Top 10 Reasons to be Proud of West Bengal

Every community is proud of the things that they hold dear but some communities are more proud as others is how George Orwell might have described the sort of pride that the Bengalis have for things that are only appreciated by those who are born and bred Bengalis, preferably born and bred in Bengal. West Bengal is one of the desired destinations if you are travelling to India and want to bask in its heritage. The capital of the state of West Bengal is Kolkata (used to be called Calcutta).  This article looks at the top 10 reasons why one should be proud of being a Bengali. 

Top10: Mother Teresa

The woman who inspired the world into caring for the poor, the sick and the needy might have been an Albanian nun but became as much a part of Calcutta and the Bengali community through her tireless work for those about whom no one cared. When she got the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, the city rejoiced as if one of their own had won it and to this day Bengalis are immensely proud of the fact that an individual of such staggering influence worked among them. When she died on September 7, 1997 at the age of 87, the streets of Calcutta were filled with people of all ages and the procession went on for more than an entire day.

9. Architecture in Calcutta

It is a well known fact that most Bengalis are Anglophiles in one way or the other due to the fact that the city of Calcutta was the capital of the British Raj for more than a century and that is why the architecture in the city is completely different from the sort of architecture that you would find in other Indian cities. Admittedly the Calcuttans and Bengalis at large are proud of the specimens of Victorian architecture like the Writer’s Building, Governor’s House as well as the other noted locations of the city. If you ever visit Calcutta, you must take a look at these buildings.

Reason 8: The Book Fair

Nowadays the Jaipur Lit Fest might be the flavour among the intellectuals or wannabe intellectuals of India, but a Bengali still swears by the annual Book Fair in Calcutta that is organised by the Publishers and Booksellers’ Guild every year in February. The reason why Bengalis are proud of the Calcutta Book Fair is because of the fact that there is a sharp focus on Bengali authors and books written in Bangla, which is something that is impossible to experience in any other book fair. The fact that the Book Fair celebrates Bengali Literature as well as the best books from around the world and the country makes it a source of great pride for any true blue Bengali.

Reason 7: Top Singers in Bollywood

Nowadays it might only be Shreya Ghoshal who is flying the flag proudly for Bengalis in the pre eminent Hindi film industry but over the years the top male singers in Bollywood used be from Bengalis and it is often said that it is because of these singers that Bengalis took an active interest in Hindi films. After all, why would a community not be proud of the fact that some of the giants of playback singing in Hindi films like Kishore Kumar, Hemanta Mukherjee, Abhijeet and Kumar Sanu belong to them? The procession of Bengali Bollywood playback singers is without a cause of great pride for all Bengalis.

Reason 6: Park Street

At number 6 is the area in Calcutta that is every Bengali’s favourite hangout whether it is for a quick drink after work or a long dinner during the weekend. However, the reason why they are proud of bright lights of Park Street is the fact that the restaurants in this area were the first ones that introduced the whole of India to fine dining and the experience of listening to superb music while eating. Pam Crain, the famous singer lit up places like Trincas in Park Street with her soulful music. Although that era is not going to be back, it cannot be denied that Calcuttans still believe that Park Street is the best area for partying and eating out in India.

Reason 5: Shantiniketan

Not many places in India can be regarded as ‘University towns’ like it is the case in places like the US and UK, but in West Bengal Shantiniketan is a town that is a seat of learning for people from all over the country. Rabindranath Tagore founded the Visva Bharati University after he was awarded the Nobel Prize. Some of the people who have studied there include ace Economist and Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen, Satyajit Ray and many others. Bengalis are quite justifiably proud of this little university town that is also the pride of the country.

Reason 4: The Film Fraternity

Their film fraternity is one thing about which that Bengalis have a sort of pride that borders on arrogance and in that regard it must also be pointed out that their pride laced with arrogance is not entirely unfounded. Over the years Bengali films have been the subject to critical acclaim in home and overseas and in addition to that the procession of outstanding Bengali filmmakers seems to be unrelenting. If it was the trio of Ray, Sen and Ghatak in the past then the likes of Tapan Sinha, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, the late lamented Rituporno Ghosh have kept the flag flying.

Reason 3: Bengali Cuisine

Well, almost all communities in India are proud of their home grown cuisine but as far as Bengalis are concerned it is a bit different since the sort of variety that is on offer is absolutely mind boggling and it is often said that Bengali cuisine is perhaps the most versatile in India. The cuisine is influenced by English and Portuguese cuisines and the fast food items like Mughlai Parantha or Kathi Roll are famous all across the country. Fish which may be considered non vegetarian else in country is called "Jal Turai" and is big part of Bengali cuisine. It is not a surprise that Bengalis look for Bengali restaurants whenever they travel in another part of the country. 

Reason 2: Satyajit Ray

The greatest Indian filmmaker ever and perhaps one of the greatest filmmakers in the world, Satyajit Ray is another source of immense pride for Bengalis and it is not rare to see a Bengali who speaks of the movies Ray has made like an expert whenever the subject is broached. In addition to that, Ray has won the Golden Bear award for his movies and was also honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Oscars that has made him into an even bigger source of pride. Although it is true that he is a source of pride for all Indians, the fact that all but one of his films were in Bengali makes the Bengalis slightly more proud about him.

Reason 1: Rabindranath Tagore

The man who wrote India’s national anthem as well as the one for Bangladesh, wrote countless novels, short stories, songs and plays in Bengali, won the Nobel Prize and then declined the Knighthood as a show of protest is the greatest source of pride for Bengalis from all over the world. Although he has only written in Bengali, his work has been translated into almost all Indian languages so that it can be enjoyed by those who do not read Bengali. It is not a surprise that a Bengali’s heart swell with pride whenever he thinks of the achievements of the great litterateur and patriot.
For younger generation it is will be noteworthy to point out that Sharmila Tagore, Saif Ali Khan  and Soha Ali Khan; who are celebrities in their own right can boast of Rabindranath Tagore's lineage. 

So, those are some of the things that make one of the most vibrant communities in the country proud of themselves. Hopefully enjoyed the article and do not forget to share it with your friends.

Enjoy more Top 10 Facts and Trends at www.top10reviews.in