WEST BENGAL

CAPITAL-KOLKATA

LIST OF CHEIF MINISTERS OF WEST BENGAL

#	NAME	TOOK OFFICE	LEFT OFFICE	PARTY
01	Dr. Prafulla Chandra Ghose	15 August 1947	14 January 1948	Indian National Congress
02	Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy	14 January 1948	01 July 1962	Indian National Congress
	President's Rule	01 July 1962	08 July 1962
03	Prafulla Chandra Sen	08 July 1962	15 March 1967	Indian National Congress
04	Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee	15 March 1967	02 November 1967	Bangla Congress Party in United Fornt
05	Dr. Prafulla Chandra Ghose	02 November 1967	20 February 1968	Non-Party in Progressive Democratic Alliance Front
	President's Rule	20 February 1968	25 February 1969
06	Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee	25 February 1969	19 March 1970	Bangla Congress Party in United Fornt
	President's Rule	19 March 1970	02 April 1971
07	Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee	02 April 1971	28 June 1971	Indian National Congress
	President's Rule	28 June 1971	19 March 1972
08	Siddhartha Shankar Ray	19 March 1972	21 June 1977	Indian National Congress
09	Jyoti Basu	21 June 1977	06 November 2000	Communist Party of India(Marxist) in Left Front
10	Buddhadeb Bhattacharya	06 November 2000	13 May 2011	Communist Party of India(Marxist) in Left Front
11	Mamata Banerjee	20 May 2011	Incumbent	All India Trinamool Congress

ELECTED POLITICAL OFFICIALS OF WEST BENGAL

Lok Sabha members of West Bengal

S.NO.	NAME OF MEMBER	PARTY
01	Cooch Behar	SC
02	Alipurduars	ST
03	Jalpaiguri	None
04	Darjeeling	None
05	Raiganj	None
06	Balurghat	SC
07	Malda	None
08	Jangipur	None
09	Murshidabad	None
10	Berhampore	None
11	Krishnagar	None
12	Nabadwip	SC
13	Barasat	None
14	Basirhat	None
15	Joynagar	SC
16	Mathurapur	SC
17	Diamond Harbour	None
18	Jadavpur	None
19	Barrackpore	None
20	Dum Dum	None
21	Calcutta North West	None
22	Calcutta North East	None
23	Calcutta South	None
24	Howrah	None
25	Uluberia	None
26	Serampore	None
27	Hooghly	None
28	Arambagh	None
29	Panskura	None
30	Tamluk	None
31	Contai	None
32	Midnapore	None
33	Jhargram	ST
34	Purulia	None
35	Bankura	None
36	Vishnupur	SC
37	Durgapur	SC
38	Asansol	None
39	Burdwan	None
40	Katwa	None
41	Bolpur	None
42	Birbhum	SC

Rajya Sabha members of West Bengal

S.NO.	NAME OF MEMBER	PARTY
01	Sk. Khabir Uddin Ahmed	Communist Party of India (Marxist)
02	Mohammed Amin	Communist Party of India (Marxist)
03	Debabrata Biswas (politician)	All India Forward Bloc
04	Swapan Sadhan Bose	All India Trinamool Congress
05	Prasanta Chatterjee	Communist Party of India (Marxist)
06	Moinul Hassan	Communist Party of India (Marxist)
07	Brinda Karat	Communist Party of India (Marxist)
08	R.C.Singh	Communist Party of India
09	Saman Pathak	Communist Party of India (Marxist)
10	Abani Roy	Revolutionary Socialist Party
11	Mukul Roy	All India Trinamool Congress
12	Tarini Kanta Roy	Communist Party of India (Marxist)
13	Tapan Kumar Sen	Communist Party of India (Marxist)
14	Arjun Kumar Sengupta	Independent
15	Srinjoy Bose	All India Trinamool Congress
16	Sitaram Yechury	Communist Party of India (Marxist)
17	Sukhendusekhar Roy	All India Trinamool Congress
18	Derek O' Brien	All India Trinamool Congress
19	Debabrata Bandyopadhyay	All India Trinamool Congress

OCCUPATION

Agriculture is the leading occupation in the region. Rice is the staple food crop. Other food crops are pulses, potato, maize, and oil seeds. Jute is the principal cash crop. Tea is also produced commercially; the region is well known for Darjeeling and other high-quality teas. Historically, Europe once regarded Bengal as "the richest country to trade with"

FOOD

DRESS

IMPORTANT PLACE

Kolkata-

Kolkata was earlier called Calcutta and served as the capital of British Indian territories till 1911, when capital was shifted to New Delhi. Kolkata is not very old city, as it was developed by the British about 350 years ago. The city grew very quickly and was once famous in Europe as the ‘City of palaces’. Even today, the city has numerous monuments that remind tourists of the colonial past of the city. Tourists can look forward to a large number of interesting destinations here. These include the Victoria memorial, St John’s Church, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the residences of Subhash Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore, the national museum, Asiatic Society, Kalighat temple, Science City, and the Strand. There are numerous destinations around the city that can also be visited if time permits. The city is also called the intellectual capital of India and has produced a large number of world famous intellectuals including Satyajit Ray, the Oscar winning Bengali Film director.

