Dear reader: The West Bengal Assembly elections are round the corner, and with the BJP trying to make inroads into the state, the insider-outsider narrative has become a fierce topic of debate. In its definition of the ‘outsider’, the incumbent Trinamool Congress government has been particularly wary of alienating the non-Bengali voters of the state who constitute approximately 15 per cent of the voter base. Among them a special place is held by the Marwari community who have practically built Kolkata as we know it today. Marwari families like the Birlas, Goenkas, Neotias, Khaitans and Sheikhsarias run the cultural, commercial and political landscape of Bengal, particularly Kolkata. From schools to hospitals, art galleries to tea estates, almost everything in Kolkata has a Marwari stamp on it. They sponsor literature festivals and produce iconic Bengali films. Even the electric supply of the city is owned by a Marwari businessman. We spoke to a few successful Marwari businessmen in Kolkata and dug into the community’s historical presence in the city, to understand where they place themselves in this ‘insider-outsider’ narrative. The story of the Marwari presence in Bengal, in fact, goes back to the late 18th century when the Saharwali Oswal Jains first moved to Murshidabad from arid lands of Bikaner along with the trail of Mughal armies. From the Jagat Seths of Murshidabad to the Birlas in Kolkata, the Marwari story of hard work and prosperity is exemplary. In this story we narrate their journey across two and a half centuries, the discrimination faced by them from the Bengali community, the cultural exchange that happened in the process and why today they consider themselves as ‘more Bengali than any Bengali’. A great book to read in order to understand Marwari presence in Bengal is novelist Alka Saraogi’s historical fiction ‘Kali Katha: Via Bypass’. Originally written in Hindi, the novel explores the community’s relationship with Kolkata through the eyes of its protagonist Kishore Babu and his two generations of ancestors who came from Bhiwani and settled in the congested, bustling lanes of Burrabazar. Two other books that provide great insight into how the Marwaris as a community grew and established themselves in Bengal are Thomas A. Timberg’s ‘The Marwaris: From Jagat Seth to the Birlas’ and Anne Hardgrove’s ‘Community and public culture: The Marwaris in Calcutta’. As we head to the weekend, here’s wishing you all a happy Valentine’s Day. In this context, do take a look at this piece from 2018 that discusses Rekhti, or Urdu poetry of lesbian love that were written in 18th century Awadh. It reflected a world inhabited by women but more importantly it gave voice to love and desire within the world of women. Sincerely, Adrija Roychowdhury | 
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