History of Kolkata : Kolkata's past: Originally called Calcutta to Kolkata is the state capital of West Bengal, India. The city has a rich and diverse history spanning several centuries. The British East India Company turned the little fishing village of Kolikata into a significant trading centre in the seventeenth century.The history of Kolkata: West Bengal, India's state capital is Kolkata, previously Calcutta. The city has a rich and diverse history spanning several centuries. The British East India Company turned the little fishing village of Kolikata into a significant trading centre in the seventeenth century. Early Settlements: Archaeological evidence from the early era points to human presence in the vicinity of Kolkata. Fort William was constructed in 1696, and the British East India Company maintained a trade station in the latter part of the 17th century. Colonial Period: In 1772, Kolkata was named the capital of British India, a po