Narkeldanga

Why was Narkeldanga once considered a suburb outside Kolkata’s city limits? Narkeldanga, a neighborhood in North Kolkata, holds a rich and layered past. Let’s journey back to the 18th century, when the East India Company was establishing its foothold in the region. In 1717, they secured the right to rent 38 villages surrounding their settlement from the Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar. Following Siraj-ud-daulah’s defeat in 1758, the Company purchased these villages, including Narkeldanga, and reorganized them. This cluster of villages became known as Dihi Panchannagram. Interestingly, Narkeldanga was considered a suburb beyond the Maratha Ditch, a defensive moat built around Kolkata. Today, standing here in Narkeldanga, it’s hard to imagine it as anything but an integral part of the city. Beyond its historical significance, Narkeldanga played a role in Kolkata’s cultural development. It was here that the first Indian attempts at staging plays, following Gerasim Lebedev’s efforts, took place. In 1832, Prasanna Kumar Tagore established a makeshift auditorium in his Narkeldanga home and presented English plays, paving the way for future theatrical endeavors in the city. Narkeldanga also houses a Jewish cemetery, a poignant reminder of the once-thriving Jewish community that resided in Kolkata. The first burial took place in 1812. While the community flourished until 1947, by 2015, only a handful remained. As you wander through Narkeldanga today, remember its historical ties to the East India Company, its contribution to Kolkata’s theater scene, and the echoes of the Jewish community that once called this neighborhood home.