West Bengal - Wikipedia
West Bengal - Wikipedia
West Bengal - Wikipedia
West Bengal (/bɛnˈɡɔːl/, Bengali: Poshchim Bongo, pronounced [ˈpoʃtʃim ˈbɔŋɡo] , abbr. WB) is a state
in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over
91 million inhabitants within an area of 88,752 km2 (34,267 sq mi) as of 2011. The population
estimate as of 2023 is 102,552,787.[12] West Bengal is the fourth-most populous and thirteenth-
largest state by area in India, as well as the eighth-most populous country subdivision of the world.
As a part of the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent, it borders Bangladesh in the east, and
Nepal and Bhutan in the north. It also borders the Indian states of Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, Sikkim
and Assam. The state capital is Kolkata, the third-largest metropolis, and seventh largest city by
population in India. West Bengal includes the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region, the Ganges delta, the
Rarh region, the coastal Sundarbans and the Bay of Bengal. The state's main ethnic group are the
Bengalis, with the Bengali Hindus forming the demographic majority.
The area's early history featured a succession of Indian empires, internal squabbling, and a tussle
between Hinduism and Buddhism for dominance. Ancient Bengal was the site of several major
Janapadas, while the earliest cities date back to the Vedic period. The region was part of several
ancient pan−Indian empires, including the Vangas, Mauryans, and the Guptas. The citadel of Gauḍa
served as the capital of the Gauḍa Kingdom, the Pala Empire, and the Sena Empire. Islam was
introduced through trade with the Abbasid Caliphate, but following the Ghurid conquests led by
Bakhtiyar Khalji and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, the Muslim faith spread across the
entire Bengal region. During the Bengal Sultanate, the territory was a major trading nation in the
world, and was often referred by the Europeans as the "richest country to trade with". It was
absorbed into the Mughal Empire in 1576. Simultaneously, some parts of the region were ruled by
several Hindu states, and Baro-Bhuyan landlords, and part of it was briefly overrun by the Suri
Empire. Following the death of Emperor Aurangzeb in the early 1700s, the proto-industrialised
Mughal Bengal became a semi-independent state under the Nawabs of Bengal, and showed signs
of the first Industrial revolution.[13][14] The region was later annexed into the Bengal Presidency by
the British East India Company after the Battle of Buxar in 1764.[15][16] From 1772 to 1911, Calcutta
was the capital of all of East India Company's territories and then the capital of the entirety of India
after the establishment of the Viceroyalty.[17] From 1912 to India's Independence in 1947, it was the
capital of the Bengal Province.[18]
The region was a hotbed of the Indian independence movement and has remained one of India's
great artistic and intellectual centres.[19] Following widespread religious violence, the Bengal
Legislative Council and the Bengal Legislative Assembly voted on the Partition of Bengal in 1947
along religious lines into two independent
West Bengal
dominions: West Bengal, a Hindu-majority Indian
state, and East Bengal, a Muslim-majority State
policies, poor infrastructure, and red tape.[25][26] It Anthem: Banglar Mati Banglar Jol
(The Soil of Bengal, The Water of Bengal)[1]
also has the 26th-highest ranking among Indian
states in human development index, with the
index value being lower than the Indian
average.[8][22] The state government debt of
₹6.47 lakh crore (US$78 billion), or 37.67% of
GSDP, has dropped from 40.65% since 2010–
11.[27][5] West Bengal has three World Heritage
sites and ranks as the eight-most visited tourist
destination in India and third-most visited state of
India globally.[28][29]
Etymology
word derives from "Bang", the name of a Coordinates: 22.57°N 88.37°E (https://geohac
Dravidian tribe that settled the region around k.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=West
_Bengal¶ms=22.57_N_88.37_E_type:adm
1000 BCE.[30] The Bengali word Bongo might have 1st_scale:3000000_region:IN-WB)
been derived from the ancient kingdom of Vanga
Country India
(or Banga). Although some early Sanskrit
Region East India
literature mentions the name Vanga, the region's
early history is obscure.[31]
Before was Bengal Province
In 1947, at the end of British rule over the Indian Formation 15 August 1947
(by bifurcation)
subcontinent the Bengal Legislative Council and
the Bengal Legislative Assembly voted on the Capital Kolkata
and largest city
Partition of Bengal along religious lines into two
separate entities: West Bengal, which continued Largest metro Kolkata Metropolitan
Region
as an Indian state and East Bengal, a province of
Districts 23 (5 divisions)
Pakistan, which came to be known be as East
Pakistan and later became the independent Government
Population (2011)[3]
• Total 91,347,736
• Rank 4th
Coin of the King Shashanka, who
• Density 1,029/km2
created the first separate political (2,670/sq mi)
entity in Bengal, called the Gauda
Kingdom • Urban 31.87%
Stone Age tools dating back 20,000 years have • Rural 68.13%
been excavated in the state, showing human Demonym Bengali
occupation 8,000 years earlier than scholars had
Language
[37]
thought. According to the Indian epic
• Official Bengali[4] • English
Mahabharata the region was part of the Vanga
Kingdom.[38] Several Vedic realms were present in
the Bengal region, including Vanga, Rarh, • Additional official Nepali • Urdu • Hindi •
Pundravardhana and the Suhma Kingdom. One of Odia • Santali •
Punjabi • Kamtapuri •
the earliest foreign references to Bengal is a Rajbanshi • Kurmali •
Kurukh • Telugu[4]
mention by the Ancient Greeks around 100 BCE of
a land named Gangaridai located at the mouths • Official script Bengali–Assamese
script
of the Ganges.[39] Bengal had overseas trade
relations with Suvarnabhumi (Burma, Lower GDP[5][6][7]
Thailand, the Lower Malay Peninsula and • Total (2023) ₹17.19 lakh crore
Sumatra). [40]
According to the Sri Lankan (US$210 billion)
comprising Bihar and Bengal. It was one of the HDI (2022) 0.674 Medium[8]
four main kingdoms of India at the time of the (24th)
lives of Mahavira, the principal figure of Jainism Literacy (2017) 80.5%[9] (19th)
and Gautama Buddha, founder of Buddhism. It Sex ratio (2011) 950♀/1000 ♂[10] (8th)
consisted of several janapadas, or kingdoms.[42]
Website wb.gov.in (http://wb.
