Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards commonly referred as BFJA Awards , is given by The Bengal Film Journalists' Association . The BFJA is the oldest association of film critics in India , founded in 1937 to serve the developing film journalism and film industry.
106-453: Members of the association are drawn from the film section of the entire press of West Bengal composed of dailies, periodicals and film journals in various languages published from Kolkata . Film correspondents and critics working for any newspaper or periodicals published outside Bengal having their base in Kolkata were also eligible to be members of this association. The association was
212-683: A Sub-Divisional Magistrate , and again into blocks. Blocks consists of panchayats (village councils) and town municipalities. The capital and largest city of the state is Kolkata —the third-largest urban agglomeration and the seventh-largest city in India. Asansol is the second-largest city and urban agglomeration in West Bengal. 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
318-655: 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. The alluvial soil of the Gangetic plain, combined with favourable rainfall, makes this region especially fertile. Much of the vegetation of the western part of the state has similar species composition with the plants of the Chota Nagpur plateau in
424-410: A welfare state , West Bengal's economy is based on agricultural production and small and medium-sized enterprises . The state's cultural heritage, besides varied folk traditions, ranges from stalwarts in literature including Nobel-laureate Rabindranath Tagore to scores of musicians, film-makers and artists. For several decades, the state underwent political violence and economic stagnation after
530-536: A Jain monk from the "Rara" country erected a Jain image. A Khajuraho inscription mentions that the Chandela ruler imprisoned the wives of the rulers of various kingdoms, which included Rāḍha. The 12th century Naihati copper-plate inscription of the Sena ruler Vallalasena mentions Rāḍha as the ancestral place of his dynasty. Various ancient and medieval region offer clues about the location and historical extent of
636-468: A Vanga kingdom prince, conquered Lanka (modern-day Sri Lanka) and named the country Sinhala kingdom . The kingdom of Magadha was formed in the 7th century BCE, consisting of the regions now comprising Bihar and Bengal. It was one of the four main kingdoms of India at the time of the lives of Mahavira , the principal figure of Jainism and Gautama Buddha , founder of Buddhism . It consisted of several janapadas , or kingdoms. Under Ashoka ,
742-539: A distinct unit in several inscriptions, including the 10th century Gaonri inscription of Vakpati Munja , the 10th century Nyayakandali of Sridhara-acharya, the 11th century Prabodha-Chandrodaya by Krishna Mishra, the 13th century Amareshvara temple inscription of Mandhata , and the 16th century Chandimangal by Mukundarama. The 11th century CE Tirumalai inscription of Rajendra Chola I also mentions "Ladam" (Uttara Rāḍha) and "Takkana-Ladam" (Dakṣina Rāḍha) as two distinct units. Rupendra K Chattopadhyaya theorizes that
848-430: 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. 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. 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. In 2015–2016,
954-490: A major centre for the jute and tea industries. 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. The state's share of total industrial output in India
1060-586: 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. 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
1166-618: A major role in the Indian independence movement , in which revolutionary groups such as Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar were dominant. 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. When India gained independence in 1947, Bengal
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#17327900873041272-476: A natural fish nursery, supporting coastal fishes along the Bay of Bengal. Recognising its special conservation value, the Sundarbans area has been declared a Biosphere Reserve . 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,
1378-411: A number of steel plants. Important manufacturing industries include: engineering products, electronics, electrical equipment, cables, steel, leather, textiles, jewellery, frigates, automobiles, railway coaches and wagons. The Durgapur centre has established several industries in the areas of tea, sugar, chemicals and fertilisers . Natural resources like tea and jute in nearby areas have made West Bengal
1484-412: A population density of 1,029 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,670/sq mi) making it the second-most densely populated state in India, after Bihar. The literacy rate is 77.08%, higher than the national rate of 74.04%. Data from 2010 to 2014 showed the life expectancy in the state was 70.2 years, higher than the national value of 67.9. The proportion of people living below the poverty line in 2013
