KOLKATA RELIGION |
Kolkata is a city of communal harmony. While a majority of the
population is Hindu, Muslims and Christians are the major minority
communities. The city is also home to Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists and
various other religious groups. Bengali society is characterized by
traditional and Western influences that have progressively eroded the
effects of caste system (the effect of which is still felt all over
India) and other ills of medieval society. While a large part of
Indian politics is centered around religion and the caste system, West
Bengal is relatively free from this issue.
Social and religious reformers like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (16th
century), Raja Rammohan Roy (1774-1833) , Ramakrishna Paramahansa
(1836-1886), Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), Sree Aurobindo (1852-1950)
have had a profound effect on Bengali society, which is relatively
liberal. In modern times the work of Mother Teresa (1910-1997) has
touched the hearts of everyone. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979
for her work. |
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