Economic Activities of the Chinese community in Kolkata

 Economic Activities of the Chinese community in Kolkata

These early sailors, stopping over in Kolkata for one return or another had to wait for ships to carry them to their next destination. As they spent many months ashore, because journeys by sea were slow and ships were sailing infrequently, these Chinese sailors did not just sit around idly, but soon made multiple connections in their new environment. Having to work for their maintenance, they started offering their service to local people. It seems from available sources that many of these early sailors were trained in carpentry and mechanical work. 


When it comes to the early activities (1901-1910) of this community they were employed in rum manufacturing companies. Not only this but also cabinet work, clearance of tanks, along with pulling rickshaws in the streets of Kolkata. 

By the end of the 20th century, their jobs became Indianised. A few of them were hired for circus performances and others became petty traders and artisans. They started playing an important role in the silk and textile industry as well as in the aircraft industry. During the Americo-Japan war, these people were freely employed for military work. 


Paid employment was only an initial temporary activity but later (after 1940) business organizations of the Chinese community came into the picture. The Chinese service, The china company, the Hanning trading company, and the china travel service of Chungking are some good examples. Apart from this gambling, smuggling, and opium selling were also present. 


In Photos: Kolkata's Dwindling Indian-Chinese Community


With a gradual rise of Chinese commercial activities, the Chinese chamber of commerce was established under the supervision of the Chinese council general in December 1945 to protect the interests of the Chinese community. 

Although we could see a good pick-up of the community, there was a sudden fall during the war of 1962, where the Chinese community was treated as spies of communist china. 


Despite several limitations being faced, the Chinese community in Kolkata was able to carve out their own economic riches and were able to play vital roles in various sectors of the economy of the city. 



sources:

https://iosrjournals.org/iosr-jhss/papers/Vol.%2022%20Issue8/Version-15/J2208154854.pdf

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