July 29, 2024
Dola Sen’s mention during Zero Hour on the delay in the change of the name of West Bengal to Bangla
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to speak. In 2016, we had sent a proposal to the Home Ministry to change West Bengal’s name to ‘Bengal’ in English, ‘Bangla’ in Bengali and ‘Bangal’ in Hindi. But the Ministry advised us to use the name ‘Bangla’ in all the three languages. Therefore, on July 26, 2018, the Bengal Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to change the name of our State from West Bengal to Bangla. However, the proposal is lying with the Union Government and they have not taken any steps whatsoever. Six years have got completed. Since the present Government came to power in 2014, it has been on a re-naming spree, changing the names of roads, railway stations, historical places and institutions at their whim. Yes, when it comes to Bengal, its step-motherly attitude is apparent with the lackadaisical approach towards our request, though the Bengal Assembly unanimously passed the Resolution. Moreover, after Independence, there have been changes in the names of States and cities, like from Orissa to Odisha, Pondicherry to Puducherry, Madras to Chennai, Bombay to Mumbai and Bangalore to Bengaluru. The demand to change West Bengal’s name to Bangla is based on the sentiments of the people of the State and our reverence towards our mother tongue. Please don’t deprive Bengal.