1590-544: A semi-independent state under the Nawabs of Bengal , and showed signs of the world's first Industrial Revolution . 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. Several European traders reached this area in the late 15th century. The British East India Company defeated Siraj ud-Daulah ,
1696-473: A strong social, cultural and artistic force to help the progressive development of the nation. Soumitra Chatterjee is the most awarded actor of all time with 9 wins, followed by Uttam Kumar (8) and Prosenjit Chatterjee (7), Rajesh Khanna (4), Sabyasachi Chakraborty (2) and Utpal Dutt (2). West Bengal West Bengal ( / b ɛ n ˈ ɡ ɔː l / ; Bengali : Poshchim Bongo , pronounced [ˈpoʃtʃim ˈbɔŋɡo] , abbr. WB )
1802-476: 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 . The Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 resulted in an influx of millions of refugees to West Bengal, causing significant strains on its infrastructure. The 1974 smallpox epidemic killed thousands. West Bengal politics underwent
1908-469: 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 km (34,267 sq mi) as of 2011. The population estimate as of 2023 is 102,552,787. 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
2014-465: Is a fertile, low-lying alluvial tract. Rice, jute, legumes, oilseeds, wheat, barley, and mangoes are the chief crops in the east; extensive mulberry cultivation is carried out in the west. Rarh has several moist deciduous forests of Shorea robusta (sal), Magnolia champaca (champak) and Acacia . According to Rupendra Kr Chattopadhyay, the historical Rarh region cover parts of the following districts, divided into northern and southern Rarh by
2120-599: 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. 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
2226-593: Is an economically important city, strategically located in the northeastern Siliguri Corridor (Chicken's Neck) of India. Other larger cities and towns in West Bengal are Howrah , Chandannagar , Bardhaman, Baharampur , Jalpaiguri , and Purulia etc. (figures in crores of Indian rupees ) 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, reaching Rs 10,21,000 crores in 2017–18. GSDP per cent growth at current prices varied from
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#17327900873042332-529: 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. 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. 3.26% of
2438-642: Is in the extreme south, while the Sundarbans mangrove forests form a geographical landmark at the Ganges delta. 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
2544-731: Is sometimes used for "snake" or "twig". Das further points out that the word "lāṛ" may itself be an Indo-Aryan loanword in Santali. " Gangaridai ", the name of an ancient Bengali people in Greek literature, is sometimes believed to be a Greek corruption of " Ganga -Rāḍha". However, according to D. C. Sircar , the word is simply the plural form of "Gangarid" (which is derived from the base "Ganga"), and means "Ganga (Ganges) people". Many aspect of Rarh are found in these books entitle as ' Subarnarekha hoite Mayurakshi and Rarher Mantrayan authored by Maniklal Sinha . Rarher Mantrayan contains
2650-462: Is the state's principal food crop. Rice, potato, jute , sugarcane and wheat are the state's top five crops. Tea is produced commercially in northern districts; the region is well known for Darjeeling and other high-quality teas. State industries are localised in the Kolkata region, the mineral-rich western highlands, and the Haldia Port region. The Durgapur-Asansol colliery belt is home to
2756-501: The 26th-highest ranking among Indian states in human development index , with the index value being lower than the Indian average. 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. 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. The origin of
2862-631: The Bengal Legislative Council and the Bengal Legislative Assembly voted on the Partition of Bengal in 1947 along religious lines into two independent dominions : West Bengal, a Hindu-majority Indian state, and East Bengal , a Muslim-majority province of Pakistan which later became the independent Bangladesh. The state was also flooded with Hindu refugees from East Bengal (present-day Bangladesh) in
2968-693: The British Crown , administered by the Viceroy of India . The Bengal Renaissance and the Brahmo Samaj socio-cultural reform movements significantly influenced the cultural and economic life of Bengal. Between 1905 and 1911 an abortive attempt was made to divide the province of Bengal into two zones. Bengal suffered from the Great Bengal famine in 1943, which claimed three million lives during World War II. Bengalis played
3074-830: 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
3180-583: 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
