You cannot describe Kolkata in one phrase or a sentence. Kolkata is a fascinating,  captivating, amazing, and vibrant city with a large soul and warm heart. The second city of the erstwhile British  Empire, Kolkata is in the truest sense what the noted filmmaker Dominique Lapierre had mentioned  — the City of Joy.  For a Kolkatan in any part of the globe, Kolkata is the core that he will come back to year after year for its magnetic ambience and attachment.  

You can sense and feel the history in every lane and bylane of Kolkata. The cultural capital of India, Kolkata straddles River Hooghly and is now a sprawling metropolis with the largest of skyscrapers, the finest of shopping malls, the grandest of the elegant mansions and the most palatable and yummiest foods.

 We explore over here the etymology of a few of  Kolkata’s more popular neighbourhoods which Kolkatans also call Paraas.

• Alipur —- One of the poshest and suave localities of the city, Alipur gets its name from Nawab Mir Zafar Ali, more despised as Mir Zafar the Nawab of Murshidabad who ascended the throne after the British soldiers ousted Nawab Shirajdaulah. Mir Zafar thereafter settled in Kolkata under the safety wings of the Britishers.
• Ahiritola —- The British East India Company had demarcated the city space according to the occupation of the local population. Ahirs were local milkmen and at the break of dawn, they used to visit their customers, selling milk.
• Ballygunge —– Ballygunge today is one of the most upscale areas of Kolkata. Historians believe that Adi Ganga flowed from this area ages ago. The soil contained very high deposits of sand or bally in Bengali. Hence the name.
• Beck Bagan —- Haider Beck was the Wazir with the Nawab of Oudh and he had a large garden or Bagan in the vicinity near Park Circus.
• Behala —- One of the oldest areas of Kolkata, Behala was at one time a part of the Sunderbans. Historians believe, the area got its name from Bahulapur or the land of many rivers. Others say the Behula also means dark which refers to Goddess Kali or Chandika the patron Goddess of Kolkata.
• Baghbazar —- Bagh means garden and you will find lots of aristocrats, and important people in Kolkata whoused to stay here. Perin’s Garden or bagh was a nearby, ideal, place for taking a stroll.
• Barabazar —- One of the largest wholesale markets of India and Kolkata, historiansbelieve the name originated from Buro another name of Lord Shiva. There used to be a Shiva temple in the area. People say with a lighter tone that if a certain item is not found in Barabazar, then it does not exist.
• Beniatola —- This area of Kolkata was a favourite place for merchants of all types. Merchants are known as bene in colloquial Bengali.
• Chitpur —- The oldest road of Kolkata and still very much in operation. Many believe the name came from Chitteswari Temple which existed till 1737. Others say the place was a haven of the infamous dacoit Chittey.
• Chowringhee —– One of the most important thoroughfares of Kolkata. Ages ago a sage called Chowringhee Nath who was a devout worshipper of Goddess Kali used to stay in the thick woods around the place.
• Jadavpur —- The place was earlier domiciled by the Yadavs a particular community hence the name  Jadavpur.
• Park Circus — The vast stretch of green overlooking the busy seven-point crossing of Kolkata was till some years back the venue of the various circus events every year.
• Taratala—- The busy southwest part of Kolkata which is synonymous with the heritage Mint and the Kolkata Port Trust got its name from the innumerable tar trees found in that area which is also known as the toddy palm.
• Tollygunge —- Colonel William Tolly completed a herculean task of digging up the Tolly’s Nullah as it is still known today connecting Kolkata port with rivers like Vidyadhari and Matla. The name of the area stems from Colonel Tolly’s name.

Kolkata is a perfect amalgamation of a thriving modern city and old-world aristocracy.

GRADUATE FROM ST XAVIER’S COLLEGE AND POST GRADUATE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA, SPECIALIZING IN MARKETING MANAGEMENT AND ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE OF 24 YEARS IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLISHING INDUSTRY. HAS BEEN AWARDED FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN ADVERTISING AND PUBLICITY MANAGEMENT.