User:Rajibganguly

Kolkata was named the capital of British India in 1772. A contemporary description refers to "the splendid sloth and languid debauchery of European society", when "great men rode about in State coaches, with a dozen servants running before and behind them to bawl out their titles".[6] It was during this period that the marshes surrounding the city were drained and the government area was laid out along the banks of the Hooghly River. There are lively descriptions of British life in the city in 1780-82 in the letters of Eliza Fay.[7] Richard Wellesley, the Governor General between 1797–1805, was largely responsible for the growth of the city and its public architecture which led to the description of Kolkata as 'the City of Palaces'. Miss Emily Eden (the sister of the Governor General, who gave her name to Eden Gardens), in 1836 wrote of Calcutta: "Depend upon it, Calcutta is the finest place in the world. I know there are towns with far larger and grander buildings; but then they are not half so clean, and new, and beautiful, as this bride-like city. I have been standing on the roof of the house the last half-hour for air, and, as it was midnight, had an opportunity of seeing all the gay company - returning from an entertainment at the government-house; and I assure you I never witnessed any thing that could compare with the splendor exhibited."[8] By the early 19th century, Kolkata was split into two distinct areas — one British, one Indian, known as 'Black Town'. Even at the time, the poverty of the 'Black Town' shanties was considered shocking. The city underwent rapid industrial growth from the 1850s, especially in the textile and jute sectors; this caused a massive investment in infrastructure projects like rail roads and telegraph by British government.