Bangla Panjikay Purono Kolkata

Kolkata—and specifically Old Kolkata—holds a place of deep sentiment and affection in the Bengali heart. The city’s historic houses, its winding lanes and narrow alleys, and every facet of its social fabric resonate deeply with Bengalis. But where does one find the facts—the authentic, documentary evidence? It never once occurred to us that the solution lay right within our reach, sitting right there on our bookshelves. For the past two centuries, the Bengali almanac—the Panjika—has served as the repository for this very history of Bengal and Kolkata. Dating back to 1818, this vast archive of almanacs has yielded a wealth of information; spanning sixteen chapters, this book meticulously records every available detail regarding Kolkata’s education, healthcare, transportation, postal and telegraph services, taxation system, and more during that era. This compilation is poised to inspire and facilitate research among students of the social sciences as well as scholars dedicated to the study of Kolkata. This invaluable volume serves as a veritable mine of information—data that promises to pave the way for new trends in the historiography of colonial Kolkata’s social life. This reconstruction of history, grounded in printed almanacs, is both highly novel and immensely useful—much in the same vein as the pioneering works we have previously encountered: James Long’s catalogues on Bengal’s print culture, Dinesh Chandra Sen’s compilations of ballads and folklore from East Bengal, or Panchanan Mandal’s scholarly research on ancient manuscripts. Niloykumar Saha’s research bears the unmistakable imprint of immense perseverance, patience, and sheer hard work embedded within its every layer. I extend my congratulations to Setu Prakashani for their support in bringing this invaluable endeavour to fruition. Amiya Prasad Sen, Honorary Fellow, Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, Oxford