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Lest we forget –11 March 1811: Shri Hari Chand Thakur birth anniversary- Collection by Dr. Pravin H Khobragade
Shri Hari Chand Thakur was born in NamaSudra Community in Bengal on 11th March 1811 in Orakandi of kashiani upazila in gopalganj (Greater faridpur). Harichand received little formal education. After completing his initial schooling in a pathshala, he attended school for only a few months. He then started spending his time with shepherds and cowboys and roamed with them from one place to another. He started changing from this time. He was loved by all of his friends for his physical beauty, naivete, love for music and philanthropic attitude. He could also sing bhajan (devotional songs). He cultivated the Matua Sect (The Matua community primarily consists of Dalits (mainly Namasudra). The Matua believe that male and female are equal. They discourage early marriage. Widow remarriage is allowed. They refer to their religious teachers as 'gonsai;' both men and women can be gonsai.
They follow the teachings of Shri Hari chand and Gurchand Thakur) whose principles were: (1) No necessity of entering the temples of higher castes for the purpose of worship, (2) Discarding Brahmin priest for any ceremony, (3) Worship on Shri Hari, (4) Not to worship idols and not to visit pilgrimage centres of Hindus and (5) Maintain good moral conduct and lead an ideal family life. The sect became popular in East Bengal (now a part of Bangladesh) and he led the untouchability movement called the Chandal movement in India. He built a english high school at Orakandhi (Banladesh ) for the people of lower community called Nama Shudra (untouchable community). He united the people of this community, but was against religion conversion. However some Bengali Brahmins have made him a Maithili Brahmin. Harichand's doctrine is based on three basic principles-truth, love, and sanctity. The doctrine treats all people as equal. Shri Shri Harichand Thakur and his son was great social reformer Sri Sri Guruchand Thakur who reform the society of chandal (charal). He built a English high school at orakandhi (bangladesh ) for the people of lower community more of them called Namasudra (untouchable comunity). He united the people of lower community people, and protect them from religion conversion.
Some collection by Dhirendra Rangari
During the Namasudhra movement the resources were very merger and the people
were very scattered and approachability was very challenging because the Nama
Shudra Community used to live in the swamps [small inland water bodies]. To
over come this they used to:- Conduct meetings and deliberation and brain storming sessions, on the
occasion of any celebrations like marriages… etc and even on the funeral if
some one is dead and because of that the people has come together.- They used to conduct conventions to plan the future course of action of
their movement and to take the stock of the actions they have taken during
that year.- Democratic pattern of functioning the organization and the base of the
organization was broad-base which almost covered entire East Bengal- It was mandate that each member of the community has to be a member of
the movement by paying a fixed amount on monthly basis.- It was mandate that 5% amount of the expense incurred in any
celebrations of marriage or of any sort has to be given as a donation to the
movementSuch was the maturity and the spirit of the Nama Sudhra Movement run by
the downtrodden people, and that too in the 19th century.We certainly have to learn a lesson from them and to implement and inculcate
it in our society / community so that we have enough resource [ financial +
mental + and human ] to run Phuley – Ambedkar Movement with greater force in
a right direction.CHANDI WORSHIPPERS CALLED CHANDALAS
The worshippers of Chandi, the Chandalas, shed traditional racial name and were voluntarily advised to have the name of Namasudra in the caste menu. Little did they know then that the name Namasudra contained caste appellation of social slavery. No other oppressed caste surrendered so abjectly to Aryan social slavery as did the Namasudras in the process. This was the result of an intellectual fraud which had advised Guruchand Thakur in this behalf.
A special award has been instituted by the Govt. of West Bengal in memory of Shri Harichand Thakur and his son Shri Shri Guruchand Thakur, both preceptors of Matua religious community. The Thakur Harichand, Guruchand Award, which consists of a cash prize worth Rs.25,000, a citation and other prizes in kind is scheduled to be conferred from this year onwards. The Backward Classes Welfare Department will organise the award-giving ceremony. Anybody belonging to schedule caste community will be entitled for a claim of this award for his or her leading or outstanding role in effecting holistic development in the socio-economic life-structure of the schedule caste community.
Harichand Thakur and his son Guruchand Thakur struggled relentlessly to do away with social ills like untouchability, inequalities of caste systems, right to enter temples or shrines and an overall development of rural Bengal in the 19th century. They established many educational institutions in order to step up the conditions of the downtrodden of the society. Their relentless struggle for upliftment of the downtrodden made them popular among thousands of persons.
Guruchand Thakur, Son of Harichand Thakur started Namasudra Welfare Association. He called an All Bengal Namasudra Conference at Duttadanga in the district of Khulna (at present in Bangladesh) in the year 1881. Guruchand Thakur was the president of the conference. Guruchand Thankue advised his people to start schools in the areas densly populated by them. His next movement was to remove the disgraceful term, "Chandal" (which was then attributed to Namasudra by the higher caste Hindus) from the census report. He was successful in the same. The term "Chandal" was removed from census report of 1911. In 1907 he appealed to the then Governor of Bengal and Assam for employment of the Namasudras in government services.
http://mulnivasiorganiser.bamcef.org/?p=163
Beyond nationalist frames: relocating, postmodernism, hindutva, history
By Sumit Sarkar-
Matua Mahasangha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matua_MahasanghaNow they have handed the Mandir over to a Trustee chosen by the followers. Recently the State Government of West Bengal has offered the Matua Mahasangha ...
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More on Dalit Panchayats and Matua Dharma of Bengal | Palash ...
indiainteracts.in/.../More-on-Dalit-Panchayats-and-Matua-Dharma-of...9 May 2007 – Further, they translated this Matua dharma or Dalitology in practice as in form of Dalit Panchayt. here, I see Bengal and Maharashtra Dalit ...
