OverviewBengal has a rich cultural heritage and a glorious past. The region has played a significant role in the Indian history, both in the ancient and medieval ages. The British first started their colonization here, in the name of the East India Company. The land has given birth to hundreds of great soul viz. philosophers, scientists, patriots, Sadhaks and many more personalities. Bengal as a whole is a land of beauty and prosperity; the land of Sri Aurobindo, Rabindra Nath, Netaji Subhash, Vivekananda and many others who played a crucial role in the political as well as spiritual reformation in the nation.
The early history of Bengal dates back to 3rd century BC when it was under the rule of the Mauryans. The Guptas then started their emperorship in the 4th and 5th century AD. The name Vanga was originally given to it, in the period of Pala Dynasty in 8th century AD. In the late 11th century the Muslim emperor Qutb-Din-Ibac gained victory to establish his government and it lasted till the death of Aurangjeb in the year 1707. The British conquered over the province in the year 1757, the battle of Pallassey. This was the first step towards British colonization in India.
The British rulers followed the policy of “divide and rule” and finally, Lord Curzon divided the region into two provinces. This mournful incident known as the partition of Bengal had not only created large scale violence in the state but also extended its ill effects to the various parts of the country. The entire incident occurred in the year 1905. Due to excessive violence, the government followed another policy and shifted its capital from Calcutta to Delhi in the year 1711.
In the year 1947 India achieved its independence. But this division ended with bloodshed. The so called East Bengal province came under Pakistan and West Bengal in India. The story was not completed here. The cultural isolation was greatly felt by the Citizens residing in East Bengal. So they started demonstration and demanded for a separate nation. This was supported by the Indians and finally East Bengal got the separate status of a country as Bangladesh in the year 1971.
The separation of two provinces, one as Bangladesh and another as West Bengal is like the separation of two brothers, who now lives in separate homes with their same culture, literature, language and food. Both the regions may be physically separated but their history has a common significance.
Relevance of name The name Bengal or “Bangla” is derived from the ancient kingdom of Vanga or Banga. It is referred in the early Sanskrit literature. The British, however called it Bengal, and this name came to denote the entire linguistic region.
The term West Bengal came only after the partition of Bengal province in 1905, when the administration made two separate provinces of West and East Bengal. The latter, after a period as East Pakistan (1955 - 1971), became the present country of Bangladesh.
