The Calcutta Mounted Police was born in 1912. They were virtually the body-guards of the Viceroy and the Governor. In later years, the 'Mounted Police' became indispensable for combating sudden violent scarmishes and reinstating peace and order in the anarchy-prone areas. At the inception horses for the 'Mounted Police' were brought from Australia. These horses were cared and looked after meticulously but of when they grew old, they were shot dead mercilessly. Then, they were sent to the zoo for being fed by the carnivores.
The first modernised post office was established in Calcutta in 1858.
Till March 2006, Kolkata's oldest resident was the Adwaita, the 255 year old giant Aldabra Seychelles tortoise, whose residence was the 131 year old Alipore Zoological Gardens.
Kolkata is the world’s largest processor of jute.
The world’s second oldest Geological Survey came into existence in Calcutta in the year 1851.
Established in 1879, Bethune College is the first women’s college in India. The College was established in order to provide opportunities of college education to Kadambini Bose - a pupil of Bethune School, who had successfully completed the entrance examination of Calcutta University in 1878. The first classes of Bethune College were held at the premises of Bethune School. Kadambini Bose and Chandramukhi Bose are the first women graduates of India and they graduated from Bethune College in 1883. Chandramukhi Bose also became the Principal of Bethune College.
Kolkata is sister city to Long Beach, California.
The Calcutta Rajdhani Express was introduced in 1969 with a maximum allowed speed of 120km/h, which was then the new speed limit for trains in India.
Kolkata and Mumbai were two of the main export/import destinations for British beer, which would go stale and sour during the sea voyage. So the IPA (India Pale Ale) style of beer was created specifically to withstand the rigours of the sea between London and these Indian ports.
South Point High School, Kolkata entered the Guinness Book of Records (from 1984 to 1992) as the school with maximum student enrollment.