Darjeeling-

One of the most famous hill stations in India, Darjeeling - the ‘queen of the hills’, is the jewel in the crown of West Bengal. The majestic Himalayas stand proudly around this scenic spot located close to the Nepalese border. Apart from the breathtaking scenic beauty, Darjeeling also offers a large number of tourist attractions like the mountaineering institute, the Mall, Tiger hill and the Tibetan Center. There are numerous other destinations that may be visited from Darjeeling, like Gangtok in Sikkim, Mirik, Kalimpong, Kurseong, and Jaldapara forest. The Darjeeling Himalayan railway (DHR) has been given world heritage status by the UNESCO and is one of the major highlights of tourism in West Bengal.

Murshidabad-

This city was built by the Nawabs of Bengal, who grew in power and status, having started as the feudatories of the Mughuls. They became sovereigns in their own right under the weak Mughul rulers of the 18th century. In its heydays, Murshidabad was known to be among the wealthiest cities of the world. After the battle of Plassey (1757), the city came under British influence. Very soon the city lost its status as the capital of Bengal to Calcutta. Today, Murshidabad is a tourist attraction in West Bengal offering palaces, and other important places related to the history of Bengal.

West Bengal has numerous other tourist attractions which can be covered systematically by opting for the tour packages of West Bengal. The other major tourist attractions in West Bengal include the Sunderbans, Malda, Bishnupur, Tarakeshwar, Ganga Sagar, and many wildlife sanctuaries.

Siliguri-

A crucial junction which is the doorway to North Bengal, Sikkim and Bhutan, it is also a major intersection in the road transportation network to north-east India. Rapidly emerging as a new commercial hub, Siliguri owes its prosperity to the tea and orange trades. More than anything else, the major attraction of Siliguri in recent years remains its Hong Kong Market, a virtual Pandora''s Box for foreign goods of all kinds.

The Jaldapara Wildlfe Sanctuary-

Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary situated in Alipurduar Sub-Division of Jalpaiguri District in West Bengal is about 124 km from Siliguri. This sanctuary was constituted in the year 1941 for the protection of Wild Life, particularly one-horned rhinos, an animal threatened with extinction. The Jaldapara Wildlfe Sanctuary with an area of 216.51 sq km is a mosaic of woods, grassland, swamps and streams with great diversity of fauna and flora. It is located in the eastern part of Jalpaiguri district not far away from Coochbehar. The River Torsha runs through the Sanctuary. The forest is mainly savannah covered with tall elephant grasses. The Jaldapara Sanctuary is home for the Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros. Herds of elephants can frequently be found using it as feeding grounds. Hog deer, spotted deer, barking deer and sambar are found, as are the Indian Bison. Tigers and leopards can be spotted too. There is also a leopard-breeding centre at Jaldapara. The Sanctuary is home for some rare species like the hispid hare, hog badger, wild boar and sloth bears are found here. A rich and varied avifauna is found here as well like the Crested Eagle, Pallas's Fishing Eagle and Shikra. Jungle fowl, peafowl, partridges, the Bengal Florican and Pied Hornbill with Python, monitor lizards, cobras, geckos and about 8 species of fresh water turtles add to the beauty. Besides wildlife viewing, there is scope for unusual holiday activities like elephant riding and leisurely strolls through the towering grass.

Places of Interest in West Bengal (By District)-

Kolkata

Darjeeling

Jalpaiguri

Kochbihar

Malda

West Dinajpur

Murshidabad

Birbhum

Nadia

Burdwan

Purulia

Bankura

Midnapore

Hooghly

Howrah

North 24 Parganas

South 24 Parganas

LANGUAGE

Bengali or Bangla

FESTIVALS

Durga Puja-

Durga Puja is the most important festival of West Bengal. The familiar sounds of drums or `Dhak`, the `Dhunuchi nach`, the mild fragrance of the Shiuli blossoms gives a tug at every Bengali heart. This festival is observed in the months of September/October and in not only limited to Bengal only. For the Bengali community the advent of Goddess Durga along with her children from her icy abode in Kailash to her maternal house is believed to bring prosperity among the rich and poor alike.

Naba Borsho-

This much-awaited festival of West Bengal is the New Year celebration of the Bengali community and is celebrated in the month of Baisakh or in the month of April. It is an extreme joyous occasion for the Bengalis and the businessmen in particular. It is a great time for visiting the temples and relatives, making offerings, buying new clothes, greeting people and much more.

