Vedic Age

West Bengal, the cultural hot seat of India that basks in the glory of the splendid Bengali culture is noted for its age-old history. The history of this ancient land dates as far back as the Vedic age and readers find ample mention of the triumphs and tribulations of its former monarchs in the chronicles of history.

There are not too many traces of the Vedic era in West Bengal save some scanty literary records and numismatic evidences and relics of pottery. West Bengal was known as Vanga during the bygone eons of the venerable Vedas. Etymological studies suggest that the term Bengal, locally known, as Bangla owes its connotation to the name of a certain Dravidian tribe “Banga”. The hospitable state was inhabited by a multitude of people of mixed ethnicity and varying roots, which was responsible for the cultural diversity.

Apparently, West Bengal was split into several small kingdoms whose administration was spearheaded by the local chieftains during the epic Mahabharata period. There are some references to the Vedic period, noted for its flourishing culture and literary achievements in early Sanskrit literature.

It is supposed that the Vedic era culminated with the settlement of the Aryans in West Bengal. This was followed by the glorious Mauryan rule and the triumphs and tribulations of the Palas, Pundras and Senas, the Islamic anarchy while the flourishing Mughal Empire led to the stunning climax of the oppressive British rule during India’s tragic days as a British colony.