Under Ashoka, the Maurya Empire of Magadha in gov.in)
the 3rd century BCE extended over nearly all of
South Asia, including Afghanistan and parts of Symbols of West Bengal
Balochistan. From the 3rd to the 6th centuries CE,
the kingdom of Magadha served as the seat of
the Gupta Empire.[43]
Subsequent Muslim conquests helped spread Islam throughout the region.[53] It was ruled by
dynasties of the Bengal Sultanate and feudal lords under the Delhi Sultanate for the next few
hundred years. The Bengal Sultanate was interrupted for twenty years by a Hindu uprising under
Raja Ganesha. In the 16th century, Mughal general Islam Khan conquered Bengal. Administration by
governors appointed by the court of the Mughal Empire gave way to semi-independence under the
Nawabs of Murshidabad, who nominally respected the sovereignty of the Mughals in Delhi. Several
independent Hindu states were established in Bengal during the Mughal period, including those of
Pratapaditya of Jessore District and Raja Sitaram Ray of Bardhaman. Following the death of
Emperor Aurangzeb and the Governor of Bengal, Shaista Khan, the proto-industrialised Mughal
Bengal became a semi-independent state under the Nawabs of Bengal, and showed signs of the
world's first Industrial revolution.[13][14] The Koch dynasty in northern Bengal flourished during the
16th and 17th centuries; it weathered the Mughals and survived until the advent of the British
colonial era.[54][55]
Colonial period
Several European traders reached this area in the late 15th century. The British East India Company
defeated Siraj ud-Daulah, the last independent Nawab, in the Battle of Plassey in 1757. The
company gained the right to collect revenue in Bengal subah (province) in 1765 with the signing of
the treaty between the East India company and the Mughal emperor following the Battle of Buxar in
1764.[56] The Bengal Presidency was established in 1765; it later incorporated all British-controlled
territory north of the Central Provinces (now Madhya Pradesh), from the mouths of the Ganges and
the Brahmaputra to the Himalayas and the Punjab. The Bengal famine of 1770 claimed millions of
lives due to tax policies enacted by the British company.[57] Calcutta, the headquarters of the East
India company, was named the capital of British-held territories in India in 1773.[58] The failed Indian
rebellion of 1857 started near Calcutta and resulted in a transfer of authority to the British Crown,[59]
administered by the Viceroy of India.[60]
The Bengal Renaissance and the Brahmo Samaj socio-cultural reform movements significantly
influenced the cultural and economic life of Bengal.[61] Between 1905 and 1911 an abortive attempt
was made to divide the province of Bengal into two zones.[62] Bengal suffered from the Great Bengal
famine in 1943, which claimed three million lives during World War II.[63] Bengalis played a major
role in the Indian independence movement, in which revolutionary groups such as Anushilan Samiti
and Jugantar were dominant.[19] Armed attempts against the British Raj from Bengal reached a
climax when news of Subhas Chandra Bose leading the Indian National Army against the British
reached Bengal. The Indian National Army was subsequently routed by the British.[64]
When India gained independence in 1947, Bengal was partitioned along religious lines. The western
part went to the Dominion of India and was named West Bengal. The eastern part went to the
Dominion of Pakistan as a province called East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan in 1956),
becoming the independent nation of Bangladesh in 1971.[65] In 1950 the Princely State of Cooch
Behar merged with West Bengal.[66] In 1955 the former French enclave of Chandannagar, which had
passed into Indian control after 1950, was integrated into West Bengal; portions of Bihar were also
subsequently merged with West Bengal. Both West and East Bengal experienced large influxes of
refugees during and after the partition in 1947. Refugee resettlement and related issues continued
to play a significant role in the politics and socio-economic condition of the state.[66]
During the 1970s and 1980s, severe power shortages, strikes and a violent Marxist–Maoist
movement by groups known as the Naxalites damaged much of the city's infrastructure, leading to a
period of economic stagnation and deindustrialisation.[23] The Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971
resulted in an influx of millions of refugees to West Bengal, causing significant strains on its
infrastructure.[67] The 1974 smallpox epidemic killed thousands. 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 the Communist Party of India (Marxist), governed the state
for the next three decades.[68]
The state's economic recovery gathered momentum after the central government introduced
economic liberalisations in the mid-1990s. This was aided by the advent of information technology
and IT-enabled services. Beginning in the mid-2000s, armed activists conducted minor terrorist
attacks in some parts of the state.[69][70] Clashes with the administration took place at several
controversial locations over the issue of industrial land acquisition.[71][72] This became a decisive
reason behind the defeat of the ruling Left Front government in the 2011 assembly election.[73]
Although the economy was severely damaged during the unrest in the 1970s, the state has
managed to revive its economy steadily throughout the years.[74][75][76] The state has shown
improvement regarding bandhs (strikes)[77][78][79] and educational infrastructure.[80] Significant
strides have been made in reducing unemployment,[81] though the state suffers from substandard
healthcare services,[82][83] a lack of socio-economic development,[84] poor infrastructure,[85]
unemployment and civil violence.[86][87] In 2006 the state's healthcare system was severely criticised
in the aftermath of the West Bengal blood test kit scam.[88][89]
Geography
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 square kilometres (34,267 sq mi).[3]
The Darjeeling Himalayan hill region in the northern extreme of the state is a part of the eastern
Himalayas mountain range. In this region is Sandakfu, which, at 3,636 m (11,929 ft), is the highest
peak in the state.[90] The narrow Terai region separates the hills from the North Bengal 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 in the
extreme south, while the Sundarbans mangrove forests form a geographical landmark at the
Ganges delta.[91]
The main river in West Bengal is the Ganges, which divides into two branches. One branch enters
Bangladesh as the Padma, or Pôdda, while the other flows through West Bengal as the Bhagirathi
River and Hooghly River. The Farakka barrage over the Ganges feeds the Hooghly branch of the river
by a feeder canal. Its water flow management has been a source of lingering dispute between India
and Bangladesh.[92] The Teesta, Torsa, Jaldhaka and Mahananda rivers are in the northern hilly
region. The western plateau region has rivers like the Damodar, Ajay and Kangsabati. The Ganges
delta and the Sundarbans area have numerous rivers and creeks. Pollution of the Ganges from
indiscriminate waste dumped into the river is a major problem.[93] Damodar, another tributary of the
Ganges and once known as the "Sorrow of Bengal" (due to its frequent floods), has several dams
under the Damodar Valley Project. At least nine districts in the state suffer from arsenic
contamination of groundwater, and as of 2017 an estimated 1.04 crore people were afflicted by
arsenic poisoning.[94]
West Bengal's climate varies from tropical savanna in the southern portions to humid subtropical in
the north. The main seasons are summer, the rainy season, a short autumn and winter. While the
summer in the delta region is noted for excessive humidity, the western highlands experience a dry
summer like northern India. The highest daytime temperatures range from 38 to 45 °C (100 to
113 °F).[95] At night, a cool southerly breeze carries moisture from the Bay of Bengal. In early
summer, brief squalls and thunderstorms known as Kalbaisakhi, or Nor'westers, often occur.[96]
West Bengal receives the Bay of Bengal branch of the Indian Ocean monsoon that moves in a
southeast to northwest direction. Monsoons bring rain to the whole state from June to September.
