China town in the heart of Kolkata
THE COMMUNITY HAS INTEGRATED INTO KOLKATA SOCIETY BY LEARNING THE LOCAL BENGALI LANGUAGE
Over 250 years ago, more than 20,000 Chinese arrived when the city was capital of British Empire |
Immigrants from China and Indian-born people of Chinese ancestry have contributed a lot to the social and economic life of Kolkata, West Bengal. For several decades, the Chinese, who specialised in processing leather, had turned it into one of the major industries of West Bengal, providing employment to thousands of local inhabitants.
It has been said for the Chinese that wherever they go, they make a China town at that place. Kolkata has been no exception.
Over 250 years ago, more than 20,000 Chinese travelled to Kolkata from the provinces of Guangdong, Jiagxi and Fujiam, when the city was the capital of the British Empire in India.
The place then had the largest China town on the subcontinent.
However, just about 1,500 Chinese-Indians now live in Tangra region, popularly known as China town, which is an iconic landmark in Kolkata, nicknamed the City of Joy.
Transition to Kolkata
Chen Khoi Kui, proprietor of Galaxy Enterprise, suppliers and exporter of leather, and secretary of South Tangra Chinese Youth Club said, “My father came to Kolkata from Guangdong in 1927. Life was difficult in China those days and my grandfather, a landlord, insisted his son go to India and stay away from the property business, where there had been acrimony between him and people in the same trade.”
Kui’s father worked in a shoe shop on Denting Street, then famous for made-to-order shoes. From Kolkata, he shifted to Orissa, where Kui was born and educated. So, how did the transition to Kolkata happen?
“I had plans to migrate to Australia for work in 1984, but they didn’t materialise. So, I came to Kolkata and set up my business. Back then we had our own schools, clubs and newspapers and the main professions were leather tanning, shoemaking and dentistry. But over the years, so much has changed, except the fact that we were and are still happy in India,” he smiled.
His children are the third generation to have acquired Indian nationality. Kui explained, “Most of the tight-knit community members living here now were born in Kolkata. Only our looks are different. At heart we are Indians. Several among us have acquired Indian citizenship. Just about a 100 still hold Chinese passports.”
The community has integrated into Kolkata society by learning the Bengali language. Among themselves they may speak in their native language Hakka, but most can comfortably converse in Hindi and English as well.
Few decades ago, a large number of Chinese-Indian was in the tannery business, but after the Supreme Court order in 1995 to close down Kolkata’s tanneries due to environmental concerns, they were forced to shut their businesses. Subsequently, many converted their premises into restaurants and some setup dentist clinics, sauce manufacturing units, beauty salons, shoe stores and laundry services.
Over the years, while the younger lot has opted to migrate to Australia, the US and Singapore for better livelihoods, their parents have refused to leave India, as they were not only born here, but their parents are buried here.’
‘Not migrating’
Shirley Ku, owner of a beauty salon, which she established in 1990, said, “We have been here for four generations. Though I like to visit China and Taiwan to meet relatives and friends, I begin missing India after a few weeks. Despite hardships, we have never intended to leave, even though many of my contemporaries and their families migrated to other countries for better job prospects.”
Most of the tightknit community members living here now were born in Kolkata. Only our looks are different. At heart we are Indians. Several among us have acquired Indian citizenship. Just about a 100 still hold Chinese passports.” Chen Khoi Kui | Businessman