Famous State of West Bengal in India

  By Dhananjai | September 4, 2012 | INDIAN CULTURE

History Bengal is first mentioned in the Mahabharata, one of the two Indian epics, as ‘Vanga’. In the third century BC it was part of the Mauryan Empire but it gained importance and a standing of its own only in the 4th century AD under the Gupta rulers. For the next three centuries, the Pala dynasty ruled over Bengal along with parts of Orissa, Bihar and Bangladesh. The first Sultan of Delhi Qutb-ud-din-Aibak subjugated Bengal to Muslim rule. Sher Shah Suri usurped power from the Moghuls and the spin-off was the construction of the National Grand Trunk Road. After Aurangzeb’s death in 1707 Bengal became an independent state. Pioneered by the Portuguese, the British, Dutch, French and many others set up trading posts in Bengal. The British had the sanction of the Moghul rulers for trade in Bengal. It later transformed into political ascendancy. And the only resistance that the British faced was from Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah who was later defeated by Lord Robert Clive in the historic Battle of Plassey in 1757. By 1784 the British had full control over Bengal. In consonance with the imperial policy of divide and rule, Lord Curzon split Bengal in 1905 which roused bitter sentiments among the people and created communal rifts between the Hindu and the Muslim communities. This was an undeniable cause for the partition of India in 1947 into Pakistan and India. Since independence Bengal has been a hotbed of trade unionism and a state under communist party rule.

Economy The economy of this state relies on the industrial growth of the following sectors: petrochemicals, electronics and Information Technology, iron & steel, textiles, leather, edible oils, aquaculture, medicinal plants, rubber, palm oil, tea, chemicals and pharmaceuticals and mineral based industry. Besides, the cottage industries of handicrafts and handloom products also contribute substantially to the state gross domestic product. Rice grown in the paddy fields of the lowlands remains West Bengal’s most important cash crop and tea is a close second. Most multinational companies have left Bengal because of the excessive trade unionism. Work remains undone, strikes are on and the companies suffer great losses. However the state government has lately made major strides in stabilizing the labour situation and invite outside investment in the private and public sectors.

Language West Bengal, home to legendary preachers, poets, saints, singers, film-makers, sportsmen and academicians, was once the cultural capital of India. Political ideology slowly wove its web in the heart of the easily swayed Bengali and everything else took a backseat. Growth was replaced by grafitti and songs by slogans! Years of rallies, ‘bandhs’ and ‘hartals’ have taken their toll – Kolkata, the capital city, is now a shade of its former arrogant, proud and elegant self. Almost in lazy ruins today, the state still holds the soul of the ‘Bhadralok’, the intelligent, sensitive and cultured Bengali who has a passion for philosophy, literature, music, football and/or cricket depending on the season. The people of Bengal love their heroes…..Sri Aurobindo and Sri Ramakrishna; Rabindra Nath Tagore, Mother Teresa and Amartya Sen; tennis’ Leander Paes, and cricketer Saurav Ganguly, nicknamed “the Prince of Kolkata” for his sterling performances on the field! Satyajit Ray, the film maker, became synonymous with Bengal. The people are also great travellers. Go anywhere in the world, be it off-season in Leh or Christmas in Montreal – there are bound to be Bengalis around. The social fabric is hierarchical and patriarchy is still the focal point of general family life. Bengali is spoken by everyone who’s made Bengal his home. Hindi and English are also commonly spoken.

Religion Hinduism is practiced by the majority of the people and Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists make up the rest.

Food Bengali food consists of a lot of fish, lentils and rice. Breakfast could be milk and rice flakes eaten with ‘gur’ or ‘luchi’ (fluffy wheat pancake) with ‘alu dum’ (potato mish-mash). Lunch and dinner are elaborate affairs. The first course is rice and ‘daal’ (lentil curry) with vegetables, pickled mangos and fresh salad. It is followed by rice and meat and yet another course of rice and fish. Great fish eaters, the true blue Bengali is the one who can crunch fish bones without letting them stick in the throat! The ‘hilsa’ fish is a speciality when cooked in mustard sauce. Bengalis love sweets. A vast array of milk based ‘mithai’ (sweetmeats) originated in Bengal. The light and spongy Rosogulla, the mouth-watering Sandesh are available all over India, but nowhere do they taste as they do in Kolkata. Sweet shops in other parts of the country just have to call themselves “Bengali Sweet House” and their reputation is established. If in Kolkata do try the delectable Mishti Doi (rich, sweet yoghurt).

