of the city. In 2003, high court order states that the city should not have a specific founder. Although the name of the city was always declared “Calcutta” in the local Bengali language, its official name was changed from English “Calcutta” to “Calcutta” in 2001, reflecting the Bengali pronunciation. Some see this as an attempt to erase the legacy of British domination. Its official name was changed from English “Calcutta” to “Calcutta” in 2001, reflecting the Bengali pronunciation. Some see this as an attempt to erase the legacy of British domination. Its official name was changed from English “Calcutta” to “Calcutta” in 2001, reflecting the Bengali pronunciation. Some see this as an attempt to erase the legacy of British domination.