Heavy rainfall of above 250 centimetres (98 in) is observed in the Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch
Behar district. During the arrival of the monsoons, low pressure in the Bay of Bengal region often
leads to the formation of storms in the coastal areas. Winter (December–January) is mild over the
plains with average minimum temperatures of 15 °C (59 °F).[95] A cold and dry northern wind blows
in the winter, substantially lowering the humidity level. The Darjeeling Himalayan Hill region
experiences a harsh winter, with occasional snowfall.[97]
The "India State of Forest Report 2017", recorded forest area in the state is 16,847 km2
(6,505 sq mi),[98][99] while in 2013, forest area was 16,805 km2 (6,488 sq mi), which was 18.93% of
the state's geographical area, compared to the then national average of 21.23%.[100] Reserves and
protected and unclassed forests constitute 59.4%, 31.8% and 8.9%, respectively, of forested areas,
as of 2009.[101] Part of the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans in southern West
Bengal.[102]
From a phytogeographic viewpoint, the southern part of West Bengal can be divided into two
regions: the Gangetic plain and the littoral mangrove forests of the Sundarbans.[103] The alluvial soil
of the Gangetic plain, combined with favourable rainfall, makes this region especially fertile.[103]
Much of the vegetation of the western part of the state has similar species composition with the
plants of the Chota Nagpur plateau in the adjoining state of Jharkhand.[103] The predominant
commercial tree species is Shorea robusta, commonly known as the sal tree. The coastal region of
Purba Medinipur exhibits coastal vegetation; the predominant tree is the Casuarina. A notable tree
from the Sundarbans is the ubiquitous sundari (Heritiera fomes), from which the forest gets its
name.[104]
The distribution of vegetation in northern West Bengal is dictated by elevation and precipitation. For
example, the foothills of the Himalayas, the Dooars, are densely wooded with sal and other tropical
evergreen trees.[105] Above an elevation of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft), the forest becomes
predominantly subtropical. In Darjeeling, which is above 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), temperate forest
trees like oaks, conifers and rhododendrons predominate.[105]
3.26% of the geographical area of West Bengal is protected land, comprising fifteen wildlife
sanctuaries and five national parks—Sundarbans National Park, Buxa Tiger Reserve, Gorumara
National Park, Neora Valley National Park and Singalila National Park.[101] Extant wildlife includes
Indian rhinoceros, Indian elephant, deer, leopard, gaur, tiger and crocodiles, as well as many bird
species. Migratory birds come to the state during the winter.[106] The high-altitude forests of
Singalila National Park shelter barking deer, red panda, chinkara, takin, serow, pangolin, minivet and
kalij pheasants. The Sundarbans are noted for a reserve project devoted to conserving the
endangered Bengal tiger, although the forest hosts many other endangered species such as the
Gangetic dolphin, river terrapin and estuarine crocodile.[107] The mangrove forest also acts as a
natural fish nursery, supporting coastal fishes along the Bay of Bengal.[107] Recognising its special
conservation value, the Sundarbans area has been declared a Biosphere Reserve.[101]
Government and politics
West Bengal is governed through a parliamentary system of representative democracy, a feature the
state shares with other Indian states. Universal suffrage is granted to residents. There are two
branches of government. The legislature, the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, consists of elected
members and special office bearers such as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, who are elected by
the members. Assembly meetings are presided over by the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker in the
Speaker's absence. The judiciary is composed of the Calcutta High Court and a system of lower
courts. Executive authority is vested in the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister
although the titular head of government is the Governor. The Governor is the Head of State
appointed by the President of India. The leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the
Legislative Assembly is appointed as the Chief Minister by the Governor. The Council of Ministers is
appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister. The Council of Ministers reports to
the Legislative Assembly. The Assembly is unicameral with 295 members, or MLAs,[108] including
one nominated from the Anglo-Indian community. Terms of office run for five years unless the
Assembly is dissolved before the completion of the term. Auxiliary authorities known as panchayats,
for which local body elections are regularly held, govern local affairs. The state contributes 42 seats
to the Lok Sabha[109] and 16 seats to the Rajya Sabha of the Indian Parliament.[110]
Politics in West Bengal is dominated by the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), and the Left Front alliance (led by the Communist Party
of India (Marxist) or CPI(M)). Following the West Bengal State Assembly Election in 2011, the All
India Trinamool Congress and Indian National Congress coalition under Mamata Banerjee of the All
India Trinamool Congress was elected to power with 225 seats in the legislature.[111]
Prior to this, West Bengal was ruled by the Left Front for 34 years (1977–2011), making it the
world's longest-running democratically elected communist government.[68] Banerjee was re-elected
twice as Chief Minister in the 2016 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election and 2021 West
Bengal Legislative Assembly election with 211 and 215 seats respectively, an absolute majority by
the Trinamool Congress.[112] The state has one autonomous region, the Gorkhaland Territorial
Administration.[113]
Districts
District Population Growth rate Sex ratio Literacy Density per square Kilometer
Cities
The capital and largest city of the state is Kolkata—the third-largest urban agglomeration[117] and
the seventh-largest city[118] in India. Asansol is the second-largest city and urban agglomeration in
West Bengal.[117]
Major planned cities of West Bengal include Bidhannagar, New Town, Kalyani, Haldia, Durgapur and
Kharagpur. Kolkata has some planned neighbourhoods like New Garia, Tollygunge, and Lake Town.