Culture and Crafts Music, poetry, films and theatre course through the veins of the Bengali. Whether it is Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti or the more contemporary Adhunik, music is a big draw. West Bengal has had many famous film-makers- the Oscar winning Satyajit Ray, the experimental Ritwik Ghatak to the realistic Mrinal Sen. Students spout poetry in the ‘Coffee Houses’ abutting the colleges. Poetry in West Bengal came into being with the prolific Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore, and lived on with Kazi Nazrul Islam, Sukanto, Sakti Chattopadhyay and the contemporary Joy Goswami. Culturally vibrant and alive, Bengalis are the only ones who make a religion of cricket and football. Traffic grinds to a halt when the National Team is playing and everyone is glued to the TV set. Bankura’s famed handmade pottery, especially the decorated horses, is a traditional craft. The Dokra metal craftsmen of western West Bengal confined to the four districts of Bankura, Purulia, Midnapore and Burdwan, specialise in delicate figurines of deities and animals as well as anklets and tinkling dancing bells.

Tourist info centres

1. Tourist Centre,3/2,Benoy-Badal-Dinesh Bagh (E), Kolkata – 700 001; Tel: 033 2248-8271 /2248-8272/ 2248-8273
2.Tourist Office 4, Shakespeare Sarani, Kolkata – 700 071; Tel: 033 2282-5813

How to get there by Air Kolkata as the capital of West Bengal has an international airport that is connected by regular flights from Europe and the Orient. Domestic airlines connect the major cities in India to Kolkata.

How to get there by Rail Howrah on the west of Hooghly River and Sealdah to the east of the river are the two rail stations in Kolkata, both very crowded and frenetic with activity. All trains to India’s north-eastern region originate and end at Sealdah and trains to west, central and south India operate from Howrah. One needs to be careful against pickpockets at the stations. Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad and other major Indian cities are connected with the towns and cities of West Bengal.

How to get there by Road It is possible to get to West Bengal by road. The road connections are disrupted once in a while by floods but generally such a trip is an experience in itself. One can drive or take a bus from anywhere to Kolkata be it Delhi, Bombay or Guwahati. Gas stations dot the routes and there are numerous options for eating and resting along the way. Distances are however great and it is better if one opts for the rails or the skies.

Getting around The transport system inside the state of West Bengal is the best in the entire country. Government run buses, private taxis, shared rentals or the ferry-way can be taken up by tourist to get to the desired destinations inside the state. Most places are also connected by rail. The capital, Kolkata, has an excellent underground metro too.

Where to Stay in West Bengal

West Bengal features fairly good range of places to stay. Kolkata portrays a whole range of accommodation options-from international standard hotels to budget hotels. Other towns in West Bengal usually offer mid-rung and budget accommodation. Checking out facilities and amenities before booking the hotels is advisable.

Best Time to Visit West Bengal

The best time to visit West Bengal is between October and March when you will conveniently miss the sweaty, humid and suffocating Bengal summer. You will also be in time for the frenzied celebrations of Durga Puja, the worship of the goddess of strength, symbolising good over evil. It is a ten day ritual held in the month of October. Besides, this is also the time when Sunderbans, the world’s largest delta and home to the Royal Bengal tiger is open to visitors.

Climate Heat, sweat, humidity are synonymous with West Bengal and rightly so. The state receives an annual rainfall between 1006 and 2933 mm. Summers in the plains are hot with temperatures keeping up between 32° C and 38° Celsius. The heat is aggravated by the high humidity levels in the state during this period. Winters are mild with an average temperature of 10°C to 20° Celsius. In the hilly areas of the north this period between November and March which is winter, is very cold.

Things to do in West Bengal

Whether you want a beach destination for your holiday or you wish to spend time exploring wildlife, West Bengal is the place to be! West Bengal’s cities offer a plethora of things to do. From incredible trekking trails in Darjeeling to boat cruise and royal Bengal Tiger spotting at Sunderbans, West Bengal has it all.
West Bengal has a lot to offer for shopaholics as well as the state is famous for handicrafts, silk saris, clay and terracotta items, jute products, items made from conch-shell, leather work and paintings. Don’t forget to savor the fresh and finest Darjeeling tea and make sure to bring it home as well.
Enjoy various beautiful and unforgettable hill stations like Kalimpong and Kurseong. Take a ride in the Darjeeling-Siliguri Toy Train and enjoy the fairytale journey while admiring the picturesque beauty en route. If you are looking for a secluded holiday destination then visit Bakkhali. Tear yourself away from the city crowd and retire to the beautiful beach side of Bakkhali.
West Bengal is rich in culture, tradition and food. Gorge on fresh and scrumptious sea food anywhere in the state and make your trip a memorable one.