Etymology
The word Kolkata derives from the Bengali term Kolikata (কলিকাতা), the name of one of three villages that predated the arrival of the British, in the area where the city eventually was to be established; the other two villages were Sutanuti and Govindapur. The term Kolikata is thought to be a variation of Kalikkhetro (Bengali: কালীক্ষেত্র), meaning "Field of Kali". Alternatively, the name may have been derived from the Bengali term kilkila (Bengali: কিলকিলা), or "flat area". The name may have its origin in the words khal (Bengali: খাল) meaning "canal", followed by kaṭa (Bengali: কাটা), which may mean "dug". According to another theory, the area specialised in the production of quicklime or koli chun (Bengali: কলি চুন) and coir or kata (Bengali: কাতা); hence, it was called Kolikata (Bengali: কলিকাতা). While the city's name has always been pronounced Kolkata (Bengali: কলকাতা) or Kolikata (Bengali: কলিকাতা) in Bengali, the anglicised form Calcutta was the official name until 2001, when it was changed to Kolkata in order to match Bengali pronunciation.
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