3286-676: The Government of West Bengal proposed a change in the official name of the state to Paschim Banga ( Bengali : পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Pôshchimbônggô ). This is the native name of the state, literally meaning "western Bengal" in the native Bengali language. In August 2016 the West Bengal Legislative Assembly passed another resolution to change the name of West Bengal to "Bengal" in English and "Bangla" in Bengali. Despite
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3392-979: The Lok Sabha and 16 seats to the Rajya Sabha of the Indian Parliament . 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
3498-665: The Maurya Empire of Magadha in the 3rd century BCE extended over nearly all of South Asia , including Afghanistan and parts of Balochistan . From the 3rd to the 6th centuries CE, the kingdom of Magadha served as the seat of the Gupta Empire . Two kingdoms—Vanga or Samatata, and Gauda—are said in some texts to have appeared after the end of the Gupta Empire although details of their ascendancy are uncertain. The first recorded independent king of Bengal
3604-572: 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
3710-718: The River Hooghly . The river Subarnarekha flows through some parts of the region in the Midnapur district . In the past, the floods of Damodar, called the "Sorrow of Bengal", often resulted in heavy losses to life and property. After the formation of the Damodar Valley Corporation in 1948, the flood hazard in the Rarh plain has been reduced through the construction of heavy embankments and other sophisticated engineering structures. West Rarh's Bagri river
3816-597: The Subbhabhumi and Vajjabhumi mentioned in the ancient Jain literature. The 17th century scholar Nilakanatha mentions Suhma as a synonym of Rāḍha. However, as Subbhabhumi is a corruption of Suhma, it appears that Suhma referred to only a part of the ancient Rāḍha region. A 6th century CE inscription of the Chola king Devendravarman is the earliest inscription to mention Uttara Rāḍha. The 12th century Belava copper inscription of Bhojavarman states that Bhatta Bhavadeva
3922-685: The Suhma kingdom . One of the earliest foreign references to Bengal is a mention by the Ancient Greeks around 100 BCE of a land named Gangaridai located at the mouths of the Ganges . Bengal had overseas trade relations with Suvarnabhumi (Burma, Lower Thailand, the Lower Malay Peninsula and Sumatra ). According to the Sri Lankan chronicle Mahavamsa , Prince Vijaya ( c. 543 – c. 505 BCE ),
4028-648: The Trinamool Congress government's efforts to forge a consensus on the name change resolution, the Indian National Congress , the Left Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party opposed the resolution. However, the central government has turned down the proposal maintaining the state should have one single name for all languages instead of three and it should not be the same as that of any other territory (pointing out that
4134-647: The West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation and the Calcutta Tramways Company . There are also private bus companies. The railway system is a nationalised service without any private investment. 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. According to
4240-420: The 1970s, the state has managed to revive its economy steadily throughout the years. The state has shown improvement regarding bandhs ( strikes ) and educational infrastructure. Significant strides have been made in reducing unemployment, though the state suffers from substandard healthcare services, a lack of socio-economic development, poor infrastructure, unemployment and civil violence. In 2006
4346-476: The All India Trinamool Congress was elected to power with 225 seats in the legislature. 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. 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
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4452-512: The BFJA tendered active assistance and co-operation whenever called upon to serve on any committee in the interest the festival's success. For the last four years the Association has been bringing out a special bulletin to commemorate the I.F.F.I. and hosting a reception for the visiting delegates. To the members of BFJA, cinema, apart from its basic function of providing clean entertainment, is
4558-567: The Bay of Bengal. In early summer, brief squalls and thunderstorms known as Kalbaisakhi , or Nor'westers, often occur. 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
4664-540: The Bhāgirathi-Hooghly River in the west to the Padma River in the east. The legendary Sri Lankan chronicles Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa mention that Prince Vijaya , the founder of their nation, came from Simhapura city in the "Lala" country. This Lala is identified with Rāḍha. The earliest epigraphic evidence to Rāḍha probably appears in an inscription from Mathura . This inscription states that
4770-825: The Dakṣiṇa Rāḍha covered a large of part of West Bengal lying between the Ajay and Damodar rivers. This includes large parts of the later Bardhaman , Howrah , and Hughli , and Burdwan districts. The southern boundary of Dakṣiṇa Rāḍha may have extended to the Rupnarayan River , and its western boundary extended beyond the Damodar river into the present-day Arambag subdivision . The archaeological sites that formed part of Dakṣina Rāḍha include: Mahanad , Betur, Saptagram , Garh Mandaran, Bharatpur, Mangalkot , and possibly Dihar and Puskarana. Rarh presented human society
