Bengal Govt makes Bangla language compulsory from Class I to X in all schools

The Bengal State Education Minister Partha Chatterjee called an urgent press conference on Monday night and said that all schools in West Bengal irrespective of boards would have to have three languages from Class I to X, one of which would have to be Bengali.

“From now, every student would compulsorily need to learn Bengali in schools. English medium schools will have Bengali as an optional subject, either as a second or third language, from Class I,” the Education Minister said. Every student would compulsorily need to learn Bengali in schools, he said.

The seven languages offered in schools affiliated to the West Bengal board at present are Bengali, English, Hindi, Urdu, Nepali, Alchiki and Gurumukhi.

According to the new rule, students who have any other language other than Bengali as their first language, would have to opt for two more languages, one of which would have to be Bengali.

It has been decided because we have received complaints that Bengali language was not an option at several schools here,” the Education Minister said.

He also said that legalities of the decision were being looked into and he was hopeful that a clearance by the state cabinet would be good enough to put it in force.

 

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee put up a post of Facebook today regarding the language issue, which is reproduced below:

Bengal respects all languages and languages of all States. Our three language formula shows how we really do…

India is a vast country and the strength of our nation is unity in diversity. We must respect every mother tongue and also give every regional language its importance. We believe in the freedom of choice and the three language formula.

Students have the freedom to take any language of their choice as a first language, second or third language.

If the student choses Bengali, Hindi, English, Urdu , Gurmukhi, Nepali, Alchiki as a first language, he/she may opt for two other languages of their choice. One of the three languages would have to be Bengali.The two other choices are completely dependent on what the students chooses.

This method would enable them to reach regional, national and international standards.

 

 

রাজ্যের সমস্ত স্কুলে দশম শ্রেণী পর্যন্ত ‘বাংলা’ বাধ্যতামূলক করল রাজ্য সরকার

সোমবার সাংবাদিক সম্মেলন করে শিক্ষামন্ত্রী পার্থ চট্টোপাধ্যায় ঘোষণা করেন এবার থেকে রাজ্যে সব স্কুলে দ্বিতীয় বা তৃতীয় আবশ্যিক ভাষা হিসেবে পড়ানো হবে বাংলা। রাজ্যের সব মাধ্যম স্কুলের জন্যই চালু হচ্ছে ত্রিভাষা নীতি।

এদিন তিনি বলেন, “বৈচিত্রের মধ্যে ঐক্য ভারতের শক্তি। প্রতিটি মাতৃভাষার প্রতি আমরা শ্রদ্ধাশীল। এবং প্রতিটি আঞ্চলিক ভাষার গুরুত্ব আছে। আমাদের বিশ্বাস, প্রতিটি ছাত্র ছাত্রীর নিজস্ব ভাষা চয়নের স্বাধীনতা আছে। ছাত্রসমাজের স্বাধীনতা আছে তারা তাদের মতো প্রথম, দ্বিতীয় বা তৃতীয় ভাষা হিসেবে যে কোনও ভাষা চয়ন করতে পারবে”।

“বাংলা, হিন্দি বা ইংরেজি, উর্দু, নেপালি, গুরুমুখী কিংবা অলচিকিকে প্রথম ভাষা হিসেবে চয়ন করলে ছাত্র বা ছাত্রীটিকে আরও দুটি ভাষাকে তাদের পছন্দমতো চয়ন করতে হবেএবং ত্রিভাষার মধ্যে বাংলা ভাষা থাকতে হবে। এই প্রক্রিয়ায় ছাত্রসমাজের পক্ষে আঞ্চলিক, জাতীয় ও আন্তর্জাতিক মানে পৌছনো সহজ হবে” মন্ত্রী বলেন।

রাজ্যের বিভিন্ন অঞ্চল থেকে যেখানে জানা গেছে অনেক স্কুলে বাংলা ভাষা চয়ন করার কোনও সুযোগ নেই বলে অনেক অভিযোগ এসেছে তাই এই সিদ্ধান্ত নেওয়া হয়েছে। রাজ্য মন্ত্রিসভা এই সিদ্ধান্তের অনুমোদন দিলে, খুব শীঘ্রই এই নিয়ম চালু করা হবে।

এই প্রসঙ্গে আজ একটি ফেসবুক পোস্টও করেছেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী। 

 

 

Trinamool against vindictive politics

Trinamool Congress has always protested against the politics of vindictiveness. Trinamool Chairperson has raised her voice time and again against the vindictive politics practiced by the Centre and the BJP.

