Ben: চন্দননগর c(h)andananagara
‘Sandalwood City’ City, West Bengal
From Ben: c(h)andana, ‘sandalwood’; Ben/Skt: nagara, ‘city’.
The French acquired land here in 1673 and Chandannagar was founded soon after.
Its heyday came following the appointment of Joseph François Dupleix as Governor in 1730. At this time it boasted a population of 100,000 and a thriving trade in garments, textiles, silk, indigo, rice and opium.
Chandannagar, eclipsed by British Calcutta/Kolkata, remained under French control from Puducherry until 1950.
Other suggestions arethat the name realtes to: (1) chand, ‘moon; or (2) Chandi, the fearsome mother goddess.
Dupleix’s Palace, Chandannagar Gautam Tarafder