Are Bengalis considered to be North or South Indian?

Answer 1

If it has strictly two divisions only North Indian and South Indian then we are North Indian.

However we are lot different than actual North Indian population in respect of race, forefathers and behavior.

I liked Navin's reply - Bengalis are Bengalis. Thanks.

Answer 2

To answer this, let's understand who are “North Indians” are and who “South Indians” are

One way to decide: People from the north of Tropic of Cancer are North Indian, down bellow are South Indian.

Same can be simplified if Vindhya Pravat is considered as the great divider for North and South India.

The other divide is the ethnicity; The Aryans are North Indians, while Dravidians are South Indians.

Going by all the above definitions, Bengali's don't fall under any of these.

So who they are? By geographical definition, they are "East Indians", river Koshi is separating out North India with the East India.

Going by the ethnicity, Bengalies are Indo Aryans.

So, to answer your question Bengalies are neither North Indian nor South Indian. They are East Indians

Answer 3

North east Indians

Answer 4

Actually Bengali people and culture are somewhat mixture between the north and the south, ethnically bengalis are a mix between the indo-aryans and the dravidians, food wise too bengalis prefer rice just like south indians but the curries that go along with it are more closer to the north indians,same thing goes for the culture too, it is somehow in-between the two.

Answer 5

Bengalis are neither South Indians nor North Indians.
They are Indo-Aryans closely related to the Oriya, Assamese, Biharis, and other East Indians, as well as the Munda, Proto-Australoid, Tibeto-Burman, Austro-Asiatic and Dravidian peoples

Answer 6

They are East Indians, they are not NORTH EAST as stated by some users. Bengal is located at North East of South Asia and EAST of INDIA.
States of East India: Bihar , Orissa , West Bengal , Sikkim , Assam , Meghalaya , Arunachal Pradesh , Nagaland , Manipur Mizoram , Tripura.

Answer 7

Dear they r neither north nor south indian they are considered in east indian. it's 100% confirm.

Answer 8

Does it really matter nowadays? We are proud Indians after all. But if you really want to compartmentalise, Bengalis are East Indians.

Answer 9

East Indians.
Though i feel bengalis are bengalis...:)

Answer 10

Bengalis are neither north or sonth indians.....they are east indians.