West Bengal

West Bengal is a state in the eastern part of India, sitting along the Bay of Bengal. It is home to many people, and the capital city is Kolkata, one of the largest cities in the country.

The area has a rich history, being part of ancient Indian empires. Over time, it was influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism, and later Islam through trade. During the Bengal Sultanate, it became an important trading nation.

After the British took control, the region helped India’s fight for independence. In 1947, the area was divided into two parts: West Bengal, which stayed with India, and East Bengal, which became part of Pakistan and later Bangladesh. This brought many people from East Bengal into West Bengal.

Today, West Bengal is known for its culture. Famous people like Nobel-laureate Rabindranath Tagore come from the state. The economy is based on agriculture and small businesses, and the state is a popular tourist destination.

Etymology

Main article: Names of Bengal

The name Bengal, called Bangla or Bongo in Bengali, is not fully known how it started. Some think it comes from "Bang," a name tied to a Dravidian tribe that lived there long ago. The word Bongo might also relate to an old kingdom of Vanga. Though early Sanskrit literature talks about Vanga, much of the area's early history is still a mystery.

In 1947, when British rule ended in the Indian subcontinent, leaders chose to split Bengal into two parts based on religion. This made West Bengal, which joined India, and East Bengal, which became part of Pakistan and later Bangladesh.

In 2011, the Government of West Bengal talked about changing the state's name to Paschim Banga, meaning "western Bengal" in Bengali. In 2016, there was another idea to rename the state "Bengal" in English and "Bangla" in Bengali. But many people did not agree, and the big government did not change the name.

History

Main articles: History of Bengal, History of rulers of Bengal, and History of West Bengal

Ancient and classical period

Old stone tools from 20,000 years ago have been found in West Bengal. According to the ancient Indian story Mahabharata, this area was part of the Vanga kingdom. Many small kingdoms existed here, like Vanga, Rarh, Pundravardhana and the Suhma kingdom. Long ago, people from Ancient Greeks wrote about a place called Gangaridai near the Ganges river. West Bengal traded with faraway lands like Suvarnabhumi, which includes parts of Burma, Lower Thailand, the Lower Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. According to a story from Sri Lanka called Mahavamsa, a prince named Prince Vijaya from the Vanga kingdom came to Lanka (now Sri Lanka) around 543–505 BCE and started the Sinhala kingdom.

The kingdom of Magadha began in the 7th century BCE and included parts of today’s Bihar and Bengal. It was an important kingdom in India when Mahavira, the leader of Jainism, and Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, were alive. Later, the Maurya Empire ruled almost all of South Asia, including places as far as Afghanistan and parts of Balochistan. From the year 300 to 600 CE, Magadha was the center of the Gupta Empire.

After the Gupta Empire, two new kingdoms called Vanga or Samatata and Gauda appeared. The first known king of Bengal was Shashanka, who ruled in the early 600s CE. After some time without a ruler, the Pala dynasty took control and ruled for 400 years starting in the 800s CE. Later, a Hindu group called the Sena dynasty took over.

In the year 1021, a ruler named Rajendra Chola I from the Chola dynasty came and took over some parts of Bengal.

Islam came to Bengal through trading with people from the Abbasid Caliphate. After leaders from Ghurid like Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji took over, and the Delhi Sultanate began, Islam spread everywhere in Bengal. Beautiful buildings like mosques, schools called madrasas, and special resting places called khanqahs were built. In 1352, Bengal became its own country called the Bengal Sultanate. It was a very rich place for trading. In 1576, it became part of the much larger Mughal Empire.

