West Bengal is more than just the leftover part of Bengal after Partition; it is a vibrant tapestry woven with rich history, cultural heritage, and transformative journeys. From the echoes of the past to the thriving present, this state has undergone remarkable changes shaped by its people’s resilience and aspirations. The state has continued evolving through various acquisitions and mergers until 2015!
While the Partition of Bengal in 1905 and its subsequent unification in 1911 are well-known, the history of West Bengal post-Independence holds fascinating developments that often go unrecognized.
At the time of Independence in 1947, Bengal was divided into two parts by the Radcliffe Line: East Bengal (which became East Pakistan), and West Bengal (which joined the Dominion of India). Notably, East Bengal eventually evolved into Bangladesh in 1971.
In 1949, Cooch Behar, the only princely state in the region, became part of West Bengal following the signing of the Merger Agreement by Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur.
State Reorganization and Administrative Changes
In 1956, West Bengal underwent two significant changes based on the recommendations of the State Reorganization Commission (SRC):
West Dinajpur and Jalpaiguri districts were previously non-contiguous. To address this, the SRC recommended the transfer of two narrow tracts of land from Bihar to West Bengal, specifically from the Kishanganj sub-division and Gopalpur Thana.
Significant parts of the Purulia district were transferred from Bihar to West Bengal due to the sizable Bengali-speaking population residing there.
Post-1956, West Bengal saw the carving out of various new districts from existing ones, aimed at enhancing administrative efficiency. The renaming of districts over the decades symbolizes a broader trend of reclaiming indigenous heritage and asserting cultural autonomy through the de-anglicization of district names. This reflects the region’s desire to celebrate its historical and cultural identity.
The story of West Bengal does not end here. For nearly 70 years, 225 enclaves along the West Bengal-Bangladesh border remained a source of conflict. In June 2015, the Land Boundary Agreement was signed, resolving this long-standing issue by facilitating the transfer of 111 enclaves to Bangladesh and 51 to India.
Sources:
Administrative Atlas of India (2011);
Origin Story of India’s States - Venkata Raghavan Subha Srinivasan (2020);
We the People of the States of Bharat - Sanjeev Chopra (2022);
West Bengal Government District Websites.
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