“Loot,” William Dalrymple writes in his introduction to The Anarchy, is Hindustani slang for “plunder” and one of the first Indian words to enter the English language. It’s an appropriate word to open this momentous history of what the noted historian calls “the first great multinational corporation, and the first to run amok.” Because loot is what the East India Company did to India for 250 years. No man looted more of the subcontinent’s wealth for the company – or siphoned as much of it into his own pockets – than the company’s governor of Bengal, Robert Clive.

The Story of Bengal is a journey discovering the stories of the Nawabs of Bengal, to the colonies that tried to control the ports of Bengal, the French, Danish, And the British.. whoever controlled the ports of Bengal controlled the world they believed, toppling of power, the rise of the Bengal renaissance and with it the rise of the Independence movement. Each of our hosts here is a custodian of the rich heritage; you will hear many stories. As we trace the history, we savor the flavors through authentic curated culinary experiences, watch the exquisite weavers and craftsmen at work, go into the countryside to visit the terracotta architecture, and sway to the tunes of the mesmerizing Baul singers and more. Discover “The sweetest part of India,” and you will be left wanting more.