The bakery was started in 1902 by nahoum israel, an iraqi jew migrant. Many of kolkatas jews fled following independence in 1947, uncertain what an independent india would bring. The citys more recent history has too often been framed as tragedy, devastated by partition when british india was divided into two separate states in 1947, economic mismanagement, braindrain, and poverty. Within a decade, it had turned into the city s most famous confectionary, famous with the british. Nahoums was set up in 1902 by nahoum israel, a jew who had come to kolkata from baghdad.
The rich culinary history of christmas in india quartz india. From cairo to kolkata, traces of a vibrant jewish past the. As the very welcome winter chill sets in, kolkata shows its true cosmopolitan colours in the bright christmas lights all over park street, elgin road and new market. The tradition of baking, gifting, and eating plum cakes around christmas is an old one, popularised in kolkata by bakers like nahoum and saldanha to a wider section of the population. We deal indological books, zoological, botanical, anthropological and geological survey of india and rare books of indian art, history and archaeology. History books, buy history books online,rare history books. Newman or thacker spink, the famous stationers and bookdealers. Nahoum and sons, new market area, kolkata restaurant. All that is left of the jewish community in kolkata. Nahoums this cakes are delivered from the bakery nahoums. Aug 17, 2016 along with the poignancy he lends to the story of an unfulfilled love, the book is a riot of colour, sound, smells, traditions and customs of 1930s kolkata as seen through mircea s eyes. This cakes are delivered from the bakery nahoums of kolkata, new market. Ive been coming to kolkata for decades, first as a child staying with family and then as an adult, and to me it has always felt like a chaotic city, almost verging on collapse.
Maghen david hosted the last jewish wedding in 1982 with nahoum bakery making the wedding cake. Pauls cathedral is an cni, church of north india cathedral of anglican background in kolkata, west bengal, india, noted for its gothic architecture. Well, ladies and gentlemen, it is probably the oldest operating jewish bakery in kolkata. Jun 08, 2018 one of the most visible remnants of jewish life in kolkata, the 116yearold nahoum and sons bakery once supplied challah, hamentashens and other jewish specialties to a community of 6,000. In the age of molecular gastronomy and chic, industrial decor, nahoum and. Between the late 18th and mid20th centuries, kolkata was home to a significant jewish community. We had planned to go to new market but we were told many shops were closed because of durga puja festival, thus we. Kolkatas historic college street is indias largest book market, lending it the endearing nickname boi parabook town. Aug 30, 2015 the nahoum and sons bakery is one of the last vestiges of kolkatas jewish heritage but it still attracts the odd very important patron lauren razavi sun 30 aug 2015 02. Nahoum s was set up in 1902 by nahoum israel, a jew who had come to kolkata from baghdad. Known for the legendary pastries and lemon tarts cost.
Kolkata simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Known for its customised cakes, pastry, puffs, brownie and marzipan. There are several renowned confectioners in new market. The worlds largest secondhand book market is a haven for bibliophiles and. Aug 23, 2019 no mention of the jewish community in kolkata is complete without the mention of nahoum nahoum and sons, the confectionary store located inside hogg market popularly referred to as the new. Ethnic communities in kolkata news newspapers books. This also makes it the worlds 8th largest metropolitan area as defined by the united nations. Our kolkata city tour continues inside the victoria memorial. The service is a bit snobbish, but products are still good and value for money. He was part of a community of more than 4,000 other jewish people from syria and iraq. Dec 24, 2019 the hungarian charcuterie called kalmans started by a trapeze artiste from budapest has now moved from its original location near new market to southern kolkata but it is still doing booming business before christmas, as are nahoums and the cake and mulled winesellers in bow barracks. Calcutta book fair in english, and officially antarjatik kolkata boimela or antarjatik kolkata pustakmela in romanized bengali, bengali. Welcome, sagnik books of kolkata book publishers, book stores, the most comprehensive catalogue of books of kolkata publication.
What all things should i do in kolkata in a one day trip. Kolkatas streets often go by several names successive governments have been big on changing colonial titles, and street signs are scarce. It is still owned by the jewish family that established it in 1902. Includes a quick guide on how to get the most out of celebrating christmas in kolkata calcutta, with advice on where to see lights, where to eat, best places to stay, and going out. At nahoum and sons, one of kolkatas oldest jewish bakeries, the fruit cake is the most popular.
