West Bengal, State, eastern India. Area: 34,267 sq mi (88,752 sq km). Population: (2011) 91,347,736. Capital: Kolkata (Calcutta). It is bordered by Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and the states of Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim, and Assam. It encompasses two broad natural regions, the Gangetic Plain in the south and the sub-Himalayan and Himalayan area in the north. From the 3rd century bce the broader region of Bengal formed part of Ashoka’s empire. In the 4th century ce it was absorbed into the Gupta empire. From the 13th century it was under Muslim rule until it came under the British in the 18th century. At Indian independence in 1947 Bengal was partitioned, the eastern sector becoming East Pakistan (later Bangladesh) and the western sector becoming India’s West Bengal. Agriculture is the main economic activity in the state. It is noted for its artistic endeavours, including filmmaking.