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THAKURNAGAR, WEST BENGAL - HINDU SAMHATI
12 Apr 2008 – [About 90% of the Matua's in West Bengal are refugees from East Pakistan/Bangladesh, victims of successive waves of expulsion through the ...
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What is the matua community in westbengal? - Yahoo! Answers India
1 answer - 14 Dec 2010Top answer: This is a religious community, living in different states of the country from Maharastra to North eastern states, including West bengal and Madhya Pradesh, ...
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Caste not a poll factor in Bengal. But Matuas could swing it for Didi
Mother figure Binapani Debi heads the Matua sect, which has 5 crore followers ... A fourth of them live in West Bengal and act as a fulcrum in the seesaw battle ...
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Picasa Web Albums - Santanu - Matua Mela, T...
picasaweb.google.com/santanu.chakrabarti/MatuaMelaThakurnagar... Mar 22, 2009 - "Matua" is a religious movement in Bengal, in the same spirit of ...Thakur Harichand (1811 - 1877) was the founder of the "Matua" sect, who is ...
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The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Bengal | Matua chief at Mamata ...
www.telegraphindia.com/1110424/jsp/bengal/story_13895294.jsp24 Apr 2011 – The Telegraph on the Web: Daily international, national international news, daily newspaper, national, politics, science, business, sports, ...
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Matua mela west Bengal - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXVHLBfyJ8s16 Apr 2011 - 44 sec - Uploaded by popuriv
Matyua mela: holy occasion of the birthday of Sri Sri Harichand Thakur - a great social and religious reformer of the 18th century and the ... -
Mamata gets Matua membership - Times Of India
6 Dec 2009 – The Matua community in Bengal is nearly 10 million strong. This is the first time community leaders have openly spoken on behalf of a ...
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Matua [Spot ID 853S22], Murshidabad District, West Bengal Travel ...
maps.mapmyindia.com/.../Matua-Murshidabad%20District-West%20...Explore incredible India with maps from MapmyIndia. Get route maps, discover tourist places in India, get landmark-based step-by-step driving directions, ...
Chandala
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaChandala Classification Untouchables Religions Hinduism Languages Indo-Aryan languages Populated States Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh,Bihar. - "Chandal" redirects here. For the town in Bangladesh, see Chandal, Bangladesh.
Chandala (Devanagari: चंडाल) is a Sanskrit word for someone who deals with disposal of corpses, and is a Hindu lower caste, formerly considered untouchables. Currently it is a term used specifically in Indo-Aryan speaking regions of India. Sandala has become a swear word in the colloquial usage of the Tamil language. Chandal is a general derogatory slur used to refer to a filthy, mean or low person in North India.
Usage of the term is noted in ancient and medieval literature of Sri Lanka, South India, and inIndo-China. Chandala as a term of despised caste was used in Dravidian-speaking South India and among the Sinhala of Sri Lanka.[citation needed]
The Chandalas are not a single tribe with a common defining ancestry, and in fact many Dalit groups in north India are referred to as Chandalas, and the term is used in a general way to denote any similar caste as well. Chandalas reside in Maharashtra, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal. Chandalas predate the final versions of the Mahabharata and the Manu Smriti, but there are groups with much more recent origin. For example, the Namashustras, a fishing and agricultural community in Bengal, and possibly of aboriginal Bihari origin, was made outcaste in the 11th or 12th century due to some conflict with the kings of the Sen dynasty, and the word 'Chandala' came to be applied to them. The word is now sometimes also applied to the Dom or Domba.
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[hide][edit]In literature
According to the ancient law code, the Manu-smṛti, this class originated from the union of a Brahmin (the highest class within the varṇa, or four-class system) woman and a Śūdra (the lowest class) man. The term 'Chandala' was also used in the Mahabharata, the religious epic, as well as in the Chandogya Upanishad: "Now people here whose conduct is good can expect to quickly attain a pleasant birth, like that of a Brahmin, the Ksatriya, or the Vaisya. But people of evil conduct can expect to enter a foul womb, like that of a dog, a pig, or a Chandala".[1]
In the early Vedic literature such as the Smritis (ancient religious scriptures) the word Antyajas is used for the untouchable castes.
Fa Xian, a Chinese Buddhist pilgrim who recorded his visit to India in the early 4th century C.E., noted that Chandalas were segregated from the mainstream society. Traditionally, Chandalas were considered to be beyond the pale of the varna or caste system. They were considered as Panchama (the Fifth caste) and thus beyond the fourfold division of people, and outcastes. Their situation was similar to that of the Romaand Cagot people in Europe.
[edit]Usage elsewhere
German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche described the Jewish and Christian religions with the term Chandala ("Tschandala") in his works The Antichrist and The Twilight of the Idols. Nietzsche's use of this term was influenced by the French writer Louis Jacolliot, and his work Les législateurs religieux, Manou, Moïse, Mahomet. Nietzsche also claimed that every great spirit has experienced, "as one stage in his development", the stigma of being a Chandala; not because others consider him this way, but because he feels and senses within himself a profound schism and alienation from the world.
Sydney Owenson, Lady Morgan misspells the word as "Chancalas" throughout the text in her 1811 sentimental novel The Missionary: An Indian Tale.[2]
[edit]References
- ^ Chhandogya Upanisad 5.10,7
- ^ The Missionary: An Indian Tale (ISBN 1-55111-263-9) by Sydney Owenson, Lady Morgan, introduction by Julia M. Wright, 2002 edition
- Anna Dallapiccola, Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend, ISBN 0-500-51088-1.
- 'Chandalbhikshuki' written by famous Malayalam poet -Kumaran Asan
[edit]External links
- Chanadalas amongst Sinhalese in Sri Lanka
- Regulations against the Chandalas in Maharshatra
- Namasudra a new term for Chandalas of Bengal
- Chandala in Tamil Nadu Bakthi movement
- Matanga Jataka Jataka Pali No.497
- Chandal Slums in Gujarat
- Chandala versus Doms
Let the BRAHMIN KANYA Matua Mamata Banerjee RESIGN First! CHANDAL ...