Kali Puja-

The worship of Goddess Kali makes the festival of Diwali in the state of West Bengal very unique. The houses and temples all over the state are vivaciously decorated and lit with oil lamps, candles or `diyas`. All the family members gather around in the evening for the worship of Goddess Lakshmi. In this state the Diwali festival stretches over a period of three days. The first two days mainly comprises of feasting, gambling, drinking, family foregathering, lighting of fire crackers and other such activities. The celebrations and lights are much less on the final day of Amavasya. Exchange of gifts and greetings also form a vital part of the festivities.

Dol Purnima-

The festive celebration of Holi also known as Dol Utsav, in the state of West Bengal is almost similar to that of Orissa except for some minor aspects. The other names by which the festival of Holi is popular in this state are `Dol Purnima`, `Vasant Utsav`. This festival was started in this state by the far-famed pet laureate Rabindranath Tagore at the Vishwa Bharati University of which he was the pioneer. The youth of the state not only welcomes the season of spring with colors and sweets but also by chanting of hymns and other devotional songs. Holika is burnt in the evening as the symbol of the victory of good over evil.

Rath Yatra-

The Rath Yatra festival celebrated in the region of Mahesh few miles away from Kolkata in the state of West Bengal attracts lakhs of tourists from all over the state as well as across the country. This day is considered as very auspicious and marks the start of the sowing season for the monsoon crop throughout Eastern India. Grand fairs are held throughout the state.

Saraswati Puja-

This is one of the most devotional festivals of West Bengal and the worship of Goddess Saraswati is held at a time when the winter comes to an end and the spring begins. Amidst the pleasant weather the worship of Goddess Saraswati starts early in the morning with `aarti` and chanting of various `mantras`. This festival is celebrated in all schools and colleges and the youth can be seen participating in the puja with much enthusiasm.

Janmashtami-

This festival is celebrated in West Bengal with much exuberance and ebullience to mark the birth of the Lord of Love, Lord Krishna. It falls on the day of Ashtami in the Sharavan month according to the Hindu calendar. In the Krishna temples Rasalila is performed to recreate incidents from the life of Krishna and to commemorate his love for Radha

.

Rakhi Purnima-

This is one of the popular festivals of West Bengal and marks the love and affection between brothers and sisters. On this special day the sisters tie a colorful band on the wrists of their brothers with the belief that this will bring peace, success and good health to their brother`s life throughout the year. The brothers also take a vow on their part to protect their sister against all perils. They also present their sisters with some gifts as a token of love.

Bhai Fota-

This festival is celebrated in the state of West Bengal with as much exuberance as in the other states. It is a festival purely dedicated to the love and affection between brothers and sisters. Brothers bless their sisters and also promise to protect them from all hardships. The celebration of Bhatri Dwitiya or Bhai Fota in this state can be redefined as a bond that speaks of sensitivity and timeless relationship.

Jagaddhatri Puja-

This festival is celebrated with much fun and frolic in the Bengali month of Kartick or in the English month of November. In the region of Chandannagar, near Kolkata huge pandals are built and decorated with lights. The illumination part makes the festive celebrations of Chandannagar rightly take pride in its highly rich heritage and tradition of art and culture. This festival bridges the past and the present.

Muslim Festivals-

The Muslim festivals are celebrated in the state of West Bengal with much fun and vigor. The principal Islam festivals of West Bengal are Muharrum, Id-uz-zoha, Id-Ul-Fitr and the birthday of the prophet.

Muharrum-

This is one of the special Muslim festivals of West Bengal and commemorates the martyrdom of the prophet`s grandsons, Hasan and Hussain in the battle of Karbala in Arabia. The Sunni sect of Muslims carries on a warlike procession enacting mock fights and exhibitions of prowess. The Shia sect of Muslims also takes out processions of mourning with men and women all dressed in black and singing especially composed elegies.

Id-Ul-Fitr-

This is one of the most important Muslim festivals of West Bengal and is celebrated in the state with as much fervor and enthusiasm as it is celebrated all over the country. This propitious festival marks the end of the month of Ramzan. After a full month of fasting the Muslims of West Bengal look forward to the festive celebration with a heart full of cheerful ideas. They prepare elaborate feasts and organize fairs for rejoicing and enjoyment. The Muslims also assemble for religious discourses, which are regarded as a main part of the observances.

Id-uz-zoha-

This festival is also known as Id-Ul-Korbab or Bakri-Id and is one of the compulsory Muslim festivals of West Bengal. Animal sacrifice is one of the chief features of this festival. The mythological basis of the observance is related to Prophet Abraham of the Old Testament.

Christmas-

This is the most splendid Christian festival of West Bengal. In the `City of Joy` the Christmas festivities continues till the New Year. From the month of November itself, part of the Maidan in central Kolkata is converted to fairgrounds. Brightly decorated Christmas trees can be observed in the houses of many and also the churches. The city resonates with an assortment of fairs and cultural performances. The spirit of Christmas comes alive in Christmas carols that rend the air.