4876-570: The Damodar river: P. R. Sarkar defines the Rarh region as follows: The earliest reference to Rāḍha janapada (as "Ladha") is found in the Jain text Acharangasutra . The text states that the 6th century BCE spiritual leader Mahavira traveled in Vajjabhumi and Subbhabhumi , which were located in the Ladha country. It mentions that the region was "pathless and lawless" during this time, and
4982-451: The East. Although the boundaries of the region have been defined differently according to various sources throughout history, it is mainly coextensive with the state of West Bengal , also comprising parts of the state of Jharkhand in India. The Rarh region historically has been known by many different names and has hosted numerous settlements throughout history. One theory identifies it with
5088-827: The Kankagram bhukti . Based on these records, Rupendra K Chattopadhyaya believes that the Uttara Rāḍha included the western parts of the modern Murshidabad district , the entire Birbhum district , some parts of the Santal Parganas district , and the northern part of the Katwa subdivision of the Bardhaman district . The archaeological sites located in the historical Uttara Rāḍha region include Rajbadidanga, Gitagram, Paikor, Batikar, Bahiri , Kagas, Kotasur, and Vallala-rajar-dhibi (Ballal Dhipi). Dakṣina Rāḍha appears as
5194-400: The Legislative Assembly. The Assembly is unicameral with 295 members , or MLAs, 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
5300-399: The Rarh region. However, other writers such as Plutarch , Curtius and Solinus , suggest that Gangaridai was located on the eastern banks of the Gangaridai river. Moreover, Pliny states that the Gangaridai occupied the entire region about the mouths of the Ganges. This suggests that the Gangaridai territory included the larger coastal region of present-day West Bangal and Bangladesh, from
5406-438: The Rarh region. The Bhuvaneshvara inscription of Bhatta Bhavadeva, a 12th-century minister, describes Rāḍha as "a waterless, dry and woody region". This description suits the western part of Bengal. The 16th century Digvijayaprakasha suggests that Rāḍha was located to the north of the Damodar River , and to the south of the Gauda region . The 13th century chronicle Tabaqat-i Nasiri by Minhaj-i-Siraj defines Rāḍh (Rāḍha) as
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#17327900873045512-421: The Trinamool Congress. The state has one autonomous region, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration . As of 1 November 2023, West Bengal is divided into 23 districts . Each district is governed by a district collector or district magistrate, appointed by either the Indian Administrative Service or the West Bengal Civil Service . Each district is subdivided into sub-divisions, governed by
5618-420: 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
5724-420: The adjoining state of Jharkhand. 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. The distribution of vegetation in northern West Bengal
5830-425: The ancient manuscripts of tantra and mantra, raveling various villages, and mixing with 'Mantrayanis' in Rarh. Whereas, Subarnarekha hoite Mayurakshi is based on the tribal lifestyle, introducing various tribes, their festivals, clothing's, culture of Hazaribag, Singbhum, Manbhum, Dhalbhum Shikarbhum, Santal Pargana and Bankura that are situated in the basin of the river Subarnarekha. The author also discussed about
5936-497: 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). 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. The "India State of Forest Report 2017", recorded forest area in
6042-552: The beginning of communist rule in 1977 before it rebounded. In 2023–24, the economy of West Bengal is the sixth-largest state economy in India with a gross state domestic product (GSDP) of ₹ 17.19 lakh crore (US$ 210 billion), and has the country's 20th-highest GSDP per capita of ₹ 121,267 (US$ 1,500) as of 2020–21. Despite being one of the fastest-growing major economies, West Bengal has struggled to attract foreign direct investment due to adverse land acquisition policies, poor infrastructure , and red tape . It also has
6148-437: The country. 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. 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
6254-533: The decades following the 1947 partition of India , transforming its landscape and shaping its politics. The early and prolonged exposure to British administration resulted in an expansion of Western education , culminating in developments in science, institutional education, and social reforms in the region, including what became known as the Bengali Renaissance . Several regional and pan−Indian empires throughout Bengal's history have shaped its culture , cuisine , and architecture . Post-Indian independence, as
