Bengalis

Bengalis are a major Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group. They are deeply connected to the Bengal region of South Asia. This group is the third-largest ethnic group globally. They follow the Han Chinese and Arabs in total population.

In South Asia, they are the largest ethnic group. Most Bengalis speak Bengali, a classical Indo-Aryan language. This language has between 280 and 290 million native speakers worldwide.

The group is highly diverse in its religious practices and cultural heritage.

The population is spread across many different territories. The sovereign country of Bangladesh holds about 163 million Bengalis. In India, there are roughly 100 million Bengalis.

They live in West Bengal, Tripura, and the Barak Valley of Assam. They also reside in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Some live in Meghalaya, Manipur, and Jharkhand. Significant numbers are also found in Nepal's Province No. 1.

A global diaspora has established communities in many nations. These include the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. They are also found in the Middle East, Malaysia, and Australia.

Religious life is a central part of Bengali identity. Approximately 70 percent of Bengalis are Muslims.

Most Bengali Muslims follow the Sunni denomination. There is also a large Hindu minority.

Bengali Hindus often practice Shaktism or Vaishnavism. They also worship various regional deities.

Other sizeable communities include Buddhists and Christians.

These diverse beliefs have shaped the region's history and social customs.

The history of the Bengal region reaches back tens of thousands of years. Archaeologists found evidence of human habitation dating to 42,000 years ago.

This was found at the foothills of the Ajodhya Hills in West Bengal. Older stone tools and hand axes suggest very early settlements.

Later, civilizations like Wari-Bateshwar and Chandraketugarh flourished.

These were ancient port cities engaged in foreign trade. They traded with Ancient Rome and Southeast Asia. People in these cities lived in brick homes and used silver coins.

Ancient political structures were often divided into several territories. These included Vaṅga in the south and Rāṛha in the west. Other areas were Puṇḍravardhana, Varendra, Samataṭa, and Harikela.

The name "Bangala" likely comes from the Persian word "Bangālah." Some historians suggest the "al" suffix came from ancient kings. They built earth mounds 10 feet high and 20 feet wide in lowlands. These mounds were called "al."

Over time, these separate divisions began to merge into a single identity.

Powerful empires shaped the political landscape of Bengal. The Buddhist Pala Empire rose to power around 750 CE.

A famous teacher named Atiśa lived in eastern Bengal. He was an Abbot who helped revive Buddhism in Tibet.

Later, the Bengal Sultanate was formed in 1352. Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah united the region into one political entity.

During this period, the Bengali language received state patronage. This helped Bengali culture triumph at the highest levels of society.

Islam arrived in Bengal through trade and missionary work. Muslim communities were noted by Arab geographers in the 10th century.

Sufi missionaries like Shah Sultan Rumi arrived in the 11th century.

Later, the preacher Shah Jalal helped spread Islam in Sylhet. This religious shift occurred alongside various Hindu dynasties like the Sena Empire.

These historical shifts created the complex, multi-faith society seen today. The Bengali people continue to contribute to arts, science, and technology globally.