G'day Harshawardhan, On 16/03/2008, at 5:28 PM, Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar wrote: <<Here is a nicely presented website on Calcutta - something our leader John as well as Molly and many others might like to see: http://cityofpalaces.tripod.com/ By the way, did you know that at one time during the Company Rule, Calcutta was disparagingly known as The Ditch? Here is the reason: the nickname was derived from the term ''Mahratta Ditch''. While searching my Hobson-Jobson for something, I came across the entry for ''Mahratta Ditch'' in Calcutta - a defensive moat built in 1742, which almost corresponded with the Cicular Road of the later era.>> A nice story. As I understand it, the present "Maidan" in Calcutta is part of what is left of the 'Mahratta Ditch'. The ditch was constructed whilst Calcutta was still relatively new. Some 'native house' were/had to be removed in order to give the cannons of Fort William a clear view of the enemy. ooroo If you don't hear the knock of opportunity - build a door. Anon.