kolkata in the late nineteenth century was a minor centre of iraqi-jewish intellectual production with numerous judeo-arabic newspapers, closely covering events in baghdad and the middle east, with books in hebrew ans judeo-arabic printed in kolkata. in the early twentieth century intellectual production in kolkata declined with as judeo-arabic cultural production declined. a new wave of english language and zionist orientated newspapers and clubs flourishing in the mid twentieth century before indian independence. middle class and poorer jews were the ones drawn to zionism and its new popular community associations. throughout the closing decades of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century the community grew more british-orientated in cultural habits, dress and aspirations.