27 Feb 2010 – CHANDAL Movement and Mulnivasi Renaissance in Bengal led the Foreigner Brhamins Plan Partition Of Bengal to Readjust Demography just to ...
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Let the BRAHMIN KANYA Matua Mamata Banerjee RESIGN First ...
27 Feb 2010 – CHANDAL Movement and Mulnivasi Renaissance in Bengal led the ...Bengal as Matua Religion wih the HERITAGE of CHANDAL Movement, . ...
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Lest we forget –11 March 1811: Shri Hari Chand Thakur birth ...
The sect became popular in East Bengal (now a part of Bangladesh) and he led the untouchability movement called the Chandal movement in India. He built a ...
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We the People enslaved and bonded - Contribute - MSNIndia
28 Feb 2010 – They are also associated with Matua Movement. ... related to caste Bias and Chandal Movement and the following Turmoil in Bengal. ...
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Mamata Banerjee should resign first - Contribute - MSNIndia
28 Feb 2010 – CHANDAL Movement and Mulnivasi Renaissance in Bengal led the ...
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impeachbush : Message: Let the BRAHMIN KANYA Matua Mamata Banerjee ...
27 Feb 2010 – CHANDAL Movement and. Mulnivasi Renaissance in Bengal led the ...the Historical CHANDAL Movement right in Nineteenth Century beside Indigo ...
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Chandala - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChandalaFor the town in Bangladesh, see Chandal, Bangladesh. ... Chandal is a general derogatory slur used to refer to a filthy, mean or low person in North India. ... Bakthimovement · Matanga Jataka Jataka Pali No.497 · Chandal Slums in Gujarat ...
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They also wanted an end to the practice by which Chandal inmates of jails were ...tracts that I have seen make the slightest reference to this movement, ...
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Chandal Mandal | Board Game | BoardGameGeek
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/23894/chandal-mandal"The game of Chandal Mandal" A variation of Chaupar, the national game of ... Pick-up and Deliver, Point to Point Movement, Press Your Luck, Rock-Paper- ...
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3 Jan 2011 – If a National Liberation Movement to liberate the Bonded ... connected with Indigo revolt and Untouchability Abolishment CHANDAL Movement. ...
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Bengal
| Bengal | |
| Largest Cities | Kolkata[1] (Calcutta) 23.34°N 88.22°E |
| Main language | Bangla (Bengali) |
| Area | 232,752 km² |
| Population (2001) | 245,598,679[2][3] |
| Density | 951.3/km²[2][3] |
| Infant mortality rate | 55.91 per 1000 live births[4][5] |
| Websites | bangladesh.gov.bd andwbgov.com |
Bengal (Bengali: বাংলা 
Bangla (help·info) or বঙ্গ Bôngo) is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh (previously East Bengal / East Pakistan) and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous kingdoms of Bengal (during local monarchical regimes and British rule) are now part of the neighboring Indian states ofBihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Tripura and Orissa. The majority of Bengal is inhabited byBengali people (বাঙালি Bangali) who speak the Bengali language (বাংলা Bangla).
The region of Bengal is one of the most densely populated regions on earth, with a population density exceeding 900/km². Most of the Bengal region lies in the low-lyingGanges–Brahmaputra River Delta or Ganges Delta, the world's largest delta. In the southern part of the delta lies the Sundarbans—the world's largest mangrove forest and home of the Bengal tiger. Though the population of the region is mostly rural and agrarian, two megacities, Kolkata (previously Calcutta) and Dhaka (previously Dacca), are located in Bengal. The Bengal region is renowned for its rich literary and cultural heritage as well as its immense contribution to the socio-cultural uplift of Indian society in the form of the Bengal Renaissance, and revolutionary activities during the Indian independence movement.
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[edit]Etymology
The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown, though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang that settled in the area around the year 1000 BC.[6]
Other accounts speculate that the name is derived from Banga (বঙ্গ bôngo), which came from the Austric word "Bonga" meaning the Sun-god. The word Banga and other words speculated to refer to Bengal (such as Anga) can be found in ancient Indian texts including the Vedas,Jaina texts, the Mahabharata and Puranas. The earliest reference to "Bangala" (বঙ্গাল bôngal) has been traced in the Nesari plates (805 AD) ofRashtrakuta Govinda III which speak of Dharmapala as the king of Vangala.[7]
Some accounts claim that the word may derive from bhang, a preparation of cannabis which is used in some religious ceremonies in Bengal.[8][9] Dravidians migrated to Bengal from the south, while Tibeto-Burman peoples migrated from the Himalayas,[10] followed by theIndo-Aryans from north-western India. The modern Bengali people are a blend of these people. Smaller numbers of Pathans, Persians, Arabsand Turks also migrated to the region in the late Middle Ages while spreading Islam.
[edit]History
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Remnants of Copper Age settlements in the Bengal region date back 4,300 years.[11][12] After the arrival of Indo-Aryans, the kingdoms of Anga, Vanga andMagadha were formed by the 10th century BC, located in the Bihar and Bengal regions. Magadha was one of the four main kingdoms of India at the time ofBuddha and consisted of several Janapadas.[10] One of the earliest foreign references to Bengal is the mention of a land named Gangaridai by the Greeksaround 100 BC, located in an area in Bengal.[13] From the 3rd to the 6th centuries AD, the kingdom of Magadha served as the seat of the Gupta Empire.