Siliguri is an economically important city, strategically located in the northeastern Siliguri Corridor
(Chicken's Neck) of India.[119] Other larger cities and towns in West Bengal are Howrah,
Chandannagar, Bardhaman, Baharampur, Jalpaiguri, and Purulia etc.[120]
Economy
As of 2015, West Bengal has the sixth-highest GSDP in India. GSDP at current prices (base 2004–
2005) has increased from Rs 2,086.56 billion in 2004–05 to Rs 8,00,868 crores in 2014–2015,[122]
reaching Rs 10,21,000 crores in 2017–18.[123] GSDP per cent growth at current prices varied from a
low of 10.3% in 2010–2011 to a high of 17.11% in 2013–2014. The growth rate was 13.35% in
2014–2015.[124] The state's per capita income has lagged the all India average for over two
decades. As of 2014–2015, per capita NSDP at current prices was Rs 78,903.[124] Per-capita NSDP
growth rate at current prices varied from 9.4% in 2010–2011 to a high of 16.15% in 2013–2014. The
growth rate was 12.62% in 2014–2015.[125]
In 2015–2016, the percentage share of Gross Value Added Net State Domestic Product at
(GVA) at factor cost by economic activity at the constant price Factor Cost at Current Prices
(the base year 2011–2012) was Agriculture-Forestry and (2004–05 Base)[121]
Fishery—4.84%, Industry 18.51% and Services 66.65%. It has (figures in crores of Indian
been observed that there has been a slow but steady decline in rupees)
the percentage share of industry and agriculture over the
years.[126] Agriculture is the leading economic sector in West Net State Domestic
Year
Product
Bengal. Rice is the state's principal food crop. Rice, potato, jute,
sugarcane and wheat are the state's top five crops.[127]: 14 Tea is 2004–
190,073
2005
produced commercially in northern districts; the region is well
known for Darjeeling and other high-quality teas.[127]: 14 State 2005–
209,642
industries are localised in the Kolkata region, the mineral-rich 2006
Years after independence, West Bengal is dependent on the central government for help in meeting
its demands for food; food production remained stagnant, and the Indian green revolution bypassed
the state. However, there has been a significant increase in food production since the 1980s and the
state now has a surplus of grains.[130] The state's share of total industrial output in India was 9.8% in
1980–1981, declining to 5% by 1997–1998. In contrast, the service sector has grown at a rate
higher than the national rate.[130] The state's total financial debt stood at ₹1,918,350 million
(US$23 billion) as of 2011.[131]
Freshly sown saplings of rice in a
paddy; in the background are stacks
of jute sticks.
In the period 2004–2010, the average gross state domestic product (GSDP) growth rate was 13.9%
(calculated in Indian rupee terms) lower than 15.5%, the average for all states of the country.[127]: 4
The economy of West Bengal has witnessed many surprising changes in direction. The agricultural
sector in particular rose to 8.33% in 2010–11 before tumbling to −4.01% in 2012–13.[132] Many
major industries such as the Uttarpara Hindustan Motors car manufacturing unit, the jute industry,
and the Haldia Petrochemicals unit experienced shutdowns in 2014. In the same year, plans for a
300 billion Jindal Steel project was mothballed. The tea industry of West Bengal has also witnessed
shutdowns for financial and political reasons.[133] The tourism industry of West Bengal was
negatively impacted in 2017 because of the Gorkhaland agitation.[134]
However, over the years due to effective changes in the stance towards industrialisation, ease of
doing business has improved in West Bengal.[135][136][137] Steps are being taken to remedy this
situation by promoting West Bengal as an investment destination. A leather complex has been built
in Kolkata. Smart cities are being planned close to Kolkata, and major roadway projects are in the
offing to revive the economy.[138] West Bengal has been able to attract 2% of the foreign direct
investment in the last decade.[139]
Transport
As of 2011, the total length of surface roads in West Bengal was over 92,023 kilometres (57,180
miles);[127]: 18 national highways comprise 2,578 km (1,602 mi)[140] and state highways 2,393 km
(1,487 mi).[127]: 18 As of 2006, the road density of the state was 103.69 kilometres per square
kilometre (166.87 miles per square mile), higher than the national average of 74.7 km/km2
(120.2 mi/sq mi).[141]
As of 2011, the total railway route length was around 4,481 km (2,784 mi).[127]: 20 Kolkata is the
headquarters of three zones of the Indian Railways—Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway and
the Kolkata Metro, which is the newly formed 17th zone of the Indian Railways.[142][143] The
Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) serves the northern parts of the state. The Kolkata metro is the
country's first underground railway.[144] The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, part of NFR, is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.[145]
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Dum Dum, Kolkata, is the state's largest airport.
Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri is a customs airport that offers international service to Bhutan and
Thailand, besides regular domestic service. Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport, India's first private sector
airport, serves the twin cities of Asansol-Durgapur at Andal, Paschim Bardhaman.[146][147]
Kolkata is a major river port in eastern India. The Kolkata Port Trust manages the Kolkata and the
Haldia docks.[148] There is passenger service to Port Blair on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Cargo ship service operates to ports in India and abroad, operated by the Shipping Corporation of
India. Ferries are a principal mode of transport in the southern part of the state, especially in the
Sundarbans area. Kolkata is the only city in India to have trams as a mode of transport; these are
operated by the Calcutta Tramways Company.[149]
Several government-owned organisations operate bus services in the state, including: the Calcutta
State Transport Corporation, the North Bengal State Transport Corporation, the South Bengal State
Transport Corporation, the West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation and the Calcutta Tramways
Company.[150] There are also private bus companies. The railway system is a nationalised service
without any private investment.[151] Hired forms of transport include metered taxis and auto
rickshaws, which often ply specific routes in cities. In most of the state, cycle rickshaws and in
Kolkata, hand-pulled rickshaws and electric rickshaws are used for short-distance travel.[152]
Demographics
13.93%,[3] lower than the 1991–2001 growth rate of 17.8%[3] and 1911 17,998,769 +6.2%
lower than the national rate of 17.64%.[154] The gender ratio is 1921 17,474,348 −2.9%
947 females per 1,000 males.[154] As of 2011, West Bengal had a 1931 18,897,036 +8.1%
population density of 1,029 inhabitants per square kilometre 1941 23,229,552 +22.9%
(2,670/sq mi) making it the second-most densely populated 1951 26,300,000 +13.2%
[154]
state in India, after Bihar. 1961 34,926,000 +32.8%
The literacy rate is 77.08%, higher than the national rate of 1971 44,312,000 +26.9%
74.04%.[155] Data from 2010 to 2014 showed the life expectancy 1981 54,581,000 +23.2%
in the state was 70.2 years, higher than the national value of 1991 68,078,000 +24.7%
67.9.[156][157] The proportion of people living below the poverty 2001 80,176,000 +17.8%
[158]
line in 2013 was 19.98%, a decline from 31.8% a decade ago. 2011 91,276,115 +13.8%
Scheduled castes and tribes form 28.6% and 5.8% of the 2022 98,604,000 +8.0%
population, respectively, in rural areas and 19.9% and 1.5%, Source: Census of India[153]
respectively, in urban areas.[130]
In September 2017, West Bengal achieved 100% electrification, after some remote villages in the
Sunderbans became the last to be electrified.[159]
As of September 2017, of 125 towns and cities in Bengal, 76 have achieved open defecation free
(ODF) status. All towns in the districts of: Nadia, North 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Bardhaman and East
Medinipur are ODF zones, with Nadia becoming the first ODF district in the state in April
2015.[160][161]
A study conducted in three districts of West Bengal found that accessing private health services to
treat illness had a catastrophic impact on households. This indicates the importance of the public
provision of health services to mitigate poverty and the impact of illness on poor households.[162]
The latest Sample Registration System (SRS) statistical report shows that West Bengal has the
lowest fertility rate among Indian states. West Bengal's total fertility rate was 1.6, lower than
neighbouring Bihar's 3.4, which is the highest in the entire country. Bengal's TFR of 1.6 roughly
equals that of Canada.[163]
Bengalis, consisting of Bengali Hindus, Bengali Muslims, Bengali Christians and a few Bengali
Buddhists, comprise the majority of the population.[164] Marwari, Maithili and Bhojpuri speakers are
scattered throughout the state; various indigenous ethnic Buddhist communities such as the
Sherpas, Bhutias, Lepchas, Tamangs, Yolmos and ethnic Tibetans can be found in the Darjeeling
Himalayan hill region. Native Khortha speakers are found in Malda district.[165]
Surjapuri, a language considered to be a mix of Maithili and Bengali, is spoken across northern parts
of the state.[166] The Darjeeling Hills are mainly inhabited by various Gorkha communities who
overwhelmingly speak Nepali (also known as Gorkhali), although there are some who retain their
ancestral languages like Lepcha. West Bengal is also home to indigenous tribal Adivasis such as:
Santhal, Munda, Oraon, Bhumij, Lodha, Kol and Toto.
There are a small number of ethnic minorities primarily in the state capital, including : Chinese,
Tamils, Maharashtrians, Odias, Malayalis, Gujaratis, Anglo-Indians, Armenians, Jews, Punjabis and
Parsis.[167] India's sole Chinatown is in eastern Kolkata.[168]
Languages
Religion
West Bengal is religiously diverse, with regional cultural and religious specificities. Although Hindus
are the predominant community, the state has a large minority Muslim population. Christians,
Buddhists and others form a minuscule part of the population. As of 2011, Hinduism is the most
common religion, with adherents representing 70.54% of the total population.[171] Muslims, the
second-largest community, comprise 27.01% of the total population,[172] Three of West Bengal's
districts: Murshidabad, Malda and Uttar Dinajpur, are Muslim-majority. Sikhism, Christianity,
Buddhism and other religions make up the remainder.[173] Buddhism remains a prominent religion in
the Himalayan region of the Darjeeling hills; almost the entirety of West Bengal's Buddhist
population is from this region.[174] Christianity is mainly found among the tea garden tribes at tea
plantations scattered throughout the Dooars of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts.
