West Bengal

West Bengal is a state in the eastern part of India, sitting along the Bay of Bengal. As of 2026, it is home to over 106 million people, making it the fourth-most populous state in India. The capital city is Kolkata, which is also one of the largest cities in the country.

The area has a rich history, being part of many ancient Indian empires like the Mauryans and Guptas. Over time, it was influenced by both Hinduism and Buddhism, and later by Islam through trade and conquests. During the Bengal Sultanate, it became a major trading nation, often called the "richest country to trade with" by Europeans.

After the British took control, the region played a key role in India’s fight for independence. In 1947, following widespread religious violence, the area was divided into two parts: West Bengal, which stayed with India, and East Bengal, which became part of Pakistan and later gained independence as Bangladesh. This change brought many Hindu refugees from East Bengal into West Bengal, shaping its culture and politics.

Today, West Bengal is known for its culture, with famous figures like Nobel-laureate Rabindranath Tagore coming from the state. Its economy, based mainly on agriculture and small businesses, has grown, and the state is a popular tourist destination, with three World Heritage sites.

Etymology

Main article: Names of Bengal

The name Bengal, known as Bangla or Bongo in Bengali, has an unclear origin. Some believe it comes from "Bang," a name linked to a Dravidian tribe that settled the area around 1000 BCE. The word Bongo may also relate to an ancient kingdom of Vanga. Though early Sanskrit literature mentions Vanga, much of the region's early past remains a mystery.

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

In 2011, the Government of West Bengal suggested changing the state's name to Paschim Banga, meaning "western Bengal" in Bengali. Later, in 2016, there was a proposal to rename the state simply "Bengal" in English and "Bangla" in Bengali. However, this idea faced opposition, and the central government did not accept the change.

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, showing people lived there much earlier than we thought. 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 one of the important kingdoms 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, though we don’t know much about how they started. The first known king of Bengal was Shashanka, who ruled in the early 600s CE. He is remembered for treating followers of Buddhism badly and for destroying important Buddhist places. 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 and was sometimes called the richest country by people from Europe. 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, and many people didn’t get enough food. 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, though they were not successful.

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, strikes, and fights that hurt the economy. In 1971, when Bangladesh fought for its freedom, many people from there came to West Bengal, which made things harder. 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, especially with new technology. In the 2000s, some groups tried to cause trouble, but the economy kept getting better. Even though West Bengal had hard times in the past, it 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 found in the eastern part of India, stretching from the Himalayas in the north down 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 in this area. The state also has the Ganges River, which splits into two branches. One branch flows into Bangladesh, while the other moves through West Bengal.

West Bengal has different types of weather, ranging from tropical in the south to humid subtropical in the north. The state experiences summer, rainy season, autumn, and winter. Monsoon rains bring plenty of rain from June to September. The Sundarbans area in the south is known for its mangrove forests, which are an important natural area. 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 called it home, making it the fourth most crowded state in the country. Many people live close together, with about 1,029 people in every square kilometre.

Most people in West Bengal speak Bengali, but many other languages are also spoken there. The state has many different religions and cultures living side by side. 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 is governed through a parliamentary system of representative democracy, like other Indian states. Residents have the right to vote in elections. There are two main parts to the government. The legislature, called the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, has elected members and special leaders chosen by them. The judiciary includes the Calcutta High Court and lower courts. Executive power is held by a group of ministers led by the Chief Minister, with the Governor as the official head of state.

Politics in West Bengal is led by several parties, including the Trinamool Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, and the Left Front alliance. The state has 23 districts, each managed by a district collector. The capital and largest city is Kolkata, while 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 and is divided into smaller areas called sub-divisions, which are further split into blocks containing village councils and town municipalities.

Economy

Main article: Economy of West Bengal

West Bengal has a big economy and is one of the top states in India in terms of money made. Over the years, its economy has grown a lot. Agriculture is very important, with rice being the main crop. The state is also famous for its tea, especially from places like Darjeeling.

