Calcutta: Past and Present

Calcutta (Kolkatta), one of the oldest city of India, has the political and social history of its own. The book, authored by K. Blechynden in 1905, presents before us a vivid picture of this city in lucid style from its early years, around 1690 when it was founded, till the end of the days of Lord Warren Hastings, the first Governor General of India from 1774-1786. The author, a foreigner, living in Calcutta for many years, had developed in intimacy and love for the city which encouraged him to shed a bright light on the social manners and customs, food and dwelling places, amusements and griefs of all sorts of people of old Calcutta in the very background of its political situations-past and present, Besides, we have a graphic description of the public buildings, churches etc. (mostly constructed in 18th century) along with their life-like illustrations. The author for collecting the material for this look had taken full advantage of the published writings of others, old diaries, the permanent records, the maps of the town, quite a good number of old illustration, pictures and portraits, rare photopraphs and engravings which he made available to him from the publishers and various other sources like libraries, museums, etc. for which he expressed his gratitude to the persons concerned. A Worth reading indeed for those having interest and respect for this monumental city of this great country-India.