The story of retail is the story of a city. Retailers follow demand, as did the young entrepreneurs who set up their shops around Calcutta's centers of power and commerce in the 19th and early 20th century.

The 36 shops whose stories are presented in this book are a testament to survival. They have persisted through the British colonial period, post independence, liberalisation of the 90's and now the growing emergence of e-retail.

Shutting shop has never been an option for these family businesses. As one of the owners said "You do not break what you did not make," an honorable sentiment which may well explain their longevity.

This legacy will be helpful to the 2nd and 3rd generation family members facing stiff competition from modern day malls and e-retail. But I have confidence they will stay the course by adapting and changing to new circumstances as their forefathers did to build great businesses.