Christmas fruit cake recipepart 2kolkata christmas plum. Kolkata was the capital of the british indian empire until 1911 when the. Exodus reversed jews return to kolkata indrani dutta kolkata, march 11. Dec 22, 2017 between the late 18th and mid20th centuries, kolkata was home to a significant jewish community. No mention of the jewish community in kolkata is complete without the mention of nahoum nahoum and sons, the confectionary store located inside hogg market popularly referred to as the new. When it is called calcutta, it includes the suburbs. The worlds largest book market occupies the pavements of this thoroughfare at the heart of the university of calcutta.
Dec 14, 2017 the tradition of baking, gifting, and eating plum cakes around christmas is an old one, popularised in kolkata by bakers like nahoum and saldanha to a wider section of the population. No mention of the jewish community in kolkata is complete without the mention of nahoum nahoum and sons, the confectionary store located. Nahoum and sons confectionary, kolkata calcutta picture. This cakes are delivered from the bakery nahoum s of kolkata, new market. Have you been to kolkatas iconic bakery nahoums tucked inside new market. New market is a market in kolkata situated on lindsay street at free school street mirza ghalib street.
Within a decade, it had turned into the citys most famous confectionary, famous with the british. It was from this time onwards that the dates of the kolkata book fair started being mentioned in the calendar of the ipa each year. One of the most visible remnants of jewish life in kolkata, the 116yearold nahoum and sons bakery once supplied challah, hamentashens and other jewish specialties to a community of 6,000. Flower silliman recalls her husband and other members of the jewish community queuing up at nahoums on the mornings of festivals like yom.
And one of the last remaining jews in kolkata owns a bakery in new market nahoums apparently the bakery holds a special place in kolkata confectionery and nahoums is known for their fruit cake, pastries and bread. Kolkata, india, is largely inhabited by the ethnic community of the native bengali people both. The citys jewish community has dwindled to around 20 people. Kolkata spelled calcutta before 1 january 2001 is the capital city of the indian state of west bengal.
The synagogues in kolkata are closed to the public. Mar 11, 2017 exodus reversed jews return to kolkata indrani dutta kolkata, march 11. But few are aware that kolkatas artisanal cheeseboard features a couple of other excellent cheeses, each the legacy of the citys long, rich history and diverse cultures who have called it home. Kolkata based books online bookstore,buy books online from. The sparkling chains of festive lights continue reading yuletide in kolkata. After israel, his son elias took over and then david took the reins. Vol 1 formative period, idea of self reform of the muslim nation, the founding of the khaksar movement, framework of the khaksar organisation, the khaksar in action, khaksar in the lahore front, the khaksar movement at a turning point 193941, vol 2. Kolkata has a 200yearold jewish history about 250 years ago, a wave of jews emigrated to india from countries like iran. The nahoum and sons bakery is one of the last vestiges of kolkatas jewish heritage but it still attracts the odd very important patron lauren razavi sun 30 aug 2015 02.
They adapted to alternative means by using halal meat considering the similarity in the method of slaughter as per jewish and muslim dietary laws. Sellers perch upon stacks of literature some new, some rare, some ancient. At nahoum and sons, one of kolkatas oldest jewish bakeries, the. Photographs of jewish calcutta in new haven jewish ledger. Mar 30, 2020 nahoum and sons confectionary, kolkata calcutta. Young boys trot in and out, balancing heavy wooden trays on their heads, weaving their way through the customers thronging the place. Kolkata food the melting pot from the influence of. Nahoum and sons, a jewish bakery, has been making kolkatas. The book fair needed more space every year to accommodate the ever growing numbers of publishers. Kolkata, formerly known as calcutta in english, is the capital of the indian state of west bengal and is located in eastern india on the east bank of the river hooghly. Nahoum and sons menu, menu for nahoum and sons, new market. Photos and stories of the crazy show of diversity that is christmas in kolkata, india, from my time there in 2017. The name kalikata was mentioned in the rentroll of the mughal emperor akbar reigned 15561605 and also in the manasamangal of the bengali poet bipradas 1495. It has been standing since the colonial rule and nothing has been changed since i first lay my eyes on the shop the furniture, the display, the.
Later, after spending some time admiring the gardens we headed inside the victoria memorial museum. Documentary dwelling in travelling is a story of a. However some academics say that charnock is not the city s founder. But when david elias nahoum of the famous nahoum bakery passed away in 20, it was difficult to assemble the requisite quorum of 10 adult jewish men for the minyan. All the points mentioned below would be based on my perspective. Thats mainly because its actually quite a small space inside and it is popular.
At that time kolkata, ruled by the nawab of bengal sirajuddaulah, had three. Many consider kolkata to be a time warp that holds on to its history. But as the number of jews in the city shrank, kosher meat was difficult to find. Although primarily new market referred to the original enclosed market, today in local parlance, the entire shopping area is often known as new market.