The first recorded independent king of Bengal was Shashanka, reigning around early 7th century.[14] After a period of anarchy, the native Buddhist Pala Empire ruled the region for four hundred years, and expanded across much of the Indian subcontinent into Afghanistan during the reigns of Dharmapala andDevapala. The Pala dynasty was followed by the reign of the Hindu Saiva Sena dynasty. Islam made its first appearance in Bengal during the 12th century when Sufi missionaries arrived. Later, occasional Muslim raiders reinforced the process of conversion by building mosques, madrassas and Sufi Khanqah. Beginning in 1202 a military commander from the Delhi Sultanate, Bakhtiar Khilji, overran Bihar and Bengal as far east as Rangpur, Bogra and theBrahmaputra River. Although he failed to bring Bengal under his control, the expedition managed to defeat Lakshman Sen and his two sons moved to a place then called Vikramapur (present-day Munshiganj District), where their diminished dominion lasted until the late 13th century.
During the 14th century, the former kingdom became known as the Sultanate of Bengal, ruled intermittently with the Sultanate of Delhi as well as powerfulHindu states and land-lords-Baro-Bhuyans. The Hindu Deva Kingdom ruled over eastern Bengal after the collapse Sena Empire. The Sultanate of Bengal was interrupted by an uprising by the Hindus under Raja Ganesha. The Ganesha dynasty began in 1414, but his successors converted to Islam. Bengal came once more under the control of Delhi as the Mughals conquered it in 1576. There were several independent Hindu states established in Bengal during theMughal period like those of Maharaja Pratap Aditya of Jessore and Raja Sitaram Ray of Burdwan. These kingdoms contributed a lot to the economic and cultural landscape of Bengal. Extensive land reclamations in forested and marshy areas were carried out and trade as well as commerce were highly encouraged. These kingdoms also helped introduce new music, painting, dancing and sculpture into Bengali art-forms as well as many temples were constructed during this period. Militarily, they served as bulwarks against Portuguese and Burmese attacks. Koch Bihar Kingdom in the northern Bengal, flourished during the period of 16th and the 17th centuries as well as weathered the Mughals and survived till the advent of the British.
In 1534, the Pashtun Sher Shah Suri, or Farid Khan — a man of incredible military and political skill — succeeded in defeating the superior forces of theMughals under Humayun at Chausa (1539) and Kannauj (1540). Sher Shah fought back and captured both Delhi and Agra and established a kingdom stretching far into Punjab. Sher Shah's administrative skill showed in his public works, including the Grand Trunk Road connecting Sonargaon in Bengal withPeshawar in the Hindu Kush. Sher Shah's rule ended with his death in 1545, although even in those five years his reign would have a powerful influence on Indian society, politics, and economics.
Shah Suri's successors lacked his administrative skill, and quarreled over the domains of his empire. Humayun, who then ruled a rump Mughal state, saw an opportunity and in 1554 seized Lahore and Delhi. When Humayun died in Jan.1556, Hemu, also called Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, the then Hindu Prime Minister-cum- Chief of Army, of the Sur dynasty had already won Bengal in the battle at Chapperghatta, killing Muhammad Shah the then ruler of Bengal. This was Hemu's 20th continuous win in North India. Knowing of Humanyun's death, Hemu rushed to Delhi to win Agra and later on Delhi and established 'Hindu Raj' in North India on 6th Oct. 1556, after 300 years of Muslim rule, leaving Bengal to his Governor Shahbaz Khan. Akbar, the greatest of the Mughal emperors, who defeated the Karani rulers of Bengal in 1576. Bengal became a Mughal subah and ruled through subahdars(governors). Akbar exercised progressive rule and oversaw a period of prosperity (through trade and development) in Bengal and northern India.
Bengal's trade and wealth impressed the Mughals that they called the region the "Paradise of the Nations". Administration by governors appointed by the court of the Mughal Empire court (1575–1717) gave way to four decades of semi-independence under the Nawabs of Murshidabad, who respected the nominal sovereignty of the Mughals in Delhi. The Nawabs granted permission to the French East India Company to establish a trading post atChandernagore in 1673, and the British East India Company at Calcutta in 1690. The most notable among them is Murshid Quli Khan, who was succeeded by Alivardi Khan. Around the early 1700s, the Maratha Empire ledexpeditions in Bengal. The leader of the expedition was Maratha MaharajaRaghuji of Nagpur. Raghoji was able to annex Orissa and parts of Bengal permanently as he successfully exploited the chaotic conditions prevailing in the region after the death of their Governor Murshid Quli Khan in 1727.[15] The expeditions resulted in Bengal becoming a tributary region of the Marathas for a period of time.
Portuguese traders arrived late in the fifteenth century, once Vasco da Gama reached India by sea in 1498. European influence grew until theBritish East India Company gained taxation rights in Bengal subah, or province, following the Battle of Plassey in 1757, when Siraj ud-Daulah, the last independent Nawab, was defeated by the British.[16] The Bengal Presidency was established by 1766, eventually including all British territories north of the Central Provinces (now Madhya Pradesh), from the mouths of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra to theHimalayas and the Punjab. The Bengal famine of 1770 claimed millions of lives.[17] Calcutta was named the capital of British India in 1772. The Bengal Renaissance and Brahmo Samaj socio-cultural reform movements had great impact on the cultural and economic life of Bengal. The failed Indian rebellion of 1857 started near Calcutta and resulted in transfer of authority to the British Crown, administered by the Viceroy of India.[18] Between 1905 and 1911, an abortive attempt was made to divide the province of Bengal into two zones.[19]
Bengal has played a major role in the Indian independence movement, in which revolutionary groups were dominant. Armed attempts to overthrow the British Raj reached a climax when Subhash Chandra Bose led the Indian National Army against the British. Bengal was also central in the rising political awareness of the Muslim population—the Muslim League was established in Dhaka in 1906. In spite of a last ditch effort to form a United Bengal,[20] when India gained independence in 1947, Bengal was partitioned along religious lines.[21] The western part went to India (and was named West Bengal) while the eastern part joined Pakistan as a province called East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan, giving rise to Bangladesh in 1971). The circumstances of partition was bloody, with widespread religious riots in Bengal.[21][22]
[edit]Modern History
The post-partition political history of East and West Bengal diverged for the most part. Starting from the Bengali Language Movement of 1952.[23] political dissent against West Pakistani domination grew steadily. Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, emerged as the political voice of the Bengali-speaking population of East Pakistan by 1960s.[24] In 1971, the crisis deepened when Rahman was arrested and a sustained military assault was launched on East Pakistan.[25] Most of the Awami League leaders fled and set up a government-in-exile in West Bengal. The guerrilla Mukti Bahini and Bengali regulars eventually received support from the Indian Armed Forces in December 1971, resulting in a decisive victory over Pakistan on 16 December in the Bangladesh Liberation War or Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.[26] The post independence history of Bangladesh was strife with conflict, with a long history of political assassinations and coups before parliamentary democracy was established in 1991. Since then, the political environment has been relatively stable.
