The Economic Times

Independence Day 2026: The Kolkata chemist who sold foreign medicines, backed Swadeshi and built a pharma empire

Independence Day 2026: Butto Kristo Paul & Co. started as a modest establishment focused on importing foreign medicines. Over time, it blossomed into a prominent Indian pharmaceutical giant in colonial Calcutta, dedicating resources to manufacturing while actively supporting the Swadeshi movement. However, shifting market dynamics and rising competition ultimately resulted in its decline, leaving behind only one heritage pharmacy that remains to this day.