6360-423: 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. 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
6466-410: 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 Gauda 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
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#17327900873046572-411: The end of British rule over the Indian subcontinent the Bengal Legislative Council and the Bengal Legislative Assembly voted on the Partition of Bengal along religious lines into two separate entities: West Bengal, which continued as an Indian state and East Bengal , a province of Pakistan , which came to be known be as East Pakistan and later became the independent Bangladesh . In 2011
6678-401: The entire Bengal region. Mosques , madrasas and khanqahs were built throughout these stages. During the Islamic Bengal Sultanate , founded in 1352, Bengal was a major world trading nation and was often referred by the Europeans as the richest country with which to trade. Later, in 1576, it was absorbed into the Mughal Empire . Subsequent Muslim conquests helped spread Islam throughout
6784-441: 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
6890-487: The first philosopher Maharishi Kapila who was born near Jahlda. Maharishi Patanjali who systematised yoga was born in Patun village in Burdwan. Kashiram Das from Siddhi village in Burdwan made the Mahabharata in lucid language accessible to the people and Krittibas Ojha did the same with the Ramayana . 15th century Indian saint and social reformer Chaitanya Mahaprabhu , who is the chief proponent of vedantic philosophy of Achintya Bheda Abheda and Gaudiya Vaishnavism ,
6996-505: The first to institute awards in an endeavor to promote and encourage the production of better films, when in 1938, a year after its inception, the 1st Motion Picture Congress was held in Faridpur (now in Bangladesh ). Representatives of the association played a vital role in its deliberations. In 1952 when India staged the First International Film Festival, a large exhibition was held in Kolkata Maidan . It included an exhibit of antique movie cameras, projectors and other accessories, showing
7102-424: 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 . Extant wildlife includes Indian rhinoceros , Indian elephant , deer, leopard , gaur , tiger and crocodiles , as well as many bird species. Migratory birds come to
7208-407: The growth of films and development of the Indian film industry. BFJA had its own stall where it displayed its various magazines, periodicals and journals published from Kolkata, as well as copies of old magazines and journals on films tracing the history of the growth of film journalism in the country. Thereafter, when the I.F.F.I. became a regular event on the circuit of International Film Festivals,
7314-399: The impact of illness on poor households. Rarh region WB-30,WB-31,WB-32,WB-33,WB-34,WB-36,WB-37, WB-38,WB-39,WB-40,WB-41,WB-42,WB-44,WB-53, WB-54,WB-55,WB-56,WB-57,WB-WB-58,WB-67, Rarh region ( Bengali pronunciation: [raːɽʱ] ) is a toponym for an area in the Indian subcontinent that lies between the Chota Nagpur Plateau on the West and the Ganges Delta on
7420-573: The landscape of those laces and the influence of Buddhism on the tribal religion. The Rarh region lies between the Chota Nagpur Plateau on the west and the chief flow of the Ganges river (which has been continuously changing) in the east. The Rarh plains comprise the lower Gangetic plains to the south of the Ganges, and to the west of its Bhagirathi-Hooghly distributary. These plains are formed of old alluvial deposits . The elevation ranges between 75 and 150 m. Low-level Pleistocene -era lateritic badlands (locally called khoai ) are common in
7526-441: 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. The Bengal Presidency was established in 1765; it later incorporated all British-controlled territory north of the Central Provinces (now Madhya Pradesh ), from
7632-501: The legendary Prince Vijaya came from a region called Lāla, which is identified with Rāḍha by several scholars. In a 1972 thesis, the researcher Amalendu Mitra traced the origin of the word Rarh to "lāṛ", the Santali word for snake . This theory was also endorsed by his mentor Panchanan Mandal. However, German Indologist Rahul Peter Das notes that this is highly unlikely: the Santali word "lāṛ" actually means string or fibre , and
7738-481: The local people treated Mahavira harshly. One theory identifies Rarh with the powerful Gangaridai people described in the ancient Greek literature. The Greek writer Diodorus Siculus mentions that the Ganges river formed the eastern boundary of the Gangaridai. Based on his statement and the identification of Ganges with Bhāgirathi-Hooghly (a western distributary of Ganges), Gangaridai can be identified with
7844-400: The mid-2000s, armed activists conducted minor terrorist attacks in some parts of the state. Clashes with the administration took place at several controversial locations over the issue of industrial land acquisition. This became a decisive reason behind the defeat of the ruling Left Front government in the 2011 assembly election. Although the economy was severely damaged during the unrest in