West Bengal, the western part of Bengal, became a state in India. In the 1960s and 1970s, severe power shortages, strikes and a violentMarxist-Naxalite movement damaged much of the state's infrastructure, leading to a period of economic stagnation. The Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 resulted in the influx of millions of refugees to West Bengal, causing significant strains on its infrastructure.[27] West Bengal politics underwent a major change when the Left Front won the 1977 assembly election, defeating the incumbent Indian National Congress. The Left Front, led by Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) has governed for the last three decades.In the West Bengal state assembly election, 2011,in West Bengal, CPI(M) alliance with 62 seats suffered a setback after 34 years of continuous rule, losing toTrinamool Congress led alliance's 226 seats. Its Chief Minister candidate who was also an incumbent Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee also lost from his Jadavpur assembly constituency.[28] The state's economic recovery gathered momentum after economic reforms in India were introduced in the mid-1990s by the central government, aided by election of a new reformist Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya in 2000.
[edit]Geography
Most of the Bengal region is in the low-lying Ganges–Brahmaputra River Delta or Ganges Delta. The Ganges Delta arises from the confluence of the rivers Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers and their respective tributaries. The total area of Bengal is 232752 km²—West Bengal is 88,752 km² and Bangladesh 144,000 km².
Most parts of Bangladesh are within 10 meters (33 ft) above the sea level, and it is believed that about 10% of the land would be flooded if the sea level were to rise by 1 metre (3 ft).[29] Because of this low elevation, much of this region is exceptionally vulnerable to seasonal flooding due to monsoons. The highest point in Bangladesh is in Mowdok range at 1,052 metres (3,451 ft) in the Chittagong Hill Tracts to the southeast of the country.[30] A major part of the coastline comprises a marshy jungle, the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world and home to diverse flora and fauna, including the Royal Bengal Tiger. In 1997, this region was declared endangered.[31]
West Bengal is on the eastern bottleneck of India, stretching from the Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. The state has a total area of 88,752 km² (34,267 sq mi).[32] The Darjeeling Himalayan hill region in the northern extreme of the state belongs to the eastern Himalaya. This region contains Sandakfu (3,636 m (11,929 ft))—the highest peak of the state.[33] The narrow Terai region separates this region from the plains, which in turn transitions into the Ganges delta towards the south. The Rarh region intervenes between the Ganges delta in the east and the western plateau and high lands. A small coastal region is on the extreme south, while the Sundarbans mangroveforests form a remarkable geographical landmark at the Ganges delta. At least nine districts in West Bengal and 42 districts in Bangladesh have arsenic levels in groundwater above the World Health Organization maximum permissible limit of 50 µg/L.[34]
[edit]Major cities
The following are the largest cities in Bengal (in terms of population):
[edit]Demographics
- Main articles: Demographics of Bangladesh and Demographics of West Bengal
About 250 million people live in Bengal, around 68% of them in Bangladesh and the remainder in West Bengal.[2][35] The population density in the area is more than 900/km²; making it among the most densely populated areas in the world.[2][3]
Bengali is the main language spoken in Bengal. English is often used for official work. There are small minorities who speak Hindi, Urdu,Chakma. There are several tribal languages including Santhali. Nepali is spoken primarily by the Gorkhas of Darjeeling district of West Bengal.
50% of the total Bengali population is Muslim, and 48% is Hindu. In Bangladesh 89.7% of the population is Muslim and 9.2% are Hindus (Bangladesh Census 2001). In West Bengal, Hindus are the majority with 75% of the population while Muslims comprise 20%, and other religions make up the remainder.[36] Other religious groups include Buddhists, Christians, and Animists. About 2% of the population is tribal.[37]
Life expectancy is around 63 years, and are almost same for the men and women.[38][39] In terms of literacy, West Bengal leads with 69.22% literacy rate,[2] in Bangladesh the rate is approximately 53.5%.[40] The level of poverty is high, the proportion of people living below the poverty line is more than 30%.[37][41]
About 20,000 people live on chars. Chars are temporary islands formed by the deposition of sediments eroded off the banks of the Ganges in West Bengal which often disappear in the monsoon season. They are made of very fertile soil. The inhabitants of chars are not recognised by the Government of West Bengal on the grounds that it is not known whether they are Bengalis or Bangladeshi refugees. Consequently, no identification documents are issued to char-dwellers who cannot benefit from health care, barely survive due to very poor sanitation and are prevented from emigrating to the mainland to find jobs when they have turned 14. On a particular char it was reported that 13% of women died at childbirth.[42]
[edit]Economy
Agriculture is the leading occupation in the region. Rice is the staple food crop. Other food crops are pulses, potato, maize, and oil seeds.Jute is the principal cash crop. Tea is also produced commercially; the region is well known for Darjeeling and other high-quality teas.