The Hindu population of West Bengal is 64,385,546 while the Muslim population is 24,654,825,
according to the 2011 census.[175]
Culture
Literature
The Bengali language boasts a rich literary heritage it shares with neighbouring Bangladesh. West
Bengal has a long tradition of folk literature, evidenced by the Charyapada, a collection of Buddhist
mystic songs dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries; Mangalkavya, a collection of Hindu
narrative poetry composed around the 13th century; Shreekrishna Kirtana, a pastoral Vaishnava
drama in verse composed by Boru Chandidas; Thakurmar Jhuli, a collection of Bengali folk and fairy
tales compiled by Dakshinaranjan Mitra Majumder; and stories of Gopal Bhar, a court jester in
medieval Bengal. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Bengali literature was modernised in the works of
authors such as Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, whose works marked a departure from the
traditional verse-oriented writings prevalent in that period;[178] Michael Madhusudan Dutt, a pioneer
in Bengali drama who introduced the use of blank verse;[179] and Rabindranath Tagore, who
reshaped Bengali literature and music. Indian art saw the introduction of Contextual Modernism in
the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[180] Other notable figures include Kazi Nazrul Islam, whose
compositions form the avant-garde genre of Nazrul Sangeet,[181] Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay,
whose works on contemporary social practices in Bengal are widely acclaimed,[182] and Manik
Bandyopadhyay, who is considered one of the leading lights of modern Bengali fiction.[183] In
modern times, Jibanananda Das has been acknowledged as "the premier poet of the post-Tagore
era in India".[184] Other writers include: Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay, best known for his work
Pather Panchali; Tarashankar Bandopadhyay, well known for his portrayal of the lower strata of
society;[185] Manik Bandopadhyay, a pioneering novelist; and Ashapurna Devi, Shirshendu
Mukhopadhyay, Saradindu Bandopadhyay, Buddhadeb Guha, Mahashweta Devi, Samaresh
Majumdar, Sanjeev Chattopadhyay, Shakti Chattopadhyay, Buddhadeb Basu,[186] Joy Goswami and
Sunil Gangopadhyay.[187][188]
Chhau Dance
A notable music tradition is the Baul music, practised by the Bauls, a sect of mystic minstrels.[189]
Other folk music forms include Gombhira and Bhawaiya. Folk music in West Bengal is often
accompanied by the ektara, a one-stringed instrument. Shyama Sangeet is a genre of devotional
songs, praising the Hindu goddess Kali; kirtan is devotional group songs dedicated to the god
Krishna.[190] Like other states in northern India, West Bengal also has a heritage in North Indian
classical music. Rabindrasangeet, songs composed and set to words by Rabindranath Tagore, and
Nazrul geeti (by Kazi Nazrul Islam) are popular. Also prominent are Dwijendralal, Atulprasad and
Rajanikanta's songs, and adhunik or modern music from films and other composers.[191] From the
early 1990s, new genres of music have emerged, including what has been called Bengali
Jeebonmukhi Gaan (a modern genre based on realism). Bengali dance forms draw from folk
traditions, especially those of the tribal groups, as well as the broader Indian dance traditions.
Chhau dance of Purulia is a rare form of masked dance.[192]
Films
West Bengali films are shot mostly in studios in the Kolkata neighbourhood of Tollygunge; the name
"Tollywood" (similar to Hollywood and Bollywood) is derived from that name. The Bengali film
industry is well known for its art films, and has produced acclaimed directors like Satyajit Ray who is
widely regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century,[193] Mrinal Sen whose films
were known for their artistic depiction of social reality, Tapan Sinha,[194] and Ritwik Ghatak. Some
contemporary directors include veterans such as: Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Tarun Majumdar, Goutam
Ghose, Aparna Sen, and Rituparno Ghosh, and a newer pool of directors such as Kaushik Ganguly
and Srijit Mukherji.[195][196][197] Uttam Kumar was the most popular lead actor for decades, and his
romantic pairing with actress Suchitra Sen in films attained legendary status.[198] Soumitra
Chatterjee, who acted in many Satyajit Ray-films, and Prosenjit Chatterjee are among other popular
lead male actors. As of 2020, Bengali films have won India's annual National Film Award for Best
Feature Film twenty-two times in sixty seven years, the highest among all Indian languages.
Fine arts
There are significant examples of fine arts in Bengal from earlier times, including the terracotta art
of Hindu temples and the Kalighat paintings. Bengal has been in the vanguard of modernism in fine
arts. Abanindranath Tagore, called the father of modern Indian art, started the Bengal School of Art,
one of whose goals was to promote the development of styles of art outside the European realist
tradition that had been taught in art colleges under the British colonial administration. The
movement had many adherents, including: Gaganendranath Tagore, Ramkinkar Baij, Jamini Roy and
Rabindranath Tagore. After Indian Independence, important groups such as the Calcutta Group and
the Society of Contemporary Artists were formed in Bengal and came to dominate the art scene in
India.[199][200]
Reformist heritage
The capital, Kolkata, was the workplace of several social reformers, including Raja Ram Mohan Roy,
Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar and Swami Vivekananda. Their social reforms eventually led to a cultural
atmosphere that made it possible for practices like sati, dowry, and caste-based discrimination, or
untouchability, to be abolished.[201] The region was also home to several religious teachers, such as
Chaitanya, Ramakrishna, Prabhupada and Paramahansa Yogananda.[201]
Cuisine
Assorted food eaten in West Bengal: Patisapta, a kind of pitha; shorshe ilish (hilsha with
mustard sauce) and rasgullas in sugar syrup
Rice and fish are traditional favourite foods, leading to a saying in Bengali, "machhe bhate bangali",
that translates as "fish and rice make a Bengali".[202] Bengal's vast repertoire of fish-based dishes
includes hilsa preparations, a favourite among Bengalis. There are numerous ways of cooking fish
depending on its texture, size, fat content and bones.[203] Most of the people also consume eggs,
chicken, mutton, and shrimp. Panta bhat (rice soaked overnight in water) with onion and green chili
is a traditional dish consumed in rural areas.[204] Common spices found in a Bengali kitchen include
cumin, ajmoda (radhuni), bay leaf, mustard, ginger, green chillies and turmeric.[205] Sweets occupy
an important place in the diet of Bengalis and at their social ceremonies. Bengalis make distinctive
sweetmeats from milk products, including Rôshogolla, Chômchôm, Kalojam and several kinds of
sondesh. Pitha, a kind of sweet cake, bread, or dim sum, are specialties of the winter season.