7950-642: 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. Calcutta, the headquarters of the East India company, was named the capital of British-held territories in India in 1773. The failed Indian rebellion of 1857 started near Calcutta and resulted in a transfer of authority to
8056-474: The name Bengal ( Bangla and Bongo in Bengali ) is unknown. One theory suggests the word derives from "Bang", the name of a Dravidian tribe that settled the region around 1000 BCE. The Bengali word Bongo might have been derived from the ancient kingdom of Vanga (or Banga ). Although some early Sanskrit literature mentions the name Vanga , the region's early history is obscure. In 1947, at
8162-472: The name 'Bangla' may create confusion with neighbouring Bangladesh ). Stone Age tools dating back 20,000 years have been excavated in the state, showing human occupation 8,000 years earlier than scholars had thought. According to the Indian epic Mahabharata the region was part of the Vanga kingdom. Several Vedic realms were present in the Bengal region, including Vanga , Rarh , Pundravardhana and
8268-602: The national average of 74.7 km/km (120.2 mi/sq mi). As of 2011, the total railway route length was around 4,481 km (2,784 mi). 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. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) serves
8374-512: The northern parts of the state. The Kolkata metro is the country's first underground railway. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway , part of NFR, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . 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
8480-479: The offing to revive the economy. West Bengal has been able to attract 2% of the foreign direct investment in the last decade. As of 2011, the total length of surface roads in West Bengal was over 92,023 kilometres (57,180 miles); national highways comprise 2,578 km (1,602 mi) and state highways 2,393 km (1,487 mi). As of 2006, the road density of the state was 103.69 kilometres per square kilometre (166.87 miles per square mile), higher than
8586-412: The percentage share of Gross Value Added (GVA) at factor cost by economic activity at the constant price (the base year 2011–2012) was Agriculture-Forestry and Fishery—4.84%, Industry 18.51% and Services 66.65%. It has been observed that there has been a slow but steady decline in the percentage share of industry and agriculture over the years. Agriculture is the leading economic sector in West Bengal. Rice
8692-539: The powerful Gangaridai nation mentioned in the ancient Greco-Roman accounts. The Naihati copper plate inscription of King Ballal Sen names it as the ancestral settlement of the Sena dynasty . Rāḍha ( Sanskrit ) and Lāḍ[h]a ( Prakrit ) are the ancient names of the Rarh region. Other variations of the name that appear in the ancient Jain literature include Rarha, Lara, and Rara. The Sri Lankan Buddhist chronicles such as Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa state that
8798-409: The provisional results of the 2011 national census, West Bengal is the fourth-most-populous state in India with a population of 91,347,736 (7.55% of India's population). The state's 2001–2011 decennial population growth rate was 13.93%, lower than the 1991–2001 growth rate of 17.8% and lower than the national rate of 17.64%. The gender ratio is 947 females per 1,000 males. As of 2011, West Bengal had
8904-789: The region for four hundred years beginning in the 8th century. A shorter reign of the Hindu Sena dynasty followed. Rajendra Chola I of the Chola dynasty invaded some areas of Bengal between 1021 and 1023. Islam was introduced through trade with the Abbasid Caliphate . Following the Ghurid conquests led by Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate , it spread across
9010-610: The region. 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
9116-605: The region. Several of these small hillocks were formed as a result of subaerial erosions and other tectonic movements. The highest of these are Biharinath (440 m) and Susunia (440 m). Biharinath contains sedimentary rocks of Gondwana system. Susunia contains gneissic and schistose rocks of Archean age, and also felspathic quartzite at its top. The major rivers in the region include Damodar , Ajay , Mayurakshi , Dwarakeswar , Shilabati (Shilai), and Kangsabati River (Kasai). All these rivers originate from Chota Nagpur Plateau and flows towards east or south-east finally to meet
9222-436: The river by a feeder canal. Its water flow management has been a source of lingering dispute between India and Bangladesh. 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
9328-509: The river is a major problem. 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. West Bengal's climate varies from tropical savanna in
