Reading how repeated waves of European colonisers came looking to take advantage of this rich and fertile part of India is sobering to say the least.

Chandarnagar ( spelling varies enormously ) was part of French India and as we walk down the promenade called the Strand you might just be thinking you are on the banks of the Seine, but here we have the delightful additions of desi dogs and cows sharing the promenade with us.

So happy to see a man on a scooter from an NGO feeding the dogs but also conducting sterilisation programmes.

Check out the pups under the statue of an Indian god. Across the road a Muslim representation and straight down the middle a Catholic Church. India in all its history was comfortable about accommodating all religions. Less so now it seems.

We had to go to a bank for some cash. The atm outside did not work but inside was fine. This message on a till and a smiling cashier who apparently had not seen the likes of us before and was keen to know where we were from.

The children were just heading to school. The English and French sections of the school across the road from one another.

Immaculately turned out in their uniforms they are all thirsty to learn.