Sweets such as narkol-naru, til-naru, moa and payesh are prepared during festivals such as Lakshmi
puja.[206] Popular street foods include Aloor Chop, Beguni, Kati roll, biryani, and phuchka.[207][208]
Clothing
Bengali women commonly wear the sari, often distinctly designed according to local cultural
customs. In urban areas, many women and men wear western attire. Among men, western dress
has greater acceptance. Particularly on cultural occasions, men also wear traditional costumes
such as the panjabi with dhuti while women wear salwar kameez or sari.[209]
West Bengal produces several varieties of cotton and silk saris in the country. Handlooms are a
popular way for the state's rural population to earn a living through weaving. Every district has
weaving clusters, which are home to artisan communities, each specialising in specific varieties of
handloom weaving. Notable handloom saris include tant, jamdani, garad, korial, baluchari, tussar and
muslin.[210]
Festivals
Durga Puja is the biggest, most popular and widely celebrated festival in West Bengal.[211] The five-
day-long colourful Hindu festival includes intense celebration across the state. Pandals are erected
in various cities, towns, and villages throughout West Bengal. The city of Kolkata transforms Durga
Puja. It is decked up in lighting decorations and thousands of colourful pandals are set up where
effigies of the goddess Durga and her four children are displayed and worshipped. The idols of the
goddess are brought in from Kumortuli, where idol-makers work throughout the year fashioning clay
models of the goddess. Since independence in 1947, Durga Puja has slowly changed into more of a
glamorous carnival than a religious festival. Today people of diverse religious and ethnic
backgrounds partake in the festivities.[212] On Vijayadashami, the last day of the festival, the effigies
are paraded through the streets with riotous pageantry before being immersed into the rivers.[213]
Rath Yatra is a Hindu festival which celebrates Jagannath, a form of Krishna. It is celebrated with
much fanfare in Kolkata as well as in rural Bengal. Images of Jagannath are set upon a chariot and
pulled through the streets.[214]
Festivals of West Bengal: Durga Puja, Rath Yatra and Goddess Saraswati dressed in a yellow sari on Saraswati Puja
Other major festivals of West Bengal include: Poila Baishakh the Bengali new year, Dolyatra or Holi
the festival of lights, 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. All are important cultural events.[214]
Eid al-Fitr is the most important Muslim festival in West Bengal. They celebrate the end of Ramadan
with prayers, alms-giving, shopping, gift-giving, and feasting.[215]
Christmas, called Bôŗodin (Great day) is perhaps the next major festival celebrated in Kolkata, after
Durga Puja. Although Hinduism is the major religion in the state, people show significant passion to
the festival. Just like Durga Puja, Christmas in Kolkata is an occasion when all communities and
people of every religion take part. Large masses of people go to parks, gardens, museums, parties,
fairs, churches and other places to celebrate the day. A lot of Hindus go to Hindu-temples and the
festival is celebrated there too with Hindu rituals.[216][217] The state tourism department organises a
gala Christmas Festival every year in Park Street.[218] The whole of Park Street is hung with colourful
lights, and food stalls sell cakes, chocolates, Chinese cuisine, momo, and various other items. The
state invites musical groups from Darjeeling and other North East India states to perform choir
recitals, carols, and jazz numbers.[219]
Buddha Purnima, which marks the birth of Gautama Buddha, is one of the most important
Hindu/Buddhist festivals and is celebrated with much gusto in the Darjeeling hills. On this day,
processions begin at the various Buddhist monasteries, or gumpas, and congregate at the
Chowrasta (Darjeeling) Mall. The Lamas chant mantras and sound their bugles, and students, as
well as people from every community, carry the holy books or pustaks on their heads. Besides
Buddha Purnima, Dashain, or Dusshera, Holi, Diwali, Losar, Namsoong or the Lepcha New Year, and
Losoong are the other major festivals of the Darjeeling Himalayan region.[215]
Each year between July and August at Tarakeswar Yatra held, nearly 10 million devotees come from
various part of India bringing holy water of Ganga fin order to offer it to Lord Shiva.
Poush Mela is a popular winter festival of Shantiniketan, with performances of folk music, Baul
songs, dance, and theatre taking place throughout the town.[215]
Ganga Sagar Mela coincides with the Makar Sankranti, and hundreds of thousands of Hindu
pilgrims converge where the river Ganges meets the sea to bathe en masse during this fervent
festival.[214]
Education
Prajna Bhavan, housing the School of Mathematical Sciences and School of RKMVU.