Historically, Europe once regarded Bengal as "the richest country to trade with".[43]
[edit]West Bengal
The service sector is the largest contributor to the gross domestic product of West Bengal, contributing 51% of the state domestic product compared to 27% from agriculture and 22% from industry.[44] State industries are localized in the Kolkata region and the mineral-rich western highlands. Durgapur–Asansol colliery belt is home to a number of major steel plants.[45] As of 2003–2004 West Bengal had the third-largest economy in India, with a net state domestic product of US$ 21.5 billion.[44] During 2001–2002, the state's average SDP was more than 7.8%—outperforming the National GDP Growth.[46] The state has promoted foreign direct investment, which has mostly occurred in the software and electronics fields;[47] Kolkata is becoming a major hub for the information technology (IT) industry. Owing to the boom in Kolkata's and the overall state's economy, West Bengal as of 2005 had the third-fastest-growing economy in India.[48]
[edit]Bangladesh
Since 1990, Bangladesh has achieved an average annual growth rate of 5% according to the World Bank, despite the hurdles. The middle class and the consumer industry have seen some growth. Bangladesh has seen a sharp increase in foreign direct investment. A number ofmultinational corporations, including Unocal Corporation and Tata, have made major investments, the natural gas sector being a priority. In December 2005, the Central Bank of Bangladesh projected GDP growth around 6.5%.[49] Although two-thirds of Bangladeshis are farmers, more than three quarters of Bangladesh's export earnings come from the garment industry,[50] which began attracting foreign investors in the 1980s due to cheap labour and low conversion cost. In 2002, the industry exported US$5 billion worth of products.[51] The industry now employs more than 3 million workers, 90% of whom are women.[52] A large part of foreign currency earnings also comes from the remittances sent by expatriates living in other countries.
The provision of microcredit by Grameen Bank (founded by Muhammad Yunus) and by other similar organizations has contributed to the development of the economy of Bangladesh. Together, such organizations had about 5 million members by late 1990s.[53] [54]
[edit]Culture
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The common Bengali language and culture anchors the shared tradition of two parts of politically divided Bengal. Bengal has a long tradition in folk literature, evidenced by the Charyapada, Mangalkavya, Shreekrishna Kirtana,Maimansingha Gitika or Thakurmar Jhuli. Bengali literature in the medieval age was often either religious (e.g. Chandidas), or adaptations from other languages (e.g. Alaol). During the Bengal Renaissance of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Bengali literature was modernized through the works of authors such as Michael Madhusudan Dutta, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay,Rabindranath Tagore, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Kazi Nazrul Islam.
The Baul tradition is a unique heritage of Bangla folk music.[55] The scholar saint Sri Anirvan loved Baul music, and in fact described himself as a simple Baul.[56] Other folk music forms include Gombhira, Bhatiali and Bhawaiya. Folk music in Bengal is often accompanied by the ektara, a one-stringed instrument. Other instruments include the dotara, dhol, flute, and tabla. The region also has an active heritage in North Indian classical music.
Bengal had also been the harbinger of modernism in Indian arts. Abanindranath Tagore, one of the important 18th century artist from Bengal is often referred to as the father of Indian modern art. He had established the first non-British art academy in India known as the Kalabhavan within the premises ofSantiniketan. Santiniketan in course of time had produced many important Indian artists like Gaganendranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy, Benode Bihari Mukherjee and Ramkinkar Baij. In the post-independence era, Bengal had produced important artists like Somenath Hore, Meera Mukherjee andGanesh Pyne.
Rice and fish are traditional favorite foods, leading to a saying that in Bengali,mach ar bhaath bangali baanaay, that translates as "fish and rice make a Bengali".[57] Bengal's vast repertoire of fish-based dishes includes Hilsa preparations, a favorite among Bengalis. Bengalis make distinctivesweetmeats from milk products, including Rôshogolla, Chômchôm, and several kinds of Pithe.
Bengali women commonly wear the shaŗi and the salwar kameez, often distinctly designed according to local cultural customs. In urban areas, many women and men wear Western-style attire. Among men, European dressing has greater acceptance. Men also wear traditional costumes such as the panjabi with dhuti or pyjama, often on religious occasions. The lungi, a kind of long skirt, is widely worn by Bangladeshi men.
The greatest religious festivals are the two Eids (Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha) for the Muslims, and the autumnal Durga Puja for Hindus.[58]Christmas (called Bôŗodin (Great day) in Bangla), Buddha Purnima are other major religious festivals. Other festivities include Pohela Baishakh (the Bengali New Year), Basanta-Utsab, Nobanno, and Poush parbon (festival of Poush).
Bengali cinema are made both in Kolkata and Dhaka. The Kolkata film industry is older and particularly well known for its art films. Its long tradition of film making has produced world famous directors like Satyajit Ray, while contemporary directors include Buddhadev Dasgupta andAparna Sen. Dhaka also has a vibrant commercial industry and more recently has been home to critically acclaimed directors like Tareque Masud. Mainstream Hindi films of Bollywood are also quite popular in both West Bengal and Bangladesh. Around 200 dailies are published in Bangladesh, along with more than 1800 periodicals. West Bengal had 559 published newspapers in 2005,[59] of which 430 were in Bangla.[59]Cricket and football are popular sports in the Bengal region. Local games include sports such as Kho Kho and Kabaddi, the later being the national sport of Bangladesh. An Indo-Bangladesh Bangla Games has been organized among the athletes of the Bengali speaking areas of the two countries.[60]
[edit]Intra-Bengal relations today
Geographic, cultural, historic, and commercial ties are growing, and both countries recognize the importance of good relations. During and immediately after Bangladesh's struggle for independence from Pakistan in 1971, India assisted refugees from East Pakistan, and intervened militarily to help bring about the independence of Bangladesh. The Indo-Bangladesh border length of 4,095 km (2,545 mi), West Bengal has a border length of 2,216 km (1,377 mi).[61] Despite overlapping historic, geographic and cultural ties, the relation between West Bengal andBangladesh is still well below the potential.[62] The pan-Bengali sentiment among the people of the two parts of Bengal was at its height during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.[63] While the government radio and national press in India might have backed the struggle out of strategic considerations, the Bengali broadcast and print media went out of its way to lend overwhelming support.[63]
Frequent air services link Kolkata with Dhaka and Chittagong. A bus service between Kolkata and Dhaka is operational. The primary road link is the Jessore Road which crosses the border at Petrapole-Benapole about 175 km north-west of Kolkata. The Train service between Kolkata and Dhaka, which was stopped after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, was resumed in 2008.[64]
Visa services are provided by Bangladesh's consulate at Kolkata's Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Road and India's high commissions in Dhaka, Chittagong and Rajshahi. India has a liberal visa policy and nearly 500,000 visas[62] are issued every year to Bangladeshi students,tourists, health-tourists and others who visit West Bengal and often transit to other parts of India. People of West Bengal visit Bangladesh for limited numbers of tourism, pilgrimage, trade, expatriate assignments; there is significant potential for growth as Bangladesh's stability, economy, moderation in religion and tourist infrastructure improves. In addition West Bengal hosts the celebrated and controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen.
