‘West Vanga Kingdom’ 

The Vanga kingdom was established sometime between the 8thC and 3rdC BCE, a name that may have come from the original Dravidian settlers of the region.

It is mentioned in ancient texts as a naval power and Prince Vijaya, who founded the Sinhalese kingdom in Sri Lanka, may well have set sail from Vanga after being exiled.

Over the centuries Vanga came under the control of other dynasties such as the Mauryas, the Guptas,  and the Chandras.

Bengal has been called many names over the centuries: Vanga, Banga, Vangala, Bangala, Bang, Bongo, and Bengal.

The British tried to ‘divide and rule’ by partitioning Bengal Province in 1905, but widespread swadeshi protests reunited them again in 1911.

The Partition of Bengal in 1947 created a long term economic and social crisis: the rice, jute and raw materials of the East were separated from the mills, factories and markets of the West; millions of Hindus migrated to India from East Bengal over the next three decades.

West Bengal was ruled by the Left Front for 34 years (1977–2011), making it the world’s longest-running democratically elected communist government.

For more on Indian place names and history, see Toponymy on the Ashoka Express and West Bengal: Divided but Unbroken

For a journey through tribal India and Sri Lanka, see Headhunting with Marguerite