Bangal-Ghoti divide still continues

Which Bengali do you generally stereotype, a Ghoti or a Bangal? A first generation Bengali will be taking just any random stereotyping with a raised eyebrow. According to Chittaranjan Park’s (CR Park) Probashi Bangalis (Bengalis who live outside Bengal), there’s a difference between the two. In theory it is an almost fading divide, but in practice, this divide in the Bengal community is there to remain. This divide is geographical, one can say. But no one really knows how the divide was formed. Some say it was after the 1905 partition of Bengal, when the East Bengalis were termed as Bangals and they colloquially termed the West Bengalis as Ghotis. Some believe the cultural differences were there from before that.

“In Bengali, Ghoti means, a pot,” says Abhijeet Sinha laughing it off. “Thats it. The two communities just want to put each other down through any means possible. There’s a common Bangal phrase, Oi Ghoti chor tor ki mullo (you’re so pathetic that you live by stealing pots). If this is not the reason, I see no reason why West Bengalis should be called pots,” explains Sinha, a media professional and a resident of CR Park.

Bangal is a rather etymologically derived term. Bang means the border of the farmland where farmer walks and Al of ‘Bang-al’ means rice in Bengali. They were considered the farming class henceforth.

Also the Ghotis realise that they are guilty of reducing the Bangals, to mere immigrants, refugees. CR Park is often termed as the mini-Kolkata, here Ghotis and Bangals live peacefully and the realisation of belongingness to either communities is also not that apparent.

Sinha is a Ghoti married to a Bangal. He says the divide is only cultural and is not felt that much amongst the cosmopolitan youth. “The second generation have been more close to their culture, so the differences were closely felt and therefore they are still uncomfortable in adapting each other’s habits,” he says.

Bengalis who came to Delhi after 1947 Partition are the second generation Bengalis. They were later allotted lands in various colonies in Delhi, CR Park being one of the prominent ones.

His wife Sharmila tells Metrolife, “During our wedding ceremonies, there were conversations and disputes which would arise about which community is better. Ghotis have a phrase, Bangal manush na (Bangals are not human people). It is done very jokingly but it still prevails. In West Bengal, this divide is felt more strongly.”

According to Sharmila, in the early years of her marriage, it used to be difficult for her to eat the Ghoti food. But over the years, she inculcated Bangal habits in the family and now “they have reached a middle path”.

So what is this great ‘cultural difference’? In short, these are the three F’s, fish/food, football and festivals, these F’s will help you identify a Ghoti and a Bangal. And if you’re a very observant non-Bengali you can differentiate the two distinct dialects.

According to Suhrita Basak, a Bangal, “The divide is not faded till now and is very stark. Tell any Ghoti that Ilish (Hilsa) is originally from Padma river in Bangladesh and Bangals discovered it and you will still get the same resentful reaction, you would have got twenty years earlier.” 

Durga Puja has begun in full swing in CR Park, where the two communities often unite in every pandal and many small and large disputes occur between them. Some of them include, Ghotis eat raw food, Bangals don’t know how to cook, why is one of them trying to steal the other one’s cuisine and so on.

Basak says that Ghotis use a lot of sweeteners in their food, whereas Bangals use spicy, laal launka (red chilli) in their food. Next, major rivalry is felt whenever Mohun Bagan (Ghoti) and East Bengal (Bangals) football match happens. 

“People close to their identity still feel the difference. If you look closely, there are many festivals which the Ghotis and Bangals celebrate on different dates. Now there is a common government holiday calendar, but the Lokkhi Pujo (Laxmi Puja) which is on October 26, is Bangal Lokkhi Pujo. The Ghotis celebrate it two days before or after that,” says Basak.

Ramit Mitra, of DelhiByFoot (which organises heritage walks in the city) is a resident of CR Park, says, “I did not know I am a Ghoti or Bangal till I was twenty. I am a second generation Delhiwallah and I have received an enormous cosmopolitan exposure. My family also just laughs away at such jokes. The Ghoti and Bangal divide will soon vanish with the coming generations I believe.”