Undocumented immigration of Bangladeshi workers is a controversial issue[62] championed by right-wing nationalist parties in India but finds little sympathy in West Bengal. India has fenced the border to control this flow but immigration is still continuing.[65] A rallying cry for the right-wing Hindu parties in India is that the demographics changed such as in West Bengal's border district of Malda from Hindu-majority to Muslim-majority.
The official land border crossing at Petrapole-Benapole is the primary conduit for the over $1 billion trade between the two halves of Bengal. The volume of unofficial exports to Bangladesh from India is reportedly in the range of $350–500 million each year.[66] Bangladesh argues thatIndia needs to open up its border more to Bangladeshi exports. Other landports between the two Bengals are Changrabandha-Burimari and Balurghat-Hili.
Cultural exchanges between the two parts of Bengal have been somewhat (but not fully) impacted by ups and downs in India-Bangladesh relations and in the influence of extremist Islamist groups in Bangladesh. West Bengal singers and actors complained about being rejected visas in previous years. West Bengal television channels are widely watched in Banglades, while no Bangladeshi channels are absent in West Bengal due to import policies. In foreign countries such as the U.S., Canada, Britain, and UAE, it is common for Bengalis from both sides to form joint cultural associations and friendships, although inter-marriage is not significant, especially across religious barriers.
[edit]Gallery
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[edit]See also
[edit]Notes
- ^ The Kolkata metropolitan area has a population of over 14 million, making it the largest urban agglomeration in Bengal.
- ^ a b c d e "Provisional Population Totals: West Bengal". Census of India, 2001. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
- ^ a b c World Bank Development Indicators Database, 2006.
- ^ "West Bengal - Human development fact sheet". United Nations Development Programme. 2001. Retrieved 2007-03-01.[dead link]
- ^ "The World Factbook - Bangladesh".CIA World Factbook. 2001. Retrieved 2007-03-01.
- ^ James Heitzman and Robert L. Worden, ed (1989). "Early History, 1000 B. C.-A. D. 1202". Bangladesh: A country study. Library of Congress.
- ^ M.A. Amitabha Bhattacharyya, Historical Geography of Ancient and Early Mediaeval Bengal, Sanskrit Pustak Bhandar, 1977, pp. 61–62.
- ^ Robinson, Rowan (1995). The great book of hemp. Inner Traditions. p. 107.ISBN 9780892815418.
- ^http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/studies/inhemp/4chapt9.htm
- ^ a b Sultana, Sabiha. "Settlement in Bengal (Early Period)". Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2007-03-04.
- ^ "History of Bangladesh". Bangladesh Student Association. Archived from the original on 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2006-10-26.
- ^ "4000-year old settlement unearthed in Bangladesh". Xinhua. 2006-March.
- ^ Chowdhury, AM. "Gangaridai".Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Retrieved 2006-09-08.
- ^ "Shashank". Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Retrieved 2006-10-26.
- ^ SNHM. Vol. II, pp. 209, 224.
- ^ Chaudhury, S; Mohsin, KM."Sirajuddaula". Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Retrieved 2006-10-26.
- ^ Fiske, John. "The Famine of 1770 in Bengal". The Unseen World, and other essays. University of Adelaide Library Electronic Texts Collection. Retrieved 2006-10-26.
- ^ (Baxter 1997, pp. 30–32)
- ^ (Baxter 1997, pp. 39–40)
- ^ Chitta Ranjan Misra. "United Bengal Movement". Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2007-02-06.
- ^ a b Harun-or-Rashid. "Partition of Bengal, 1947". Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Retrieved 2006-10-26.
- ^ Suranjan Das. "Calcutta Riots (1946)". Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the originalon 2007-03-07. Retrieved 2007-02-06.
- ^ (Baxter 1997, pp. 62–63)
- ^ (Baxter 1997, pp. 78–79)
- ^ Salik, Siddiq (1978). Witness to Surrender. Oxford University Press.ISBN 0-19-577264-4.
- ^ Burke, S (1973). "The Postwar Diplomacy of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971". Asian Survey 13 (11): 1036–1049.doi:10.1525/as.1973.13.11.01p0385c.
- ^ (Bennett & Hindle 1996, pp. 63–70)
- ^ Biswas, Soutik (2006-04-16)."Calcutta's colourless campaign".BBC. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
- ^ Ali, A (1996). "Vulnerability of Bangladesh to climate change and sea level rise through tropical cyclones and storm surges". Water, Air, & Soil Pollution92 (1-2): 171–179.doi:10.1007/BF00175563 (inactive 2009-11-14).
- ^ Summit Elevations: Frequent Internet Errors. Retrieved 2006-04-13.
- ^ IUCN (1997). "Sundarban wildlife sanctuaries Bangladesh". World Heritage Nomination-IUCN Technical Evaluation.
