MichaleYarbrough at 05:59, 22 April 2026

2026-04-22T05:59:53Z

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{{short description|Social group native to West Bengal}}
{{multiple issues|
{{original research|date=September 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2019}}
}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Bengalis}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Ghoti
| population =
| regions = West Bengal and historically western parts of Bengal region<ref>{{cite news |title=Bangal-Ghoti divide still continues |newspaper=Deccan Herald |date=19 October 2015 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/507401/bangal-ghoti-divide-still-continues.html |access-date=5 March 2026}}</ref>, parts of Bangladesh after partition
| languages = [[Central Bengali dialects|Rarhi]], [[North Central Bengali dialects|Varendri]], [[Western Bengali dialects|Manbhumi]] and [[Southern Bengali dialect|Sundarbani]] dialects of [[Bengali language|Bengali]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Bangal-Ghoti divide still continues |newspaper=Deccan Herald |date=19 October 2015 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/507401/bangal-ghoti-divide-still-continues.html |access-date=5 March 2026}}</ref>
| related_groups = [[Bengalis]], [[Bangal]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Bangal-Ghoti divide still continues |newspaper=Deccan Herald |date=19 October 2015 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/507401/bangal-ghoti-divide-still-continues.html |access-date=5 March 2026}}</ref>
| notes =
}}
'''Ghoti''' ({{Aka}} '''Pôshchim Bôngiyô'''; {{Translation|West Bengali}}) is a term used to refer to the [[Bengali people]] native to the [[Indian states]] of [[West Bengal]] and [[Jharkhand]]. The term is used to describe [[Bengalis]] from the west, as opposed to the [[Bengalis]] from the east, which means [[Bangal]]s of [[East Bengal]] (now Bangladesh), [[Assam]] and [[Tripura]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ghoshal|first=Somak|date=2020-02-15|title=The 'ghoti' versus 'bangal' rivalry in Bengali cinema|url=https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/the-ghoti-versus-bangal-rivalry-in-bengali-cinema-11581666936713.html|access-date=2021-01-03|website=mint|language=en}}</ref>

==Etymology==
Among the Bengalis of India, the terms "Ghoti" and "Bangal" are used as social sub-groups denoting the ancestral origin of a family.

The word "Ghoti" has been in use since at least the early 18th century.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}} Although all Ghotis are ethno-linguistically Bengali, the term does not refer to a single distinct population and was not primarily bound by religion. It geographically and historically refers to all the Bengali inhabitants of the western part of the historical region of Bengal.

Historically, ethnic land of Ghotis also distributed across west of the [[Padma River]], such as the districts of [[Jessore District|Jessore]], [[Khulna District|Khulna]] and [[Kushtia District|Kushtia]] before being partitioned to [[Dominion of Pakistan]] in 1947.

==Overview==
Going by the more strict definition, the Ghotis are those people whose ancestry is connected to the [[Western Bengal]] plains of Burdwan, Nadia, and [[Rarh region]]. The term began to be used since 1905 when Bengal was [[Partition of Bengal (1905)|partitioned]]. The historic homeland of the Ghoti people remained at the presidency, and the eastern part became [[Eastern Bengal and Assam]].

Some of the people from East Bengal, mainly Hindus, migrated to West Bengal during the [[Partition of India]] in 1947. These refugees were sometimes referred to as Bangals by the native population of West Bengal. As such, the terms Ghoti and Bangal are mostly used in West Bengal while in Bangladesh, the usage of these is rare except in regions with relatively high concentrations of immigrants from West Bengal. In modern times, amongst [[Bengalis]], "Bangal" and "Ghoti" are used as social sub-groups. Those whose families came from [[East Bengal]] at the time of Partition are Bangals and those whose families were staying in West Bengal at that time are Ghotis. Similarly, the people who came to West Bengal from East Bengal before the [[Partition of Bengal (1947)|partition]] are also known as Ghotis as they were staying in Western Bengal at the time of Independence. The term as used here has little relation to actual geography since clustered members of these groups all now live in India. Historically, in addition to marrying within their castes, people from these groups also preferred to marry within the group, whether Bangal or Ghoti. Bangals and Ghotis keep up their cultural rivalry through their respective support of the football clubs [[East Bengal Club|East Bengal]] (Bangals) and [[Mohun Bagan]] (Ghotis). They also cherish a rivalry through a claim of the supremacy of their respective cuisines and especially river-food delicacies, i. e., [[Prawn|Chingri]] (prawn) for Ghotis and [[Ilish]] (hilsa) for Bangals.

==Sports culture==
Traditionally, West Bengal has been a major centre for [[Association football|football]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/research/fifa-2018-why-bengal-is-obsessed-with-football-there-is-more-nationalism-here-and-less-sport-5217326/|title=Why Bengal is obsessed with football?|work=The Indian Express|date=15 June 2018|access-date=13 September 2019|language=en}}</ref> and a longstanding rivalry between Ghoti and Bangal people on the football field have been a hallmark of the larger social friction between the groups.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.in.com/sports/football/a-brief-history-of-origins-of-kolkata-derby-the-ghoti-bangal-rivalry-80471.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203235835/https://www.in.com/sports/football/a-brief-history-of-origins-of-kolkata-derby-the-ghoti-bangal-rivalry-80471.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2017|title=East Bengal Vs Mohun Bagan: The 'Ghoti' – 'Bangal' Rivalry|work=News18|date=3 February 2018|access-date=13 September 2019|language=en}}</ref>

In a typical season, the clubs currently meet at least 3 times a year; twice in the Indian Super League and once in the [[Calcutta Football League]]. The ultimate showdown between the teams takes place during the annual [[Kolkata Derby]], which features in [[FIFA]]'s classic derby list.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/east-bengal-vs-mohun-bagan-the-partition-of-derby-day-758456.html|title=East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan: The partition of Derby Day|work=Deccan Herald|date=1 September 2019|access-date=13 September 2019|language=en}}</ref>

The primary venue of the match—the 85,000-seat [[Salt Lake Stadium]]—has remained sold out on match day, for decades. The [[Kolkata Police Force]] has in recent years maintained strict supervision after riots between fans claimed lives on multiple occasions.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/football/kolkata-derby-mohun-bagan-and-east-bengal-play-out-goalless-draw-in-calcutta-football-league-2292939.html|title=Kolkata Derby: Mohun Bagan and East Bengal Play Out Goalless Draw in Calcutta Football League|work=News18|date=1 September 2018|access-date=13 September 2019|language=en}}</ref> Often the clubs also meet in other competitions like the [[Federation Cup (India)|Federation]]/[[Super Cup (India)|Super Cup]], the [[IFA Shield]], and the [[Durand Cup]] among others.

==See also==
{{commons category|Ghoti people}}
*[[Rarhi dialect]]
*[[Manbhumi dialect]]
*[[Sundarbani dialect]]
*[[Partition of India]]
*[[Partition of Bengal (1947)]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Bengali Hindu people}}

[[Category:Social groups of West Bengal]]

Ghotis - Revision history

MichaleYarbrough at 05:59, 22 April 2026