On Tuesday, Leader of the party in Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandopadhyay said in Lok Sabha, “For Parliament to function, vindictive attitude of the government towards Opposition must stop. We must ensure Opposition is not targeted by the government. We are united in this stand.”

On Wednesday, Leader of the party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien said in the House: “We all know our responsibilities. We all want the House to run. But when there is open political vendetta, what do we do. We are against politics of vindictiveness.”

A similar case of political vindictiveness has been reported to the Union Home Minister by Trinamool’s Rajya Sabha MP Nadimul Haque, which concerns his father.

On December 3, 2015, at midnight, few police officers had visited the residence of Shri M W Haque, who is 81 years old and is the Chief Editor of Akbar-e-Mashrique, an Urdu daily newspaper, at Lalitnagar in Delhi.

He was forced to accompany the police officers to the Shakarpur PS where he was unnecessarily and disrespectfully questioned regarding the publishing of news on Akbar-e-Mashrique. The news in question, supplied by the agency, INS India, is about a thug named Kamalesh Tewari who posed as a member of the Hindu Mahasabha and had been arrested by police in Naka for hurting religious sentiments.

The SHO and his subordinate officers of Sakharpur Police Station needlessly harassed and created mental disturbance of Sh. MW Haque.

The incident is yet another instance of the intolerance of BJP. If an 81-year old Chief Editor of an Urdu daily can be hauled up at midnight for publishing an agency-news, that too about a Hindu radical criminal being sent to jail for his offences, it is for sure that the protectors of law and order in the country are being backed by vindictive politics.

No one can dictate to people what to wear or eat: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress Chairperson Ms Mamata Banerjee today expressed her concern over the rising incidents of intolerance in the country. She demanded to know from the party in power at the Centre how they can dictate to people what they can wear or eat.

Speaking of brotherhood and communal harmony at an event in Shahid Minar, WB CM said, “The Preamble of the Constitution states India is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. The Constitution champions the ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, unity and integrity of the nation.”

Condemning all forms of terrorism, she said that terrorists have no religion and it would be wrong to brand certain communities as terrorists.

Slamming her detractors who were questioning why she was attending this event, she said that questions are not raised when attends functions of Ramakrishna Mission or Bharat Sevasram Sangha.

“I visit church on Christmas and also functions of Bharat Sevasram Sangha. I attend Guru Nanak’s birthday celebrations. Why cannot I attend a Muslim event?,” she remarked.

 

Highlighting the work done by her government for the development of minorities, WB CM said:

  • I had made a commitment of giving second language status to Urdu. We did that.
  • We have introduced reservation for minorities under the ambit of law without touching the general caste by increasing infrastructure.
  • Left Front gave scholarships to 4 lakh students in their last 4 yrs. We have given scholarships to 83 lakh students, highest in India.
  • The budget allotment for minority development during Left Front rule was Rs 400 Cr. We increased it to Rs 2400 Cr.
  • 115 hostels have been set up for students. A new campus of Aliah University is coming up.
  • 132 Karma Tirtha marketing hubs are coming up where our youth can set up shops.
  • We are giving cycles to over 40 lakh students irrespective of caste, creed, gender or religion.

 

She also slammed the Centre for the rising intolerance in the country. “On one hand they celebrate Constitution Day and on the other they profile people based on religion. This is unacceptable,” she said.

“Aamir Khan has said what he felt as an Indian. Who are you to tell him to leave the country? It belongs to everyone,” she added.

Mamata Banerjee said the Centre may unleash the CBI against her for attacking them, but her fight will continue as she does not fear death.

WB CM to confer Tarana-e-Hind on poet Iqbal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will felicitate Waleed Iqbal, the grandson of famous poet Allama Iqbal, at a three-day international literary festival organised by State’s Urdu Academy from May 29.

Known for his poem Saare Jahan Se Achcha , also referred as Tarana-e-Hind, Muhammad Iqbal, or Allama Iqbal, is considered one of an important poets of the pre-Independent India.

Ms Banerjee, the chairman of the West Bengal Urdu Academy, is very fond of the poem Saare Jahan se Achcha. She will confer Tarana-e-Hind award on the poet’s grandson.

“The West Bengal Urdu Academy is making all efforts to make the event a success. The event will also help in the spread of Urdu language in the State,” Md. Nadimul Haque, Trinamool Congress MP to Rajya Sabha, said.

A section of the library of the West Bengal Urdu Academy will be dedicated to literature of Iqbal during the festival starting May 29.