- ^ "Statistical Facts about India". www.indianmirror.com. Retrieved 2006-10-26.
- ^ "National Himalayan Sandakphu-Gurdum Trekking Expedition: 2006". Youth Hostels Association of India: West Bengal State Branch. Archived from the original on 2006-10-24. Retrieved 2006-10-26.
- ^ Chowdhury U. K., Biswas B. K., Chowdhury T. R. (2000). "Groundwater arsenic contamination in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India".Environmental Health Perspectives 108(4): 393–397. doi:10.2307/3454378.JSTOR 3454378.
- ^ Adjusted population, p.4, "Population Census 2001, Preliminary Report"(PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2001-08.
- ^ "Data on Religion". Census of India (2001). Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
- ^ a b "Introduction and Human Development Indices for West Bengal" (PDF). West Bengal Human Development Report 2004. Development and Planning Department, Government of West Bengal. May 2004. pp. pp4–6. ISBN 81-7955-030-3. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
- ^ "An Indian life: Life expectancy in our nation". India Together. Civil Society Information Exchange Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
- ^ "World Health Report 2005". World Health Organization.
- ^ "2005 Human Development Report".UNDP.
- ^ Bangladesh Country Statistics,Unicef
- ^ "Wandering Gaia". "The Give and Take of the Ganges" WordPress.com. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
- ^ Nanda, J. N (2005). Bengal: the unique state. Concept Publishing Company. p. 10. ISBN 9788180691492. Retrieved 2010-11-22. "Bengal [...] was rich in the production and export of grain, salt, fruit, liquors and wines, precious metals and ornaments besides the output of its handlooms in silk and cotton. Europe referred to Bengal as the richest country to trade with."
- ^ a b "The State Economy" (PDF).Indian States Economy and Business: West Bengal. India Brand Equity Foundation, Confederation of Indian Industry. p. 9. Retrieved 2006-09-07.
- ^ "Economy". West Bengal. Suni System (P) Ltd. Retrieved 2006-09-07.
- ^ "Basic Information". About West Bengal. West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation. Archived fromthe original on 2006-03-29. Retrieved 2006-09-07.
- ^ "Dasgupta, 2002". Retrieved 2006-04-11.[dead link]
- ^ "Consul General Henry V. Jardine to The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, October 20, 2005". Retrieved 2006-04-11.
- ^ Annual Report 2004-2005, Bangladesh Bank
- ^ Roland, B (2005-01-06). "Bangladesh Garments Aim to Compete". BBC. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
- ^ Rahman, S (2004). "Global Shift: Bangladesh Garment Industry in Perspective". Asian Affairs 26 (1): 75–91.
- ^ Begum, N (2001). "Enforcement of Safety Regulations in Garment sector in Bangladesh". Proc. Growth of Garment Industry in Bangladesh: Economic and Social dimension. pp. 208–226.
- ^ Schreiner, Mark (2003). "A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh,". Development Policy Review 21 (3): 357–382.doi:10.1111/1467-7679.00215.
- ^ "Yunus sees big Answers in Micro-credit" Globe and Mail article |http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080611.RYUNUS11/TPStory/Business
- ^ "The Bauls of Bengal". Folk Music. BengalOnline. Retrieved 2006-10-26.
- ^http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/A_0246.htm
- ^ Gertjan de Graaf, Abdul Latif."Development of freshwater fish farming and poverty alleviation: A case study from Bangladesh" (PDF). Aqua KE Government. Retrieved 2006-10-22.
- ^ "Durga Puja". Festivals of Bengal. West Bengal Tourism, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 2006-10-28.
- ^ a b "General Review". Registrar of Newspapers for India. Retrieved 2006-09-01.
- ^ "Bangladesh dominate Indo-Bangla Games, clinch 45 gold medals". Yahoo Web Services India Pvt Ltd. 2008-02-27. Retrieved 2008-02-27.[dead link]
- ^ "Union Home Secretary Chairs a High Level Empowered Committee".Embassy of India: Foreign Relations. Government of India. December 10, 1998. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ^ a b c "Address by External Affairs Minister Shri Natwar Singh at India-Bangladesh Dialogue Organised by Centre for Policy Dialogue and India International Centre". Speeches. Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. 2005-08-07. Retrieved 2008-02-26.[dead link]
- ^ a b Sinha, Dipankar (July–August 2005)."E par Bangla, O par Bangla, no thank you". Himal South Asian (Kathmandu, Nepal: The Southasia Trust) 17 (1). Archived from the original on 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ^ "India-Bangladesh train to resume in April - official". Reuters. 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2008-02-26.
- ^ Chattopadhyay, S.S (June 2007)."Constant traffic". Frontline (The Hindu)24 (11). Retrieved 2008-02-26.
- ^ Mishra, Richa (November 11, 2004)."Indo-Bangla informal trade cause for concern: FICCI". The Hindu Business Line (The Hindu). Retrieved 2008-03-27.
[edit]References
- Baxter, C (1997). Bangladesh, From a Nation to a State. Westview Press. pp. 0813336325. ISBN 185984121X
- Bennett, A; Hindle, J (1996). London Review of Books: An Anthology. Verso. pp. 63–70. ISBN 185984121X
[edit]External links
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bengal |
Geo Links for Bengal
- Banglapedia-specialised site
- www.hostkingdom.net- List of rulers of Bengal
- WorldStatesmen- here India
- Information portal of West Bengal
- Maps
Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection at University of Texas at Austin Libraries
- India from The Historical Atlas by William R. Shepherd, 1923
- India 1760 from The Public Schools Historical Atlas edited by C. Colbeck. Longmans, Green, and Co. 1905
- India 1882 from A Dictionary Practical, Theoretical, and Historical of Commerce and Commercial Navigation by J.R. M'Culloch. Longmans, Green and Co. London, 1882
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