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Religion in West Bengal

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Religion in West Bengal

  Hinduism (70.54%)
  Islam (27.01%)
  Christianity (0.72%)
  Buddhism (0.31%)
  Jainism (0.07%)
  Sikhism (0.07%)
  Other religion (1.03%)
  n/a (0.25%)

Religion in West Bengal is composed of diversified beliefs and practices. As per as 2011 census, Hinduism and Islam are the two biggest religion practiced by native Bengalis in the state. Smaller percentage of people adheres to Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Animism, Zoroastrianism and Judaism.

Statistics

West Bengal religious diversity as per 2011 census[1]
Religion Population
Hindus () 65,556,110
Muslims () 24,654,825
Christians () 658,618
Buddhists () 282,898
Sikhs () 63,523
Jains () 60,141
Total 91,347,736

History

See also: History of West Bengal
Bengali artists performing a traditional bengali dance

Hinduism had existed in the region of Bengal before the 20th century BCE and by the 3rd century, Buddhism and Jainism were popular too.[2] Gaur, the first sovereign Hindu kingdom in Bengal with its capital in Karnasubarna in modern-day Murshidabad district, was set up by Shashanka, a Shaivaite king who ruled approximately between 600 AD and 625 AD. The modern structure of Bengali Hindu society was developed during the rule of the Sena dynasty in the 12th century AD. West Bengal has been home to several famous religious teachers, including Sri Chaitanya, Sri Ramakrishna, Rammohan Roy, Swami Vivekananda, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and Paramahansa Yogananda who helped to abolish archaic practices like sati, dowry, and caste-based discrimination or untouchability that crept into the Hindu society during the Middle Ages. But they also played an important role in the resurgence of Hindu nationalism in Bengal. This inherent Hindu identity was the chief factor in Bengali Hindu Homeland Movement which successfully resisted the plan to create a United Bengal and campaigned for the establishing a separate Bengali Hindu homeland within Indian union on the eve of Partition of India in 1947.

The history of West Bengal starts in 1947 with the Partition of Bengal, when the Hindu-dominated western part of British Bengal Province became the Indian state of West Bengal. When India gained independence in 1947, Bengal was partitioned along religious lines. The western part went to India (and was named West Bengal) while the eastern part joined Pakistan as a province called East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan, giving rise to independent Bangladesh in 1971).[3]

Buddhism has a rich heritage in Bengal, flourishing during the Pala dynasty (750–1174 CE), but it has roots even earlier, dating to the reign of Emperor Ashoka (r. c.268–232 BCE). Buddhism began to decline from the 12th century when Islam first entered into Bengal region leading to Islamization, and eventually completely disappeared from Bengal. Buddhism has a rich ancient heritage in the various parts of Bengal. The region was a bastion of the ancient Buddhist Mauryan and Palan empires, when the Mahayana and Vajrayana schools flourished. South-Eastern Bengal was ruled by the medieval Buddhist Kingdom of Mrauk U during the 16th and 17th centuries. The British Raj influenced the emergence of modern community.[4][5] During 12th century, Islam religion gradually spread and takes root throughout the Bengal region, and many Bengali Hindus converted to Islam.[6][7]

Overview

Hinduism

See also: Hinduism in West Bengal

Hinduism is the major religion of West Bengal with about 70.54% people responded that they were Hindus during the 2011 Census of India. Out of a total of 91.3 million people in the state, the Hindu population is approximately 64.5 million. Also out of 23 districts in West Bengal, Hindus are in majority in 20 districts and are minority in 3 districts namely- Uttar Dinajpur, Murshidabad and Malda district.[8]

Islam

See also: Islam in West Bengal

Islam is the second largest of West Bengal with about 27.01% people responded that they were Muslims during the 2011 Census of India. Out of a total of 91.3 million people in the state, the Muslim population is approximately 24.6 million. Also out of 23 districts in West Bengal, Muslims are in majority in 3 districts and are a minority in 20 districts.[9]

Christianity

See also: Christianity in West Bengal

Christianity is the third largest of West Bengal with about 0.72% people responded that they were Christians during the 2011 Census of India. Out of total 91.3 million people in the state, the Christian population is approximately 6.6 lakhs. Also out of 23 districts in West Bengal, Christians have a higher concentration in Darjeeling & Jalpaiguri.[10]

Buddhism

Buddhism is the fourth largest of West Bengal with about 0.31% people responded that they were Buddhists during the 2011 Census of India. Out of total 91.3 million people in the state, the Buddhist population is approximately 2.82 lakhs. Also out of 23 districts in West Bengal, Buddhists have a higher concentration in Darjeeling.[11]

Other religions

Sikhism and Jainism have a smaller presence in the state with around 63,523 & 60,141 people follow it respectively comprising 0.07% and 0.06% respectively.[12]

References

  1. ^ https://censusindia.gov.in/
  2. ^ Sen, Sukumar (1999). "Dharme" [The Religion]. Banga-Bhumika [An Introduction to the History of Bengal] (in Bengali) (1st ed.). Kolkata: Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi. pp. 104–05. ISBN 81-86908-97-8.
  3. ^ Harun-or-Rashid (2012). "Partition of Bengal, 1947". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  4. ^ Bechert, Heinz (1970). "Theravada Buddhist Sangha: Some General Observations on Historical and Political Factors in its Development". The Journal of Asian Studies. 29 (4): 761–778. doi:10.2307/2943086. JSTOR 2943086.
  5. ^ Chowdhury, Madhusree (1 September 2017). "Buddhism – The Golden Heritage of Bengal". Buddhistdoor. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  6. ^ "GlobalFront Homepage". www.globalfront.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  7. ^ Kingshuk Nag (8 August 2012). "How did Bengalis become Muslims?". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". Censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". Censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". Censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". Censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". Censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
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