Medieval and early modern periods

More Muslim leaders helped Islam spread in Bengal. For many years, it was ruled by leaders from the Bengal Sultanate and by rulers working under the Delhi Sultanate. Once, a Hindu leader named Raja Ganesha led a rebellion that stopped the Bengal Sultanate for about twenty years. In the 1500s, a general named Islam Khan from the Mughal Empire took control of Bengal. At first, leaders chosen by the Mughal emperor managed Bengal, but later it became almost independent under leaders called the Nawabs of Murshidabad. Even though they were independent, they still showed respect to the Mughal emperor in Delhi. During this time, some independent Hindu states also formed in Bengal, like the one ruled by Pratapaditya in Jessore District and Raja Sitaram Ray in Bardhaman. After the death of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Bengal became even more independent under the Nawabs of Bengal. The area ruled by the Koch dynasty in northern Bengal did very well in the 1500s and 1600s, lasting until the British came.

Colonial period

In the late 1400s, traders from many European countries arrived in Bengal. In 1757, the British East India Company defeated the last independent leader of Bengal, Siraj ud-Daulah, in the Battle of Plassey. In 1765, after another battle called the Battle of Buxar, the company got the right to collect taxes in Bengal. This marked the start of the Bengal Presidency, which grew to include all British lands north of Central Provinces, from the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers up to the Himalayas and Punjab. In 1773, the company made Calcutta (now Kolkata) the capital of all British lands in India.

In 1943, a big problem called the Great Bengal famine happened. Bengalis were very important in India’s fight for freedom from British rule. They joined groups like Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar. Later, a leader named Subhas Chandra Bose led an army called the Indian National Army to fight the British.

Indian independence and afterwards

When India became free from British rule in 1947, Bengal was split. The western part became Dominion of India’s West Bengal, and the eastern part went to Dominion of Pakistan as East Bengal, which later became Bangladesh in 1971. In 1950, a small area called Cooch Behar joined West Bengal. In 1955, another area named Chandannagar, which had been controlled by France, also became part of West Bengal.

In the 1970s and 1980s, West Bengal faced big problems like power cuts and strikes. In 1971, when Bangladesh fought for its freedom, many people from there came to West Bengal. In 1977, a group called the Left Front, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), won elections and ruled for many years.

In the mid-1990s, India made changes to help the economy grow, and West Bengal started to improve too. In the 2000s, some groups tried to cause trouble, but the economy kept getting better. West Bengal has been working to fix problems like strikes, education, jobs, and health services.

Geography

Main articles: Geography of West Bengal and Climate of West Bengal

West Bengal is in the eastern part of India. It stretches from the Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. It covers an area of 88,752 square kilometres.

The northern part of West Bengal includes the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region, which is part of the Himalayas. Sandakfu is the highest peak there. The state has the Ganges River, which splits into two branches. One branch flows into Bangladesh, and the other moves through West Bengal.

West Bengal has different kinds of weather, from tropical in the south to humid subtropical in the north. The state has summer, rainy season, autumn, and winter. Monsoon rains bring lots of rain from June to September. The Sundarbans area in the south is famous for its mangrove forests. The state also has many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks where animals like tigers, elephants, and rhinoceros live.

Demographics

West Bengal is a busy state in eastern India with many people living there. In 2011, more than 91 million people lived there, making it the fourth most crowded state in the country. Many people live close together.

Most people in West Bengal speak Bengali, but many other languages are also spoken there. The state has many different religions and cultures. Hinduism is the most common religion, but Islam is also very common. Smaller groups practice Christianity, Buddhism, and other beliefs.

Government and politics

Main articles: Government of West Bengal and Politics of West Bengal

See also: List of Chief Ministers of West Bengal

West Bengal has a parliamentary system of representative democracy, like other Indian states. People vote in elections. The government has two main parts. The legislature is called the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. It has elected members and leaders chosen by them. The judiciary includes the Calcutta High Court and lower courts. The executive power is with ministers led by the Chief Minister. The Governor is the official head of state.

Politics in West Bengal has several parties, such as the Trinamool Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, and the Left Front alliance. West Bengal has 23 districts. Each district is managed by a district collector. The capital and largest city is Kolkata. Asansol is the second-largest city.

As of 1 November 2023, West Bengal is divided into 23 districts.

Each district is managed by a district collector. It is divided into smaller areas called sub-divisions. These are split into blocks with village councils and town municipalities.