A visit to kolkata is incomplete without a stop at nahoums in the heritage new market, where bengal, old baghdad, london and paris meet. Nahoums this cakes are delivered from the bakery nahoum. The nahoum and sons bakery is one of the last vestiges of kolkatas jewish heritage but it still attracts the odd very important patron. Wake up in the morning, go for a morning walk in the rabindra sarobar lake area in the southern avenue. Sanjeet chowdhurys photographs illustrate the diversity, poignancy and history of this jewish culture. Dec 23, 2017 the synagogues in kolkata are closed to the public. After more than a century, nahoums is still going strong with its own facebook page. Nov 15, 2015 and one of the last remaining jews in kolkata owns a bakery in new market nahoums apparently the bakery holds a special place in kolkata confectionery and nahoums is known for their fruit cake, pastries and bread. Nahoum and sons at the turn of the 20th century, nahoum israel mordecai moved from the middle east to kolkata. Job charnock, an administrator with the company is traditionally known as the founder of this city. David was not only the face of nahoums but also the leader of calcuttas dwindling. Calcuttaweb shopping is a premium online service for sending gifts to kolkata formerly calcutta, india from anywhere in the world and to get selected items related to bengal when you are away from home. I am a bog foodie so majority of my day would be spent on food.
Nahoums was set up in 1902 by nahoum israel mordecai, a jew who had come to kolkata from baghdad. The items are for delivery to kolkata and suburb only. Kolkatas jewish connection in its cosmopolitan history. Along with the poignancy he lends to the story of an unfulfilled love, the book is a riot of colour, sound, smells, traditions and customs of 1930s kolkata as seen through mirceas eyes. Documentary on kolkatas jewish community is a story of a diaspora of. It is a unique book fair in the sense of not being a trade fairthe book fair is. Nahoums of new market check out tripadvisor members 29,157 candid photos and videos of nahoum and sons confectionary. David nahoums jewish forefathers brought the cheesefilled sambusa to calcuttas new market. It is a place where you get every kind of book possible. The history of kolkata as a british settlement, known to the british as calcutta, dates from the establishment of a trading post there by job charnock, an agent of the english east india company, in 1690. Following the cheese crumbs in kolkata nat geo traveller. New market is a market in kolkata situated on lindsay street at free school street mirza. One of the oldest and legendary bakery shop in the whole city.
The city was a colonial city developed by the british east india company and then by the british empire. Must try the black forest, almond tarts, jam tarts, brownie, buns, marzipan and. Moving from the culinary places to literary circles of kolkata now. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. Nahoums, the jewish bakery, remains one of the citys favorites. Nahoums bakery, an old and still jewishowned business, is a. Between the late 18th and mid20th centuries, kolkata was home to a small but significant community of jews a consistent 4,000 over that period. Pictures shown here are samples, may not be same as the look of the real item. The history of kolkata begins when the english east india company arrived in 1690. May 21, 1989 twilight comes for india s fading jewish community. The history of kolkata as a british settlement, known to the british as calcutta, dates from the establishment of a trading post there by job charnock, an agent of the english east india company, in. A prominent member of the guild, asoke ghosh, got the kolkata book fair its international accreditation. Nov 30, 2019 have you been to kolkatas iconic bakery nahoums tucked inside new market.
Kolkata was the capital of the british indian empire until 1911 when the capital was relocated to delhi. This upmarket womens clothing chain has a handful of branches in the city, where shop assistants are on hand to help foreigners learn their. It is the second largest city in india after mumbai. Nahoum and sons, founded by a baghdadi jew in 1902, is one of kolkatas most iconic bakeries, famed for its cakes, cookies, tarts and rum balls. The ninth oldest regular museum of the world, indian museum, kolkata, india is the oldest institution of its kind in asia pacific region. Must try the black forest, almond tarts, jam tarts, brownie, buns, marzipan and elcairs. Kolkata food the melting pot from the influence of multiple. An engineer by training, david didnt show any great interest in the business initially. Following the cheese crumbs in kolkata nat geo traveller india. Jun 21, 2017 but few are aware that kolkatas artisanal cheeseboard features a couple of other excellent cheeses, each the legacy of the citys long, rich history and diverse cultures who have called it home. Instead, think of kolkata as divided into three sections. Nahoums bakery, an old and still jewishowned business, is a household name in kolkata and. Nahoums, this cakes are delivered from the bakery nahoums of kolkata, new market. Youre free to ask me where is the jew cuisine in kolkata food but please allow me to remind you of your own city.