Industry and services have also grown, with many factories and businesses in areas around Kolkata, Haldia Port, and other regions. Even though some industries have faced challenges, efforts are being made to improve business and attract 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, which helped many learn about each other’s beliefs and made Hinduism known around the world.

The Bengali language has a rich history of stories and poems. West Bengal has many old folk tales, like the Charyapada, songs from the 10th and 11th centuries; Mangalkavya, poems from the 13th century; Shreekrishna Kirtana, a story about a hero; Thakurmar Jhuli, a book of old stories and fairytales; and tales about Gopal Bhar, a funny court member in old Bengal. In the 1800s and 1900s, writers like Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay changed Bengali books, Michael Madhusudan Dutt wrote plays, and Rabindranath Tagore changed Bengali books and music. 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 done by the Bauls, a group of musicians. Other types of folk music in West Bengal include Gombhira and Bhawaiya. Folk music often uses the ektara, a musical instrument with one string. 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 and different cultures. 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, who is considered one of the greatest filmmakers, and Mrinal Sen. Other well-known directors include Tapan Sinha and Ritwik Ghatak. Popular actors include Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen.

Fine arts

Bengal has many beautiful examples of old art, like paintings on temple walls and Kalighat paintings. Bengal was at the front of new art ideas. Abanindranath Tagore started the Bengal School of Art, aiming to create art styles different from European styles taught under British rule. Many artists joined this movement.

Reformist heritage

The capital, Kolkata, was where several people worked to improve society, like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Swami Vivekananda. Their work helped end bad practices. The area was also home to many religious teachers.

Cuisine

Main article: Cuisine of West Bengal

Rice and fish are main foods in West Bengal, and there’s a saying, “fish and rice make a Bengali”. Many ways to cook fish exist, depending on its type. 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, and special sweets during festivals. Popular street foods include Aloor Chop, Beguni, Kati roll, biryani, and phuchka.

Clothing

Bengali women often wear the sari, sometimes designed in special ways. 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. The statues are made by artists in Kumortuli. On the last day, the statues are paraded and then placed in water.

Rath Yatra is a happy festival celebrating Jagannath, a form of Krishna. It is celebrated in Kolkata and rural areas with big chariots pulled through the streets.

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. People pray, give to others, shop, exchange gifts, and share meals.

Christmas, called Bôŗodin, is a big celebration in Kolkata. People of all backgrounds join in. Parks, gardens, and churches are filled with visitors. The city’s Park Street is decorated with lights, and food stalls sell treats. Musical groups perform special songs.

Buddha Purnima, celebrating the birth of Gautama Buddha, is a big event in the Darjeeling hills. Monks chant, and people gather at monasteries.

Each year in July and August, a large fair happens at Tarakeswar, where millions come to offer water from the Ganga to Lord Shiva.

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 at the place where the Ganges meets the sea.

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. As of 2011, the state had over 92,023 kilometres (57,180 miles) of roads. Kolkata, the biggest city, has an underground train system called the Kolkata Metro, which was the first of its kind in India. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is also 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 that help people fly to nearby places. Ferries are important for travel, especially in the southern part of the state. Kolkata is also a major port where ships come and go. Trams, buses, and different kinds of 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 managed by either the state government or private groups, including some religious groups. Teaching is usually done in English or Bengali, and sometimes in Urdu, especially in Central Kolkata. Schools are approved by groups such as 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.

As of 2016, about 85% of children aged 6 to 17 go to school. In cities, this number is 86%, while in rural areas it is 84%. Almost all children aged 6 to 14 go to school, but this drops to about 70% for those aged 15 to 17. More girls than boys attend school in the 6 to 14 age group. Among women aged 15 to 49, 71% can read and write, while 81% of men the same age can. Only 14% of women and 22% of men in this age group have finished 12 or more years of school. About 22% of women and 14% of men aged 15 to 49 have never gone to school.

