Kolkata
Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, is a city in India and the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. it was, until 1911, the administrative capital of the British Indian Empire.
History
This great city was built by the British during their brief rule of India. It is located in eastern India on the east bank of the Hooghly River. The Kolkata metropolitan area including suburbs has a population exceeding 15 million, making it the third most populous metropolitan area in India and one of the most populous urban areas in the world. As of 2010, it is the eighth largest urban agglomeration in the world.
Kolkata served as the capital of India during the British Raj until 1912. Once the center of modern education, industry, science, culture and politics in India, since 1954, Kolkata has witnessed intense political violence, clashes and economic stagnation. Since the year 2000, economic rejuvenation has spurred on the city's growth. Like other metropolitan cities in India, Kolkata continues to struggle with the problems of urbanisation: poverty, pollution and traffic congestion.
Kolkata is noted for its revolutionary history, ranging from the Indian struggle for independence to the leftist and trade union movements.
