History Kolkata, finds mention in the Ain-e-Akbari, an encyclopaedic work compiled in the sixteenth centwy by Abdul Fazal Prime Minister of Emperor Akbar. It was a khas mahal or imperial jagir of the emperor. Later, the zamindari rights of Kolkata along with the adjoining lands from Barisha to Halishahar were conferred upon the Sabama Chowdhury family of Barish a by Emperor Jahangir. The East India Company later came to establish a new trading post in this area. It is believed that Job Charnock who arrived on the eastern banks of:the river Hooghly, in 1690, to take over as the chief agent of the East India Company in the area, joined the three viiIages of Sutanati, Govindpur and Kalikata to lay the foundations of the city which would later come to be called "Calcutta". In 1696, Old Fort Willam was established and this many claim was the origin of the city of the Kolkata. In 1756; the then nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Dullah, attacked the British settlements in Dihi Kalikata, which is the area where the present GPO is located. In the aftermath ofthe capture of the city around 60 Europeans were confined by the nawab in a small room during a long hot night. While some were victims of war wounds others could have succumbed to suffocation. It is said that between 20 and 25 survived. This incident has notoriously been called the "Black Hole" tragedy. The city's Mughal past under the era of Murshid Kulikhan and Siraj-ud-daulah blended with Victorian culture brought in by the British to give Calcutta a distinct flavour. This culture mix is reflected most in the city's archifecture. While the natives tried to stick to their nawabi roots and restricted themselves to the north part of the city, the British preferred the area around the Fort William and the fringes of Chowringhee Road. The buildings made by the natives are traditional showing Muslim motifs and old Hindu relics, but those by the British are Victorian and Gothic structures. However, some buildings like the residence of the Maharaja of Bhagalpur, Sovabazar Rajbari, Mallick's Marble Palace, Ashutosh building of the Calcutta University and the Calcutta Corporation show a fusion of Victorian, Hindu and Muslim styles. There is a strong. almost indelible European legacy, as not only the British, but the French, German, Danish and Dutch East India Companies were also located between Kolkata and Bandel. The name Kolkata is derived from Kalikata, one of the three villages whose lands became a part of the new settlement. In the three centuries of its history, Kolkata has grown from a mere fishing village into one of the largest cities in India with a population of 10.5 million, and indeed, one of the largest cities in the world too. Kolkata served as the capital of British India until 1912 and it is not surprising that one sees predominantly Western architectural styles in its many buildings and monuments. Two of the finest examples are Writers Building and the Victoria Memorial, where the architecture is a medley of the best of Occidental and Oriental styles. Nevertheless, Kolkata more than anything else, is a city with strong cultural, literary and religious flavours. This is reflected in the ever increasing flow of activity in such diverse fields as fine arts, writing, music, film and theatre. Equally a part of modern Kolkata are its many clubs, amusement parks and sports centres. Calcuttans are avid fans of football and cricket. The city today symbolises creativity & vibrance. Today Kolkata is fast turning into a hip and happening metropolitan city. The city's skyline has changed dramatically with the inclusion of new, swank shopping malls, high-rises, multiplexes and other entertainment centres, providing a fascinating contrast to the old heritage buildings. And this has brought with it a,subtle but distinctive change in the city's character.