Some well-known schools in the area include: Ramakrishna Mission Narendrapur, Baranagore Ramakrishna Mission, Sister Nivedita Girls' School, Hindu School, Hare School, La Martiniere Calcutta, Calcutta Boys' School, St. James' School (Kolkata), South Point School, Techno India Group Public School, St. Xavier's Collegiate School, and Loreto House, Loreto Convent. Pearl Rosary School is also known as one of the best schools in the country. Many schools in Kolkata and Darjeeling date back to the colonial era and are located in beautiful old buildings. Schools in Darjeeling include St. Paul's, St. Joseph's North Point, Goethals Memorial School, and Dow Hill in Kurseong.

West Bengal is home to eighteen universities. Kolkata has been very important in developing modern education in India. It was the first place where European-style education began during the time of British rule. Important people such as Ram Mohan Roy, David Hare, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Alexander Duff and William Carey helped start modern schools and colleges there.

The University of Calcutta is one of India’s oldest and most respected public universities, with 136 colleges connected to it. Fort William College was started in 1810. The Hindu College began in 1817. The Lady Brabourne College started in 1939. The Scottish Church College is the oldest Christian liberal arts college in South Asia, beginning in 1830. The Vidyasagar College opened in 1872 and was the first college in India to be run entirely by Indians. In 1855, the Hindu College was renamed Presidency College. In 2010, it became Presidency University. Kazi Nazrul University started in 2012. The University of Calcutta and Jadavpur University are well-known technical universities. Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan is an important national university.

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IIT Kharagpur, the first IIT in India

The Auditorium at Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

Other important colleges and institutes in West Bengal include: St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (the first IIM), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Indian Statistical Institute, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (the first IIT), Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur (the first IIEST), Indian Institute of Information Technology, Kalyani, Medical College, Kolkata, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, National Institute of Technical Teachers' Training and Research, Kolkata, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kolkata, and West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences. In 2003, the state government helped start West Bengal University of Technology, West Bengal University of Health Sciences, West Bengal State University, and Gour Banga University.

Jadavpur University and the University of Calcutta are two of fifteen universities chosen for special focus areas for excellence. The University of Calcutta is also recognized for excellence in certain research areas.

The state also has Kalyani University, The University of Burdwan, Vidyasagar University, and North Bengal University, which are well-known schools serving local areas. There is also a special university run by the Ramakrishna Mission called Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University in Belur Math.

Kolkata is home to many research institutes. The Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science is the first research institute in Asia. Important scientists such as Satyendra Nath Bose, Meghnad Saha, and Jagadish Chandra Bose were either born, worked, or studied in this area. Other notable people include chemist Prafulla Chandra Roy, statisticians Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis and Anil Kumar Gain, physician Upendranath Brahmachari, educator Ashutosh Mukherjee, and Nobel Prize winners Rabindranath Tagore, C. V. Raman, Amartya Sen, and Abhijit Banerjee.

Media

In 2005, West Bengal had 505 newspapers being published, with 389 of them written in the Bengali language. The newspaper Ananda Bazar Patrika, which comes out in Kolkata, had the highest number of readers with over 1.2 million copies sold each day. Other important Bengali newspapers include Bartaman, Ei Samay, Sangbad Pratidin, Aajkaal, and Uttarbanga Sambad. There are also many 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 popular.

The state-owned television channel is called DD Bangla. Many cable services offer Bengali, Nepali, Hindi, English, and international shows. There are several Bengali news channels that broadcast around the clock, 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 can be found in cities like Kolkata, Siliguri, and Asansol. Mobile phone services are provided by companies such as Vodafone Idea, Airtel, BSNL, and Jio. Broadband Internet is available in some towns and cities, mostly through BSNL and private companies, with dial-up access offered across the state by various providers.

Sports

Main article: Sports in West Bengal

Cricket and association football are very popular in West Bengal. Unlike many other parts of India, people here really love football. The city of Kolkata is a big hub for football and is home to famous clubs such as Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal Club, and Mohammedan Sporting Club.

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

Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) is another large stadium in Kolkata. It’s the biggest stadium in India by seating. It has hosted important sports events, including matches 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.