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The first capital of the British in India, Calcutta does not have an ancient history like Delhi. The city was established in 1686 when British acquired the villages of Sutanati, Govindpur, and Kalikata and used built a fort - Fort William - that they used as their base apart from the trading port of Hooghly. The city got its name from the last of the settlements mentioned above.
The city progressed well until 1756 when Siraj-Ud-Daula (Nawab of Bengal) attacked the town and drove away the British. Lord Robert Clive retook Kolkata and until 1911, Kolkata remained the capital of the British government in India. Being the center of power for so long created a unique culture and heritage of the city, totally unlike any other city of India. The people here are proud of their culture and traditions.
After India gained independence, Kolkata has been the capital of the state of West Bengal. Its name was recently changed to Kolkata.
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