Economy

Main article: Economy of West Bengal

West Bengal has a strong economy and is one of the top states in India for making money. Over time, its economy has grown a lot. Farming is very important, and rice is the main crop. The state is also well-known for its tea, especially from places like Darjeeling.

Industry and services have grown too, with many factories and businesses around Kolkata, Haldia Port, and other areas. Even though some industries have had problems, people are working to improve business and bring in more investments.

Culture

See also: Bengalis, Culture of West Bengal, and Culture of Darjeeling

Literature

Main articles: Bengali literature and History of Bengali literature

Rabindranath Tagore was the first person in Asia to win a Nobel prize and wrote India's national anthem.

Swami Vivekananda helped share Vedanta and Yoga with people in Europe and the US. The Bengali language has many old stories and poems. West Bengal has folk tales like Charyapada, songs from long ago; Mangalkavya, poems; Shreekrishna Kirtana, a story about a hero; and Thakurmar Jhuli, a book of old stories. Writers like Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and Rabindranath Tagore changed Bengali books. Other famous writers include Kazi Nazrul Islam, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, and Manik Bandyopadhyay.

Music and dance

Main article: Music of West Bengal

Baul music is a special kind of singing. Other folk music in West Bengal includes Gombhira and Bhawaiya. Folk music often uses the ektara, a musical instrument. Shyama Sangeet are songs about a goddess, and kirtan are group songs about a god. West Bengal also has North Indian classical music. Rabindrasangeet, songs by Rabindranath Tagore, and Nazrul geeti by Kazi Nazrul Islam are very popular. Dance in West Bengal comes from old traditions. Chhau dance from Purulia is a special masked dance.

Films

Main article: Cinema of West Bengal

West Bengali films are usually made in studios in the Tollygunge area of Kolkata. This place gave the industry its name, “Tollywood”, similar to Hollywood and Bollywood. The film industry is known for its artistic movies, with famous directors like Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen. Popular actors include Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen.

Fine arts

Bengal has many beautiful examples of old art, like paintings on temple walls. Bengal was at the front of new art ideas. Abanindranath Tagore started the Bengal School of Art.

Reformist heritage

The capital, Kolkata, was where several people worked to improve society, like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Swami Vivekananda.

Cuisine

Main article: Cuisine of West Bengal

Rice and fish are main foods in West Bengal. People also eat eggs, chicken, mutton, and shrimp. Traditional dishes include Panta bhat (rice soaked in water) with onions and chili. Common spices are cumin, mustard, ginger, and turmeric. Sweets are important, with foods like Rôshogolla. Popular street foods include Aloor Chop, Beguni, Kati roll, biryani, and phuchka.

Clothing

Bengali women often wear the sari. In cities, many wear modern clothes. Men also wear modern clothes, but on special occasions, they may wear traditional clothes like the panjabi with dhuti, while women may wear salwar kameez or sari.

Festivals

Main article: List of festivals in West Bengal

Durga Puja is the biggest and most celebrated festival in West Bengal. This five-day festival includes colorful celebrations across the state. Pandals are set up in cities, towns, and villages. Kolkata becomes beautiful with lights and colorful pandals showing statues of the goddess Durga and her children.

Rath Yatra is a happy festival celebrating Jagannath, a form of Krishna.

Other important festivals include: Poila Baishakh, the Bengali new year, Dolyatra or Holi, the festival of colors, Poush Parbon, Kali Puja, Nabadwip Shakta Rash, Saraswati Puja, Deepavali, Lakshmi Puja, Janmashtami, Jagaddhatri Puja, Vishwakarma Puja, Bhai Phonta, Rakhi Bandhan, Kalpataru Day, Shivratri, Ganesh Chathurthi, Maghotsav, Karam festival, Kartik Puja, Akshay Tritiya, Raas Yatra, Guru Purnima, Annapurna Puja, Charak Puja, Gajan, Buddha Purnima, Christmas, Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha, and Muharram. Rabindra Jayanti, Kolkata Book Fair, Kolkata Film Festival, and Nazrul Jayanti are also important.

