In the 1680s, the East India Company’s attempt to establish a presence in Bengal was frustrated by a mixture of the Nawab’s over-regulation and their own belligerence. Happily, Emperor Aurangzeb invited them to take possession of three small villages on the River Hooghly, a dream come true for their top agent, Job Charnock.

Job’s settlement on the Hooghly grew rapidly from a single warehouse to a bustling river port he called Calcutta, and was officially recognised by Aurangzeb in 1691. Unlike many of his contemporaries, the scrupulous Job made little personal profit, and he was consequently not especially popular, but he left a legacy to Bengal beyond price.

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