Hakka Diaspora in India
Calcutta, Achipur & Tangra Tanneries | 印度客家
Early Arrival & Sugar Cane Plantation (1778)
In 1778, the first person of Chinese origin to arrive in Calcutta was Tong Atchew (aka Yang Tai Chow), a tea trader to whom then Governor-General Warren Hastings granted approximately 260 acres of land in Achipur (West Bengal) where he set up a sugar cane plantation.
Early Chinese settlers were from Fujian, Hubei, Guangdong, and included Hakka from Meixian (Guangdong Province). In Achipur, they were sugar cane mill workers; in Calcutta they were labourers and worked in the dock along the Hooghly River. They later settled mostly in Calcutta and were also carpenters, dentists, dry cleaners, shoe makers, restaurateurs, and leather factory workers in Tangra, the outskirt of the city.
Livelihoods, Women's Enterprise & Tangra
Hakka women sold snacks, made dry rice noodles and setup small noodle and wonton shops, and ventured into hair dressing and dress making to supplement the family income.
The current predominant and thriving proprietorship is in the Tanneries, Restaurants and Beauty Salons. The Hakka still constitute the largest population of Chinese in India (2018).
Historical Gallery & Cultural Landmarks
At a Glance: India Hakka
- 📍 Primary Regions: Achipur, Tangra & Tiretta Bazaar (Kolkata, West Bengal)[cite: 1].
- 🗓️ First Settler: Tong Atchew / Yang Tai Chow (1778)[cite: 1].
- 🌾 Initial Trade: Sugar cane plantation & mill labor[cite: 1].
- 🏢 Key Industries: Tanneries, Restaurants (Indian-Chinese Cuisine), Beauty Salons, Dentists, & Shoe-making[cite: 1].
- 👥 Demographics: Largest population of Chinese in India[cite: 1].