Eid al-Fitr is a major Muslim festival marking the end of Ramadan.

Christmas, called Bôŗodin, is a big celebration in Kolkata. People of all backgrounds join in. Parks, gardens, and churches are filled with visitors.

Buddha Purnima, celebrating the birth of Gautama Buddha, is a big event in the Darjeeling hills.

Each year in July and August, a large fair happens at Tarakeswar.

Poush Mela in Shantiniketan is a winter festival with folk music, songs, dance, and theater.

Ganga Sagar Mela is a big Hindu event where many people gather to bathe.

Transport

See also: Transport in West Bengal and List of airports in West Bengal

West Bengal has many roads, railways, and airports to help people travel. The state has many miles of roads. Kolkata, the biggest city, has an underground train system called the Kolkata Metro. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is special and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kolkata has the biggest airport in West Bengal, called Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. There are also other airports. Ferries are important for travel. Kolkata is also a major port where ships come and go. Trams, buses, and rickshaws are common ways people get around in the cities.

Education

Main articles: Education in West Bengal, Universities and colleges of West Bengal, List of institutions of higher education in West Bengal, and List of schools in West Bengal

West Bengal schools are run by the state government or private groups. Teaching is usually in English or Bengali, and sometimes in Urdu. Schools follow rules set by groups like the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), the National Institute of Open School (NIOS), West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, or the West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education.

West Bengal has many well-known schools. Some of these have old buildings from the time when Britain ruled India. Schools in Darjeeling include St. Paul's, St. Joseph's North Point, Goethals Memorial School, and Dow Hill in Kurseong.

West Bengal has eighteen universities. Kolkata has been important for education in India since the time of British rule. Many people helped start schools and colleges there, including Ram Mohan Roy, David Hare, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Alexander Duff and William Carey.

The University of Calcutta is one of India’s oldest public universities. Other important universities include Jadavpur University, Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, and Presidency University.

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IIT Kharagpur, the first IIT in India

The Auditorium at Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

West Bengal also has many other colleges and institutes, such as St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, and Medical College, Kolkata. These schools are known for their work in many areas of learning.

Media

In 2005, West Bengal had many newspapers. Most were written in Bengali. The newspaper Ananda Bazar Patrika had many readers. Other important Bengali newspapers include Bartaman, Ei Samay, Sangbad Pratidin, Aajkaal, and Uttarbanga Sambad. There are also English newspapers such as The Telegraph, The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, The Statesman, The Indian Express, and Asian Age. Financial newspapers like The Economic Times, Financial Express, Business Line, and Business Standard are also read.

The state-owned television channel is called DD Bangla. Many cable services show Bengali, Nepali, Hindi, English, and international shows. There are Bengali news channels that broadcast all day, such as ABP Ananda, News18 Bangla, Republic Bangla, Kolkata TV, News Time, Zee 24 Ghanta, TV9 Bangla, Calcutta News, and Channel 10. All India Radio is a public radio service. Private radio stations are in cities like Kolkata, Siliguri, and Asansol. Mobile phone services are from companies such as Vodafone Idea, Airtel, BSNL, and Jio. Broadband Internet is available in some towns and cities.

Sports

Main article: Sports in West Bengal

Cricket and association football are very popular in West Bengal. People in this part of India love football a lot. The city of Kolkata is a big place for football. It has famous clubs such as Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal Club, and Mohammedan Sporting Club.

West Bengal has some very large stadiums. Eden Gardens is a famous cricket stadium. It used to be one of the biggest in the world. The stadium has teams like the Kolkata Knight Riders, the Bengal cricket team, and the East Zone.

Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) is another huge stadium in Kolkata. It is the largest stadium in India by seating. It has hosted important sports events with famous teams and players.

Some well-known athletes from West Bengal include former cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, tennis player Leander Paes, and chess player Dibyendu Barua.