9434-804: The section lying to the west of the Hoogly-Bhagirathi River . According to Rupendra K Chattopadhyaya of Banglapedia , Rāḍha "probably included a large part of the modern Indian state of West Bengal". According to historian André Wink, the Rāḍha division of the Pala-Sena era corresponds roughly to the modern Bardhaman district . The 9th–10th century literature and inscriptions and literature mention two divisions of Rāḍha: northern (Uttara) and southern (Dakṣiṇa). Rupendra K Chattopadhyaya (in Banglapedia ) believes that these roughly correspond to
9540-788: 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. 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 ,
9646-407: 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). At night, a cool southerly breeze carries moisture from
9752-458: The state during the winter. 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. The mangrove forest also acts as
9858-448: The state is 16,847 km (6,505 sq mi), while in 2013, forest area was 16,805 km (6,488 sq mi), which was 18.93% of the state's geographical area, compared to the then national average of 21.23%. Reserves and protected and unclassed forests constitute 59.4%, 31.8% and 8.9%, respectively, of forested areas, as of 2009. Part of the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans in southern West Bengal. From
9964-466: The state's healthcare system was severely criticised in the aftermath of the West Bengal blood test kit scam . 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). The Darjeeling Himalayan hill region in the northern extreme of the state
10070-604: The twin cities of Asansol-Durgapur at Andal , Paschim Bardhaman . Kolkata is a major river port in eastern India. The Kolkata Port Trust manages the Kolkata and the Haldia docks. 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
10176-539: 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 ,
10282-624: Was Shashanka , who reigned in the early 7th century. Shashanka is often recorded in Buddhist annals as an intolerant Hindu ruler noted for his persecution of the Buddhists. He murdered Rajyavardhana , the Buddhist king of Thanesar , and is noted for destroying the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya , and replacing Buddha statues with Shiva lingams . After a period of anarchy, the Pala dynasty ruled
10388-528: Was 19.98%, a decline from 31.8% a decade prior. Scheduled castes and tribes form 28.6% and 5.8% of the population, respectively, in rural areas and 19.9% and 1.5%, respectively, in urban areas. In September 2017, West Bengal achieved 100% electrification, after some remote villages in the Sunderbans became the last to be electrified. As of September 2017, of 125 towns and cities in Bengal, 76 have achieved open defecation free (ODF) status. All towns in
10494-416: 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. The state's total financial debt stood at ₹ 1,918,350 million (US$ 23 billion) as of 2011. 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
10600-456: Was born in Nabadwip village of Nadia district . Others were born in Rarh or were by lineage from Rarh such as: Lochandas Thakur, Vrindavandas Thakur, Govindadas Thakur, Dvaja Chandidas, Dina Chandidas, Boru Chandidas , Ghanaram Chakravorty, Kavikankan Mukundaram Chakravorty, Bharatchandra Ray , Premendra Mitra , Sangeetacharya Kshetramohan Goswami, Sharatchandra , Tarashankar Bandopadhyay ,
10706-576: Was born in the Siddhala village (modern Siddhalagram) of Uttara Rāḍha. The 12th century Naihati inscription of Vallalasena also mentions a village named Vallahittaha in the Uttara-Rāḍha mandala (administrative unit). It suggests that Uttara Rāḍha was a part of the Vardhaman bhukti (province). However, the inscription of Vallalasena's successor Lakshmanasena states that this region was a part of
10812-684: 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 . The region was later annexed into the Bengal Presidency by the British East India Company after the Battle of Buxar in 1764. From 1772 to 1911, Calcutta
10918-408: 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. During the 1970s and 1980s, severe power shortages, strikes and
11024-659: Was mothballed. The tea industry of West Bengal has also witnessed shutdowns for financial and political reasons. The tourism industry of West Bengal was negatively impacted in 2017 because of the Gorkhaland agitation. However, over the years due to effective changes in the stance towards industrialisation, ease of doing business has improved in West Bengal. 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
11130-589: 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. In 1950 the Princely State of Cooch Behar merged with West Bengal. In 1955 the former French enclave of Chandannagar , which had passed into Indian control after 1950,
11236-546: 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 . From 1912 to India's Independence in 1947, it was the capital of the Bengal Province . The region was a hotbed of the Indian independence movement and has remained one of India's great artistic and intellectual centres. Following widespread religious violence ,
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