West Bengal schools are run by the state government or private organisations, including religious
institutions. Instruction is mainly in English or Bengali, though Urdu is also used, especially in
Central Kolkata. Secondary schools are affiliated with the Council for the Indian School Certificate
Examinations (CISCE), 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.[220]
As of 2016 85% of children within the 6 to 17-year age group attend school (86% do so in urban
areas and 84% in rural areas). School attendance is almost universal among the 6 to 14-year age
group then drops to 70% with the 15 to 17-year age group. There is a gender disparity in school
attendance in the 6 to 14-year age group, more girls than boys are attending school. In Bengal, 71%
of women aged 15–49 years and 81% of men aged 15–49 years are literate. Only 14% of women
aged 15–49 years in West Bengal have completed 12 or more years of schooling, compared with
22% of men. 22% of women and 14% of men aged 15–49 years have never attended school.[221]
St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling
Some of the notable schools in the city are: 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 are some of which rank amongst the best schools in the country.[222] Many of the schools in
Kolkata and Darjeeling are colonial-era establishments housed in buildings that are exemplars of
neo-classical architecture. Darjeeling's schools include: St. Paul's, St. Joseph's North Point, Goethals
Memorial School, and Dow Hill in Kurseong.[223]
West Bengal has eighteen universities.[224][225] Kolkata has played a pioneering role in the
development of the modern education system in India. It was the gateway to the revolution of
European education during the British Raj.[226] Sir William Jones established the Asiatic Society in
1794 to promote oriental studies. People such as Ram Mohan Roy, David Hare, Ishwar Chandra
Vidyasagar, Alexander Duff and William Carey played leading roles in setting up modern schools and
colleges in the city.[215]
The University of Calcutta, the oldest and one of the most prestigious public universities in India,
has 136 affiliated colleges. Fort William College was established in 1810. The Hindu College was
established in 1817. The Lady Brabourne College was established in 1939. The Scottish Church
College, the oldest Christian liberal arts college in South Asia, started in 1830. The Vidyasagar
College was established in 1872 and was the first purely Indian-run private college in India.[227] In
1855 the Hindu College was renamed the Presidency College.[228] The state government granted it
university status in 2010 and it was renamed Presidency University. Kazi Nazrul University was
established in 2012. The University of Calcutta and Jadavpur University are prestigious technical
universities.[229] Visva-Bharati University at Santiniketan is a central university and an institution of
national importance.[230]
The Auditorium at Indian Institute of
Management Calcutta
Other higher education institutes of importance 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 supported the
creation of West Bengal University of Technology, West Bengal University of Health Sciences, West
Bengal State University, and Gour Banga University.[231]
Jadavpur University (Focus area—Mobile Computing and Communication and Nano-science), and
the University of Calcutta (Modern Biology) are among two of the fifteen universities selected under
the "University with Potential for Excellence" scheme. University of Calcutta (Focus Area—Electro-
Physiological and Neuro-imaging studies including mathematical modelling) has also been selected
under the "Centre with Potential for Excellence in a Particular Area" scheme.[232]
In addition, the state is home to Kalyani University, The University of Burdwan, Vidyasagar University,
and North Bengal University all well established and nationally renowned schools that cover
education needs at the district level and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research,
Kolkata. Apart from this there is a Deemed university run by the Ramakrishna mission named
Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University at Belur Math.[233]
There are several research institutes in Kolkata. The Indian Association for the Cultivation of
Science is the first research institute in Asia. C. V. Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize for his
discovery (Raman Effect) done at the IACS. The Bose Institute, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, S.
N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Central Glass and
Ceramic Research Institute, Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute Durgapur, Central
Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibers, National Institute of Research on Jute and Allied Fibre
Technology, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, National Institute of Biomedical Genomics
(NIBMG), Kalyani, and the Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre are the most prominent.[231]
Notable scholars who were born, worked, or studied in the geographic area of the state include
physicists: Satyendra Nath Bose, Meghnad Saha,[234] and Jagadish Chandra Bose;[235] chemist
Prafulla Chandra Roy;[234] statisticians Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis and Anil Kumar Gain;[234]
physician Upendranath Brahmachari;[234] educator Ashutosh Mukherjee;[236] and Nobel laureates
Rabindranath Tagore,[237] C. V. Raman,[235] Amartya Sen,[238] and Abhijit Banerjee[239]
Media
In 2005 West Bengal had 505 published newspapers,[240] of which 389 were in Bengali.[240] Ananda
Bazar Patrika, published in Kolkata with 1,277,801 daily copies, has the largest circulation for a
single-edition, regional language newspaper in India.[240] Other major Bengali newspapers are:
Bartaman, Ei Samay, Sangbad Pratidin, Aajkaal and Uttarbanga Sambad. Major English language
newspapers include The Telegraph, The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, The Statesman,
The Indian Express and Asian Age. Some prominent financial dailies such as: The Economic Times,
Financial Express, Business Line and Business Standard are widely circulated. Vernacular
newspapers such as those in Hindi, Nepali, Gujarati, Odia, Urdu and Punjabi also exist.[241]
DD Bangla is the state-owned television broadcaster. Multi system operators provide a mix of
Bengali, Nepali, Hindi, English and international channels via cable. Bengali 24-hour television news
channels include ABP Ananda, News18 Bangla, Republic Bangla, Kolkata TV, News Time, Zee 24
Ghanta, TV9 Bangla, Calcutta News and Channel 10.[242][243] All India Radio is a public radio
station.[243] Private FM stations are available only in cities like Kolkata, Siliguri, and Asansol.[243]
Vodafone Idea, Airtel, BSNL, Jio are available cellular phone providers. Broadband Internet is
available in select towns and cities and is provided by the state-run BSNL and by other private
companies. Dial-up access is provided throughout the state by BSNL and other providers.[244]
Sports
Cricket and association football are popular. West Bengal, unlike most other states of India, is noted
for its passion and patronage of football.[245][246][247] Kolkata is one of the major centres for football
in India[248] and houses top national clubs such as Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal Club and
Mohammedan Sporting Club.[249]
West Bengal has several large stadiums. Eden Gardens was one of only two 100,000-seat cricket
stadiums in the world;[250] renovations before the 2011 Cricket World Cup reduced the capacity to
66,000.[251] The stadium is the home to various cricket teams such as the Kolkata Knight Riders, the
Bengal cricket team and the East Zone. The 1987 Cricket World Cup final was hosted in Eden
Gardens. The Calcutta Cricket and Football Club is the second-oldest cricket club in the world.[252]
Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), is a multipurpose stadium in Kolkata, with a current
capacity of 85,000. It is the largest stadium in India by seating capacity.[253] Before its renovation in
2011, it was the second-largest football stadium in the world, having a seating capacity of 120,000.
It has hosted many national and international sporting events like the SAF Games of 1987 and the
2011 FIFA friendly football match between Argentina and Venezuela featuring Lionel Messi.[254] In
2008 legendary German goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn played his farewell match on this ground.[255] The
stadium hosted the final match of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Notable sports persons from West Bengal include former Indian national cricket team captain
Sourav Ganguly, Pankaj Roy, Olympic tennis bronze medallist Leander Paes and chess grand master
Dibyendu Barua.[245][246][247]
Panoramic view of the Eden Gardens Stadium during IPL 2008
See also
Bangal
Ghoti people
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External links
Government